Latest KFF Health News Stories
White House Backing Medicare ‘Doc Fix’ Bill
The White House Wednesday threw its support behind legislation intended to fix the payment schedule for doctors who participate in Medicare.
First Edition: November 19, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations — including details of the Senate health bill.
Senate Health Bill Would Levy Tax On Cosmetic Surgery
Major provisions in the Senate health bill include a proposed tax on cosmetic surgery and new language on abortion.
Reid Releases Senate Health Reform Bill, Includes Tax On Wealthy Americans
The bill immediately drew praise from Democrats, who liked the price tag and the coverage for an additional 31 million people, while Republicans denounced it as a “monstrosity.”
Even As The Release Of The Senate Health Bill Nears, Reid Keeps Counting Votes
Senate Democrats are planning a rally in support of the measure on Thursday at noon.
Sebelius Issues Statement On Mammography Guidelines As GOP Attacks Health Reform Proposals
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Wednesday that women should “Keep doing what you have been doing for years” amid outcry regarding new mammography guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Health Services Task Force.
U.S. Health Officials Testify Before Senate Committee About H1N1 Vaccine Campaign
U.S. health officials defended their handling of the country’s H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine campaign Tuesday “against criticism that their plan to protect Americans was confusing and over-optimistic,” Reuters reports (Fox, 11/17).
GAVI Alliance Drives Down Pentavalent Vaccine Costs, Data Shows
The “co-ordinated buying policy” of the GAVI Alliance has driven down “[t]he price of a vaccine that helps babies fight off killer diseases,” according to data released by the group, Reuters reports. In 2010, the price of pentavalent vaccine, which protects against Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and hepatitis B, will fall “below $3.0
U.S. To Consider Purchasing Some Food Aid Locally, Acting USAID Head Says At World Food Summit
The U.S. is interested in potentially using more locally-produced food aid rather than U.S. grown food as a way to expand investment in agricultural development in the developing world, said Alonzo Fulgham, acting head USAID, “on the sidelines of a World Food Summit in Rome” on Tuesday, Reuters reports.
Some Small Businesses Are Scaling Back Or Ending Health Coverage
“Across the country, businesses already strapped by the economy to turn a profit are sacrificing or scaling back employee health insurance plans because of their escalating costs,” The Associated Press reports.
Poll Shows Fractured Public Opinion; Dems Claim ‘Widespread’ Support For Health Bills
An Associated Press analysis of its own poll finds that support for the public option varies based on how the pollsters ask the questions.
A Selection Of Today’s Opinions And Editorials
A sampling of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Generic and Brand-Name Drug Makers Face Off
“Teva Pharmaceuticals, a leading manufacturer of generic drugs, has been aggressively lobbying Congress to scrap provisions in the health care bills it claims would shut it out of the biologic drug market for too long,” Roll Call reports.
House lawmakers are still facing questions on their health care reform votes as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi questions her caucus and groups plot a strategy to help vulnerable Democrats who voted for the bill.
Study Says 43 Percent Of Americans Could Be Obese By 2018 – Costing $344 Billion Annually
A study sponsored by the United Health Foundation and other groups says 43 percent of Americans could be obese by 2018, costing $344 billion annually.
CLASS Act, Individual Mandate Draw New Attention To Health Bills
Some provisions in the health bills are attracting a new wave of analyses and some criticism.
Senate Approves Budget For Veterans Programs
Democrats also move to assure veterans that the health care bill will not hurt them.
Sen. Grassley Prods Med Schools About Medical Journal Ghostwriting Practices
Senator Charles E. Grassley, an Iowa Republican, wrote to 10 top medical schools Tuesday demanding to know what they are doing about professors who put their names on ghostwritten articles in medical journals.
