Latest KFF Health News Stories
House Panel May Slow Action On Health Pricing Disclosure Bills
Proposals to make the price of health care services and products more transparent to consumers has attracted bipartisan support on a House panel, but the subcommittee’s chairman, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., would not say whether he would allow such legislation to move forward.
IBM To Analyze Best Way To Cut Childhood Obesity
IBM announces that it will take public health data that has already been collected to help come up with strategies for major public health issues.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how health reform politics are playing in midterm election campaigns.
Massachusetts Attorney General Pledges Hearings Into Proposed Catholic Hospitals Sale
The Associated Press/Boston Herald reports that Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is pledging to hold public hearings on a proposed sale of a chain of Catholic Hospitals there to a private equity firm.
WHO Publishes Comprehensive Report On H1N1
“A year after the H1N1 [swine] flu first appeared, the World Health Organization has issued perhaps the most comprehensive report on the pandemic’s activity to date,” HealthDay News/Bloomberg Business Week reports (Gardner, 5/5).
USAID Head Outlines ‘Core Areas’ For Agency’s Reform, Announces Policy Bureau Launch
USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah outlined a “broad plan” for reforming the agency and discussed the “overarching themes that will guide USAID reform under his tenure” during a town-hall meeting on Wednesday, Foreign Policy’s blog, “The Cable,” reports.
ALMA Launches Malaria Drive On Opening Day Of WEF On Africa
The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), comprised of the heads of 26 countries, on Wednesday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa “launched a fresh drive to eliminate malaria using a combination of bed nets, insecticides and medication,” Reuters reports (Nyambura-Mwaura, 5/5).
IRIN Examines Possible Changes To U.S. Food Aid Policy
IRIN examines the Obama administration’s efforts to expand U.S. food aid efforts beyond the distribution of domestically-produced food to countries in need.
WellPoint Rate Hikes Face Further Scrutiny, Company Says It Will Review Rates More Closely
WellPoint Inc., responding to criticism and close scrutiny from lawmakers and officials, will add “new layers of oversight to pricing practices,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
House Health Panel Ponders Price Transparency Proposals
House lawmakers are considering legislation to make health care pricing more transparent Thursday.
Today’s OpEds: History And Health Reform; Medical Advances Drive Health Costs; Price Controls
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of today’s opinions and editorials from around the country.
Judge’s Ruling Gives ‘Wide Latitude’ To Plaintiffs’ In Lawsuits Against Omniscan Imaging Drug
ProPublica reports that in a key ruling “a federal judge has given plaintiffs’ lawyers wide latitude to present evidence and expert testimony that GE’s Omniscan imaging drug caused a crippling disease in MRI patients.”
Arizona Governor says the state can’t affort the high-risk pool while the Illinois governor urges lawmakers to finish work to set up such a mechanism. Meanwhile, the Oklahoma Senate approves ballot measure to stop federal insurance mandate.
Pennsylvania Auditor Assails Use Of Some HIV/AIDS Prevention Funds
State roundup: Connecticut legislature adjourns without House vote on smoking bills; Colorado foundation adds funding to community health centers; Minnesota Senate passes health care finance bill.
Doctors Seeing Patients In Groups
In health care, the group visit trend allows doctors to reach more patients and patients to get more face time with their physician, The Denver Post reports.
The Doctor Pay Fix: Medicare’s Groundhog Day
NPR reports on the continuing saga surrounding temporary and long-terms fixes for Medicare physician payments.
Obama Signs Bill To Expand Health Care Access For Veterans, Provide More Caregiver Benefits
President Barack Obama signed a bill that expands access to health care for veterans and gives caregivers of severely injured American soldiers from wounds received in Afghanistan or Iraq a monthly stipend and health care.
Florida Gov. Crist Weighs Options On Abortion Bill
A controversial bill in Florida is putting Gov. Charlie Crist, who is currently campaigning for a Senate seat as an independent, in a tough spot.
Rising Health Costs Straining Public Budgets In Massachusetts
Rising health costs and generous benefits for public employees in Framingham Mass. are putting a strain on the town’s budget, leading to layoffs and other cuts.
