Latest KFF Health News Stories
Scientific Research Is Crucial To Preventing, Controlling, Eradicating Infectious Diseases
The debate about two studies showing that, with few genetic mutations, H5N1 bird flu strains could become more easily transmissible among ferrets, a laboratory model for humans, “has become a debate about the role of science in society. Two questions should be addressed here: should this type of research be conducted at all; and if so, should all data generated by this research be published?” Ab Osterhaus, head of the Institute of Virology, at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, writes in a Guardian opinion piece. A team from Erasmus conducted one of the two studies, he notes.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports detailing Wednesday’s Supreme Court oral arguments on severability as well as the Medicaid expansion. News coverage also sums up the week’s high court activity and looks forward to what might happen next.
Inside The Courtroom On The Final, Historic Day
At 1 p.m. sharp on Wednesday, the loud buzzer sounded, and from behind floor-length ruby curtains and four marble columns, the nine justices emerged to take their chairs. Chief Justice John Roberts, seated in the center in a high-backed leather chair, quickly brought down the gavel. And the last of four hearings into the 2010 health […]
House Debates Ryan Budget: Predictably Partisan
The tone was immediately and undoubtedly partisan Wednesday when the House began considering the Republican-backed 2013 budget resolution that the House Budget Committee recently approved. The House was expected to debate the Budget Committee-approved resolution for four hours, and then turn to six complete substitutes, including one that would replace the resolution with President Obama’s […]
Effort To Pay Hospitals Based On Quality Didn’t Cut Death Rates, Study Finds
The New England Journal of Medicine reports that a test project
Even Without The Individual Mandate, Health Law Would Still Affect Millions
KHN’s Julie Appleby reports that the health law is so comprehensive that even if the Supreme Court struck the insurance requirement, many provisions would survive.
Transcript Highlights: The Medicaid Expansion Arguments
Here are some of the highlights from the Supreme Court’s Wednesday afternoon session during which they pondered questions about the health law’s Medicaid expansion.
Justices Consider Whether Medicaid Expansion Is Constitutional Or Coercive
During the Supreme Court’s last hour of a marthon series of oral arguments, some justices indicated strong disagreement with the challenge brought by 26 states to the health law’s Medicaid expansion. Here are summaries of today’s news reports.
Crowd Dwindles On Final Day of Health Law Arguments
A smaller and more subdued crowd gathered outside the Supreme Court Wednesday for the third and final day of the historic hearings over President Obama’ health care law. About 100 supporters of the law, many carrying signs saying, “Protect our Health, Protect the Law,” marched in front of the Court, while about 30 opponents stood […]
Justices Explore Merits Of Preserving Parts Of The Health Law If Mandate Is Overturned
On the third day of the Supreme Court’s consideration of the health law, justices sparred over whether some parts of the measure could proceed if the court decides to void its insurance mandate. Kaiser Health News is tracking coverage of the severability issue.
Today’s Headlines – March 28, 2012
Good morning! Last day of oral arguments on the health law at the Supreme Court. Here’s a rundown of what happened yesterday: The Washington Post: On Last Day Of Health Care Hearing, Supreme Court Considers Severability, Medicaid Expansion The Supreme Court will complete its review of President Obama’s health care law Wednesday by considering whether […]
Transcript Highlights: The Severability Arguments Before The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court tackled Wednesday morning the question of whether the health law in its entirety should be struck down if the insurance mandate is declared unconstitutional.
A Double Dose Of Arguments — Severability, Medicaid Expansion On Today’s Docket
In the final day of Supreme Court health law action, the justices consider whether the entire law must be thrown out if the mandate is overturned. That issue will get 90 minutes, while the challenge to the expansion of Medicaid is on for 60 minutes.
Court Wonders Which Parts Of Law — If Any — Can Stand Without The Mandate
In exploring the severability question, the justices will ponder whether other parts of the health law can go forward if they void the individual mandate, considered the measure’s central element. News outlets examine the “contingency plans” being explored by the law’s supporters in case the mandate falls.
Lack Of Aid Money In Haiti Threatening Health, Human Rights Of Displaced People, U.N. Official Warns
“The United Nations warned on Tuesday that a lack of aid money for Haiti was putting hundreds of thousands of displaced people at risk by forcing humanitarian agencies to cut services in one of the world’s poorest countries,” Reuters reports. Noting Haiti only received half of the $382 million aid request in 2011 and so far has received only 10 percent of this year’s $231 million appeal, Nigel Fisher, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Haiti, said, “(Underfunding) threatens to reverse gains achieved in the fight against cholera through the promotion of sanitary and hygiene practices. … It threatens the very existence of hundreds of thousands of (displaced people) living in camps,” according to the news agency. “Fisher said the humanitarian community was urgently requesting $53.9 million for the April-June period to protect those living in camps and to continue to provide services such as clean water, food and crime prevention and respond to cholera outbreaks, among other things,” Reuters writes (Nichols, 3/27).
“Philippine health authorities diagnosed 274 people with new cases of HIV/AIDS in February this year, the health department said, adding the new figure represented a 72 percent rise compared with 159 cases reported in February 2011,” Gulf News reports. According to the health department, 235 of the cases were attributed to sexual transmission, and more than half of those were among men who have sex with men, the news service notes. The presidential palace requested that Health Secretary Enrique Ona implement an information campaign to spread awareness of how to prevent HIV infection, according to Gulf News (Dacanay, 3/28). Department of Health spokesperson Eric Tayag “told ANC [news service] that this year alone, the agency is spending more than P315 million [$7.3 million] to fund services and distribute medicines to combat the virus,” ANC/ABS-CBNnews.com notes (3/28).
Roberts, Kennedy Emerge As The Court’s Key Swing Votes
News outlets analyze the impact that key justices could have on the court’s consideration of the health law.
State Experiences With Insurance Mandates Offer Cautionary Tales
The Massachusetts state reforms are proceeding with an individual mandate in place, while Washington and New Jersey faced hardships when they attempted to overhaul their health insurance markets without one.
AP Examines Whether Health Law Debate Is Muted If Romney Is GOP Nominee
In other campaign news, James Carville says a loss at the Supreme Court will help Democrats politically.
Outside The Court: Roaring Rallies, Rhetoric And Reviews
On day 2 of the Supreme Court hearings, the crowds outside the court ballooned. Meanwhile, Wall Street and lawmakers seemed to take the proceedings in stride.