Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a sample of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Ottawa Citizen Examines Water, Sanitation In East Africa
A series of articles by Ottawa Citizen reporter Chris Cobb examines water and sanitation in East Africa. Cobb wrote the articles as part of a Kaiser Family Foundation Mini Fellowship.
Difficult Issues Will Remain Even If Senate Democrats Pass Health Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., made two major changes to the Senate’s version of the health overhaul legislation
How Health Reform Might Affect ‘Young Invincibles’
ProPublica profiles a “young invincible” and reports on what a health care overhaul might mean for him.
Sausage-Making Greases Overhaul Votes And Fuels Criticisms
Last-minute, multimillion-dollar deals with wavering senators helped secure the support of all 58 Democrats and 2 independents needed to pass the overhaul bill, but may also set a new bar for future horse trading.
Local Leaders React To Senate Health Overhaul Bill
Local leaders are reacting to the health care overhaul as the Senate passage of the bill creeps closer.
Lawmakers Hope To Combine Senate, House Health Reform Bills Quickly
Democrats are hoping – and planning – on fast negotiations between the Senate and the House in January.
Senators Keep Health Bill’s Christmas Eve Timeline On Track
Senators cast the second of three procedural votes Tuesday to end debate and prepared to cast votes on the Senate’s health care reform bill on their timeline of Christmas Eve Thursday.
Obama Praises Senate For Clearing Key Health Care Hurdle
Obama calls the Senate vote a victory against “special interests” to produce a bill that will reduce costs and the deficit.
Obama Signs Cobra Subsidy Extension For Laid-Off Workers
The new law extends the subsidy an additional six months, for a total of 15 months, for workers who have been let go by employers.
Lobbying Set For A Record Year Fueled In Part By Health Care Debate
Senators overseeing healthcare reform bill receive PAC money while lobbyists are on pace for a record year.
Political Parties Try To Shape Public Opinion On Health Care
Republicans believe that their opposition to the overhaul bill will help GOP candidates but Democrats are turning their attention from winning votes for the measure in Congress to winning the hearts of the public.
Senate Democrats were bolstered Monday by the endorsement of the American Medical Association as they push for a final vote this week on their health overhaul legislation.
Republicans Blast Senate Deal-Making; Contemplate Delays
Republicans continue to critique the deal-making process and to delay the Senate health bill’s final vote.
Big Hospitals Amass Cash, Criticism
Despite industry warning, many big hospitals amass large amounts of cash and criticism.
First Edition: December 22, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Task Force’s Role In Reform Bills Draws Scrutiny In The Wake Of Mammography Guidelines
The expert panel would take on a higher level of authority under pending health reform legislation, making some of its critics a bit nervous, The Washington Post reports.
Winners, Losers Examined In Senate Health Bill Tax Treatment, Insurer Regulations
Nebraska, Louisiana, Vermont and Massachusetts get extra help with Medicaid funding; Montana gets expansion of Medicare to cover people sickened by mining operation. But tanning salons face increased taxes.
Many Senators viewed the procedural vote on the package of changes advanced by Majority Leader Reid as a vote on the overall bill.
Reid’s Fight To Get 60 Votes Dims Liberals’ Hopes Of Compromises In Conference Committee
“The need to hold Nelson and other moderates in line means major changes on the public option, abortion, taxes, Medicare and Medicaid are unlikely – and that the Senate’s vision of health reform is likely to prevail over the House’s in the final talks,” Politico reports.
