Latest KFF Health News Stories
Scrutiny About New York State’s Medicaid Program Continues
The Wall Street Journal reports on the program’s fraud unit while KHN explores the plans for New York’s plans to revamp the entire program.
WellPoint’s Strategy To Diversify
The Wall Street Journal reports on the insurer’s strategy.
Health news today includes reports from California, Texas, Mass., Minnesota and Kansas.
White House Renominates Berwick As Medicare Chief
Six months after installing Dr. Don Berwick to direct the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services with a recess appointment, the Obama administration has renominated him.
CBO Projections, Deficit Reduction Talk Causes Medicare Nerves
The need to take steps to reduce the federal deficit is leading some to experience “Medicare jitters.”
Viewpoints: Is Obama Abandoning His Health Victory?
Today’s opinions include commentaries from The New Republic, Politico, The Baltimore Sun and the New England Journal of Medicine.
First Edition: January 27, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about two House hearings advanced by the GOP to further their repeal efforts and more information on the budget deficit.
Mass Cholera Vaccination Early In Outbreak Could Stem Spread Of Disease, Studies Show
“The cholera bacterium has undergone important mutations in recent years, causing longer outbreaks of the disease with increased fatalities, researchers reported on Wednesday,” Reuters reports. “In a package of papers published in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, they said mass vaccinations should be considered as a solution even after outbreaks have begun,” the news service writes (Lyn, 1/26).
Also In Global Health News: Germany To Withhold Global Fund Contribution; Protecting Pregnant Women From Malaria; FAO Food Price Warning; Polio In Angola.
Lancet Series Examines Health Issues Facing Populations In Southeast Asia
“Southeast Asia’s 600 million people are facing a raft of new health challenges as the disaster-prone region undergoes some of the world’s fastest social change,” according to a series of papers and commentary pieces, published Tuesday in the Lancet, Agence France-Presse reports (1/25). “Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were among the countries surveyed by the journal, which called for universal health coverage especially to protect the poor,” Reuters writes (Lyn, 1/25).
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete were in Geneva on Wednesday to open a meeting aimed at “developing a framework” to monitor the implementation of a $40 billion U.N. maternal and child health initiative, according to CBC News. Harper and Kikwete are co-chairs of a commission that is charged with ensuring accountability for the pledges.
Obama Briefly Highlights Foreign Policy Themes In State Of Union Address
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday “focused on jobs, budget trimming, and investment, but he also underscored foreign policy concerns and outlined an approach to international relations with ‘a new level of engagement,'” CBS News’ “Political Hotsheet” blog reports.
State Of The Union Address Includes Brief, But Clear, Defense Of Health Law
President Barack Obama made clear that he is willing to tinker around the edges of the sweeping reform, but not return to the days before the measure became law.
In the House, Republicans begin their committee-level efforts to dismantle the health law today. Meanwhile, GOP senators continue to push for a repeal vote in the upper chamber.
Today’s news includes reports from California, New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Massachusetts, Kansas, Florida, Iowa and Minnesota.
WSJ: Biotech Generics Battle Heats Up
The Journal reports on a battle – stemming from one word in the health overhaul – in which billions of dollars might be at stake.
It May Not Be The End For Empoyer-Sponsored Insurance
National Journal reports on a new study that disputes recent claims regarding the demise of employer-sponsored insurance.
The Wall Street Journal Takes Legal Action To Open Medicare Database
The newspaper’s publisher filed suit in order to gain access to a confidential database arguing that the information it contains is crucial to rooting out fraud and abuse in the Medicare program.
Study Finds Incentives For Physicians Don’t Improve Patient Care
Reuters reports on new research that concluded that paying doctors financial rewards to meet certain quality targets made no difference in patient outcomes regarding treatment of people with high blood pressure.
Poll Findings Indicate Public’s Continued Mixed Feelings About Health Overhaul
A new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation finds that though people are polarized on the health law itself and efforts to repeal it, less support exists surrounding GOP plans to defund the measure.
