The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news.
A new policy brief discusses issues involving over $11 billion of S-CHIP funds that states have not spent. It has been proposed that states could apply to use the funds for unemployed workers in these tough economic times. What are the implications?
A new policy brief examines the role of Medicaid in state budgets, the reasons behind rising growth in the program, and explores strategies for states to cope with higher spending in tough economic times.
A national survey by The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Harvard School of Public Health finds that people who have substantial experience with a friend or family member in a nursing home, or have been in a nursing home themselves, have generally positive views about the care provided. A significant minority of those with nursing home experience, however, says that the person they know has received poor quality care in the nursing home, including about a quarter that report incidents of abuse or overmedication. The majority of Americans see an important role for the government in long-term care, both in oversight of facility quality and in helping finance the costs for nursing home care.
Many women rely on their physicians to help them assess whether they are at risk for STDs and to provide them with information about testing, treatment and how to protect themselves. To better understand how often they discuss and screen for STDs, including HIV, the Kaiser Family Foundation surveyed 767 physicians, including 566 obstetricians and gynecologists and 201 family practice practitioners, for the National Survey of Women’s Health Care Providers on Reproductive Health.
A new report examines state efforts to expand Medicaid and SCHIP coverage to low-income parents and assesses the potential impact of insurance coverage for parents on access to care for themselves and their children.
An update to “Medicaid Budgets Under Stress: Survey Findings for State Fiscal Year 2000, 2001, and 2002.” This paper was commissioned to evaluate how several states’ fiscal outlooks have changed since September 11.
Assessing the Status of California’s Physician Workforce: Shortage or Surplus? — Issue Brief
A 4-page issue brief that looks at recent estimates of California’s present and future physician supply, various issues that affect the state s physician workforce, and approaches for ensuring an adequate number and mix of primary care and specialty physicians, as well as a balanced geographic and demographic distribution. The brief lists the panel for a California Health Policy Roundtable held in Sacramento, California on October 24, 2001.
The current economy is a key concern as federal and state leaders worry about the expected rise in unemployment and the related loss of employer health coverage. Policymakers are considering several options to ensure that we do not experience a health coverage crisis as we deal with the impact of the September 11th tragedy and ongoing concerns. In addition, states that were already preparing for budget problems are reporting even worse scenarios for their fiscal outlook.The Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured has five new publications that can assist you as you grapple with the impact of recent events on our health care system.
Summarizes the COBRA health coverage law, how it is administered, what its limitations are, and how it impacts low-income workers.
A new survey of states detailing current Medicaid spending, the factors contributing to the growth, and what states are doing to curb the growth.