Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Major Tech Firms Join Ranks Of Health IT Squad
Some of the nation’s leading technology companies
Activists And Lobbyists Ramp Up Efforts In Possible Final Health Care Push
Activists and lobbyists organize as the president and some lawmakers try to move forward with health care reform.
Doctors Issue Warnings About Reduced Access As Congressional Inaction Cuts Medicare Pay
A political deadlock in the Senate has triggered a 21 percent Medicare pay reduction to doctors who say they may have to limit care for older Americans as a result unless the reduction is reversed.
Catholic Charities In Washington, D.C., Limits Spouses’ Health Insurance
Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., will not offer health insurance to spouses of new employees because the city legalized gay marriage, according to The Washington Post.
California Consumer Group Sues Anthem Blue Cross For Changing Policies And Then Raising Rates
Consumer Watchdog and other plaintiffs are suing Anthem Blue Cross, the California insurer that recently told policyholders it would hike premiums by 39 percent. The consumer group alleges that the company violated state law by closing some plans to new customers and offering other customers new plans with fewer benefits at a higher price.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on the White House health reform strategy and a new lawsuit against California’s largest for-profit health insurer.
