Kaiser Media Fellowships 2012 Massachusetts Site Visits May 25, 2012 Page In May 2012 the Kaiser Media Fellows – journalists with a strong focus on health policy and state health reform – were invited to participate in a week-long program focused on containing health care costs, the impact of almost universal health insurance coverage in Massachusetts, and how the Affordable Care…
Health Insurance Transparency under the Affordable Care Act March 8, 2012 Perspective In February, a final rule was issued implementing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requirement that all health plans provide a uniform summary of coverage for all enrollees and applicants. The idea of providing easy-to-understand summaries of coverage is, in fact, the most popular provision in the ACA, according to a recent Kaiser…
Quality Care for Less Money: Can Regional Successes Go National? February 15, 2012 Event On February 15, the Kaiser Family Foundation hosted an event featuring a PBS documentary with former Washington Post correspondent T.R. Reid – U.S. Health Care: The Good News – which explores efforts to provide low-cost, quality health care in the U.S. The film looks at variations in health spending across…
Walgreens, Ebony Encourage Americans to “Be Greater Than AIDS” June 21, 2011 News Release NEWS RELEASE June 21, 2011 Free HIV Testing, Targeted HIV/AIDS Resources at Walgreens Stores in Heavily Affected Areas Walgreens is teaming up with Greater Than AIDS, a national campaign in response to HIV/AIDS in the United States, to distribute informational resources and specialized HIV-related services at more than 300 Walgreens…
Health Reform and the Art of Federalism June 8, 2011 Perspective The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced significant changes to the premiums charged in the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), aka the “high risk pool” created by the Affordable Care Act. Premiums will now be up to 40% lower depending on the state (in some states…
Accountable Care Organizations: A New Paradigm for Health Care Delivery? May 13, 2011 Event The health reform law of 2010 authorizes Medicare, beginning next year, to contract with accountable care organizations (ACOs) in a Medicare Shared Savings Program. ACOs provide financial incentives to improve the coordination and quality of care for Medicare beneficiaries, while reducing costs. But providers have raised red flags, saying the…
Kaiser Media Fellowships 2011 California Site Visits May 6, 2011 Page The first site visit of 2011 focused on the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in California. In May 2011, journalists with a strong focus on health policy, state health reform, and/or California-specific policy issues were invited to participate in a week-long program. Based initially in San Francisco and…
Today’s Topics In Health Disparities: HHS’ Action Plan to Reduce Health Disparities April 25, 2011 Event Today’s Topics in Health Disparities webcast examined the new Department of Health and Human Services’ Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. The program addressed the contents of the strategy and its timeline for implementation as well as its implications for providers. The panelists also discussed how the…
Snapshots: Health Care Spending in the United States & Selected OECD Countries April 12, 2011 Issue Brief Health spending is rising faster than incomes in most developed countries, which raises questions about how countries will pay for their future health care needs. The issue is particularly acute in the United States, which not only spends much more per capita on health care, but also has had one of…
The Digital Divide And Access To Health Information Online April 1, 2011 Poll Finding The Affordable Care Act (ACA) calls for a number of web-based initiatives, including development of the website healthcare.gov which provides a variety of health information and helps individuals find coverage options. Therefore, understanding the level and quality of Internet access among those groups most likely to benefit from reform, such…