President Obama's Budget Proposal Includes Broad Changes to Health Care System The budget proposal that President Obama released on Thursday includes a number of broad reforms to the health care system as part of his effort to expand health insurance to all U.S. residents, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 2/27). The $3.55 trillion fiscal year 2010 proposal includes $2 www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=57209

2009-02-27

New York Times Examines Obama Health Care Transition Team Community Discussions, Potential Insurance Industry Presence Health insurers have encouraged employees and satisfied customers to attend community meetings and house parties over the next two weeks to discuss health care reform, the New York Times reports. Earlier this month, HHS Secretary-designate and former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) requested that www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=56130

2008-12-17

President-Elect Obama Calls for Swift Action on Economic Stimulus Bill That Could Include Medicaid Funding for States President-elect Barack Obama on Friday and Saturday outlined his priorities for action after he takes office and said he first would focus on an economic stimulus package, followed by energy and health care, the New York Times reports (Baker, New York Times, 11/9). The stimulus package likely would include a www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=55458

2008-11-10

Prescription Drugs - Supreme Court Hears Opening Arguments in Wyeth v. Levine; Some Appear To Support Limited Pre-Emption The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday heard opening arguments in Wyeth v. Levine, a case that could determine whether patients have the ability to file product liability lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies in state courts, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 11/3). The case invol www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=55364

2008-11-04

Both Major Presidential Candidates Support Prescription Drug Reimportation, Cite Need To Ensure Safety Both Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) support prescription drug reimportation but cite the need to ensure the safety of medications purchased from other nations, CQ HealthBeat reports. At the annual conference of the Generic www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=55239

2008-10-28

Capitol Hill Watch - Pharmaceutical Industry Spends More Than $13M on Ads 'Thanking' Lawmakers Who Supported SCHIP Legislation The pharmaceutical industry has paid $13.2 million for television advertisements that 'thank' 28 federal lawmakers -- 25 of whom are Democrats -- who supported the 2007 SCHIP expansion legislation, the Wall Street Journal reports. The ad campaign is 'an example of how interest groups are already adjusting to www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=55189

2008-10-24

Prescription Drugs - Some U.S. Residents Cut Back on Prescription Drugs To Save Money The New York Times on Wednesday examined how, as 'people around the country respond to financial and economic hard times by juggling the cost of necessities like groceries and housing, drugs are sometimes having to wait.' An analysis conducted recently by IMS Health found that U.S. prescription drug sales in www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=55145

2008-10-22

Administration News - NIH Director Zerhouni Announces Resignation, Plans To Leave Office at End of October NIH Director Elias Zerhouni on Wednesday announced that he will resign at the end of October, The Hill reports (Young, The Hill, 9/24). Zerhouni said he expects Raynard Kington, the agency's current deputy director, to fill his position until the end of President Bush's term in office, CongressDaily reports www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=54666

2008-09-25

Blog Watch - Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Feature Highlights Recent Blog Entries While mainstream news coverage is still a primary source of information for the latest in policy debates and the health care marketplace, online blogs have become a significant part of the media landscape, often presenting new perspectives on policy issues and drawing attention to under-reported topics. To p www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=54220

2008-08-29

Coverage & Access - Number, Percentage of Uninsured U.S. Residents Decreased in 2007, According to U.S. Census Bureau The number and percentage of uninsured U.S. residents declined in 2007 to 45.7 million people, or 15.3% of the population, according to an annual U.S. Census Bureau report released Tuesday, USA Today reports (Cauchon/Appleby, USA Today, 8/27). In 2006, 47 million people were uninsured, or 15.8% of the popula www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?hint=3&DR_ID=54175

2008-08-27