Latest KFF Health News Stories
Costs, Partisan Battles Move Center-Stage In Health Care Debate
President Obama may have to wade into a partisan congressional debate of the most divisive issues.
Device Makers, Late To The Table, Object To New Fees In Health Bills
“The $100 billion medical-device industry is scrambling to reverse billions of dollars in fees proposed by the Senate Finance Committee, but it faces trouble because its reluctance to offer concessions alienated some lawmakers,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Insurers Fail To Keep Up With Speech Technology, Deny Funding For Devices That Multi-Task
Insurance companies push speech-impaired patients, like one New York woman with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, to buy expensive computers featuring text-to-speech software by refusing to pay for alternative devices.
Poll: Majority Of Doctors Support Public Option
A new nationwide poll, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, finds a large majority of doctors were found to support a public option. Researchers find support among primary care physicians and specialist and both urban and rural doctors.
Activists Organize Around The Overlap Between Health Reform And Illegal Immigration Issues
Illegal immigration becomes a focus of health care debate as activists on both sides organize efforts.
Primary Care Shortage Could Worsen Under Reform
The shortage of primary care physician could be a hurdle to health reform. Not only are many medical students seeking to practice in higher paying specialty fields but some primary care doctors are retiring early because of the high cost of practice.
First Edition: September 15, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Retail Clinics Provide Quality Routine Care For Less
A new study sees benefits in walk-in retail clinics that provide good routine care for less.
Baucus Upbeat About Progress In Health Overhaul Negotiations
Health care negotiations progress as bipartisan Senators find common ground and the Senate Finance Committee prepares to release a compromise plan this week.
H1N1 Vaccine To Be Available In U.S. Earlier Than Anticipated
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Sunday that the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be available in the U.S. earlier than previously anticipated, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Washington Post Examines HIV/AIDS Rights, Responsibilities Questions
The Washington Post examines how African countries are “grappling with debates over what rights and duties to give those living with [HIV/AIDS] — a growing segment of the population that remains largely hidden.”
On ’60 Minutes,’ Obama Says He Is Responsible For Health Legislation: ‘I Own It’
President Barack Obama Sunday told “60 Minutes” that Republicans want reform dead and that he’ll be the one ultimately responsible for its success or failure.
Baucus Plans Last Attempt At Bipartisan Bill, Dems Acknowledge Moderates’ Key Role
This week is crucial for Sen. Max Baucus, who is trying to win bipartisan support from his Senate Finance Committee negotiators. If not, he is likely to join a Democrat-only effort to reform the health care system.
Moderates Against Government-Run ‘Public Option’
Moderates from both parties backed away from a government-run public health insurance option Sunday, as they appeared on various Sunday talk shows.
Illegal Immigrants: A Fact Check On Their Place In Health Reform
A factbox checks the place of illegal immigrants in President Obama’s health care reform push.
States Face Growing Health Costs, Dwindling Budgets
Many states are looking to budget cuts and some innovations to help deal with huge shortfalls in health care funding. For Louisiana, a post-Hurricane Katrina quirk in funding formulas threatens a $700 million cut in federal Medicaid payments.
Boston University Launches $10M, 5-Year Global Health Center
Boston University (BU) on Monday launched a five-year, $10 million global health initiative that aims to “bolster research and education” and “build a nationwide consortium of universities devoted to improving health in the Third World,” the Boston Globe reports.
Republicans: Malpractice Reform Demonstration Projects Insufficient
Many Republicans are not impressed by President Obama’s promise of moving on medical malpractice reform and a grant program that would focus on reducing costs from patient lawsuits.
Conservative Blue Dog Democrats ‘Pivotal’ To Health Overhaul
In his address to Congress on health care last week, President Barack Obama attempted to reassure Blue Dog Democrats, such as Georgia Reps. Jim Marshall and Sanford Bishop, that the plan would not be too expensive or intrusive for their conservative constituencies.
