Latest KFF Health News Stories
Food Summit Draft Declaration Omits Hunger Eradication Deadline, Aid Commitment
“A declaration to be made at next week’s world food summit in Rome will not mention a target to eradicate hunger by 2025 nor a commitment to spend $44 billion a year in agricultural aid, according to a final draft,” Reuters reports (Aloisi, 11/12).
Almost 200M Undernourished Children Worldwide, Report Says
In developing countries, almost 200 million children under the age of 5 “suffer from stunted growth and health problems due to poor nutrition in their early years,” according to a UNICEF report released on Wednesday, Reuters reports.
CDC Expected To Revise H1N1 Mortality Figures
Based on the anticipated revised estimates, the number of American H1N1 deaths is more than triple that of earlier projections.
Businesses At Risk From Health Reform, Or Status Quo, Depending On Source
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Employment Policies Institute and other friends of business have joined to launch a national television ad campaign, beginning Thursday, that will warn against passage of the health care overhaul.
Florida Officials Say Medicaid Reimbursement Formula Will Drive Deficit
Florida officials are saying a drop in federal funding for their Medicaid program will leave the state on the hook for a dramatic increase in spending, or force officials to make cuts in the program to provide health care to the poor.
Timeline, Vote Counting Continue To Be Central To Senate Health Overhaul
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering a payroll tax on earners who make more than $250,000 a year to help pay for health care reform.
Pew Report: Nine States Face Budget Crises Of Californian Magnitude
A new Pew analysis titled “Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril” warns that nine other states are also on the brink of economic catastrophe.
Congressional Democrats Seek To Maintain Health Overhaul Momentum
The Senate could begin debating a health care overhaul next week but House leaders warn that final action might not come until Christmas week.
Senators Won’t Grow Deficit Without A Cost-Cutting Commission
Congress may outsource its tough budgetary decisions if moderate, deficit-anxious lawmakers have their way.
Will The Health Bill Bend Costs?
One cause for health reform anxiety is that no one is sure whether the legislation would achieve one of its most critical goals: lowering health care costs.
Abortion Rights Groups Unite In Fight Against Coverage Restrictions
Abortion-rights groups are calling out Democratic lawmakers who supported an amendment restricting abortions in the House health care overhaul bill, and are fighting to keep that provision out of a final reform bill.
Humana CEO: No Regrets About Sending Warning Letters To Medicare Beneficiaries
Humana’s CEO says he does not regret sending Medicare customers a letter warning that health care reform could hurt their benefits.
AARP Leader Provides Powerful Voice For Seniors And Health Care
John Rother tries to dispel myths and quell fears that seniors may have about health care reform as a leader at the powerful lobby and senior group AARP.
Making End-Of-Life Wishes Known Is Rare; More Hospice Care Could Save Medicare Money
The Associated Press reports on hospice care.
Today’s Selection Of Opinions And Editorials
A sampling of opinions and editorials from around the country.
HUD Threatens To Block Washington D.C.’s AIDS Funding
The U.S. Department of Housing is threatening to halt federal funding for the district’s AIDS programs after a Washington Post investigation found many delivered faulty services and failed to account for their work.
Activists Worry Immigration Arguments Will Hamper Hispanic Health Care
The Washington Post reports that Hispanic lawmakers and groups are “scrambling to develop a strategy to counter what they see as efforts to shortchange immigrants in health bills on Capitol Hill.”
First Edition: October 12, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more analysis of pending health overhaul proposals and news about the timeline for Capitol Hill action.
‘Let’s Get On With Fixing’ Foreign Aid, Editorial Says
“Poverty, famine and disease overseas lead to lawlessness, instability, revolution and terrorism that threaten American interests … That’s why our second most important means of self-defense after the military is foreign aid,” according to a Los Angeles Times editorial.
Hoyer: House Could Be In Session Until Late December
The House Majority Leader indicates that, if necessary, the House will work up until just days before the Christmas holiday to advance health care reform legislation.
