Latest KFF Health News Stories
Researchers Say Exclusive Licensing On Genes Could Hurt Patients
The Wall Street Journal reports that Duke University researchers have found, in a study published Wednesday, that granting “exclusive licenses on individual genes” could hurt patients’ chances of pinpointing their risks to develop disease.
Drugstores Try To Increase Their Presence With In-Store Clinic Market
Despite efforts to enhance those services, The Wall Street Journal says the concept has not proved “particularly profitable.”
Health Reform Affects High-Risk Patients, Abortion And Doctor Practices
A roundup of stories about the health overhaul’s policy implications.
Poll: Opposition To Health Law Grows
A new Associated Press/GfK poll has found that Americans oppose the health care overhaul 50-39 percent, which changed from an evenly split populace when President Obama signed the bill.
Sebelius: Plan Coming To Reduce Minority Health Disparities
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday that the federal government will soon have a national plan to reduce health disparities between minorities and whites, The Associated Press reports.
Officials in Massachusetts have told insurers to propose new rate updates by tomorrow or face fines.
Private Insurers Seek To Help States Manage Medicaid Expansion
UnitedHealth Group Inc. is issuing a report Thursday on managed care strategies to help states deal with problems that can undermine health-care programs for the poor, The Wall Street Journal reports.
CLASS Act Provision In Health Law Will Provide Long-Term Care For Elderly, Disabled
The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act program, a provision of the health reform law, “establishes a voluntary, long-term care program that will provide cash to enrollees who suffer at least two limitations in daily activities, such as eating, bathing and dressing,” Kaiser Health News reports.
A new report details the quality of health care in various states while Illinois’ hospitals are ranked for quality measures online an in Massachusetts, a study details rates of hospital-acquired infections.
Lawmaker Cancels Hearing On Big Corporations’ Tax Deductions Related To Health Reform
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman canceled a hearing set for next week that would probe claims from large firms – such as AT&T and Caterpillar – that the health law is costing them millions of dollars.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations,including reports about the jobless benefits package, including a COBRA subsidy extension and Medicare-doctor pay fix, advancing in the Senate. Meanwhile, in the House, a committee chairman cancels a hearing on business health care complaints.
Obama Administration Officials Reflect On Details, Implementation Of Global Health Initiative
Three senior Obama administration officials with global health-related portfolios spoke about the details and implementation of President Barack Obama’s Global Health Initiative during a forum Wednesday at the Kaiser Family Foundation in Washington, D.C.
New Strategy, More Funding Needed To Meet Maternal, Child Health MDGs, Report Says
“Dozens of countries are unlikely to meet” the Millennium Development Goal targets related to maternal and child health without a new strategy and an additional $20 billion each year, according to a report released Tuesday, the Canadian Press reports (Lederer, 4/14).
First lady Michelle Obama, along with Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, “paid a surprise visit to Haiti Tuesday, witnessing the ‘powerful’ devastation left in the wake of a massive earthquake three months ago,” Agence-France Presse reports. Obama and Biden took a helicopter tour of the capital, Port-au-Prince, and visited the “badly damaged” National Palace as well as a refugee camp.
G8 Focus On Maternal, Child Health Should Include Efforts To Improve Sanitation, Report Author Says
Part of Canada’s push to make maternal and child health a focal point of the upcoming G8 summit in June should include an emphasis on efforts to improve sanitation in the world’s poorest countries, according to an author of a report (.pdf) released Wednesday, Canwest News Service/Vancouver Sun reports.
WHO Official Says Agency Struggled To Find ‘Right Tempo’ For Release Of H1N1 Information
The rapid spread of information via the Internet “had a disruptive impact on the handling of the flu pandemic by fanning speculation and rumours,” WHO officials said Tuesday on day two of a three-day meeting of external experts tasked with evaluating the WHO’s handling of H1N1 (swine flu), Agence France-Presse reports.
Senate Democrats Eye COBRA Subsidy Extension Through Memorial Day
Democrats are seeking Republican votes in an effort to extend jobless benefits, including a program to subsidize insurance coverage for laid-off workers, through Memorial Day.
Medicare Doc Payment Cut Looms With New Deadline: Tomorrow
Although the cuts officially took hold April 1, federal officials ordered that no payments be processed until April 15, hoping to give Congress time to consider legislation to stop the reductions in doctor’s pay.
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of opinions and editorials.
