Latest KFF Health News Stories
Legislators Set Sights On Temporary Medicare ‘Doc Fix,’ Again
Doctors are still pushing for a permanent fix to the Medicare payment system but are likely to get only another temporary fix that would stave off a 21 percent cut in reimbursement rates scheduled to take effect in March.
Hospitals and health systems mergers may increase as health reform bills stall and for-profit hospitals look for acquisition opportunities.
First Edition: February 2, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including highlights of President Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget and details regarding how it treats health-related programs
Consumer Group Sues Rate-Hiking Calif. Insurer
Consumer Watchdog and other plaintiffs are suing Anthem Blue Cross, the California insurer that recently told policyholder it would hike premiums by 39 percent.
A Closer Look At Health Care Budget Provisions
President Obama’s health department budget for 2011 tops $911 billion and includes $1.4 billion for food-safety, $1.7 billion for fraud prevention, $500 million for vaccine development, and $32 billion for medical research, and more.
States Continue To Act On Health Care Reform Efforts
States continue to prepare and act on health care reform efforts.
Health And Human Services Would Get Boost Under Obama’s 2011 Budget Plan
News outlets report on how certain health programs fare under Obama’s 2011 budget request.
Experimental Vaccine Reduced TB Rate Among HIV-Positive People In Tanzania, Study Finds
An experimental vaccine was found to reduce the rate of tuberculosis infections in patients living with HIV, “the first time a shot has been shown to reduce cases of the most common AIDS-related cause of death in poor nations,” Bloomberg reports (Bennett, 1/29). Tuberculosis accounts for up to one-third of AIDS deaths worldwide, CBC News reports.
“The U.S. government said on Sunday it would resume military evacuation flights” within 12 hours for critically ill and injured Haitians who were harmed in the Jan. 12 earthquake, Reuters reports (Rosenberg/Brown, 1/31). Medical evacuations had been suspended for a few days, but the reason for the suspension “is unclear as various government authorities have provided different explanations,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
State Department Authorization Bill Introduced
“Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders John Kerry, D-MA, and Richard Lugar, R-IN, introduced a State Department policy bill for both fiscal 2010 and fiscal 2011” on Friday, Foreign Policy’s blog, “The Cable,” reports. The full text of the bill and a fact sheet are available on the blog (Rogin, 1/29).
“The Obama administration is expected to propose in its fiscal 2011 budget Monday new funding to combat preventable and tropical diseases, malnutrition and other conditions afflicting the world’s poor, as part of a strategy to broaden its approach to global health,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
U.N. Secretary-General Focuses On MDGs During African Union Summit
Addressing the 14th African Union (AU) Summit on Sunday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for African countries to maintain their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), “which include reducing poverty, disease and child mortality, ahead of their target date of 2015,” BBC reports. Leaders from 53 African countries are gathered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for the three-day summit (1/31).
Obama’s Budget To Boost Medicaid Funding, Broaden Global Health Approach
President Obama’s budget proposal will top $3.8 trillion, including a $25-billion boost for state Medicaid programs, but would draw a $1.3 trillion shortfall in 2011 despite efforts to cut spending and improve lagging employment figures.
Democrats Work To Restart Health Bill
Though job growth has claimed the political imperative, Democrats appear close to settled on a new health reform strategy.
Some Sectors Of Health Care Industry Are Booming
News outlets report on sectors of the health care industry.
Some States Mull Requiring Prescription For Meth Ingredients
State and local efforts to stop methamphetamine production by limiting consumer access to a some decongestants are pitting law enforcement against pharmacists and patients.
States Continue Push Back Against Mandates In Stalled Health Bills
Conservative lawmakers in 34 states “are forging ahead with constitutional amendments to ban government health insurance mandates” despite the idling health reform measures in Congress, The Associated Press reports.
States worry about rising Medicaid cuts.
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
