Latest KFF Health News Stories
PhRMA Begins Search To Replace Tauzin, Who Quit After Controversial Health Reform Deal
Former congressman and powerful drug lobbyist Billy Tauzin is resigning as head of the pharmaceutical industry trade group after a deal he helped broker with the White House on health reform strained relationships inside the group.
Administration Rejects Anthem Blue Cross’ Defense Of Premium Hike
WellPoint Inc., the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross of California, is defending its rate hike for customers with individual health insurance, but critics, including the Obama administration, are dubious.
COBRA Subsidy Extension Out Of Revised Senate Jobs Bill
An extension of the COBRA subsidy program is no longer part of the Senate jobs bill.
WHO Will Meet To Decide If H1N1 Has Peaked
The WHO will convene a meeting of its emergency committee later this month to assess whether H1N1 (swine flu) has peaked, Keiji Fukuda, the special adviser to the WHO’s director general for pandemic influenza said Thursday, Bloomberg reports. “While the flu continues to spread in parts of the world, notably northern Africa, eastern Europe and eastern Asia, infection activity is declining, [Fukuda] said,” according to Bloomberg (Serafino, 2/11).
Texas Whistle-Blowing Nurse Is Acquitted
A whistle-blowing nurse, who reported a doctor’s error, is acquitted in Texas.
Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mich., Arizona Plan Medicaid Cuts; N.C.’s Prison Health Costs
States struggle with strapped budgets and Medicaid cuts.
A coalition of more than 150 humanitarian groups expressed “concern” in a letter Thursday that more than half of the U.S. government’s disaster-assistance program budget has been pledged to help Haiti, which they say could mean cuts for aid to countries such as Sudan or Somalia, the Washington Post reports.
GM Crops Can Help Bolster Global Food Security, Scientists Say In Special Journal Issue
Acceptance of genetically modified (GM) crops in agriculture will help bolster global food security as the world faces population growth and the potential effects of climate change, Nina Fedoroff, science and technology advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and colleagues write in an article published in a special issue of the journal Science, the Times of London reports.
Today’s OpEds: Republicans And Medicare, Small Business Health Costs And Changes To FEHBP
Today’s collection of opinions and editorials.
Wyoming Lawmaker Pushes For Reform, Mississippi Governor Bans Certain Over-The-Counter Drugs
Lawmakers tackle policy issues at the state level, including a Wyoming state senator who is pushing for health care reform and Mississippi’s governor who banned over-the-counter (OTC) drugs containing pseudoephedrine.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports that two Seattle-area doctors are accused of stealing millions from Medicare through fraudulent billing.
Polls: People Like Their Own Insurance But Want Reform, Heart Patients’ Cost Worries
Two polls were released about American attitudes about health coverage and costs.
Community Health Centers Step In To Provide Care For Newly Uninsured
Community Health Centers are providing a growing number of newly uninsured with primary and preventive care and are being tested by the growing patient load, MarketWatch reports.
Pelosi’s Relationship With Obama Frayed, Sen. Kyl and Wyden See Hope For Bipartisanship
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s relationship with President Obama is becoming strained over roadblocks Democrats are seeing on legislation and treatment some Democrats view as “cavalier” from the White House, Politico reports.
Obama Administration To Announce $975 Million In Health IT Grants
The Obama administration makes health information technology grants in an effort to improve health care efficiency and quality.
Federal Health Care Tax Credits Going Unclaimed
Thousands of Californians are leaving federal health care benefits unclaimed.
GOP Looks To Make Its Case At Health Summit While Democrats Remain Skeptical
Politico reports that the planned Feb. 25 health care summit between Democrats, Republicans and President Obama “gives the GOP a venue to accomplish something it hasn’t been able to do since President Barack Obama took the oath of office: Sell voters on Republican solutions to big problems.”
Research Roundup: Bundled Payments, PTSD Incidence, Cost Of Treating Immigrants
Today’s research roundup features studies from RAND and the journals Health Affairs, JAMA, Cancer, Hormones and Cancer and Journal of Traumatic Stress.
First Edition: February 12, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the continuing flap regarding Anthem Blue Cross’ planned rate hike and more coverage of the proposed health summit to take place later this month.
