Latest KFF Health News Stories
Former Senate Majority Leaders Team Up On Health Reform Issues
In other reform policy developments, Stateline reports on how Christian health co-ops are interacting with the health overhaul.
Studies Offer Insights Into End-Of-Life Directives
News reports focus on how doctors’ religious beliefs and U.S. laws impact decisions made in end-of-life care.
Poll Shows Opposition To Health Law Easing As Advocates, Lawmakers Take Positions Before House Vote
A new Associated Press-GfK poll shows the strong emotions against President Obama’s health overhaul may be subsiding. Meanwhile, even as the industry’s trade groups remain somewhat neutral on the law’s future, pre-repeal groups are stepping up lobbying efforts.
Federal Government Requests Oral Arguments In Michigan Appeal Of Health Law Challenge
In this case, which was brought by a conservative law center, the plaintiff is seeking to overturn a lower court decision that found the health overhaul to be constitutional.
Health care news today from California, Texas, Kansas, North Dakota, Colorado and Arizona.
Many opinions and editorials today, including from the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today and others.
First Edition: January 18, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the upcoming House repeal vote as well as news about a government report that attempts to quantify the number of Americans who have preexisting conditions.
Poll Shows Opposition To Health Law Softening; GOP And Dems Gird For Repeal Vote
A new poll indicates that the public is evenly split about the health law. Meanwhile, members of Congress appeared on Sunday talk shows to discuss this week’s House vote on repeal.
Media Look At What’s Ahead For South Sudan
“This week’s independence referendum in southern Sudan marks an apparent victory for U.S. foreign policy in east Africa
Report Recommends New Approaches For Fighting World Hunger
A new report from the Worldwatch Institute, a research organization, recommends focusing on new approaches to address world hunger, Nature’s blog “The Great Beyond” reports. According to the report, “previous approaches to feeding the world’s population have ‘not really worked’ since around 925 million people globally still go hungry everyday,” the blog reports (Gilbert, 1/13). The State of the World 2011 report said, “[a]griculture as we know it today is in trouble,” Agence France-Presse writes, adding that it “said there had to be a revolution in investment in food and water to reverse a ‘frightening’ long-term depletion of stocks.”
Scientists Create GM Chicken That Does Not Spread Bird Flu To Other Chickens
“Scientists have developed genetically modified [GM] chickens that don’t transmit bird flu [H5N1] to other chickens,” HealthDay News/Bloomberg Businessweek reports. “This achievement could stop bird flu outbreaks from spreading within poultry flocks and possibly reduce the risk of bird flu epidemics that could lead to flu virus epidemics in humans, according to the researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom,” whose findings appear in the Jan. 14 issue of the journal Science, according to the news service (Preidt, 1/13).
A Phase II trial published Friday in Lancet Infectious Diseases has shown that RTS,S, the “experimental malaria vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline provides African children with long-lasting protection” against malaria, Reuters reports. “Scientists conducting the mid-stage trial at the Kenya Medical Research Institute said results showing the shot offered 46 percent protection for 15 months meant it had ‘promise as a potential public health intervention against childhood malaria in malaria endemic countries’,” the news service notes (Kelland, 1/14).
House GOP Poised To Restart Health Law Repeal Effort; Vote Set For Wednesday
Republican leaders in the House have scheduled debate to begin on Tuesday. And, although the vote – which will follow a day later – is largely considered symbolic, it will kick off the GOP push to defund the bill and undo some of its more unpopular provisions.
Poll Shows Public View Evenly Divided On Health Overhaul
Politico reports that nearly identical percentages of respondents say the health law is either the best or the worst thing President Barack Obama has done since taking office. Meanwhile, in a separate story, a Blue Cross Exec defends the health law’s individual mandate, saying that dropping it would “create a dangerous set of conditions.”
California Insurance Commissioner Puts Insurers In The Hot Seat
News outlets detail how California’s new insurance commissioner has taken a strong stance against insurers who propose increases for rates on individual policies.
Health Care Budgets At Risk In States’ Fiscal Squeeze
News outlets report on the various funding difficulties health programs and facilities are facing in the current budget climate.
Reuters: Surgical Checklists Reduce Medical Errors – And Could Cut Malpractice Claims
Reuters reports on the findings from a study done in the Netherlands.
Study: Health Advocacy Groups Don’t Always Disclose Drug Company Funding
The researchers noted that since these lobbying organizations often urge greater access to new drugs and treatments, these contributions should be made public.
