Latest KFF Health News Stories
Senate Finance Committee Won’t Vote On Reform Bill Before Recess
Just one day after it appeared negotiators were on the cusp of a deal, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus said that his committee will not vote on a health reform bill before the August recess
Blue Dogs’ Bargain Blasted As Centrists’ Role Questioned
Kaiser Health News reports that an agreement by House Democrats with fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats has a cadre of detractors, including “state officials worried about increased Medicaid costs and liberal lawmakers upset about a proposed reduction in subsidies for low-income families to buy insurance.”
House Energy And Commerce Dems Vote For Public Plan, Republicans Balk
The panel voted for inclusion of a government-run public health insurance plan Thursday despite Republicans’ continued criticism of the concept.
August Health Reform Forecast: High Probability of Hot Debate, Crowded Airwaves
Over the August recess, Democrats plan to go on the offensive to boost their health reform proposals.
Hospitals Treating Wealthy Foreigners To Assure Cash Flows
International patients spending $3 billion a year on care in the United States are helping fund a gap for hospitals waiting with bated breath to see how health care reform will affect them, Marketplace reports.
Electronic Health Records For The U.S. Difficult To Do, But Could Pay Off
“Creating an electronic health record for every American by 2014 is a big part of Obama’s agenda but it may be easier said than done,” CNN Money reports.
With Falling Public Support, Obama’s Strategy Questioned
“The White House is facing uncomfortable questions about its strategy for selling President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul to Americans, after a series of opinion polls showed eroding support for it,” Reuters reports.
Lawmakers Dilemma: Should Tax Increases Pay For Health Care Overhaul?
As lawmakers disagree over which taxes to raise to pay for health care reform, they “also face another problem: They’re confronting the fear that’s made it hard to raise taxes for more than 30 years.”
What follows is a collection of recently released studies, analyses and surveys.
Today’s Selection Of Opinions And Editorials
Today’s selection of opinions and editorials.
New Survey Shows Americans Spend $34 Billion On Alternative Treatments
“While Americans may complain about the high cost of health care, they’re still willing to shell out roughly $34 billion a year out-of-pocket on alternative therapies that aren’t covered by insurance, a new study shows,” USA Today reports.
Industry Lobby Wars Heighten As Reform Efforts Progress
Health care companies are spending big and lobbying their case in Congress regarding the landmark debate that could dramatically change the way they do business.
Abortion, End-Of-Life Care Fire Up Health Debate, Blogosphere
As the House Energy and Commerce committee marked up the health reform bill last night, “a series of amendments on both sides of the abortion debate [added] a political charge — and a distraction — to the progress of the legislation,” Politico reports.
Health Care Costs For Small Businesses Considered
“Health care costs are killing small businesses. Their insurance premiums are rising dramatically and unpredictably,” NPR reports.
Lobbying efforts by a Texas hospital have steered hundreds of thousands of dollars to key lawmakers in hopes of blocking reforms that would restrict ownership of hospitals by physicians.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
No Senate Finance Markup Of Health Overhaul Before Recess
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus announced tonight that there will not be a markup in the committee of a health overhaul bill. He and ranking member Chuck Grassley dispelled rumors that negotiations had broken down and said they were still talking.
Finance Committee Stops Short Of The “Edge”
After making progress toward a health reform deal this week, the Senate Finance Committee has stalled in its negotiations, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is no longer promising that the panel will finish its work before the August recess.
Pelosi Defends Agreement With Blue Dogs While Movement Continues On Health Overhaul Efforts
News reports say the results of centrist negotiations may have helped get reform efforts back in gear, but at the same time, put off some liberal members of Congress.
Columnist Discusses HIV/AIDS Among Blacks In Washington, D.C.
Columnist George Curry on Tuesday in the Hudson Valley Press discussed how HIV/AIDS is impacting the black community, particularly in Washington, D.C.
