Latest KFF Health News Stories
Republicans Hint At Strategy To Defeat Health Bill
The House Republican leader is holding out hope that they can defeat Democrats health overhaul effort.
U.S., World Mount Response To Haiti 7.0 Earthquake
Rescue teams and aid groups headed to Haiti on Wednesday to offer help and “assess damage from a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake that crippled the island nation, severing communications with the outside world and crumbling countless buildings,” the Miami Herald reports (Charles et al., 1/13). Tuesday’s “earthquake was the worst in the region in more than 200 years and left the country in a shambles,” according to the New York Times (Romero/Lacy, 1/13).
AP Examines Clinton’s Emphasis On Women’s Empowerment, Trip To PNG
As Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Rodham Clinton travels to Papua New Guinea Wednesday, the Associated Press examines how she will continue to press for “‘women empowerment,’ a signature issue of her nearly one-year tenure as top U.S. diplomat.'”
Vilsack Promotes Agriculture Improvement In Afghanistan, Announces $20M In Aid
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has launched “a major drive to improve agriculture” in Afghanistan, McClatchy/Miami Herald reports. During an airborne tour of the country’s Helmand province on Tuesday, Vilsack delivered the “message: If you grow wheat, vegetables and pomegranates instead of poppies, the United States will help you reap the financial benefits.” Vilsack said, “This is by far the number one non-military priority here in Afghanistan” (Day, 1/12).
AP, IRIN Examine Lawsuit Challenging Plumpy’nut Patent
The Associated Press examines the decision by two U.S. nonprofit groups seeking to increase production of the ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF), Plumpy’nut, to file a lawsuit against the French organizations that hold the product’s U.S. patent.
WHO To Review Its Handling Of H1N1 Pandemic
Amid recent complaints that the WHO exaggerated the threat of the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, the agency announced Tuesday an upcoming independent review of the agency’s handling of the pandemic, Agence France-Presse reports (1/12).
California Health Information Organization Closes After Losing State Bid
A California nonprofit meant to facilitate health information exchange has closed its doors after losing a bid to become the state’s main exchange organization.
Missouri Best In Using Federal Aid To Combat Medicaid Fraud, Other States Fight Over Federal Rules
The Kansas City Star reports that Missouri led the country in 2008 in efficiency in using federal dollars to combat Medicaid fraud.
Health Care Fraud Is Big Business
Health care fraud has become a multi-billion dollar industry
Cardiologists Contest Medicare Cuts
A cardiologists’ lobby is suing Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, claiming cuts to heart care services, especially diagnostic tests, are unjustified.
Today’s Op Eds: Taxes, Health Reform Myths, Federalizing Medicaid
Today’s selection of opinions and editorials.
‘Cadillac’ Tax Deal In The Works
“Unions tentatively struck a deal Tuesday to exempt collectively bargained healthcare plans from a tax on high-cost plans expected to be used to help raise revenue for the healthcare overhaul,” CongressDaily reports.
House, Senate Lawmakers Race To Find Compromise, But Differ On Key Issues
Health care has consumed Congress for much of the past year, and lawmakers recognize that their constituents are eager for them to move on to other pressing issues.
Obama, Democrats Meeting Wednesday To Start Making Final Health Reform Decisions
Democrats hope a meeting with President Barack Obama Wednesday will help whittle the differences between the House and Senate bills.
As Budgets Squeeze, States Seek More Federal Help With Medicaid Responsibilities
New York Gov. David Paterson is trying to build a coalition of states to seek a “federal takeover of health care costs for the elderly poor who receive benefits under both Medicare and Medicaid,” The Associated Press reports.
McConnell Hopes Democrats See Unpopularity Of Health Bill And Change Course
Roll Call reports that Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday acknowledged there is little the GOP can do to block passage.
As House and Senate lawmakers work toward a compromise on their health overhaul legislation, various provisions remain in play.
As Health Reform Win Seems Close, Reid Struggling In Nevada Re-Election Bid
“In the nation’s capital, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is on the brink of pushing through a national health program that Democrats rank alongside the creation of Social Security and Medicare. In Nevada, that very achievement is imperiling his re-election prospects,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
Obama Reportedly Supportive Of House Bid To Include National Exchanges In Health Bill
President Barack Obama reportedly is pushing to include national health insurance exchanges instead of state-based exchanges.
