Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Will The GOP Now Set Its Sights On Medicaid?

Morning Briefing

The Hill reports that as efforts to revamp Medicare have become embroiled in politics, some advocacy organizations are warning that the Medicaid program may now top the GOP’s list as a possible source for health care spending cuts.

First Edition: May 9, 2011

Morning Briefing

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the politics — and possible direction — of Medicare and other entitlement programs within the coninuing budget debate.

Administration’s Top Lawyer To Argue For Health Law At Appeals Court Hearing

Morning Briefing

The Hill reports that the acting solicitor general, who generally takes only cases at the Supreme Court, will make the government’s arguments Tuesday in Richmond when an appellate panel hears Virginia’s suit against the law.

Florida, Vermont, Hawaii, Maine Make Sweeping Health Care Changes

Morning Briefing

Florida is overhauling its Medicaid program, Vermont passed a modified “single payer” bill, Hawaii is trying a “medical home” model and the Maine legislature has a new approach to insurance sales in the state.

U.N. Officials Recognize International Day Of The Midwife

Morning Briefing

U.N. officials, recognizing the International Day of the Midwife on Thursday, lauded the efforts of midwives worldwide and “called for greater investment to ensure their life-saving services are available to all who need them around the world,” the U.N. News Centre reports.

Ryan Says Politics Will Prevent ‘Grand Slam’ Debt-Reduction Agreement

Morning Briefing

Examples of how the politics of Medicare have picked up momentum in opposition to the proposed changes advanced by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., can be seen in a range of developments – including a letter from Democratic lawmakers to President Barack Obama, comments from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and even a tightening special election for a New York congressional seat.

Clinton Calls For Immediate Action On Global Food Shortage, Food Price Spikes

Morning Briefing

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a meeting of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome said that without immediate action, food shortages and volatile prices could spark global destabilization, the Associated Press reports.

African Progress Panel Report Highlights Status Of African Economies At World Economic Forum On Africa

Morning Briefing

Africa’s economies are expanding, but the continent is still too dependent on the export of raw materials, and trade between African nations needs to be increased, the African Progress Panel (APP) said in a report released Thursday at the World Economic Forum on Africa, which is taking place this week in Cape Town, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.

Research Roundup: Racial Disparities In Cancer Screening And VA Treatment

Morning Briefing

Today’s studies come from Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, Health Affairs, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Commonwealth Fund and the Journal of the American College of Radiology.