Latest KFF Health News Stories
Rotavirus Vaccine Could Save Millions Of Children In Developing Countries, Studies Find
Over the next decade, efforts to vaccinate “infants against rotavirus could save the lives of millions of children in developing nations who would otherwise die from the diarrhea-causing disease, two new studies show,” HealthDay/BusinsessWeek reports. The studies track diarrhea deaths among children vaccinated against rotavirus in Africa and Mexico and appear in the Jan. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine (Thomas, 1/27).
Haitian President Asks For Better Aid Coordination, Tents, Jobs
Haitian President Rene Preval said the country is in need of sturdy tents and jobs to prevent an ongoing crisis, the Miami Herald reports. At a press conference, Preval said, “Help the people with tents. Create employment so people can buy food in the country. That is what’s most important.”
Groups – Including Catholic Bishops – Press Democrats To Finish Health Reform
Several health care organizations are urging President Obama and Congress to finish health reform.
State Budget News From Kansas, Massachusetts and Idaho
News outlets report on state budget news in Kansas, Massachusetts and Idaho.
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a sampling of Thursday’s opinions and editorials from around America.
Federal Panel Awards Almost $500 Million To La. To Replace New Orleans Charity Hospital
A new hospital is a key to plans to build a $1.2 billion academic medical center in the Mid-City neighborhood. Meanwhile, other states grapple with quality and coverage issues.
Obama Appeals For Health Reform Despite Recent Setbacks
President Obama Wednesday appealed to Congress – albeit less prominently than before – to agree on and pass health care reform, but the bill remains in jeopardy.
WellPoint’s Profits Are Up; CEO Says Premiums Would Rise Under Health Overhaul
WellPoint’s fourth quarter profits are up eight-fold. Meanwhile, CEO Angela Braly says premiums would rise under the Democrat’s plan to require insurers to cover all Americans.
Increased Cost Sharing May Hurt Seniors’ Health Care
Cost sharing and increased co-pays, even if it’s just a few dollars, can lead seniors to put off visits to the doctor and result in increased hospital admissions and longer hospital stays, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine finds.
Pelosi Says House Could Pass Senate Bill Under Two-Track Approach
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that the House might pass the Senate health bill under a two-track approach.
Lawmakers Prod White House To Release Health Reform Deal Documents
A group of Republicans and Rep. Henry Waxman, the California Democrat who chairs the Energy and Commerce committee, are prodding the White House to release documents detailing agreements cut with industry groups in exchange for their support for health reform.
FDA Cautions Drug Makers About Potential Abuse
The Food and Drug Administration releases voluntary guidelines and warns drugmakers to “look beyound traditional indicators” to determine the potential abuse of new drugs.
One In Five Nursing Homes Receive Poor Quality Ratings, Analysis Finds
USA Today reports that ratings by Medicare are based on inspections, complaint investigations and other data.
McDonnell Says Democratic Agenda, Including Health Care Effort, Is Too Expensive
In his response to President Obama’s State of the Union address, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell said, “Americans wanted affordable health care, but they didn’t want the government to run it.”
Texas Tribune: Will Local Docs Overcome Obstacles To Go Paperless?
American hospitals have lots of reasons to go digital, as well as a handful of motives to stick with paper.
First Edition: January 28, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the President’s comments on health reform during his State of the Union address.
Obama To Congress: ‘Don’t Walk Away’ From Health Reform
President Obama urged passage for a health reform bill that would ‘relieve the burden on middle-class’ Americans.
Pelosi Says If Senate Accepts Reconciliation, House Can Pass Health Bill
Though it is unlikely that the President’s State of the Union speech will offer a specific plan for moving health reform forward, diverse groups — including the Catholic bishops and the largest labor union federation — were urging Democrats not to give up.
African Vaccine Maker Plans To Increase Production Capacity Sevenfold By 2013
Biovac Institute, a South African vaccine maker, said Monday that it is working with other major pharmaceutical firms to increase its annual capacity sevenfold to 35 million doses by 2013, Reuters reports. Morena Makhoana, the company’s deputy chief executive, said that 25 million of those doses will remain in Africa.
