Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Political Will, Dogged Organization’ Needed To Maintain Momentum Of Deworming Campaigns
In this New York Times opinion piece, journalist Amy Yee examines the cost-effectiveness of and challenges to deworming treatment campaigns in the developing world, deworming campaigns in India and Kenya. She writes, “Intestinal worms are pervasive in the developing world and can have devastating effects. But there is growing awareness about how easy and inexpensive it is to treat worms, as well as surprising longer-term socioeconomic benefits. Research shows deworming to be extremely cost-effective.” Yee provides statistics from previous studies on the various benefits of deworming school-aged children and asks, “If giving deworming pills to schoolchildren is so easy and effective, why haven’t more large-scale programs taken off?”
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about how the budget debate is mixing into presidential poiltics.
Mississippi Legislature Passes Abortion Clinic Bill
The bill will require any doctor performing abortions in the state to be a board-certified OB-GYN with admitting privileges at a local hospital, which could make staffing the state’s sole abortion clinic very difficult.
Study: Chemo Costs Less In Doctors’ Offices
Chemotherapy costs significantly more at a hospital than at a physician’s office, and patients might have decreased access to the cheaper option, according to reports out this week. The first report, by Avalere Health, found that chemotherapy received in a hospital outpatient setting costs, on average, 24 percent more than when received at a physician’s […]
Minnesota Medicaid HMOs Refund $73M To State, Feds
Four big Minnesota managed-care plans will repay state and federal taxpayers an estimated $73 million as part of a deal the HMOs made with Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration last year.
Today’s Headlines – April 4, 2012
Good morning! Here are your early a.m. headlines to get your day started: The New York Times: Obama, In Talk, Calls House GOP Budget The Work Of Rightist Radicals President Obama opened a full-frontal assault on Tuesday on the federal budget adopted by House Republicans, condemning it as a “Trojan horse” that would greatly deepen […]
President Lashes Out At GOP Budget, Medicare Plan
In a Tuesday speech billed by many as a preview of the Obama reelection campaign’s favorite themes, President Barack Obama blasted the treatment of Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlement programs by the Republicans and warned that their spending blueprint is a form of “Social Darwinism.”
GOP Plans For Health Law Replacement; Obama Softens Court Rhetoric
Republican lawmakers say they are beginning to pull together a health care package that could replace the 2010 law if the Supreme Court overturns it.
A selection of editorials and opinions about health care policy from around the country.
Hearing Date Set For Injunction Request On Express Scripts-Medco Merger
The hearing, which involves an effort by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the National Community Pharmacists Association and independent pharmaciesto undo the merger deal, will be held on April 10.
Hospital News: Officials Plan New Building In Colo.; Mich. Facility Is Shutting Down
Denver hospital officials plan an expansion, a Michigan hospital says it’s shutting down, and in Massachusetts, Steward Health Care plans to buy a hospital.
WellPoint CEO’s Compensation Slid In 2011
As the health insurer’s earnings decreased in the face of losses to its Medicare Advantage plans, its CEO Angela Braly received less in compensation, The Associated Press reports.
Catholic University Ends Birth Control Coverage
A Catholic University in Ohio ends its health plan coverage of birth control, and Texas is planning to apply for federal block grants to free up money to use on its Women’s Health Program, which is closing.
Health Plan Settles Fla. Lawsuits; Minn. HMOs Return $73M To State, Feds
In Florida, a health plan in Tampa will pay $137.5 million to settle lawsuits over Medicare and Medicaid claims, while Earvin “Magic” Johnson plans to invest in a new HIV plan there. In Minnesota, the federal government and the state will split $73 million nonprofit HMOs are returning while other Minnesota health plans profits jump 21 percent.
State Roundup: Feds Deny Hawaii Medicaid Hospital Limit
A selection of state health policy stories from Hawaii, Arizona, Wisconsin, California, Texas, Oregon and New York.
Physician Groups Identify Unnecessary Procedures
The list of 45 tests and procedures was pulled together by nine medical speciality groups to help reduce spending and improve patients’ health.
Quantifying The Health Law’s Medicaid Expansion
The Fiscal Times estimates that the health law’s Medicaid expansion which will offer government coverage to about 15 million low-wage workers and their families.
Federal Court Judge Takes Umbrage At Obama’s Remarks On Judicial Activism
The judge ordered the Justice Department to explain whether Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. believes federal judges have the authority to strike down federal law.
More Must Be Done To Increase Access To Family Planning Services For Women In Rural Areas
“If family planning services, including information about reproductive health, access to birth control, and health care, were available to all women, the deaths of 100,000 women during childbirth could be prevented every year,” Maeve Shearlaw, policy and advocacy coordinator for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, writes in this post in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s “Impatient Optimists” blog. “In other words, access to family planning saves lives,” she writes, adding, “Clearly, more must be done to reach women in rural areas and to increase demand in places where women don’t even know about family planning methods. It is also important to focus on girls and young women, who are more at risk of losing their lives in childbirth — yet simultaneously much less able to reach family planning services” (4/2).
Video: Santorum Still Swinging At Romney About Health Care Record
After his primary victories in Wisconsin, Maryland and the District of Columbia, Mitt Romney attacked President Obama on a variety of social and economic issues, briefly mentioning health care. Meanwhile, challenger Rick Santorum went after Romney by reprising his theme that the former Massachusetts governor would be a weak candidate against Obama on health care.