Andrew Villegas

Bloggers Parse What Happens Next On Health Law

KFF Health News Original

The health policy world has moved on from what happens IF the health law survives to what happens NEXT now that its future appears secure. Bloggers are focusing on how the law will be implemented, what the role of states may be, how patient care will be affected and how the work left to be done […]

VP Candidates’ Answers On Abortion, Medicare Get A Second Look

KFF Health News Original

Last night’s vice presidential debate provided contentious contrast on the issues of abortion and Medicare between Vice President Joe Biden and the Republican nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan. The candidates sparred over the role their faith plays in their positions on abortion and laid out their tickets’ visions for Medicare reform. Here’s a sample of how […]

Today’s Headlines – Sept. 11, 2012

KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports exploring how, based on his recent comments, Mitt Romney’s health law replacement goals could become tricky. The New York Times: It Will Be Tricky For Romney To Keep Best Of Health Law While Repealing It Mitt Romney’s pledge to guarantee access to health insurance […]

The CBO’s New Medicaid Numbers And The Cost Of Saving Lives

KFF Health News Original

This week, the Congressional Budget Office updated its numbers on the cost of the health law, the Affordable Care Act. The verdict? Now that the Supreme Court has overturned part of the Medicaid expansion — thereby allowing states to opt out of this portion of the overhaul without penalty, the law’s cost will likely be around $84 billion lower over 11 […]

Broad Implications For Court’s Ruling On Medicaid Expansion

KFF Health News Original

Although the Supreme Court’s validation of the health law’s individual mandate dominated the reports on the decision, the court’s ruling on the Medicaid expansion could have just as broad an impact. The court said that if state leaders decide to forgo the infusion of federal money to extend Medicaid – a joint federal-state financed program […]

Bloggers Stew Over Obama’s Warning On ‘Judicial Activism’

KFF Health News Original

Nearly any comment from a sitting president can elicit negative feedback from opponents. But when a president takes on the Supreme Court — and raises questions about the proper role of the judiciary vis-a-vis Congress — the response can be swift and loud. That’s the case this week as the blogosphere reacts to President Barack Obama’s […]

A Timeline Of The Health Law’s Milestones And Regulations

KFF Health News Original

The health law was controversial even before it was signed by President Obama two years ago tomorrow. But the political controversy has not deterred the administration from issuing hundreds of pages of regulations that are already affecting consumers, hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and state governments.

Ill. Primary Night Video: Santorum, Romney Differ On Health Care

KFF Health News Original

During his concession speech, in Gettysburg, Pa., Rick Santorum again claimed that Mitt Romney is the wrong choice to go against President Obama on health care issues. Romney briefly criticized the health law, but otherwise did not discuss the subject. Here are brief clips of what Santorum and Romney said in their speeches Tuesday night:

Analyzing The Komen Backtrack And The Coverage

KFF Health News Original

The blogosphere is tickled pink with the abundance of analysis and commentary on the decision last week by Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood for, among other things, giving low-income women breast exams. After a major outcry, Komen announced Friday that it was reversing that decision, but […]

Considering Cost: Bloggers Reveal ‘Parsimonious’ Ponderings

KFF Health News Original

Should doctors think about cost when they’re helping you make your health care decisions? Yesterday on the main KHN site we had a round robin of experts talking about the American College of Physicians’ latest update of its ethics manual. The manual encourages doctors to be “parsimonious” in doling out health care — that is, if you […]

Bloggers Take To Keyboards On Wyden-Ryan Medicare Plan

KFF Health News Original

Yesterday, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., rocked the health policy world with a new, bipartisan plan to reform Medicare. The two lawmakers propose to change the program for the elderly and disabled by giving beneficiaries a fixed amount to use on health insurance coverage. The plan would preserve traditional Medicare for […]

Today’s Headlines – December 8, 2011

KFF Health News Original

Good morning! Here are your headlines: The Associated Press/Washington Post: House Leaders Hope GOP Lawmakers Ready To Back Bill Renewing Payroll Tax Cut, Jobless Benefits Top House Republicans hope to win rank-and-file GOP support for a measure renewing this year’s Social Security payroll tax cut and extending benefits for the long-term unemployed. House GOP lawmakers […]

Tracking The GOP Presidential Candidates’ Health Care Maneuvers

KFF Health News Original

With only four weeks until Iowa Republicans gather for presidential caucuses, and with the candidate field shrinking, both candidates and bloggers are intensifying their focus on the battle for the Republican nomination for president.  Despite uniform opposition to most or all of the tenets in the health law, the candidates are seeking political advantage by […]

Groups Thank ‘Obamacare,’ And Not Sarcastically

KFF Health News Original

“Thanks Obamacare.” Usually Americans hear that phrase only in the most sarcastic contexts. Opponents of the health reform law have hung the “Obamacare” moniker on it to belittle the measure as nothing more than an attempt to fix America’s health care problems – varied as they are – with a one-size-fits-all approach they say expands the reach of government […]

Focus Of Health Law Challenges Shifts To The Supreme Court

KFF Health News Original

The Justice Department Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to hear their appeal of the 11th Circuit’s August ruling that found the individual mandate unconstitutional. The moves increase the likelihood that the Supreme Court will take the case up in its next term, potentially ruling on the constitutionality of health law before the 2012 elections. Kaiser Health […]

Making The Rounds With 11th Circuit’s Ruling

KFF Health News Original

Bloggers are digesting the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling that found the individual mandate in the health law unconstitutional, contemplating what the ruling means for the law, the Supreme Court, the health care system and President Obama’s agenda. The SCOTUS Blog has a couple posts on the ruling: Neil Siegel says the mandate is within the scope of the commerce power. […]

Today’s Headlines – August 3, 2011

KFF Health News Original

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the impact the debt deal might have on health care providers, as well as how the agreement’s “super committee” will be charged with finding spending reductions in Medicare, Medicaid and a range of other government programs. Los Angeles Times: Debt Deal Raises Pressure […]

Forecasting What Challenges Await The Debt Deal’s ‘Super Committee’

KFF Health News Original

Yes, a debt deal got made, but many think the real work is just beginning. Congressional leaders will select 12 from their own ranks to sit on a “super” joint congressional committee tasked with finding $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion in cuts, by Nov. 23, to follow the more than $900 billion included in the initial […]

Preserve Or Repeal The CLASS Act? Debt Talks Focus In

KFF Health News Original

As debt-talks smolder in Washington, a proposal by the bipartisan “Gang of Six” senators to cut health program spending and increase revenue has scored a lot of attention. Among the proposal’s key health program tenets is the repeal of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, the CLASS Act, that is part of last year’s health […]