Kaiser Health News - Medicare

Former CMS Head Berwick Enters Mass. Gov Race

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:14:33 GMT

Donald Berwick, a former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, announced Monday that he will run for governor of Massachusetts. Berwick served for a year and a half as head of CMS and had since then expressed interest in remaining in the public arena.

PwC: Slowdown In Health Care Costs May Be Turning Into A Trend

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The accounting and consulting company PricewaterhouseCoopers projects lower overall growth in costs for next year -- a finding that is good news for companies that provide health benefits to their employees.

First Edition: June 18, 2013

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:34:31 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new publicity push in support of the health law.

Report Examines Medicare Spending Issues, Geographic Disparities And Hospital Payments

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:24:00 GMT

The report from the congressional advisory group MedPAC assesses a variety of issues, including penalties that Medicare has recently begun imposing on hospitals and how that affects facilities largely serving poor patients.

Viewpoints: Don't Change Course On Medicare Reforms On Medical Equipment Prices; Liberals' Agenda Depends On Cutting Entitlements; Making Hospital Prices Public

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:23:43 GMT

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

First Edition: June 17, 2013

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:40:59 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, include reports about how states are tackling the implementation of specific provisions of the health law.

Viewpoints: Good News From Medicare Trustees; Medicaid No 'Cure-All' For Access To Care

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:17:00 GMT

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

Immigrants' Health Care Costs Are Hot Topic On Capitol Hill

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:13:00 GMT

Other media reports detail Sen. Ron Wyden's proposal to allow accountable care organizations to focus on the sickest, most costly patients; questions from Rep. Darrell Issa, R.-Calif., about the navigator program's funding; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., angry response to a reporter's question about late-term abortions.

First Edition: June 14, 2013

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:38:00 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how, after months of battle, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a Medicaid expansion plan backed by Gov. Jan Brewer.

End-Of-Life Care: Study Finds Quality Improving But Costs Increasing

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:43:38 GMT

A brief by the Dartmouth Institute finds that Medicare spending for chronically ill patients at the end of life went up more than 15 percent from 2007 to 2010.

House Lawmakers Closer On Medicare Pay Overhaul, Medicaid Pay Increase

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:43:00 GMT

House lawmakers move closer to proposing a plan to overhaul how Medicare pays doctors and wonder how they can increase doctors' Medicaid pay -- typically the purview of states.

First Edition: June 13, 2013

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:35:57 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how employers are preparing for some parts of the health law to kick in.

Viewpoints: Administration 'Finally' Comes Around On Plan B; 'Legal Loophole' Creates Another Compounded Drug Scare

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:23:00 GMT

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

First Edition: June 12, 2013

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:25:00 GMT

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the health law's implementation played in a recent town hall meeting as well as the action taken by one business in anticipation of its some of the requirements that will take effect in 2014.

Hospitals Attempt To Address Patient Noise Complaints

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:01:30 GMT

The Wall Street Journal reports on how hospital noise may play into the patient experience and might lead to penalties.

Viewpoints: Medicaid Expansion 'Makes Sense'; Budget Cuts Hurt Alzheimers' Research; Lack Of Transparency In Generic Rx Prices

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

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

Insider Probe Over Medicare Rate Decision Hits Congress

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:00 GMT

News outlets report on developments in the story of alleged insider trading after a Medicare rate decision.

Missed Savings Opportunities In Medicare Program

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:58:42 GMT

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General concluded that as mucha s $1 billion could have been saved in 2011 had lower prices been negotiated for lab tests. Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News reports on a study that details similar savings that could have been reaped through prescription drug costs.