Latest KFF Health News Stories
Highlights From Obama’s State Of The Union
President Barack Obama gave his first State of the Union address on Wednesday, reiterating the country’s need for health care reform and stating Congress “should not walk away” from the issue.
Health On The Hill – January 25, 2010
Congressional Democrats continue to debate their next step on health care overhaul legislation, with some urging that Congress move quickly on a scaled-back approach. President Obama and administration officials have stressed that they do not want Congress to abandon the issue and the president is expected to discuss health care during his State of the Union address.
Health On The Hill – January 19, 2010
The outcome of the Massachusetts Senate race could play a pivotal role in efforts by President Obama and congressional Democrats to pass a health care overhaul bill this year.
Big Bills For A Small Heart: The Lemacks’ Story
A Virginia family got permission for out-of-network care for their son’s heart defect but still ended up drowning in debt.
Health On The Hill – January 11, 2010
With House members returning to town, negotiations continue between House and Senate Democrats over differences in the two chambers’ health care bills. Key differences include financing, the level of subsidies provided to help people afford coverage and whether or not to include a tax on high-cost health insurance plans.
Health On The Hill – January 4, 2010
House and Senate lawmakers are beginning to resolve differences between the two chambers’ health care overhaul plans. Those differences include the size of the bills, language governing abortion funding and how the bills would be financed. While the House bill includes a government-run health insurance option the Senate bill does not. Negotiations are expected to continue throughout January.
Health On The Hill – December 22, 2009
The Senate continues to debate health care reform with passage of the Democrats’ health care bill expected by Christmas Eve. Key differences between the two bills — in the areas of abortion, financing and a government-run “public plan” health insurance option — would need to be resolved in a House-Senate conference deal, and approved by both chambers before reaching President Obama’s desk.
Health On The Hill – December 14, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., continues to push his party to approve health care overhaul legislation before Christmas but concerns over many issues, including abortion funding and a possible early buy-in for the Medicare program, could cause that timetable to slip.
Dissecting The Claims On Both Sides Of Health Reform Ads
Jackie Judd and Jordan Rau discuss the accuracies and inaccuracies of recent television ads on health care reform legislation. So far, over $165 million has been spent by groups trying to influence the debate.
Health On The Hill – December 7, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., continues his efforts to find consensus on a health care package that can win 60 votes. He has asked a group of party moderates and progressives to work on several issues, including creating an alternative to the “public option” health insurance plan Reid has in his bill.
Health On The Hill – November 30, 2009
Panelists discuss the array of amendments Democrats and Republicans are expected to offer as the Senate begins debate on health overhaul legislation.
Health On The Hill – November 23, 2009
Over the weekend, the Senate voted 60 to 39 to begin debate on health reform legislation, which will begin after the Thanksgiving break. Panelists discuss what’s ahead.
Video: Health On The Hill – November 16, 2009
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may unveil his health care overhaul plan this week. A podcast is also available. Read Transcript.
Health Care In Hazard: Annie Fox
Health care has to be looked at in context, according to Annie Fox and Teana Burns of “Harlan Countians for a Healthy Community” in Kentucky.
Health Care In Hazard: Beverly May
Family nurse practitioner Beverly May, of the Kentucky Mountain Health Alliance, treats many patients with chronic diseases.
Health Care In Hazard: Gerry Roll
Gerry Roll says people don’t understand the health problems in southeastern Kentucky: “You can get whatever you need as far as traditional medical care goes. Yet we have the highest levels of chronic disease in the nation. So when I hear people talking about access to health care being a problem, I am livid.”
Health Care In Hazard: Cathy Nance
Six years ago, Cathy Nance had to have open heart surgery. Later, she had kidney cancer. Because of poor health and inability to work, she became homeless, until she was helped by Harlan Countians for a Healthy Community.
Checking In With Dr. Donald Berwick,
KHN’s Phil Galewitz talks to Donald Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and clinical professor of pediatrics and health care policy at the Harvard Medical School.
As House Democratic leaders celebrate passage of health care legislation, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., continues to await a Congressional Budget Office analysis as he tries to craft a compromise package between bills passed by the Senate Finance and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees. Read the Transcript
House Democrats are expected to begin floor debate this week on their health care overhaul plan and House Republicans are expected to unveil an alternative measure.
