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Swing state highlights: Ohio's provisional ballots; Last-minute ad buys; Mega-storm Sandy's impact on voting

KHN's Sarah Barr samples campaign news coverage each week from swing states to see how health policy developments, and other political issues, are playing.

1 Nov 2012

Roundup: Dallas approves stipend for gay, unmarried employees; Federal judge says Milwaukee can raise retiree contribution

Dallas County will give a stipend to unmarried and gay employees who provide health care benefits to their partners. County commissioners approved the new program in a narrow 3-2 vote, which was split along party lines. Democratic commissioners hailed the move as a way to attract and retain talent, embrace the county's diversity and compete against private companies who already provide domestic partner benefits.

1 Nov 2012

FDA: Ameridose voluntarily recalls all unexpired drug products in circulation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products in circulation.

1 Nov 2012

Medicare news: Health spending on seniors grew faster in U.S. than Canada; Plan to cut costs on dual eligibles raises questions

A new study finds that U.S. spending grew nearly three times faster since 1980 than Canada's spending on a similar population group.

1 Nov 2012

Hospitals, health care companies prepped for hurricane fallout

The health care world prepped for Hurricane Sandy by moving patients and shutting down offices.

31 Oct 2012

Report: Medicare prescription drug prices remain stable

Prescription drug prices did not increase for other Medicare consumers after pharmaceutical companies gave the government discounts to help seniors deal with a gap in benefits known as the "doughnut hole," a new report shows.

31 Oct 2012

High turnout projected for tight presidential race

A new Pew Research Center poll finds the race between President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney "dead even," although a Battleground tracking poll gives a slight edge to Obama in swing states. Meanwhile, as Obama focused on Mega-Storm Sandy, former President Bill Clinton carried the campaign message to Florida, highlighting key parts of the health law.

31 Oct 2012

Health law's exchange rules, consumer protections under the microscope

USA Today reports that state officials worry about the amount of federal guidance provided regarding state-based health exchanges. Meanwhile, KHN talks with a consumer advocate, who is concerned that state rules will affect implementation of the health law.

31 Oct 2012

Fla. suspends compounding pharmacy as report slams lax oversight

The fallout from a deadly meningitis outbreak continues as Florida suspends operations at one compounding pharmacy, while a report finds state oversight of the facilities lacking.

31 Oct 2012

Dartmouth Atlas: Big differences in how academic med centers train residents

A report from the Dartmouth Atlas Project found significant variations in quality, safety and end-of-life care.

31 Oct 2012

Health policy rhetoric, issues prominent in congressional races, other state contests

House and Senate races heat up in Colorado, Nevada and Washington state, but health policy issues are touching a number of other contests, too, including governors' races, state ballot initiatives and elections for state representatives.

31 Oct 2012

ACP urges use of performance measures targeting 'low-value services' to reduce overuse, misuse of these approaches

The American College of Physicians released a position paper Monday pressing for "valid, evidence-based measures" as a means of raising physician awareness and changing clinician behavior.

31 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Wilensky on 'ending Medicare as we've known it'; Abortion politics, the election and 'absolutists'

Democrats have charged Republicans with "ending Medicare as we've known it" and have been generally successful in making that claim stick in the mind of the public. The interesting fact is that Democrats have also "ended Medicare as we've known it" -- that is, as an open-ended entitlement -- but thus far, they seem to have escaped getting hit with the same label. If the [Independent Payment Advisory Board] ever actually goes into effect, it will be interesting to see whether they will continue to be successful at dodging their own charge.

31 Oct 2012

Roundup: SCOTUS won't hear Okla. 'personhood' case; Vt. pushes state employees to use CHIP for kids coverage; N.J. hospitals want bundled payments

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a case involving the anti-abortion-rights movement's push to define "personhood" in the law. By rejecting the appeal, the justices left in place a lower court's decision that found a personhood measure in Oklahoma would violate the Constitution. Only four of the nine justices have to agree for the court to take a case, so Monday's rejection could be a sign that the court's four conservative justices aren't interested in wading into personhood, a concept that has divided opponents of abortion rights.

31 Oct 2012

Childhood bullying can lead to long term health consequences

Childhood bullying can lead to long term health consequences, including general and mental health issues, behavioral problems, eating disorders, smoking, alcohol use, and homelessness, a study by the Crime Victims' Institute at Sam Houston State University found.

31 Oct 2012