Latest KFF Health News Stories
Obama Signs Veterans’ Medical Bill Into Law
The measure is designed to keep funding for veterans’ medical care steady in the midst of budget negotiations.
White House Leaning Towards Public Option With State Opt Out Provision, Sen. Nelson Says
Speculation continues about whether a public option will be included in the Senate health bill and, if so, what it will look like.
Report: Quality Of Care For Insured Americans Slipped In 2008
A new report from the National Center for Quality Assurance found that for the first time in more than 10 years the “overall quality of health care” for Americans insured through commercial and public plans has slipped.
U.N. Report Documents How Opium Contributes To Spread of Disease, Deaths
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Wednesday released a report — “Addiction, Crime and Insurgency: The Transnational Threat of Afghan Opium” — documenting how “[t]he smuggling of Afghan opiates is fueling addiction and drug use along trafficking routes from Iran to Central Asia,” and contributing to the spread of diseases, the Associated Press reports (Oleksyn, 10/21).
AFP Examines Recent HIV Vaccine Findings
Agence France-Presse examines how two recent studies have “boosted morale” among HIV vaccine researchers who have struggled for decades to develop a viable vaccine to protect people from the virus.
USDA To Have ‘Important But Modest Role’ In U.S. Global Agriculture Initiative, Undersecretary Says
As U.S. plans to fight world hunger take shape, the USDA is gearing up for an “important but modest role,” in which the agency will follow directions from the State Department and developing countries, Rajiv Shah, undersecretary in charge of the USDA’s research arm, said on Wednesday, Reuters reports. Shah said, “We’re really saying this starts with (developing) countries doing their own work about identifying plans and priorities,” adding that USDA will then work “under the leadership of the State Department to help fill those gaps.”
News Outlets Examine Challenges With Expanding Global Child Immunization Campaigns
Wednesday’s release of the WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank joint report on childhood vaccines highlighted gains in recent global vaccination campaigns and also found that nearly 24 million infants worldwide don’t get the recommended first-year vaccination. The following news outlets examined the challenges associated with the expansion of global immunization campaigns to reach this population:
Leaders Confident They Have Support For A Public Option In Final House Health Bill
House Democratic leaders are confident they will reach the 218 votes needed for a “robust” public option.
Ethiopia Requests Emergency Food Aid For 6.2M People
Ethiopian Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development Mitiku Kassa on Thursday asked the international community for more than $121 million for emergency food aid for 6.2 million people, the Associated Press reports (10/22).
Some Senate Democrats Help Republicans Defeat $247 Billion Medicare Payment ‘Doctor Fix’
The Senate defeated a bill Wednesday that raised reimbursement rates for Medicare doctors permanently by $247 billion over a decade in what some are calling the first test – and defeat – for health care reform.
Senate Dems Still Debating Public Plan In Health Bills
Senate negotiators continue efforts to merge the Senate health bills into one measure. A central part of the task is weighing what form of a public insurance option could clear the upper chamber.
A Selection Of Today’s Opinions And Editorials
A sampling of opinions and editorials from across the country.
Crossover Vote Or Lost Cause? Maine Sen. Collins’ Reform Vote Examined
Maine’s junior senator is remaining mum on her vote for or against health care reform.
Health Care Lobbyists Spend Big To Win Big, Consumer Groups Fight Industry Deals
Health care lobbyists are on track to set new spending records this year, with some individual companies nearly doubling their investment compared to previous periods.
Obama Adopting A More Partisan Tone On Health Care
“In sharp contrast to how he got elected, President Barack Obama is bashing Republicans this week while urging Democrats to unite behind his effort to reform the nation’s healthcare system,” The Hill reports.
Some Hospital Revenues Could Decline If H1N1 Becomes Pandemic
“While it’s common for hospitals to see a revenue boost at the onset of seasonal influenza season, the additional threat of cases from the H1N1 swine flu virus could complicate this fall’s and winter’s financial picture for such health facilities,” The Chicago Tribune reports.
Health Reform Changes Could Increase Costs To States
Today’s state news round-up includes the cost of health reform to New York, immigrants in California, a possible new mental health overhaul in Arizona and a delay in expanding a children’s health program in Iowa.
Lawmaker To Introduce Patient Safety Bill With Error Reporting Requirement
Rep. Bruce Braley, D-Iowa, will introduce legislation creating a mechanism “to monitor medical errors and have a mandatory reporting requirement” for hospitals and doctors that make mistakes.
Large Firms That ‘Self-Insure’ Are Resisting New Regulations
The big companies, which cover more than 70 million Americans, seek to be shielded from costly new mandates and regulations, but that could leave workers with higher costs or denial of some coverage.
