Latest KFF Health News Stories
States confront a variety of health policy issues and challenges.
WSJ: Top Spine Surgeons Reap Royalties, Medicare Bounty
News outlets examine how the relationship between some doctors and device makers leads to big payments – often from Medicare – as well as other potential conflict of interest issues.
DMN: Lax Supervision Of Residents At U.S. Teaching Hospitals Puts Patients At Risk
An investigation of patient safety issues is done in the wake of sweeping efforts to reform the health system.
Requirements Set For Grant Program To Inform Seniors About New Health Law Provisions
CMS announced new requirements for the SHIP grant program, which is designed to raise awareness among Medicare beneficiaries about certain health law provisions, including Medicare prevention and wellness benefits.
Congressional Battle Lines Emerge Over Spending Issues; Backers Continue To Press 9/11 Health Bill
Lines are being drawn surrounding spending issues, and funding for the Obama administration’s health law will be a flashpoint in the battle.
First Edition: December 20, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more analysis on the continuing legal challenges to the health law and the path they might take to the Supreme Court.
ABC News Global Health Series Launches Friday
In a New York Daily News article, ABC News medical correspondent Richard Besser discussed the network’s new “Be the Change: Save a Life” series ahead of its Friday launch, which will be the “first installment in a multimillion-dollar partnership between ABC News and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to cover global health issues.”
U.N. Security Council Adopts Resolution To Ramp Up Fight Against Sexual Violence
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday “called on the U.N. Security Council to make combating sexual violence a ‘top priority'” during the opening of a two-day meeting of the 15-member Council on women, peace and security, Xinhua/People’s Daily Online reports (12/17).
House Rejects Senate Bill To Fight Child Marriage, Citing Cost As Main Concern
“A bill to combat the practice of child marriage in developing countries stalled in the House on Thursday,” CQ Today reports. In a 241-166 vote “the House rejected
New U.N. Commission Will Track Donors’ Pledges On Maternal, Child Health
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete will co-chair a new “U.N. commission tasked with tracking whether $40 billion in pledges from countries and aid groups are really flowing to efforts to improve the health of mothers and young children in poor countries, and what impact the programs have,” the Globe and Mail reports (Clark, 12/16).
Donors Pledge Almost $49.3B For World Bank’s International Development Association Fund
The World Bank on Wednesday announced that its International Development Association (IDA) fund will receive $49.3 billion over the next three years, Bloomberg reports (Christie/Martens, 12/15).
In Florida, Federal Court Judge Considers Health-Care Challenge By States
A federal court judge heard oral arguments Thursday surrounding the 20-state challenge to the health overhaul. At issue are two key elements of the new law: its mandate requiring that almost everyone have health insurance and its expansions of the Medicaid program
News outlets report on various developments related to health overhaul implementation.
News outlets reported on a variety of state developments.
Medicare Bonus Payment Pilot Program Also A Test For ACOs
This bonus program uses the same basic formula behind accountable care organizations.
Nation’s Anti-Fraud Efforts Paying Off, Holder Says
At a summit held yesterday in Boston, Attorney General Eric Holder said the nation’s crackdown on health care fraud and abuse is paying off, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius talked about new approaches that are contributing to such successes.
FDA Moves To Curb Avastin’s Approval For Breast Cancer
The Food and Drug administration on Thursday revoked its approval of Avastin for the treatment of breast cancer. The agency’s action, based on findings that did not confirm that the medicine helped patients with this disease, has drawn criticism from patients and politicians.
The Hill: GOP Leaders For House Energy And Commerce Health Panel Named
Rising Committee Chair Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., announced on Thursday the health subcommittee’s chair and vice-chair.
Today’s op-eds come from news outlets including The Dallas Morning News, The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal
