Latest KFF Health News Stories
Magazine Examines Efforts To Biologically Alter Bugs To Fight Human Diseases
Pacific Standard magazine examines efforts by researchers around the globe to biologically modify bugs to fight human diseases, such as dengue fever. “Biologically altering bugs isn’t entirely new; it’s been done for nearly half a century to protect crops. … It’s only recently, however, that scientists have begun experimenting with using this technology to combat human diseases,” the magazine writes, adding, “If they succeed, they could create an entirely new way of stopping not only dengue but other insect-borne scourges, such as yellow fever, West Nile virus, and malaria. And stopping these diseases has never been more urgent.”
UNAIDS Director Calls For ARV Production In Africa
“Executive Director of UNAIDS Michel Sidibe Wednesday called for the production of anti-retroviral drugs [ARVs] in Africa to make the life-saving medicines against AIDS accessible to patients and boost the medicines manufacturing sector on the continent,” PANA/AfriqueJet reports. Speaking at the 16th West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) Summit in Lome, Togo, “Sidibe said it was time for the continent to negotiate strong partnerships with emerging countries, including India and Brazil, to support the local production of ARVs in Africa,” the news service writes, adding, “According to [Sidibe], Africa accounts for only one percent of the medicine manufacturing sector that is expected to generate as much as $1 trillion by 2015” (6/7).
PlusNews Examines Efforts Of Malawi’s New President To Restore Donor Relations, Fight HIV/AIDS
“Malawi’s new president, Joyce Banda, has inherited an unenviable to-do list from former president Bingu wa Mutharika, and AIDS activists are hoping that bolstering the donor-dependent AIDS response will be one of her most urgent priorities,” PlusNews reports. “An estimated 10 percent of the adult population is HIV-positive, with about 70,000 Malawians newly infected with HIV every year,” the news service writes, adding, “Yet the country is almost entirely dependent on external funding for its AIDS programs, and ambitious plans to scale up treatment have been derailed after the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria rejected a succession of funding proposals.”
Kenya To Distribute Free Syringes, Needles To People Who Use Injection Drugs
“The Kenyan government will begin distributing free syringes and needles to more than 50,000 [injection] drug users (IDUs) across the country in the next month,” PlusNews reports, adding, “Policy-makers and experts said the decision was reached following concerns over the spread of HIV and other blood-borne illnesses through injection drug use.” “[Injection] drug use is responsible for close to four percent of national HIV infections and 17 percent of new infections in Coast Province annually, according to government statistics,” according to the news service. “The government aims to distribute some eight million needles and syringes to drug users countrywide once the program is rolled out and will also encourage HIV testing, provide antiretroviral drugs, condoms, and medication for tuberculosis, the most commonly found co-infection with HIV” the news service writes (6/7).
Battle To Control Malaria In Cambodia ‘Not Over’
“Two years after some $22 million in donor funds were pumped into malaria control along the Cambodia-Thailand border to fight off suspected resistance to treatment, health workers say the battle is not over,” IRIN reports, adding, “The government reported 103,000 malaria infections and 151 deaths nationwide in 2010. A year later, 85,000 reported infections led to 93 deaths — a 38-percent decline in mortality.” “‘If you take your foot off the
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that the House voted to repeal the health law’s medical device tax.
Wallack On Vermont’s Goal: ‘Universal, Affordable Coverage’
Anya Rader Wallack, tapped to move Vermont toward a single payer system, is confident the state would enact its own individual mandate if the Supreme Court strikes down the federal mandate.
Will The Cadillac Tax Extend To Individual Plans Or The Self-Employed?
Michelle Andrews answers a question from a reader about who will be affected by the health law’s Cadillac tax, a 40 percent excise tax on high-cost plans set to start in 2018.
The Downside Of Health Care Job Growth
Health care employment has been the bright spot in the otherwise lackluster recent jobs reports. As overall employment decreased by 2 percent from 2000 to 2010, employment in the health care sector actually increased by 25 percent. But that’s not necessarily a good thing, according to an opinion piece published in the most recent edition of the […]
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report that some lawmakers on Capitol Hill are meeting to attempt to find ways to deal with an upcoming deadline — Jan. 1 — which is also known as the “fiscal cliff.” Politico: Secret Talks Under Way About ‘Fiscal Cliff’ The uptick in back-channel […]
Crystal-Ball Predictions On The Health Law Decision
Bloomberg News examines another recent Supreme Court case where the justices were critical of the administration’s arguments but upheld the law in the end. Meanwhile, various stakeholders and public officials offer their views on what the high court might do and what impact it might have.
House To Vote Today On Medical Device Tax Repeal
The measure, which would repeal a nearly $30 billion excise tax on medical device manufacturers, would also repeal a health law provision that prohibits the use of funds from flexible health spending accounts and other health reimbursement arrangements to buy over-the-counter drugs without a prescription. The White House has threatened to veto the legislation.
Focus On Health Care Jobs ‘Misguided’
News outlets report on a New England Journal of Medicine piece that argues that providing access to affordable health care is more important than protecting health industry jobs.
Group Rates More Than 2,600 Hospitals With Single Letter Grade
News outlets report on how their local hospitals were graded by a nonprofit organization that culled patient safety ratings from a variety of sources and assigned a single letter grade to more than 2,600 hospitals in the United States.
Medicaid: More Federal Scrutiny For Minn. Program; Colo. Reforms Become Law
Minnesota’s Medicaid program faces more federal scrutiny on its rates. In the meantime, new Medicaid payment reforms are signed into law in Colorado.
UnitedHealth’s Shareholders Will See Dividend Boost
The UnitedHealth board approved an increase in quarterly dividends of more than 30 percent. Also in the news, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group is facing allegations of Medicare Advantage overpayments.
Health Care Issues Make June A Difficult Month For Democrats
News outlets report how issues and the upcoming Supreme Court decision are creating difficulties for President Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Meanwhile, the focus on women voters is becoming a boon for advocacy groups on both side of key related issues.
Calif. Voters Reject Tobacco Tax, Officials Consider Fallout
California voters narrowly defeated a $1-per-pack tax on cigarettes amid an advertising blitz by the tobacco industry that some predict could quash similar efforts in the future.
State Roundup: Big NYC Hospital Merger; Colo. To Fight Exapnding Waistlines?
A selection of health policy stories from Colorado, New York, Washington state, Massachusetts, Idaho and North Carolina.
Implementing The Health Law: HHS Has Missed Nearly Half Of Its Deadlines
The Hill reports that, according to an analysis by the American Action Forum, the Department of Health and Human Services has missed many implementation deadlines in the last two years. Meanwhile, Politico Pro examines issues related to the health law’s Medicaid expansion and exchange subsidies.