Latest KFF Health News Stories
Obama Highlights New Uninsured Census Numbers During Meeting With Nurses
The President called attention to the new figures as a means to add momentum to his push to overhaul the nation’s health care system.
New Uninsured Number: Up To 46.3 Million In 2008
A new survey from the Census Bureau found that the number of uninsured Americans rose by 600,000 Americans from 2007 to 2008.
The annual number of deaths among children younger than five worldwide “has fallen below nine million” compared with 12.5 million in 1990, according to new data from UNICEF, the New York Times reports. “That’s 10,000 less children dying per day,” Ann Veneman, UNICEF’s executive director, said.
Personalities: Democrats Continue To Wrangle While GOP Seeks To Make Use Of Summer Momentum Gains
Democrats are gathering votes from their own caucuses in an effort to help push a government-run public option as part of health care reform while conservative Democrats are seeking to bolster their own position.
Analyses Of Obama Speech Generally Agree: He Reframed The Debate Without Specifics
President Obama left out specifics in his speech Wednesday night to a joint session of Congress but attempted to reframe the debate to refocus the nation’s health care reform efforts.
Obama: ‘Time For Bickering Is Over’ On Health Care Reform
President Obama, in a Wednesday speech to a joint session of Congress, touted his preference of a public option while telling fellow Democrats that it’s only a means to that end of having all Americans covered by insurance.
Overshadowed Republican Reply Asks For Compromise, New Beginning
The official Republican response to President Obama’s speech was delivered by Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La.
‘You Lie,’ GOP Lawmaker Shouts During President’s Speech
Partisan tensions ran high at President Barack Obama’s address to Congress on Wednesday, with one Republican congressman shouting, “You lie,” in the midst of the speech when the president promised his reform proposal would not pay for insurance for illegal immigrants.
Democrats Praise President’s Speech
Obama’s health care speech garners praise, especially from liberal and centrist Democrats.
Early News Reports Suggest Those With Entrenched Views Were Not Swayed By Speech
A new poll, conducted before the president’s speech, shows rising public disapproval of his handling of health care.
Labs Grumble Over Co-Pays, New Fees For Medicare Lab Work
Big labs are unhappy with a Senate Finance Committee proposal to raise taxes for labs that perform Medicare services.
Analysis: Marketing Research Sheds Light On Low Vaccination Rates In Some Developing Countries
Despite progress in raising the vaccination rates in the world’s poorest countries, some countries, including India, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Indonesia, continue to have vaccination rates “below 50% in certain regions, compared with the 80% or more needed to achieve a low risk of the disease spreading,” Douglas Holt, Oxford University professor of marketing, and Jacob McKnight, also of Oxford University, write in a Livemint.com analysis piece.
By forging partnerships with developing countries, biotechnology companies from developed countries may be able to stay afloat during the current economic crisis and bolster innovation, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Livemint.com reports.
Tort Reform Back On Table In Health Care Debate
Tort reform is back on the table in the health care debate, but evidence that it would significantly reduce health care costs may be anecdotal.
Fact Checks On Obama’s Health Care Speech
Several news organizations published fact checks of President Obama’s health care speech.
Some Insurers Still Back Obama After Speech
Despite tough criticism from the president, leaders of two large private insurers give him generally high marks.
Improving Childhood Immunization Campaigns Could Reduce Sickle-Cell Deaths In Africa, Study Finds
By offering all children in Africa vaccines that protect against bacterial infections, researchers say the number of deaths among children living with sickle-cell anaemia could be reduced, Reuters reports. An estimated 200,000 children in Africa annually are born with sickle-cell anaemia, a genetic disease “in which red blood cells deform into a sickle shape and cluster, blocking blood flow and causing pain, vulnerability to infections and organ damage.”
Proposal Calls For Medicare Coverage Of HIV Screening
A new government proposal calls for Medicare beneficiaries to receive coverage for Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection screening.
Today’s Editorials And Opinions
Commentators examine President Obama’s health care speech.
