Latest KFF Health News Stories
Ensuring Clean Water For Food, Health Requires ‘Collective Action’
“As we mark World Water Day, the alarming statistics underlying water scarcity are worth repeating. Worldwide 2.7 billion people are currently affected by water shortages,” Manish Bapna, acting president of the World Resources Institute (WRI), and Betsy Otto, director of WRI’s Aqueduct Project, write in a Forbes opinion piece, noting that population growth, increasing food demand, and climate change threaten access to water. “Clean, abundant water is essential for life and economic growth. Since it is a finite resource, we need to find solutions that will ensure we can use water more efficiently and mange water systems more wisely,” they state.
Bloomberg Philanthropies Pledges $220M Over 4 Years To Global Anti-Tobacco Initiative
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday announced his charitable foundation will “spend $220 million over the next four years to discourage tobacco use in developing countries, as he seeks to promote strategies around the world that curbed smoking in his city,” the Wall Street Journal reports (McKay, 3/21). Bloomberg announced “the new funding for Bloomberg Philanthropies on Thursday at the 15th World Conference on Tobacco or Health in Singapore,” Reuters writes, noting “[t]he commitment takes the foundation’s total pledge to the cause to almost $600 million” (Begley et al., 3/22).
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including examinations of the health law as it approaches its two-year anniversary and its review by the Supreme Court, as well as reports about what’s next for the Ryan budget plan.
Berwick Still Looking Ahead, On The Bright Side
Donald Berwick said he didn’t want to focus on the fate of the 2010 federal health law, but eventually the physician and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services addressed the elephant in the room. “I think this law will stand; it’ll be hard to take away,” Berwick said Monday during his […]
How Obama Lost The Messaging War Over Health Care Law
As the health law heads to the Supreme Court, public opinion about the policies remains almost as divided as it was when President Obama signed it into law two years ago.
Ill. Primary Night Video: Santorum, Romney Differ On Health Care
During his concession speech, in Gettysburg, Pa., Rick Santorum again claimed that Mitt Romney is the wrong choice to go against President Obama on health care issues. Romney briefly criticized the health law, but otherwise did not discuss the subject. Here are brief clips of what Santorum and Romney said in their speeches Tuesday night:
Today’s Headlines – March 21, 2012
The New York Times: House GOP Lays Down Marker With New Budget Plan House Republicans thrust their vision of a smaller government, a flatter tax code and a free-market Medicare system into the 2012 election season on Tuesday, banking that fears over surging federal deficits will trump longstanding voter allegiances to popular government programs (Weisman, […]
Ryan Budget Plan Would Revamp Medicare, Medicaid
The blueprint is an election-year marker that envisions a smaller government and deep cuts to entitlement and safety net programs. It has no chance of passage this year.
New GOP Budget Triggers Immediate Budget Battles, Political Reactions
News outlets report that the plan unveiled Tuesday by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., almost automatically became “the centerpiece” of the upcoming election-year discourse. The document, which was cheered by the GOP for its smaller government vision, is certain to be rejected by the Senate.
Abortion, Contraception Legislative Battles Escalate In States
All across the country, state legislatures and governors are grappling with bills designed to limit access to abortion or contraception. In Virginia, it’s affecting a U.S. Senate race.
Supreme Court Braces For Health Law Frenzy
The high court is scheduled to hear three days of oral arguments related to the legal challenges to the health law. Amid the expected media attention, political posturing and spin contests, interested parties are finalizing their arguments and strategies.
Supreme Court Bars State Employees From Suing If They Are Denied Medical Leave
In a 5-to-4 decision, the justices said states are generally immune from suits by employees who are refused time-off to recover from an illness.
House Preps Pre-SCOTUS IPAB Repeal Vote With Eye On Doc Relationship
Republicans are not united in their attempted repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, which will come up for a vote in the House this week. In the meantime, the GOP is attempting to mend fences with the American Medical Association by offsetting the cost of repeal with medical malpractice tort reforms.
Health Law Message Machine, Implementation Rolls On
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was in Florida Tuesday pointing out the health law’s accomplishments. Meanwhile, news outlets offer implementation reports from California and Arkansas.
Supreme Court Limits Patents On Diagnostic Medical Tests
The justices rule that two patents are invalid because they cover a natural phenomenon.
Kansas Senate Considers How To Oversee Medicaid Managed Care Plans
Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to move recipients into managed care has drawn controversy, even from fellow Republicans.
A look at editorials and opinions on the budget proposal released Tuesday by the House Budget Committee chairman.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
Illinois Winner Romney Supports Ryan Ideas On Medicare, Medicaid
Mitt Romney took home the win in the Illinois Primary Tuesday and expressed support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan that would reduce spending on Medicare and Medicaid. Rick Santorum, in the meantime, continues his quest against the health reform law.
State Roundup: Oregon’s Coordinated Care Program Moves Ahead
A selection of health policy news from Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, Georgia, California and Louisiana.