Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a sampling of Friday’s editorials and opinions from around America.
Single Payer Bill Passes Calif. Senate; Other States Consider Smaller Health Care Changes
California’s state Senate voted in favor of creating a single-payer health system Thursday. Other state health news includes Medicaid fixes, veterans issues, and spending from the tobacco settlement.
Texas Colleges Readying Students To Build, Maintain Electronic Medical Records
Three central Texas colleges are applying for a federal grant to train students in the use of electronic medical records, The Texas Tribune reports.
Democrats Offer Varying Views On Health Overhaul’s Fate
Senators and representatives offer their views on the latest trajectory of the health overhaul.
Health Bill – ‘On Life Support’ – Continues To Highlight Political Divides
President Obama’s State of the Union speech has so far failed to unite Democrats or get them moving on a strategy to advance health reform.
Pelosi, Reid Search For Health Reform’s Forward Path
Legislative leaders looking for a way forward on health care reform “conceded that they did not have an immediate strategy” and said their timeline was open-ended.
Republicans Tout Alternative Health Care Reform Plans, React To Dems
Republicans respond to health care reform efforts with scaled back plans.
Claims By Obama, Leading Republican Draw Fact-Checker Attention
A handful of news reports examine the claims being tossed around by politicians
Surgeon General’s Report Lays Out Recommendations To Address Childhood Obesity
First Lady Michelle Obama and health officials open a new campaign against childhood obesity.
Breast Cancer Patient Battles Insurer; Recession Burdens Charity Clinics
News outlets report on a patient’s struggle to get coverage for cancer treatment and over-burdened charity clinics.
Government Cracks Down On Drug Marketing
Wall Street Journal reports that recent legal actions targeting drug companies show “improper marketing practices are still a problem years after the U.S. government started cracking down on them.”
Novel Health Care Approaches: The ‘Medical Home’ And ‘Medicine At Work’
News outlets report on two novel approaches to health care: the medical home and patient-doctor intereactions via video.
White House Wants To Scale Up War On Medicare Fraud
The White House plans to ask Congress to increase fraud-fighting funding by 80 percent, in hopes of curbing billions of dollars in Medicare abuses.
Research Roundup: Raising Seniors’ Co-Pays Increases Costs; The Stimulus And Safety Net Providers
Today’s health policy research roundup includes studies on copayments’ effect on the quality and cost of care, the effect of stimulus funding on the public health safety net, an increase in teenage pregnancies, a guide for states to increase CHIP enrollment and health IT and “meaningful use.”
Health care experts examine discrepancies in health care payments and seek ways to reward efficient high quality, low cost hospitals.
First Edition: January 29, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest on Dems’ efforts to find a way to advance health reform, Dept. of Justice figures regrading health care fraud; and some interesting news from the state level.
PhRMA And Wall Street Analysts Weigh In On The Fate Of Health Reform
PhRMA and analysts on Wall Street ruminate on the fate of the health care bills pending in Congress.
Pelosi Discusses Plan To Move Ahead With Reform
Even as timing and strategies appear unclear, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that both the House and Senate continue to work on the health care reform bill.
