Latest KFF Health News Stories
Obama Administration Grants Waivers, Exchange Innovation Awards
The administration Wednesday granted waivers to four states to allow health insurance companies located within them to continue offering less generous health benefits. Meanwhile, $241 million in grants were awarded to help states set up online shopping systems for the purchase of health insurance.
Mass. Gov. To Unveil Payment Reform Plan
Gov. Deval Patrick’s legislation is designed to reduce health care costs by paying doctors and hospitals in lump sums for overall patient care rather than on a procedure-by-procedure basis. In addition, bonuses would be linked to patient outcomes.
Health Law, Budget Plans Examined During Capitol Hill Hearings
Across the Hill, oversight hearings were held to review specific provisions of the new health law and related waivers. In addition, administration officials took questions about some specifics within the president’s budget blueprint. And the House Judiciary Committee approved a medical malpractice reform bill.
Senate ‘Gang Of Six’ Develops Deficit Reduction Framework
Meanwhile, the House GOP sharpens its budget-cutting focus on Medicare and entitlements.
Bill To Repeal Health Law’s 1099 Provision Would Cut Premium Tax Credits
The measure is scheduled for mark-up today by the House Ways and Means Committee and is expected to pass easily.
Hard-Liners Advise GOP Lawmakers Not To Fix Health Law
A Republican strategy firm urged GOP lawmakers to stand firm against the measure, and to only take action if affected industries “endorse full repeal.”
Longer Looks: Best Health Policy Picks From Thought-Provoking Publications
In this weekly feature, we provide a selection of articles from a variety of sources. If you have seen anything you think we should include, please send us an e-mail at KHNnews@kff.org, at and please put “Worth Reading” in the subject line.
State Roundup: Gov’t Workers Face Benefit Changes; Worry Over Social Service Cuts
Lawmakers around the country are coping with tight budgets by proposing legislation that would alter state workers’ health benefits, cut back on social service programs and change insurance regulations.
First Edition: February 17, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a “potential escape hatch” for states struggling with their ever-increasing Medicaid rolls.
World Bank Highlights Significant Food Price Rises
“Rising food prices pushed tens of millions of people into extreme poverty last year and are reaching ‘dangerous levels’ in some countries, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said Tuesday as he released new data showing that the cost of grain and other staples is near a historic high,” the Washington Post reports (Schneider, 2/15). About 44 million people in developing countries have been pushed into poverty because of food prices that have risen since June, according to information from the bank, which was released ahead of the G20 meeting of finance ministers and central bank heads, a World Bank press release states (2/15).
Upcoming Bangladeshi Mass Cholera Vaccine Program Might Shed Light On Strategy Effectiveness
TIME reports on an oral cholera vaccination program to kick off on Thursday in Bangladesh that researchers hope will determine how good of a “weapon” the mass vaccination strategy can be “against an old disease” (Marshall, 2/15).
USAID Administrator Discusses Global Health Programs At NIH Event
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah on Tuesday delivered a speech at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he reaffirmed President Barack Obama’s commitment to the 6-year $63 billion Global Health Initiative (GHI) and discussed the USAID’s role in bolstering U.S. global health programs, CIDRAP News reports.
Can Obama, GOP Find Consensus On Medicare, Medicaid Spending?
President Obama acknowledged Tuesday that more needs to be done to resolve the nation’s long-term budget problems and he signaled an interest in working toward a compromise with Republicans.
GOP Presses On With CR Budget Cuts; Some Health Programs At Risk
House Republican lawmakers are continuing work on ratcheting down spending in the current year continuing resolution to fund the federal government. Some discretionary health programs are feeling the heat.
States Grapple With New Ways To Cut State Medicaid Costs
Among the strategies being used are efforts to change rules, revise definitions, tighten anti-fraud efforts and cut services.
State Roundup: Calif. Kids’ Care; Mass. Retiree Health Costs; Iowa Nursing Home Inspectors
Health care news from around the states, including from Iowa, Massachusetts, Colorado, Georgia and Maryland.
Obama Launches Push To Reform State Med-Mal Laws, Curb Defensive Medicine
Meanwhile, in other news related to health reform, the Internal Revenue Service is seeking $119 million in new funds in order to enforce the tax-related provisions of the health overhaul.
Arrests Made In Major Medicare Fraud Case
But CQ HealthBeat reports that the government’s top Medicare and Medicaid fraud buster told a Senate panel that the current-year spending plan being advanced by House Republicans could undermine the fed’s efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse in the health care system.
HHS To Announce Health Exchange ‘Early Innovator’ Grants To 7 States
The grants, which are to be used to set up the framework for the health law’s state insurance exchanges, will reportedly go to Kansas, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin and a consortium led by Massachusetts.
