Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

First Edition: July 11, 2011

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more reports on the challenges President Barack Obama and congressional leaders are facing in the ongoing debt reduction negotiations.

As Boehner Rejects Major Debt Deal, Dems Raise Medicare Questions

Morning Briefing

News outlets covered the fallout of House Speaker John Boehner’s Saturday announcement. On Sunday talk shows, Democrats insisted the President is “still committed” to solving the deficit problem.

Democrats Fear Political Pain From Entitlement Cuts

Morning Briefing

Though some Democrats view the Obama’s strategy to reach a budget deal as a positive development, others are making pleas to take Medicare and Social Security cuts off of the bargaining table – fearing that changes to these programs would make them vulnerable in the upcoming election cycle.

Medicaid Pricing, Volume Varies Across States

Morning Briefing

A new study in the July issue of Health Affairs finds significant regional differences in program spending. Researchers suggest understanding these differences could lead to improved quality and efficiency of care.

Is GOP Rhetoric Putting IPAB Repeal Effort At Risk?

Morning Briefing

Politico reports that some provider groups fear the GOP’s harsh talk could undermine the chances that some Democrats will join in the push to undo the health law’s independent payment advisory board.

Advocacy Group Messages, Concerns Emerge As Deficit Talks Continue

Morning Briefing

The drug industry and teaching hospitals are among the health industry sectors that are bracing for hits from the budget deal. Meanwhile, other health care providers are watching and waiting – trying to figure out what might become of their interests as the negotiations go forward. And Democrats and liberal advocates, the staunchest supporters of the health law, fear President Barack Obama could give up too much in the ultimate agreement.

Calif. And Colo. Move Forward On Building Exchanges

Morning Briefing

California Healthline looks at efforts in that state to meld an insurance exchange with an information exchange to help consumers, while Colorado officials set the first meeting of the new exchange board.

Research Roundup: Doctors Still Take Medicare

Morning Briefing

This week’s studies come from the Journal of the American Medical Association, Headach: The Journal of Head and Face Pain, Health Affairs, the Archives of Internal Medicine and the National Bureau of Economic Research.

U.N. Report Shows Significant Progress Toward Reaching MDGs, But Mixed Results In Some Areas

Morning Briefing

Significant progress is being made toward reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the 2015 deadline, but the poorest countries are not progressing as quickly and more must be done to improve health and development outcomes in those nations, according to this year’s MDG report (.pdf), VOA News reports. “Despite the global economic downturn and the food and energy crises, we are on track to meet the MDG targets for poverty-reduction,” U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said at the launch of the report on Thursday in Geneva (Schlein, 7/7).

More Action To Fight Tobacco Use Needed Worldwide, WHO Report Says

Morning Briefing

Laws that require graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging impact more than one billion people in 19 countries, but more needs to be done to cut smoking rates worldwide, the WHO said Thursday in its third report on the global tobacco epidemic, Reuters reports (Kelland, 7/7).

U.N. Set To Highlight Challenges Of Growing Global Population

Morning Briefing

With the global population expected to reach seven billion by October this year, U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin told Inter Press Service that “seven billion represents a challenge, an opportunity and a call to action.”