Latest KFF Health News Stories
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.
Twenty Charged With Medicare Fraud; And Such Crimes Are Emerging As A New Area For Gang Activity
Those charged bilked Medicare for $26 million in unneeded or undelivered medical equipment in California and Las Vegas. Federal authorities report that increasingly dangerous criminals and gangs are being drawn into such enterprises.
Americans Split On Obama’s Health Care Proposals, New Poll Finds
But CNN survey finds that the majority of Americans favor passing some sort of reform rather than leaving the system unchanged. Polls also finds growing support for the public option.
House Republicans Find Many Angles For Opposition To Health Bills
House lawmakers who oppose Democratic-led reform efforts are finding a variety of targets for their complaints.
House Committee Votes To Remove Antitrust Protection From Insurance Companies, Senate May Follow
Democrats look to change the insurance industry’s antitrust exemption to drive costs down and competition up.
Study: Massachusetts Health Reform Popular With Doctors, Doesn’t Hold Costs Down
Massachusetts doctors are supportive of the reform efforts in the state.
Obama Administration Disputes Government Report On Reform’s Higher Costs
Administration officials quickly rejected a new analysis of the House health reform legislation that found health costs would rise even faster under the bill, with an HHS spokesman calling it out of date and “old news.”
First Edition: October 22, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including yesterday’s Senate vote on the medicare physician pay fix and a new report on how health reform proposals pending in the House would impact health care costs.
Senate Votes To Shelve ‘Doc Fix’ Legislation
The Senate rejected a procedural vote that would have moved the Medicare physician payment measure to the floor. A short-term solution is now in the works.
