Latest KFF Health News Stories
White House Backs Boost In COBRA, Health Insurance Premium Subsidies
Modern Healthcare reports that the Obama administration is supporting a temporary boost in these subsidies to help workers who have lost their jobs and, therefore, their health coverage.
Health Law’s Cost And Coverage Issues Draw Attention
In an exclusive report, the Associated Press notes an unintended consequence of that health law – some older adults could pay sharply different amounts for private health insurance. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat reports on some recent developments in the policy debate over the health law’s maintenance-of-effort provisions.
Longer Looks: A Medicare Compromise; Improving Mental Health Policies
Every week, Kaiser Health News reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web.
Obama Links Medicare, Medicaid Cuts To New Revenue
And on Capitol Hill, some Senate Democrats
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Health Law
The majority decision, issued by a three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, included the support of a Republican appointee to the federal bench — the first to affirm the individual mandate’s constitutionality.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about yesterday’s decision from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the health law.
Federal Appeals Court In Cincinnati Upholds Health Law
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the health overhaul did not exceed Congress’ powers under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause. KHN tracked the news coverage.
Dems Reject Plan To Raise Medicare Eligibility Age
As negotiations over raising the nation’s debt ceiling continue, two senators advanced a proposal to squeeze savings from Medicare. It includes raising the eligibility age to 67.
Medicaid Advocates Fret Over Plans For Cuts
Politico reports that advocates fear an idea proposed by the Obama administration to change the way federal matching funds work could have very negative results. Meanwhile, groups – including faith-based organizations – opposing Medicaid cuts continue to step forward.
Swaziland’s Supply Of Antiretroviral Drugs Running Low
“Cash-strapped Swaziland’s state hospitals have only two months’ supplies of AIDS drugs, the country’s health minister has told parliament in an assessment that AIDS patients and activists took as a death sentence,” the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports. More than 60,000 Swazis receive antiretroviral medicine at no cost from state-run hospitals.
Global Malaria R&D Funding Has Received Sustained Growth, Report Says
“Annual funding for research and development (R&D) in the fight against malaria has quadrupled over 16 years, generating the strongest pipeline of potential treatments in history, according to a report [.pdf] on Tuesday,” Reuters reports (Kelland, 6/28).
FAO Announces Eradication Of Cattle Plague, Second Disease Since Smallpox Elimination
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday in Rome announced the eradication of the cattle disease rinderpest, “the only other disease besides smallpox to achieve the gone-for-good status,” HealthKey/Los Angeles Times’ “Booster Shots” blog reports (Cevallos, 6/28).
Goosby Discusses Global AIDS Fight At CSIS Event
Ambassador Eric Goosby, the U.S. global AIDS coordinator, said that a recent $75 million pledge from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Chevron and Johnson & Johnson could help “eliminate new HIV-infected children by 2015 and keep mothers alive,” McClatchy/News & Observer reports.
Improving Health Vital To Good Governance In Nigeria
In a Daily Independent opinion piece, U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria Terence McCulley writes that after “truly historic” elections in April, “[t]he Nigerian Government faces complex challenges in the post-election environment. Security, electricity, good roads, education and reliable health care top most people’s lists of immediate concerns.”
SciDev.Net reports on the 7th World Conference of Science Journalists, taking place this week in Qatar, where participants discussed how the number of clinical trials in developing countries is surging despite legal and ethical frameworks often not being in place.
