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Ryan's Medicare plan comes under greater scrutiny

As Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., moves to the national stage as GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's running mate pick, his proposals to reshape Medicare, Medicaid and other safety net programs emerge as political lightning rods.

14 Aug 2012

On '60 Minutes,' Romney and Ryan defend Medicare plan

The GOP presumptive presidential nominee and his choice for a running mate also went on the offensive by criticizing the Obama administration for cutting Medicare spending.

14 Aug 2012

Romney-Ryan team hits the campaign trail

GOP presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney will make campaign appearances Monday in Florida, the senior-rich state where Medicare is a key voter concern, and where some predict Paul Ryan's budget proposals could have a negative impact. Meanwhile, the newly anointed Romney vice presidential pick will be in Iowa.

13 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 13, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau reports: "More than 2,000 hospitals - including some nationally recognized ones - will be penalized by the government starting in October because many of their patients are readmitted soon after discharge, new records show".

13 Aug 2012

State officials look for Medicaid savings in cuts, new payment methods, managed care

Facing budget pressures, state officials in Georgia, Minnesota, Kansas and West Virginia are among those making cuts and switching to new payment methods as well as to managed care to cut the cost of the state-federal health care program for the poor and disabled.

12 Aug 2012

Democrats react swiftly to Romney's V.P. pick

Armed with talking points related to the House G.O.P. budget plan advanced by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., which includes sweeping proposed changes to Medicare, Democrats go on the attack.

12 Aug 2012

Romney chooses Rep. Paul Ryan as vice presidential candidate

Mitt Romney has selected Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin as his vice-presidential running mate. ... Romney's campaign formally alerted supporters at 7 a.m. via an iPhone app that the seven-term congressman would be the Republican vice-presidential nominee. Minutes later, the campaign sent out a release calling Romney and Ryan "America's comeback team."

12 Aug 2012

Medicare payments for anemia drug too high; Feds seek fix to glitch that denies some hospitalized beneficiaries coverage for follow-up nursing home care

The U.S. health-care system is vastly overspending for a single anemia drug because Medicare overestimates its use by hundreds of millions of dollars a year, according to an analysis of federal data. The overpayment to hospitals and clinics arises because Medicare reimburses them based on estimates rather than the actual use of the drug.

12 Aug 2012

In Colorado, Obama focuses on women's health issues

Campaigning in the western swing state, President Barack Obama said his opponent, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, would take women's health care back to the 1950s.

10 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 10, 2012

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, Susan Jaffe writes: "Concerned that a growing number of seniors have been unexpectedly forced to pay thousands of dollars for nursing home care after a stay in a hospital, Medicare has launched a pilot project to test whether relaxing its hospital payment rules could help beneficiaries".

10 Aug 2012

Active video games can play a role in getting some people more active

Active video games, also known as "exergames," are not the perfect solution to the nation's sedentary ways, but they can play a role in getting some people to be more active.

9 Aug 2012

Super PACs, AARP and Catholic church among groups trying to influence candidates, campaigns

In an inflammatory new television spot, the pro-Obama "super PAC" Priorities USA Action attempts to link the closing of a Bain Capital-owned steel mill to the death of a wife of one of the former steelworkers, who lost his health insurance when he was laid off. … Meanwhile, CNN reported Tuesday that after Joe Soptic lost his job at the steel mill, his wife continued to have her own health insurance for a few years through her job at a local thrift store.

9 Aug 2012

Viewpoints: Dubious ad on Romney's role in cancer death; British health plan has problems of its own

He sits at a kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee, talking about what happened after Bain Capital closed down his steel plant in 2001. He lost his job; his family lost its health insurance. His wife felt lousy but didn't go to the doctor, to spare the family worry and expense. When she finally ended up in the hospital, the diagnosis was cancer. She had 22 days to live.

9 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 8, 2012

Today's headlines include a variety of stories that reflect how health policy issues are playing on the campaign trail.

8 Aug 2012

Medicaid news: Fla. plan to challenge state rule on managed care; N.Y. wants permission to invest savings

Florida is seeking to move seniors on Medicaid into a managed care program but one company questions part of the regulations on plans.

8 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 7, 2012

Today's headlines include reports that HCA, the largest for-profit hospital chain in the U.S., is facing scrutiny about the medical necessity of some of the cardiac procedures done at some of its facilities.

7 Aug 2012

GAO finds states need more HHS guidance on new Medicaid rules

The study of six states finds they want more help as they look to expand their programs under new rules in the health law.

7 Aug 2012

Viewpoints: Mass. at disadvantage in cutting health costs; McDonnell says Va. can point to better way

Massachusetts will be the first state to try to cap overall health care spending, both private and public, so that it will grow no faster than the state economy. The state was able to reach near-universal coverage because the vast majority of its population was already covered by some form of insurance. It also could subsidize coverage for the uninsured using a big pool of money that had been used for charity care. But when it comes to controlling health care costs, Massachusetts has no advantage, and in fact is starting behind most other states.

7 Aug 2012

FDA grants 510(k) clearance to VICTUS Femtosecond Laser Platform

Bausch + Lomb, the global eye health company, and Technolas Perfect Vision GmbH, a leading ophthalmology laser company, announced today that the VICTUS Femtosecond Laser Platform received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

6 Aug 2012

State roundup: N.Y. law requires coverage for partial mastectomy

New York's newest laws include one that will require health insurance to cover reconstructive surgery after partial mastectomies. Health insurers in New York must already cover the cost of reconstructive surgery after a full mastectomy (8/2).

3 Aug 2012