Latest KFF Health News Stories
Obama Emphasizes Historic Nature Of Health Care Vote During Final Rally
The president pushed for health reform legislation during a rally at George Mason University on Friday.
Report Highlights Gains In Malaria Fight, Documents Need For More Funding
Global funding for efforts to fight malaria, which stood at $2 billion at the end of 2009, have “helped to contain the disease,” but is “far short of the estimated $6 billion required annually to expand” efforts to fight it, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership said on Thursday,” Reuters reports. The statements came as the partnership released a report (.pdf) that examined a decade’s worth of global funding for malaria and its impact on fighting the disease (Hardach, 3/18).
“Facing a squall of condemnation from aid groups and opposition politicians,” following statements by Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon that Canada’s G8 maternal and child health initiative would not include family planning, Prime Minister Stephen Harper “disavowed his foreign minister Thursday, promising that the federal government would include contraception programs in its maternal-health foreign-aid initiative,” the Globe and Mail reports.
“An assessment [for rebuilding Haiti after the January earthquake] prepared by foreign experts for the U.N. … calls for a system that guarantees universal access to primary care, quality services and essential medication,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
New WHO Report Estimates 440,000 MDR-TB Cases Worldwide In 2008
There were an estimated 440,000 cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) around the world in 2008
CBO Numbers For Health Reform Package Buoy Democrats
Democrats unveiled a health overhaul reconciliation bill the Congressional Budget Office says will cost $940 billion but also cut the deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years.
Details Of Democratic Tweaks To Health Bill
News reports scour the latest health overhaul bill for specific provisions and adjustments.
Today’s OpEds: Wash Post, Economist Support Health Bill, Others Articulate Opposition
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of Friday’s opinions and editorials from around America.
Myths And Explainers About Health Reform Bill And Congressional Procedures
News outlets provide several explainers on the health care battle so far and how it might proceed.
House Democrats Prepare For Sunday Vote On Health Reconciliation Bill
Democrats are setting their sights for a health care overhaul vote Sunday after favorable scores from the Congressional Budget Office boosted the bill’s chances at passage.
Drug Company Fights For Patent Extension
In a gaffe that could cost it millions of dollars, the drug maker Medicines Company, which makes the blood thinner called Angiomax, missed the application deadline to extend its patent back in 2000 by a day or two. That patent expires on Tuesday.
Student Loan Provisions Help Offset Health Costs In Reconciliation Bill
Student loan reform provisions tucked into the reconciliation bill are helping to offset the cost of the health care overhaul.
Arizona Eliminates CHIP; Schwarzenegger Seeks To Reform California Prison Health Care System
In other state news, N.J. moves to cut public workers’ pension and health benefits and Kansas weighs improved insurance benefits for people with autism.
For Undecided Lawmakers, Health Care Bill Is Personal
As the overhaul bill approaches an expected vote this weekend, House members are feeling the personal side of health care.
Divisions Within Pro-Life Groups On Overhaul Ease Opposition
A previously steadfast coalition opposed to abortion
Interest Groups Weigh In On Reform: AHIP Opposes It; Unions Offer Support
As vote draws near, interest groups hit high gear on health care reform.
GOP Trying To Derail, Challenge Health Reform Legislation
As lawmakers seek to challenge Democrats’ health overhaul legislation, GOP activists are also encouraging states to oppose the measure and seeking to energize conservatives for the upcoming election.
Hospital News: Insurer Negotiations, Exemptions At Risk, And Florida Money Trouble
Hospitals are pushing for higher reimbursement rates
This week’s research roundup has studies and briefs from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Affairs, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, among others.
