Medicaid’s Western Push Hits Montana
After sitting out the first full year of Obamacare鈥檚 Medicaid expansion, lawmakers in Montana have moved on to arguing — not about whether — but about how much federal cash to pull down.
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Insuring Your Health
Many Insurers Do Not Cover Drugs Approved To Help People Lose Weight
Despite the increasing efforts to fight the obesity epidemic and the approval of four new weight-loss medications, Medicare and many private plans are reluctant to pay for the medicines because of serious safety problems with other drugs in the past.
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Lots Of Responsibility For In-Home Care Providers — But No Training Required
The lack of instruction even in CPR and first aid in California program puts clients at risk, according to experts, advocates and some caregivers.
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As Caregiving Shifts To The Home, Scrutiny Is Lacking
California鈥檚 publicly funded in-home care program leaves elderly and disabled clients vulnerable to abuse and poor treatment, Kaiser Health News investigation finds.
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When Home And Health Are Just Out Of Reach
Health insurance doesn’t pay for housing, but sometimes that is what a patient needs most. A Medicaid experiment, called Money Follows The Person, helps some elderly and disabled people move out of institutions into their own homes.
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Big Investments For ACA Innovation Lab, But Most Results Still Pending
Some 2.5 million patients are involved in federally funded tests to control costs and reduce injuries, but data on most programs still aren鈥檛 available.
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How A State’s Choice On Medicaid Expansion Affects Hospitals
In negotiating the creation of the Affordable Care Act, hospitals took a big gamble, with the expectation that they would soon have millions of new Medicaid customers. In states that expanded Medicaid, the bet paid off. Sarah Varney of Kaiser Health News reports on financial gains made by some hospitals as more patients are able to pay their bills, and the heavy price being paid by hospitals in states that opted against expansion.
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Editor's Note
We’re Enjoying The Holidays, New Stories Coming Jan. 5
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Millions Have Already Enrolled In 2015 Health Policies, Deadline Still 7 Weeks Off
More than 6 million Americans are already signed up for Obamacare policies for 2015.
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As Docs Face Big Cuts In Medicaid Pay, Patients May Pay The Price
The health law offered a two-year pay raise for primary care doctors who see Medicaid patients to entice them to participate, but that expires Dec. 31.
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Can I Keep My Marketplace Plan When I鈥檓 Enrolled In Medicare?
KHN鈥檚 consumer columnist answers a reader鈥檚 question about whether coverage from the health law鈥檚 online exchanges is compatible with Medicare and another question on Medicare drug coverage options when seniors move.
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Seniors’ Wait For A Medicare Appeal Is Cut In Half
Federal officials handle most of the requests in 2014 from beneficiaries seeking a hearing before a judge and cut into the heavy backlog. But cases from hospitals, doctors and other providers are still on hold.
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Is Your Heart Doctor In? If Not, You Might Be Better Off.
A new study finds that high-risk heart patients in teaching hospitals do better during the times that cardiologists gather for national conventions.
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Deciding Whether Subsidized Health Insurance Is Worth The Hassle
A California woman had a bad experience with the state鈥檚 insurance exchange the first time around and struggled with whether to re-enroll her family.
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Medicare To Offer Help To Some Seniors When Advantage Plans Drop Doctors
In 2015, some seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans will be allowed to switch if they lose their doctors.
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Hospital-Acquired Condition Penalties By State
Medicare is reducing payments to 721 hospitals with high rates of infections or other medical complications. About 1,400 hospitals, including all in Maryland, are excluded from the program and Medicare did not assess their rates of patient harm.
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For Some Families, Coverage With Separate Deductibles Might Be The Best Choice
Smart shoppers will dig deep to find out if their family coverage has one deductible for the whole family or separate 鈥渆mbedded鈥 deductibles for each family member. The answer could make a big difference in your out-of-pocket costs.
