Latest KFF Health News Stories
Stimulus Spurs Health IT Adoption, But Rush May Hurt Programs’ Quality
Within the next two years, 58 percent of small physician practices surveyed by Accenture and Harris Interactive will have begun using electronic medical records.
Medical ID Thefts Can Harm Patients’ Health; Prosecutors Go After Medicare Fraud
People seeking care by using someone else’s name and insurance could complicate that person’s care if bad information, such as blood type or medications, are added to the victim’s medical records.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about President Obama’s outreach yesterday to the GOP and his speech today detailing new elements of his health reform plan.
Nelson says, “Doing nothing on healthcare reform might seem like a reasonable option to some, but in my opinion it’s not,” The Hill reports.
Obama Says He’s Exploring Ideas Raised By GOP During Health Summit
In a letter to congressional leaders, Obama listed many areas of interest, including medical malpractice and combating waste fraud and abuse.
Seeking Undecided Dems, Obama’s Latest Health Proposal Will Focus On Cost
President Obama will focus on cost when he presents the blueprint for his latest health care reform overhaul on Wednesday.
GOP, Dems Continue Battle Over Using ‘Reconciliation’ To Move Health Reform Forward
President Obama is expected to urge congress to use this legislative tool tomorrow when he announces his new overhaul plan.
HIV, NCDs Impact Achievement Of MDGs, Study Says
Unequal progress in achieving U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for tuberculosis and child mortality in low-income countries is related to the countries’ burdens of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCD), according to a study published Tuesday in the journal PLoS Medicine, Reuters reports (Kelland, 3/2).
Warren Buffett Supports Senate Bill, Franken And Ryan Pushing Their Health Reform Ideas
Buffett says the nation’s health spending is out of control
During a phone call on Monday, Bill Clinton, the U.N. special envoy for Haiti, asked U.N. officials to provide more tents, latrines and hurricane-proof shelter to improve housing and sanitation for Haitian earthquake survivors living in temporary camps, the Associated Press writes. According to Clinton, the needs of many people who survived the earthquake are not being met.
Clinton “also called for strengthening job and agricultural programs. The U.N. says 520,000 people have received emergency shelter but even more still need help,” the AP reports (3/2).
Sec. Of State Clinton Arrives In Chile ‘To Offer Support’ As Country Deals With Earthquake
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived in Chile Tuesday “to offer support” after a major earthquake struck over the weekend, Bloomberg/BusinessWeek reports (Boyd/Smith, 3/2).
State Roundup: Mass. Hospital Controversy, Iowa And Utah Consider Coverage Expansions
States deal with several policy issues.
Increasing Health Costs Hurt Coverage Of Medical Workers, Too
“To combat rising costs, major health organizations are trimming medical benefits, tacking on surcharges for smoking and passing more out-of-pocket costs onto workers. Nurses, technicians and hospital workers are paying higher copayments and deductibles,” Detroit News reports.
U.N. Meeting Examines Progress, Challenges In Achieving Women’s Empowerment
Despite gains in women’s rights in the 15 years since the Beijing Declaration, U.N. Female Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro on Monday during the opening of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) meeting acknowledged more action was needed to help countries advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, VOA News reports.
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of today’s opinions and editorials.
Concerns About Unnecessary Scans And Radiation Risk Prompt Reviews By Doctors
New study finds 1 in 4 MRI and CT scans are inappropriately recommended by doctors.
N.H. Lawmakers Consider Rate-Setting Commission For Hospitals
A proposed cost-control commission would attempt to spread hospital costs more evenly across New Hampshire’s population and protect the uninsured from high charges, but the state’s hospitals are unhappy about the plan.
Bunning Continues To Block COBRA Subsidy Extension, Medicare ‘Doc Fix’
Sen. Jim Bunning is holding up Senate consideration of temporary extensions of unemployment and other benefits. He believes the measures should not add to the deficit.
