Latest KFF Health News Stories
Health Spending And Mandates: What Is Central To The Overhaul’s Implementation And What Is Not
News outlets examine various issues – from spending to the individual mandate – related to implementation of the health law.
111th Congress: Health Law Played Role In Political Dynamics
News outlets explore the legislative achievements and political acrimony that emerged on Capitol Hill during the 111th Congress.
States face a variety of health policy challenges.
This week’s research roundup includes studies from the Archives of Surgery, Health Affairs, Stroke, The Commonwealth Fund, the Urban Institute, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, PwC’s Health Research Institute and the Institute of Medicine.
First Edition: December 23, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories that look back and examine the role of the health overhaul in creating the 2010 political climate, as well as reports that look forward to what changes are in store for 2011.
The Congress Tuesday “approved a temporary spending bill [.pdf] that will fund the federal government for another 10 weeks through March 4 in order to avoid a government shutdown,” Agence France-Presse reports.
USAID Official Discusses Agency’s Efforts To Address Cholera In Haiti
A USAID official said Tuesday that potential violence following the release of Haiti’s final presidential election results could interfere with efforts to contain the country’s cholera epidemic, CBC News reports.
Vatican Issues Communique To Clarify Pope’s Statement On Condoms
“The Vatican on Tuesday issued its most authoritative clarification on Pope Benedict XVI’s recent remarks that condoms could sometimes be used for disease prevention, saying that the pope in no way justified their use to prevent pregnancy,” the New York Times reports (Donadio, 12/21).
New Regs: Health Insurers Will Be Required To Justify Large Rate Increases
Proposed regulations were issued yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services that would require health insurers to justify proposed double-digit premium increases.
Funding Bill Passed; Food Safety Measure Sent To President; 9/11 Worker Legislation Still Held Up
Congress considers a range of legislation during the lame duck session.
States confront a range of funding and health policy challenges.
Medicare Pays Out Big Bucks For Questionable Treatments
News outlets report on various activities related to fraud and abuse in Medicare.
Bloomberg: The Politics, Investments Of Judges
A news organization reports on the holdings of judges involved in legal challenges to the health law.
Health Biz Sector Ripe For Action
Reuters reports that analysts are predicting “a robust year of dealmaking” for health businesses ranging from scientific tool makers to hospital companies.
Today’s opinions include articles from The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, the Kansas City Star and Modern Healthcare.
New York Times Reports On Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges In Global Health Grant Program
The New York Times examines the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges in Global Health program, which gave a total of $450 million to 43 research projects over five years. “On drawing attention to ways that lives might be saved through scientific advances, I’d give us an A,” Bill Gates, co-founder of the foundation, said of the program in an interview with the newspaper. “But I thought some would be saving lives by now, and it’ll be more like in 10 years from now,” Gates said.
First Edition: December 22, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a number of reports regarding a new proposed rule by the Department of Health and Human Services that will require insurers to justify large premium hikes.
Nature News Explores Developing Countries’ Commitment To R&D
Nature News explores how a report published last week by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) documents the growing commitment of several developing countries to R&D (Casassus, 12/20).
Inadequate Sanitation Costs India Close To $54B, World Bank Report Finds
“Inadequate sanitation cost India about 6.4% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or the equivalent of $53.8 billion (Rs.2.4 trillion today) in 2006, according to a new report (.pdf) from the Water and Sanitation Program (WSP), a global partnership administered by the World Bank,” Livemint reports (Ghost, 12/21).
