Kaiser Health News - Medicare

President's Budget To Call For Medicare, Medicaid Cuts - But No Major Changes

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:24:29 GMT

The multi-trillion-dollar proposal will be unveiled Monday.

President's Budget Not Expected To Tackle Entitlement Costs

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:11:06 GMT

News outlets are reporting that the budget President Barack Obama will release Monday will leave Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security spending "largely untouched."

Negotiations Stalled on House-Senate Package That Would Avert Medicare Pay Cuts for Doctors

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:53:00 GMT

The Republican plan to pay for the package, which includes extending a payroll tax cut, calls for a premium increase for upper-income Medicare patients that has been rejected by Democrats. Democrats have offered to trim unemployment benefits by six weeks.

State Roundup: Fraud Crackdowns, Searching For More Doctors, Immigrant Health Care

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:44:34 GMT

A selection of stories from Texas, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, Georgia and Connecticut

First Edition: February 10, 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:20:07 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations examine the congressional stalemate on the tax package that includes a Medicare pay fix for doctors and the latest developments in the controversy over new regulations that would require religious organizations offering health insurance to workers to include free contraceptives.

Democrats To Unveil Options To Pay For 'Doc Fix,' Other Measures

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:18:10 GMT

News about SGR funding negotiations, other Medicare developments from around the country.

Congress Struggles To Tackle Doc Fix, Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:27:00 GMT

Reports from Capitol Hill indicate that negotiations are marked by key policy differences -- some of which involve Democrats' negative reaction to GOP spending-cut proposals to pay for the package.

Discussion Of SGR Fix Heats Up

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:26:00 GMT

Conferees negotiating the legislative package to extend the payroll tax break and to prevent a scheduled Medicare physician pay cut increased their focus on the physician payment piece of the puzzle. Meanwhile, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing exploring private sector ideas for creating a new physician payment system.

Court Says Medicare Beneficiaries Can't Opt Out If They Receive Social Security

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:57:00 GMT

Former House Majority Leader Dick Armey is among the five senior citizens who sued to stop their automatic eligibility for Medicare.

White House Budget Trims Medicare With Cuts Focused On Insurance Company Payments, Hospitals

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:44:00 GMT

Details continue to emerge regarding what President Barack Obama's soon-to-be released budget will include.

Viewpoints: Political Furor On Contraceptive Policy; Confusing Estimates Of Medicare's Costs

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:43:18 GMT

A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.

First Edition: February 8, 2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:43:00 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the continuing fracas over the Obama administration's birth control rule, and the Capitol Hill impasse surrounding the Medicare 'doc fix' as well as the extension of the payroll tax break.

'Doc Fix' Negotiations Hit An Impasse

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:06:00 GMT

The gridlock is over how to pay for the fix, and could threaten the broader legislative package, which includes the payroll tax break extension. Meanwhile, lawmakers examine familiar offset possibilities, as well as some ideas from the private sector.

President's Budget Plan To Include Medicare And Medicaid Spending Cuts But No Structural Changes

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:31:39 GMT

The Wall Street Journal previews elements of the Obama administration's budget proposal, which is expected to be released next week.

First Edition: February 7, 2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:17:00 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports previewing what's ahead for Medicare and Medicaid in the president's upcoming budget proposal as well as progress reports from Capitol Hill on the Medicare physician pay fix.

Santorum And Gingrich Continue Attacks On 'Romneycare'

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:10:00 GMT

As the GOP presidential hopefuls continue sparring on the campaign trail, The Associated Press takes a look at the "influence game" and tracks how big donors pursue their policy desires. Meanwhile, House Democrats are betting that Medicare will be the issue that wins them control of their chamber.

State Roundup: Legislatures, Govs Juggling Costs And Health Programs

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:33:00 GMT

A selection of health policy stories from around the U.S.

Viewpoints: Komen's Retreat; Romney's Selected Support Of Medicare Cuts; Heritage Refuses Blame For Individual Mandate

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:32:46 GMT

A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy issues from around the country.

How 'Observation Care' Status Can Drive Up Patients' Hospital Bills

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:30:00 GMT

News outlets report that this kind of status is leading some Medicare beneficiaries to be surprised by the size of hospital bills because, ultimately, the services they received were not classified as inpatient care.

First Edition: February 6, 2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:13:24 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the continuing fall out from the Obama administration's birth control rule and the latest on the Komen foundation's efforts to bounce back from the Planned Parenthood funding flap.