Latest KFF Health News Stories
Law Enforcement Officials Seek, Find Medicare Fraud
The Palm Beach Post reports that if the federal government wants to cut $500 billion from Medicare fraud they should start in Miami-Dade County.
Democratic, Republican Attorneys General Continue Health Reform Lawsuit Battle
Politico reports that Democratic attorneys general are emerging as major players in with their refusal to join Republican counterparts in other states in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new health reform law.
Pfizer Discloses $35 Million In Payments To Doctors, Hospitals For Research And Promotion
Pfizer, the world’s largest drug maker, disclosed 35 million in payments during the second half of 2009, to doctors who spoke on behalf of drugs or consulted with the company, and to medical centers that tested the pharmaceuticals.
Seniors Worry About Medicare Reforms, Especially Changes To Medicare Advantage
“There’s no doubt that broad cuts in projected Medicare payments to insurance plans, hospitals, nursing homes and other service providers will sting. What hasn’t sunk in yet is that the new law also improves the lot of many Medicare beneficiaries,” The Associated Press reports.
Report: U.S. Needs More Planning For Vets’ Long-Range Health Costs
A study conducted by the federal Institute of Medicine shows long-range health care costs for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are almost impossible to predict.
Health Law Includes $250 Million For Abstinence Education
The new health care law contains “a renewal of $50 million per year for five years for abstinence-focused education,” CNN reports.
Health IT Developments Piggyback On Health Laws, FCC Plan
The health overhaul and other recent laws and proposals will have a broad impact on the health IT world. Here are a couple quick takes.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about President Obama’s trip to Maine today to continue efforts to sell the new health reform law.
U.N. Releases Report On Poverty In Afghanistan
A new U.N. report (.pdf) finds that “the majority of Afghans live in dire poverty, despite an estimated $35 billion in aid being poured into the country between 2002 to 2009,” the Associated Press reports.
Newsweek Examines Challenges Associated With U.S. Food Aid Program
Newsweek examines how the U.S. farm bill influences food aid by tracking the efforts of U.S. entrepreneur Navyn Salem as she worked to launch a nonprofit capable of providing ready-to-use therapeutic (RUTF) food aid known as Plumpy’nut
Stakeholders, Experts Meet To Develop Agriculture Reform Roadmap
Experts meeting in Montpellier, France for the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) are calling for restructuring agriculture “to focus as much on new seed varieties as on good governance, women’s empowerment and things like curbing commodities speculation,” Reuters/Independent Online reports. According to the news service, the conference aims to formulate “a road map to reform agricultural research to meet development goals” (Goering, 3/31). VOA News reports that the plan will be presented to G8 leaders (DeCapua, 3/29).
Following a two-day meeting of foreign ministers from G8 countries in Quebec on Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton “appeared at odds
U.S. Lays Out Goals For Role In Haiti Recovery
As donors from more than 100 countries gather at the U.N. in New York Wednesday to discuss the rebuilding of earthquake-ravaged Haiti, Cheryl Mills, an advisor to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, said that the U.S. “will be focusing on agriculture, energy, health and security. Also (on) support to the government in holding elections,” Agence France-Presse reports (3/30).
Obama Signs Bill, Continues Hard Sell Of Health Reform Law
President Obama signed the last piece of a health care reform law Tuesday, even as he scaled back expectations for the law and continued his hard sell pushing Americans to see the benefits.
With Corporations Already Claiming Pain From Overhaul, Business Lobby Poised To Fight Back
A week after the health overhaul cleared Congress, a business lobby that opposed the plan is now regrouping to shape its implementation and exact political retribution on supporters.
VA May Expand List Of Gulf War Illnesses
The Army Times/Veterans Today reports the Veterans Affairs Department may soon change its list of illnesses “presumed connected to service” in the 1991 Persian Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan to include nine infectious diseases. The list would also include unexplained sickness, such as Gulf War illness.
Court Rules Against Gene Patents
A judicial ruling that threw out parts of two gene patents has the biotechnology industry wondering if a new precedent has been set in DNA patenting.
Health Dept. IG Says Six Medicare Advantage Insurers Broke Rules
Six firms violated Medicare marketing rules, including two Fortune 500 companies.
Same-Sex Couples Often Pay More For Health Coverage
MarketWatch reports on higher health care costs for same-sex couples.
