health care

Hacking To Innovate

Beth Lipoff and Steve Kraske — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Most of the time, hacking isn't the first word you want to hear coupled with technology. At Hackovate, a legion of computer-savvy gurus are using their powers for good.

Study Shows Health Care Disparities In Missouri LGBT Community

Stephen Steigman, Danie Alexander and Suzanne Hogan — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 22:03:08 +0000

If you are a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered Missourian your chances of finding and getting the same level of health care as the rest of the state are significantly reduced.

If The Health Care Overhaul Goes Down, Could Medicare Follow?

Julie Rovner — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 07:32:00 +0000

A growing number of health experts are warning of potential collateral damage if the Supreme Court strikes down the entire 2010 Affordable Care Act: potential chaos in the Medicare program.

"The Affordable Care Act has become part and parcel of the Medicare system, encouraging providers to deliver better, more integrated, better coordinated care, at lower cost," says Judy Fede

Seniors In Medicare 'Doughnut Hole' More Likely To Stop Heart Drugs

Julie Rovner — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:36:00 +0000

Medicare patients who reach the annual gap in coverage for prescription drugs known as the "doughnut hole" are 57 percent more likely than those with continuous insurance coverage to stop taking drugs for heart-related conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease.

That's the result of a study by researchers from the Harvard Medical School, Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, and CVS Caremark, the drugstore chain.

With Cancer Care, The U.S. Spends More, But Gets More

Julie Rovner — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:01:00 +0000

By now it's hardly news that the U.S. spends more than every other industrialized country on health care. But a new study suggests that at least when it comes to cancer care, Americans may actually be getting decent value.

The study, in April issue of the policy journal Health Affairs, isn't the first to suggest that U.S.

High Speed Health: What Google Fiber Could Mean For Health Care

Elana Gordon — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:37:53 +0000

What if when you’re sick and need to see the doctor, you could just log on to your home computer for a virtual visit instead of going to the office? That idea and others were kicked around among area health leaders last week at a meeting about what Google’s soon-to-be-installed high speed internet, Google Fiber, could mean for the region’s health care sector.

Area Reps Vote On Health Law Repeal

Elana Gordon — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:01:22 +0000

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri's fifth district representative Emanuel Cleaver says he doesn't think yesterday's passage of a bill to repeal the federal health care law poses a real threat, but he is concerned with GOP plans to try to defund the legislation. Across the state line, freshman representative Kevin Yoder says yesterday's vote marks an important step towards finding better ways to reduce health costs and improve quality.

Missouri Lowers Premiums For Pre-existing Condition Pool

Elana Gordon — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:05:14 +0000

Kansas City, MO – Missouri's high risk insurance program, established under the federal health law, is dropping premiums by as much as twenty five percent.

Missouri House OKs Measure Challenging Health Law

Marshall Griffin — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 16:49:58 +0000

Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri House has passed a resolution urging state officials to join a multi-state lawsuit challenging the federal health care overhaul and calling on Congress to repeal the law.

Tax Credits Spur Health Coverage For Area Small Businesses

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:47:20 +0000

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Salina, KS – Most of the new health care law takes effect in 2014, but parts of it are in effect now. One such part is designed to make coverage available to a group of people who are among the most likely to be uninsured employees of small businesses.

KS Will Continue Preparing For Health Care Law Changes

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:27:25 +0000

Topeka, KS – Officials in Kansas say they're going to continue preparing for the national health care law to take effect. A federal court in Virginia recently ruled against the law's insurance mandate.

Missouri Governor Reacts To Health Care Ruling

Marshall Griffin — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:24:01 +0000

Jefferson City, MO – Republicans in Missouri are praising Monday's ruling by a federal judge in Virginia that declared portions of the new federal health care law unconstitutional. Nixon responded to a question about the ruling during a press conference in Columbia later that day.

New Pre-Existing Condition Program Gets Slim Response

Elana Gordon — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 05:50:21 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – High risk insurance pools are designed to cover people with preexisting health conditions who can't get coverage. Missouri recently launched a new pool, subsidized under the recently passed federal health law. The program could apply to upwards of 150,000 residents. But as KCUR's Elana Gordon reports, not many are signing up so far.

Local Businesses Brace for Health Care Changes

Elana Gordon — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:25:51 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – An onset of new federal regulations and incentives has area businesses preparing for possible changes to their health plans. Small business owners convened at the Liberty Memorial yesterday, to learn more about how provisions in the new health law will affect their businesses and their workers.

Telemedicine Gets Boost

Elana Gordon — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 15:15:58 +0000

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Kansas City, MO – Leaders of a new telemedicine initiative are hoping to expand the use of the technology in rural areas where doctors and other specialists are difficult to access.