The new healthcare reform law will extend health insurance to 34 million uninsured Americans, but what does it do to try to control costs?
Covered services include mammograms and colorectal cancer screening, bone mass measurement and nutritional counseling.
Virtually all the projected improvement in Medicare’s long-run outlook stems from a big bet on hospitals and doctors becoming more efficient and productive.
When am I going to be able to start collecting benefits under the law’s new long-term-care program? When will the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap close?
In Sunday’s Seattle Times health reporter Carol Ostrom explains how changes in Medicare mandated by the new health reform law will affect seniors.
One in five Medicare patients go back to the hospital within 1 month, but many of the problems that sent them back could have been avoided in the first place.
KaiserHealthNews’ Stephanie Stapleton wraps up the health policy news of the week out of Washington, D.C.
Every year, the Medicare and Medicaid lose an estimated $65 billion to criminals who defraud the health care system, says fraud expert Lou Saccoccio.
A $5 billion program will help companies to offer coverage to early retirees, for whom it can be difficult to get insurance until they’re eligible for Medicare.
The new health law bumps Medicaid payment rates to the same level as Medicare’s. The problem? The raise may only last two years.
Many consumers are confused about how the new health law might affect them. The KHN team examined the facts concerning some worrying claims.
Quality improvement expert reported to be Obama’ pick for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services post.
Wonks call them “early deliverables”–the benefits that would kick in this election year–but they could be called the Democrats’ “Incumbents’ Protection Plan,”
Fernando Arriola, a contractor in New Orleans, can’t get coverage so he’s now working to set up a clinic for the uninsured.
Can Congress bring itself to surrender power over a program as politically sensitive as Medicare?
A Medicare buy-in is part of a tentative agreement between a group of 10 moderate and liberal Democrats
Commission would draft proposals to control the long-term costs of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
Even if the experiments cut costs, odds are lessons won’t be applied.
“Seniors are incredibly important politically.”
What might a public option look like? One way to find out is to look at what’s already out there. How do they measure up?
Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for 40% of all federal spending, other than interest on the debt.
At least 25 of those key players are back; this time as lobbyists trying to persuade their former colleagues to protect a lucrative deal for drug companies.
Bill that would eliminate a 12-year-old formula that reduces Medicare payments to doctors when their costs exceed targets stalls.
The anticipated cut of more than 20% is so large that many doctors say they may have stop seeing Medicare patients altogether.
The average enrollee can expect to pay an average premium of $39 a month.
Opinion: In truth, seniors are likely to be big winners if responsible health reform passes and prime victims if it fails, says columnist Howard Gleckman of the Urban Insitute.
By Phil Galewitz
July 24, 2009
While a cornerstone of President Obama’s plan to trim medical costs – an independent commission to determine how much Medicare pays doctors and hospitals – has run into strong opposition from powerful industry groups, certain hospital systems are breaking ranks and supporting it.
Many are these are so-called “model” systems, such as the [...]
As part of a continuing series of “Ad Audits” Kaiser Health News reporter Jordan Rau dissects TV ads targeting health reform. In today’s audit, Rau looks at ads being run by Families USA and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.
Ad Audit: Health Reform Testimonials
By Jordan Rau – Kaiser Health News
July 10, 2009
AD TITLE: Health [...]
By Julie Appleby – Kaiser Health News
July 10, 2009
When Michael Kovner decided to buy health insurance earlier this year, he logged onto his computer, entered his age and zip code on a special Web site and studied the nearly 20 different policies that popped up.
Kathy Tarantola, 50, a self-employed commercial photographer in Waltham, Mass., is among [...]
Hospitals, After Agreeing to Cuts, Push Ahead With a Full Agenda
By Eric Pianin and Phil Galewitz – Kaiser Health News
July 08, 2009
With the Obama administration’s help, hospitals are moving aggressively to resolve their biggest objections to legislative proposals to overhaul the health system.
The deal announced today by Vice-President Biden — an agreement with the White [...]
Invisible Families: The homeless you don't see
They squeeze in with relatives, couch surf with friends or camp out in cars. More families are quietly becoming homeless, driven to the edge by a lack of jobs and affordable housing. The Seattle Times and its local news partners tackle the topic together. Project home
E-Health Records: Seattle is ahead of the curve
Health News from the Seattle Times
