Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: September 16, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
President Obama Urges Labor Support For Health Overhaul
President Obama spoke to the AFL-CIO’s annual conference and gave a campaign-style speech to rally labor support for health reform
House Democrats tried Tuesday to reframe the debate over health care legislation. Meanwhile, a key House committee chairman says that some of the president’s proposals from last week’s health care speech are complicating efforts to finalize House legislation.
Opinion Piece Calls For Enhanced U.S.-Russia Health Collaboration
While legislators in Moscow attempt to reform the Russian health system in a way that is “strikingly similar” to the reform process in the U.S. and “[g]iven the importance of the U.S.-Russia relationship … our two countries have a historic opportunity to expand our health collaboration and, in so doing, improve our diplomatic ties,” Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS) board of trustees, writes in a Foreign Policy opinion piece.
Baucus Works To Iron Out Medicaid, Abortion And Costs In Health Reform Bill
Sen. Max Baucus is addressing the final questions in his Senate Finance Committee health care reform bill and plans to offer it Wednesday, opening the way for a committee vote next week and a floor vote the week after.
Some Senate Dems Voice Concerns With Baucus Bill
Sen. Max Baucus’ pursuit of a bipartisan health care reform bill is being met with increasing skepticism from his own party.
Public Option Politically Charged On Both Sides Of Aisle
Alternatives to the government-run public option for health insurance are part of a long list of policy and politics considerations that officials are pondering in the run down to the final health care reform bill this week.
Wisconsin Town Offers Low Cost, Quality Care Model
The Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wis., offers a model of coordinated care that saves the federal government money through a Medicare pilot program.
Obama’s Malpractice Proposal Falls Flat For GOP And Democratic Contributors
Trial lawyers have used lobbying and fundraising clout — largely on behalf of Democrats — to avert malpractice reform for decades. The Obama administration should be a willing ally, but last week’s speech changed the game on malpratice reform.
U.N. General Assembly Votes To Create U.N. Agency For Women
After three years of negotiations, the U.N. General Assembly unanimously voted on Monday “to create a new, more powerful agency for women, in a move supporters hailed as a breakthrough for women’s equality and rights,” Reuters reports (Worsnip, 9/14).
WHO Says 3B People Worldwide Could Receive H1N1 Vaccine
Recent findings that a single dose of an H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine offers protection against the virus and anticipation of vaccination programs starting earlier than predicted will increase the number of people worldwide with access to the vaccine and the likelihood health officials may be able to control the spread of the virus, Bloomberg reports.
University Presidents Examine Schools’ Roles In Global Health
Five university presidents came together on Monday at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health’s inaugural annual meeting to examine universities’ role “in the rapidly-emerging arena of global health and how global health fits into the well-established set of departments, centers and schools” at each university, Inside Higher Ed reports.
State News Round-Up: Insurance Coverage, Infection Reporting, Immigrant Health
News outlets report on a range of state health stories including infections in New Hampshire, children’s insurance in Michigan, increased insurance coverage in North Carolina, immigrant health in Texas and long-term financial planning on Florida.
Generic Drugs Create Significant Cost Savings
Generic drugs and mail-order systems can save health plans money since brand name drugs generally cost 50 percent to 70 percent more than generics.
Today’s Selection Of Opinions And Editorials.
Obama To Meet With Sub-Saharan African Leaders Next Week
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice announced Monday that President Obama will host a luncheon for leaders of sub-Saharan African countries next week during the ministerial meeting of the U.N. General Assembly “to promote economic and social development,” the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.
Medicaid Expansions Could Spell Trouble For States, Democrats In Congress
Rising health costs, growing numbers of Medicaid enrollees and the possibility of a new mandate to increase the income threshold to become eligible for the program are combining to put state’s governors, as well as Democrats in Congress, in sometimes awkward positions.
Breaking It Down: A Comparison Of Major Health Care Plans In Congress
A look at the major health care reform proposals currently being considered in Congress.
Congressional Aides For Health Care Have Industry Ties
A number of influential Congressional aides have ties to the health care industry.
New Poll Suggests Americans Believe Health Reform Could Make Problems Worse
USA Today reports that a new poll suggests that some Americans believe President Obama’s push to reform health care won’t do what Obama would like it to do, namely cover all Americans without raising taxes for the middle class.
