Latest KFF Health News Stories
FDA May Set Patient Safety Regulations For Health IT
The Food and Drug Administration, which has received reports of six deaths and several dozen injuries linked to health IT problems, may consider regulations for the industry.
Poll: Americans’ Health Reform Fears Eased In January
“With President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul in limbo, Americans’ fears about its effect on them eased in January, according to a poll released as the president tries to revive sweeping Democratic legislation,” The Associated Press/msnbc reports.
Current Health Reform Effort Haunted By Health Bills Of The Past
The current health reform debate is haunted by previous health legislation, according to news reports.
House To Vote On Ending Insurer Antitrust Exemption Today, White House Backs Measure
The White House announced support Tuesday for a House bill that would end the federal antitrust exemption for health insurers.
Doctors Work Fewer Hours, Study Finds
Doctors are working fewer hours even as the shortage of primary care physicians persists.
Anthem Blue Cross Will Go Forward With Rate Hikes, Execs Tell Calif. Lawmakers
Anthem Blue Cross executives told California lawmakers Tuesday that they plan to go ahead with a rate hike of up to 39% for individual health insurance policies.
A Bird’s-Eye View Of Health Lobbying
The Center for Public Integrity has published an in-depth analysis of lobbying disclosure forms that shows the scope of health overhaul lobbying activities in 2009.
Doctors Face Medicare Payment Cuts; Congress Considers Short-Term Fix
Medicare reimbursement rates could fall by 21 percent on March 1 if Congress does not act.
Reid Wants COBRA Subsidy Extension, Eyes Medicaid Funds For States
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is trying to extend unemployment benefits, health insurance subsidies for the recently laid off and help for state Medicaid budgets that would cost $100 billion.
First Edition: February 24, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the run-up to tomorrow’s White House health summit and the latest from Capitol Hill regarding the outlook for health reform.
Obama Backs Repeal Of Health Insurers’ Antitrust Exemption
The White House makes another move in its tussle with insurers.
Doubts, Questions Loom Over Planned Bipartisan Health Summit
More reactions to President Obama’s health proposal are trickling in from Capitol Hill, as the White House attempts to parry Republican criticism by asking GOP lawmakers to put their own plan on the table.
Obama Builds On Senate Health Bill In Hopes Of Broader Support
President Obama’s new proposal, an effort to resuscitate the stalled health debate, merges the separate legislation passed in the Senate and House into something with which the administration hopes both chambers will find agreement.
The White House Weighed Political Risks In Health Plan Calculation
President Obama’s health overhaul proposal suggests the administration will continue an aggressive push for sweeping legislation, flouting conjecture that the loss of a filibuster-proof Senate majority would lead to scaled-back plans, news analyses suggest.
Insurers Reject Obama’s Proposal For A Rate-Hike Review Panel
President Obama’s recently unveiled overhaul proposal puts the heat on insurers by requiring federal oversight of their premium rate hikes, something the industry has strenuously objected to.
Flightless Mosquitoes Could Fight Dengue, Study Says
By rendering female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a sampling of Tuesday’s opinions and editorials from around the United States.
As states grapple with lower revenues in this budget cycle, New Jersey considers cuts to public employee benefits and Ohio governor proposes switching some Medicaid funds to help seniors at home.
Senate Committee Report Addresses U.S. Government Response To Haiti
A Senate Foreign Relations Committee report, written by two Senate staffers, who just returned from Haiti where they assessed relief efforts, draws attention to “immediate shelter and sanitation concerns” and voices “concern about the coordination of Washington’s U.S. government response to Haiti,” Politico’s Laura Rozen writes on her blog. A link to the text of the report appears on Politico’s Web site.
