Latest KFF Health News Stories
Reid Standing Firm In Opposition To Senate Health Law Repeal Vote
Across the Hill, House Republicans have renewed their interest in proposals to privatize Medicare, leading Democrats to jump to the defense of the health insurance program for seniors.
In California, Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna And PacifiCare Agree To 60-Day Rate Hike Delay
Blue Shield of California has still not agreed to the state health insurance commissioner’s request to delay the planned hikes.
Justice Dept. Sues Guidant Over ‘Faulty’ Heart Devices
The suit alleges that Guidant, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific Corp., knowingly sold defective defibrillators.
Senate GOP Ready To Question CMS Chief
With Dr. Donald Berwick’s recess appointment to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid now being revisited and the White House’s renomination of him to this position, Republican Senators are ready to revisit some volatile issues.
Budget Woes Lead States To Seek Ways To Ease Medicaid’s Requirements
While The Hill reports that CMS administrator Donald Berwick says his agency is trying to help states find solutions, National Journal notes that mounting budgetary pressure has put the program in “dire fiscal straits.”
The Latest Example Of Corporate Preparations For Health Law Changes
The Wall Street Journal details how the restaurant chain Chili’s is preparing for how its bottom line could be impacted by the health overhaul. Even so, The New York Times reports, a consulting firm concludes that current worries about the well-being of private health insurance are “misplaced.”
In Effort To Find Common Ground, Possible Areas Of Agreement And Disagreement Emerge
During his State of the Union address, President Obama signaled an openness to working with Republicans on ways to improve – but not undo – the health law. An area that seems open to such an effort is fixing the overhaul’s 1099 tax reporting provision, which is gaining bipartisan support on Capitol Hill. But in terms of medical malpractice reforms, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius noted key policy differences between the President and a GOP-sponsored House bill.
Today’s state news includes reports from Florida, California, Arizona, Texas, Iowa, Michigan and Kansas.
New Feature: KHN’s Selection Of Thought-Provoking Magazine Articles On Health Policy Issues
A selection of thought-provoking magazine articles on health policy issues, including a recent New Yorker piece by Dr. Atul Gawande, Sharon Begley on ‘Why Everything You Hear About Medicine Is Wrong,’ an in-depth look at the challenges of creating ACOs and more.
Studies today come from the Archives of Surgery, the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Annals of Internal Medicine, the Annals of Family Medicine, the CDC, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Affairs, the Urban Institute and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Today’s opinions include commentaries from The Los Angeles Times, Politico and the Boston Globe.
First Edition: January 28, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that President Obama is expected to really the health reform troops in a speech today.
Opinions: Global Poverty; Global Fund Corruption; Tackling Poverty, Environmental Issues
Opinions include essays on global poverty, global fund corruption and the intersection of tackling poverty and environmental issues.
Reuters Examines How Russia’s ‘Drug Problem’ Has ‘Become An AIDS Problem’
Reuters, in a piece exploring the issue of heroin use in Russia describes how the country’s “drug problem has now become an AIDS problem.”
World Economic Forum Launches Risk Network To Address Financial, Food Security Risks
The World Economic Forum launched the Risk Response Network (RRN) at its meeting, which opened Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland, the Economic Times reports.
Majority Of Americans Favor Foreign Aid Cuts, Poll Finds
A USA Today/Gallup poll released on Wednesday found that a majority of Americans oppose spending cuts when asked about specific programs, except for foreign aid, The Hill’s blog, “Briefing Room,” reports (Fabian, 1/26).
GM Mosquitoes For Dengue Prevention; Polio In Haiti; Malnutrition In Pakistan; Pharma’s Interest In India.
U.N. Women Executive Director Bachelet Launches 100-Day ‘Action Plan’
During the inaugural meeting of U.N. Women’s executive board this week, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet laid out a 100-day action plan for the newly-launched agency, Inter Press Service reports.
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayanm, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, “pledged $100 million Wednesday to deliver vaccines to children in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Reuters reports.
GOP Focuses Health Law Attacks During Two House Hearings
The hearings represent the first of what will likely be a long list of hearings and new legislation designed to question and denounce the new health law. With the measure in the spotlight, the debate surrounding its fiscal impact also is a “hot topic.” Meanwhile, some Democrats who last year opposed the health overhaul are starting to find value in it.
