Latest KFF Health News Stories
Republicans Take Hard Line On Overhaul, Look For Democratic Allies
Republicans aren’t softening their tough criticism of the health law even as they seek Democratic allies to join them in their bid to repeal the overhaul.
Governors Line Up Against The Health Overhaul
Sitting and newly-elected governors are increasing opposition to the health overhaul law.
Opinions and editorials from around the country.
Facing budget shortfalls, Texas and other states consider dropping Medicaid; West Virginia providers sue the state program.
Patent losses are forcing drug companies to cut costs and look to other markets.
States address a range of health care policy issues.
Health IT Reshaped Veterans Health; What Will It Do For ‘Mobile Telephony’?
Health IT reshaped the United States’ system for caring for veterans.
Insurers Consider Shake-Ups To Business Models Under Health Law
Health insurers are considering changes to their business models in the upheaval following the passage of the new health law.
Support For Comparative Effectiveness Research Is Gaining Momentum, Experts Say
Rules imposed by Congress are designed to help safeguard against ethical breaches.
Healthcare Costs Rise For People Insured Through An Employer
Reuters report finds healthcare costs for people insured through an employer rose 6.3 percent for the year that ended June 30.
Pennsylvania Health Giant Reports $93 Million Profit As Outpatient Demand Surges
“Health giant UPMC will add 815 new full-time jobs through next June, officials announced yesterday after posting a strong first-quarter income,” the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.
Changes To Flexible Spending Accounts Raise Concerns
Employer groups and manufacturers are wary of the change going into effect Jan. 1.
Long-Term Care: MetLife Dropping Policies, NFL Union Rejects Management Offer
MetLife Inc. and former football players consider long-term care plan options.
This week’s research roundup includes studies from the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Annals of Family Medicine, the Journal of General Internal Medicine, the New England Journal of Medicine, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Brookings Institution.
First Edition: November 12, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including examinations of Medicaid and state budget issues as well as the next round of the congressional health overhaul fight.
WHO Annual Global TB Report Released
The WHO on Thursday released its annual report on global tuberculosis control, which showed that in 2009 there were 9.4 million new tuberculosis cases and 1.7 million people died of the disease, Reuters reports (Nebehay, 11/11).
Nature News Examines Meningitis Vaccine Program To Roll Out In Africa
Nature News reports on an immunization campaign kicking off in Africa in December that will offer protection to some areas of Africa’s meningitis belt. “Millions will receive a new vaccine, MenAfriVac, that promises protection against the meningococcal bacterium Neisseria meningitides,” the news service writes, noting the effort “is the culmination of ten years’ work by an international consortium to develop a vaccine at a price low enough for massive use in Africa: just US$0.40 a dose.”
U.N. Member States Elect Countries To Serve On U.N. Women Board
U.N. Member States on Wednesday voted on the countries that would have a seat on the board of U.N. Women, the new agency tasked with promoting equality and women’s rights, Public Radio International’s The World reports.
Lancet Series Focuses On Chronic Diseases, Development
“Just a small percentage of low- and middle-income countries’ healthcare budgets are allocated toward the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases even though such illnesses are expected to account for 69% of global deaths by 2030,” according to a paper published Wednesday in the Lancet, as part of a series on chronic disease and development, ModernHealthcare.com reports.
The three-day mHealth Alliance summit wrapped up “on Wednesday after discussions and seminars that aimed to advance the discussion around ways mobile technology can increase the access, efficiency and effectiveness of health systems,” allAfrica.com reports (11/11).
