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KFF’s policy research provides facts and analysis on a wide range of policy issues and public programs.
KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
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State Health Facts is a KFF project that provides free, up-to-date, and easy-to-use health data for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States. It offers data on specific types of health insurance coverage, including employer-sponsored, Medicaid, Medicare, as well as people who are uninsured by demographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, work status, gender, and income. There are also data on health insurance status for a state's population overall and broken down by age, gender, and income.
Key Facts: States Most Affected by Hurricane Katrina A side-by-side comparison of key demographics and health coverage statistics of the states most affected by Hurricane Katrina. Fact Sheet (.pdf)
This report examines the formulary and cost management provisions of the final Medicare regulations implementing the new Medicare Part D drug benefit that was passed as part of the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, and their implications for people with Medicare who enroll in new drug plans and their access to medications. It was prepared for the Foundation by Jack Hoadley, Ph.D., of the Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University. Issue Brief (.pdf)
Health Care: Squeezing The Middle Class With More Costs and Less Coverage Diane Rowland, executive vice president of the Foundation and executive director of the Foundation's Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, testified to the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means about the economic challenges of rising health care costs and growing gaps in health coverage facing middle class families. Testimony (.pdf)
Kaiser Executive Vice President Diane Rowland testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations examining the continuing concerns and immediate needs in health care for New Orleans. Testimony (.pdf)
This updated fact sheet shows variations across states and racial and ethnic groups for six key health and health care indicators. It provides a quick glance at disparities in rates of infant mortality and diabetes-related mortality and AIDS cases in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as similar breakdowns showing the percentage of each group in each state that is uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid, and living in poverty. Fact Sheet (.pdf)
Fact Sheets Summarize President's Budget Proposals for Health Insurance Coverage, Including Medicaid and SCHIP The President's fiscal year 2008 budget proposal includes changes to Medicaid, provisions for the reauthorization of SCHIP, and the health coverage initiative, Affordable Choices. These fact sheets provide an overview of President Bush's policy plans on these health coverage issues. The Affordable Choices Initiative: An Overview President's FY2008 Budget and The State Children's Health Insurance Program President's FY 2008 Budget and…
This issue brief examines the broad implications of converting Medicaid to block grant financing, one of several ideas that have been put forth to help reduce the federal deficit. The paper, which does not analyze any specific proposal, notes that switching to block grant financing would fundamentally alter the Medicaid program and could have significant implications for states, localities, beneficiaries and health care providers. Issue Brief (.pdf) Related Resources: Prior Analyses of Block Grant Proposals…
To receive federal Medicaid matching funds, states that participate in Medicaid must meet federal requirements, which include covering specified “federal core” enrollee groups and mandatory health benefits. States also may choose to cover additional “state expansion” enrollees and optional benefits with federal Medicaid matching funds. The federal core eligibility standards have expanded incrementally over time, mostly for children and pregnant women, as the Medicaid program separated from welfare. Moreover, many states have taken up options…
With the assistance of the First Nations Development Institute, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation commissioned several studies of critical issues in Native-American health care. These studies examined the trends shaping the future of Native-American health care; the existing health systems and planning capacity in the Native-American health care system; the changes occurring in the IHS; the role of Medicaid in Native-American health care; the attitudes and preferences of Native American health care consumers; and…
Impact of Potential Changes to ERISA: Litigation and Appeal Experience of CalPERS, Other Large Public Employers and a Large California Health Plan June 1998 By Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.Sandra Hunt, M.P.A.John Saari, M.A.A.A.Kelly Traw, J.D. Background The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) currently preempts state law related to the wrongful denial or delay of health benefits to the extent that such laws relate to a health benefit plan sponsored by a private employer. This…
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