Latest KFF Health News Stories
Survey Examines Disease R&D Investment In 2008
According to an annual survey released Tuesday by the George Institute for International Health that looks at R&D funding of diseases that affect the developing world, the U.S. government in 2008 “remained the single biggest contributor as it again provided almost half of the total funding but the report notes developing countries like Brazil [and] India … were becoming a growing force,” AAP/Sydney Morning Herald reports (Rose, 12/15).
A Selection Of Today’s Opinions And Editorials
A sampling of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Senate Democrats Trying To Push Health Reform Bill Ahead
Senate Democrats are beginning to rally for a push to pass a health bill before Christmas, but vote couting continues to be frustrating.
Reid Says Medicare Part D ‘Doughnut Hole’ Will Be Closed
On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid promised to help close the Medicare “doughnut hole” of prescription drug coverage in Medicare Part D as part of health care reform, CBS News reports.
Business Concerns Focus Of Obama’s Holiday Party Lobbying
The president urged the Business Roundtable’s chief to stick with the reform effort.
States Battle Budget Cuts And Recession
A round-up of state and local health news.
Medical Device Makers Divided Over Reduced Tax
Some in the industry appear more willing than others to accept a truce.
Major Medicare Fraud Crackdown In 3 States
Federal agents arrested 26 suspects in three states Tuesday in a major Medicare fraud case. Charges included false reporting for medical equipment, physical therapy and HIV infusions.
On And Off Capitol Hill, Politicians Are Taking Positions On Health Bill
Maine’s Republican Senator Susan Collins praised efforts by Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, Conn., to change the bill but she says she can’t yet support it.
Hospital, Physician Lobbyists Fought Medicare Buy-In Proposal
Hospital and physician lobbyists opposed plan that would have allowed people age 55 to 64 to buy Medicare coverage.
More Details Emerge About UNITAID’s Plan For Patent Pool For HIV/AIDS Drugs
Though UNITAID’s board “voted Monday to create a board to run the new patent pool, and set a target of having five AIDS drugs in the pool by mid-2010,” the group “punted on the thorny issue of which countries outside of Africa to include in the pool,” Forbes reports. Some drug makers have voiced opposition to the inclusion of countries such as Brazil, China and India in the patent pool, viewing “these as lucrative new markets,” the magazine writes.
Lieberman Assures Democrats Of His Support But Ties With Party Are Fraying
Senator Joseph Lieberman told Democrats he would likely support the Senate health bill now that his demands have been met, but his opposition has rattled liberals.
Liberals Agitated By Compromise, But Appear To Back Health Reform
Liberals are accruing a long list of things to be upset about in the health reform legislation.
Tea Party Protestors Rally Against Health Bills At Capitol
A clear message from the event was “kill the bill.”
Judge Dismisses Immigrants Lawsuit Against Atlanta Hospital
The group of immigrants, most of them illegal, had sued Grady Memorial Hospital, which closed its outpatient renal clinic that provided free dialysis treatment to a group of immigrants, most of them illegal.
Amendment To Allow Drug Importation Fails In Senate
A bipartisan plan to allow Americans to buy cheaper prescription drugs from suppliers in other countries, such as Canada, failed Tuesday in the Senate.
First Edition: December 16, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details on President Obamas meeting with Senate Democrats and the push to pass the Senate health bill.
Obama To Democratic Senators: ‘We Are On The Precipice’ Of Major Health Reform
The president urges Senate Democrats to make history by passing a sweeping health overhaul bill.
Lieberman Ready To Support Health Bill Without Medicare Buy-In Or Public Option
The Connecticut senator maintains his position has been consistent despite his support for the buy-in when he was a vice presidential candidate in 2000.
New data from the WHO and the Belgian Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters Deaths and released at the U.N. climate conference show the number of people dying in climate-related disasters has decreased, but that economic losses from natural disasters are growing, Reuters AlertNet reports.
