Latest KFF Health News Stories
USAID Provides Testing Equipment To Vietnam To Help Speed Diagnoses Of Drug-Resistant TB
USAID on Monday said it has “delivered the first two of 17 planned laboratory devices” to help quickly diagnose drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis (TB), VOA’s “Breaking News” blog reports. “It says the machines allow for technicians to diagnose multi-drug resistant tuberculosis within as little as two hours, instead of the previous time requirement of several months,” the blog writes. The “new lab devices, along with 12,000 testing cartridges, will be given to tuberculosis hospitals and clinics in more than 10 Vietnamese provinces,” according to the news service (2/6).
The U.N. Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (ESCAP) on Monday in Bangkok “opened a three-day meeting lauding impressive gains in recent years in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” but the body cautioned “there are still legal and social barriers that significantly set back eradication efforts,” VOA News reports. U.N. ESCAP Executive Secretary Noeleen Heyzer “note[d] the gains are uneven and there are still gaps in the goal of universal access to HIV treatment,” the news service writes.
Debate Continues Over Needle/Syringe Exchange Programs
Matt Fisher, a research assistant at the Center for Strategic & International Studies’ Global Health Policy Center, summarizes the ongoing debate in Congress over needle and syringe exchange programs (NSEPs) in this post on the SmartGlobalHealth.org blog. He presents a history of NSEPs and notes, “President Obama recently signed the FY12 omnibus spending bill that, among other things, reinstated the ban on the use of federal funds for needle and syringe exchange programs (NSEPs); this step reversed the 111th Congress’ 2009 decision to allow federal funds to be used for these programs.” He concludes that despite scientific evidence that NSEPs are an effective public health intervention, “ideological and moral opposition remains,” and therefore, “the issue of federal funding will continue to be actively debated” (2/6).
State Department, USAID Blog Posts Support Elimination Of FGM/C
In support of the ninth annual International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation, Melanne Verveer, ambassador-at-large for global women’s issues, and David Robinson, acting assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, outline several examples of U.S. advocacy and funding related to stopping the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in this post on the State Department’s “DipNote” blog. They call on governments and international donors to “overturn deeply entrenched social norms that are not only harmful to women and girls, but to our communities and societies” (2/6). In a post on USAID’s “IMPACTblog,” Sandra Jordan, communication and outreach adviser for USAID’s Bureau for Global Health, writes, “The single most important aspect of ending this practice is involving the community. USAID focuses on enabling and empowering communities to make their own collective choice to abandon FGM/C” (2/6).
World Economic Forum Helps ‘Improve Global Cooperation’ Surrounding Health Issues
Meetings such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) “are highly beneficial for the health sector, since there is a genuine need for reaching out to non-state actors in the midst of the many transformations shaping global and domestic health sector public policy,” Sania Nishtar, founder of Heartfile and Heartfile Health Financing, writes in a Huffington Post opinion piece. “But that is not all the World Economic Forum is doing for health. It is also contributing substantively in the normative and advocacy space,” according to Nishtar, who uses non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as an example. “By identifying NCDs as the top 10 risks to the world in WEF’s Global Risk Reports for two consecutive years (2009 and 2010) it helped raise concern, globally, at a time when it mattered the most,” especially leading up to last year’s U.N. High Level Meeting, she writes.
Guardian Blog Interviews Researcher Regarding Artemisinin Synthesis Discovery
In this post in the Guardian’s “The Observer,” Mark Honigsbaum, a research associate at the University of Zurich’s Institute for Medical History, interviews Peter Seeberger, the director of the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Germany, about a recent announcement that Seeberger and colleague Fran
Humana, HCA Show Brighter Earnings Picture Though Worries Remain
Humana met analyst projections for the quarter although revenue “was softer than expected;” and HCA stock shares are rebounding amid improved employment numbers.
Question For Cardiologists Has Far-Reaching Implications For Health Care Costs
The Washington Post explores a key question about health care treatment options that underscores certain issues within the health care system.
States Busy Implementing Local, Federal Health Reforms
Vermont may for the short term allow small businesses to offer low-premium, “bronze” insurance plans. In other news, a N.J. legislative committee approved a bill to establish a state health insurance exchange, and a California plan to move 875,000 children to Medicaid raises concerns.
Obama Administration Rejects Calif. Medicaid Co-Pay Proposal
The Obama administration said no Monday to California’s proposal to help close its budget gap by charging Medicaid beneficiaries co-pays on doctor visits, hospitals stays and prescription drugs. Elsewhere, Texas is planning a change to how it doles out charity care pay in its Medicaid program.
Romney Goes On Offense Against Obama On Health Care, Birth Control Issues
Romney and GOP presidential primary rival Rick Santorum also trade barbs, while the Associated Press takes a look at Newt Gingrich’s ties to lobbying.
State Roundup: Penn. Hospital Replacing Nursing Assistants With All RNs
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
Texas Begins Enforcing Strict Abortion Sonogram Law
A U.S. District Court judge says that he can’t stop the law from taking effect.
Some House Democrats Press For ‘Essential Benefits’ To Be Federal Decision
These House Democratic lawmakers are concerned that the Department of Health and Human Services is allowing states significant latitude in determining the definition of “essential benefits.” Also in the news, the Office of Management and Budget has begun its review of the long-awaited final regulations for the establishment of state exchanges.
Legal Challenges Likely Next Step As Flap Over Birth Control Rule Continues
News outlets report on the clash between the Obama administration and Catholic leaders.
A selection of editorials and opinion articles about health care policy from around the country.
National Alzheimer’s Plan To Include More Research Funding
The plan, for which a framework has already been released and an actual draft is scheduled to be released, also will set other goals, including caregiver support.
President’s Budget Plan To Include Medicare And Medicaid Spending Cuts But No Structural Changes
The Wall Street Journal previews elements of the Obama administration’s budget proposal, which is expected to be released next week.
New Survey Highlights Health Insurance Gaps Faced By Poor
According to the Commonwealth Fund, low-income adults who were surveyed were less likely to have insurance and to receive medical care including preventive screenings.
First Edition: February 7, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports previewing what’s ahead for Medicare and Medicaid in the president’s upcoming budget proposal as well as progress reports from Capitol Hill on the Medicare physician pay fix.
