Latest KFF Health News Stories
Prescription Drug Ads Drive Up U.S. Health Costs
NPR reports on how prescription drug advertising drives up medical costs.
First Edition: October 13, 2009 – Senate Finance Vote Today
Early morning highlights from the major news organizations. All eyes are watching for the outcome of today’s Senate Finance Committee health bill vote.
Low-, Middle-Income Countries Could Receive Donated H1N1 Vaccine Shipments By November, WHO Says
About 100 low- and middle-income countries could receive donated shipments of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine as early as November, Marie-Paule Kieny, of the WHO, told journalists Monday, Agence France-Presse reports. “Dozens of millions of doses are being lined up following offers from pharmaceutical companies,” including Sanofi-Aventis, GlaxoSmithKline and MedImmune, as well as a coalition of developed nations “that have pledged to release 10 percent of their vaccine purchases for poor nations,” the news service writes (10/12).
New U.S. Agricultural Research Institute Launched; Global Food Aid Examined
The Obama administration recently launched the National Institute of Food (NIFA), “a new agricultural research institute … but farm lobbyists and others warned that its success depends on whether Congress agrees to substantially increase funding for farm research,” Government Executive reports. Slumping agricultural research led Congress to create the institute “in the 2008 farm bill in hopes of giving a farm agency the same stature as the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation,” the publication writes.
Benefits Of Health Overhaul Won’t Be Immediate
Mechanisms to make health insurance more affordable for families and low- and middle-income households won’t start until 2013 if health care reform passes.
Lawmakers’ Support For Health Reform Not Necessarily Based On Constituent Needs, Study Finds
The Los Angeles Times reports on a paradox: some lawmakers, whose constituents stand to benefit most from health reform, are the ones opposing the bill while some whose constituents will likely pay more are the biggest supporters.
Senate Finance Members Weigh Their Health Bill Votes
Senate Finance Committee members are weighing the consequences of their votes and counting who’s with them.
Some Scientists Question Results Of Recent HIV Vaccine Clinical Trial
Weeks after clinical trial results showed an experimental HIV vaccine offered some potential protection against the virus, “a second analysis of the $105 million study, not disclosed publicly, suggests the results may have been a fluke,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Today’s Selection Of OpEds: Cutting Health Costs
Today’s selection of opinions and editorials.
States Experiment With Reform, But Gaps Suggest Some National Changes Needed
Vermont scores high marks for a new experiment in coordinating care, as well as the overall quality of its health system. The gap between Vermont and lower performing states, however suggests to some that states may struggle to reform health care on their own. Other reports consider states that have made independent efforts.
DNC Pulls Health Reform Ad After Dole Complains
After a group of Republicans voiced support for health reform last week, the Democratic National Committee produced an ad featuring those comments
Obama Highlights GOP Reform Supporters; Capitol Hill Battle Grinds On
President Barack Obama praised health reform efforts in Congress in his weekly address Saturday, highlighting support from Republicans, a scheduled vote in the Senate Finance Committee and a Congressional Budget Office report that found the Finance bill would not add to the deficit.
Female Lawmakers Shape Health Care With Their Own Stories
Women lawmakers, such as Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, are trying to shape the health care overhaul by using the examples of their own medical histories.
Even With Early Shortages, Public Opinion Is Conflicted About Getting The Swine Flu Vaccine
Health official downplays risks from swine flu vaccine while the demand for the vaccine causes some shortages.
Insurers Change Course, Attack Health Care Reform, Predict Huge Premium Increases
Insurers who supported Democratic attempts to reform the health care system are now attacking the Senate Finance Committee bill, saying it would cause premiums to increase.
Young ‘Invincibles,’ Small Businesses Worry About Proposed Mandates
Newspapers report on how young adults and small businesses might be affected by the mandates proposed in the health care bills pending in Congress.
Congressional — And Political — Agenda Tied To Outcome Of Health Care Reform
The fate of the health care reform package will determine the congressional and political agendas. If it passes, questions abound over implementation. But if it fails, the political consequences could be heavy.
States Struggle With Medicaid Issues
Various newspapers examine Medicaid issues including the coverage needs of kids in Michigan, financial worries for Medicaid programs in California and New Hampshire and concerns that Medicaid pay may be cut again when stimulus money runs out.
