Latest KFF Health News Stories
Opinion Pieces Discuss Bird Flu Research Controversy
In December 2011, the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) advised that two research teams that had genetically altered the H5N1 virus to be easily transmissible among ferrets redact some of the research details before publishing in the journals Science and Nature. The board’s primary concern was that the altered virus could possibly be used as a bioweapon. Scientists in January voluntarily suspended bird flu research for 60 days, and the WHO is expected to hold a summit later this month to discuss the issue. The following are summaries of two opinion pieces on the topic.
Mexico Sees Spike In Swine Flu After Two Years Of Low Transmission
“There have been 1,623 cases of all strains of flu in Mexico recorded so far for January, 90 percent of them H1N1 [swine flu],” compared to “about 1,000 flu cases in Mexico during all of last year,” of which roughly 250 cases were swine flu, Health Secretary Salomon Chertorivski Woldenberg told reporters on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. The news service notes, “Despite the spike, the number of cases is well within a normal flu season for Mexico, which can see from 5,000 to 11,000 incidents of all strains,” Woldenberg said. “The low appearance of the H1N1 virus the past two years is one reason it’s drawing so much media attention in Mexico,” the AP writes, adding, “Public nervousness about H1N1 has been high since the first outbreak in spring 2009, when the virus initially appeared to have a high mortality rate and Mexican authorities closed restaurants, schools, museums, libraries, and theaters to stop its spread” (2/1).
VA Purchase Of $1.2 Billion In Pharmaceutics Termed A ‘Team Failure’
These comments came during a Wednesday House Veterans Affairs Committee Hearing. Meanwhile, in other news related to veterans’ health, USA Today reports that the return of combat troops is driving a medical-care backlog.
Uproar Follows Komen-Planned Parenthood Rift
Anti-abortion activists applaud the move, but many other women’s health advocates are angered the well-known breast cancer advocacy group has opted against helping another prominent women’s health organization.
Medicaid Managed Care Takes Hold In Louisiana
The first-stage of Gov. Jindal’s Medicaid restructing begins today. In Florida, the legislative report casts doubt on some efforts there to revamp the system. Meanwhile, Illinois’ governor is urging changes to Medicaid to help fix the state’s budget.
More Fallout Over Obama Administration Birth-Control Coverage Rule
President Barack Obama’s decision on this issue may offer insights into his approach to policy making. Meanwhile, kudos and criticism come from different sides of the issue.
Media Outlets Examine Global Fund’s Future As It Enters Second Decade
The Guardian examines the future of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as it enters its second decade, writing, “Despite its staggering successes — including helping put 3.3 million people on AIDS treatment, 8.6 million on anti-tuberculosis treatment and providing 230 million insecticide-treated nets for the prevention of malaria — the fund’s recent troubles had threatened to overshadow its accomplishments as it prepared to mark a decade as the world’s main financier of programs to fight these three global epidemics.” The news service highlights a $750 million pledge to the Fund by Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, discusses recent managerial changes within the Fund, and quotes a number of experts about future challenges (Kelly, 2/2).
As Demand For Health Professionals Grows, Strategies Emerge To Meet It
News outlets report on efforts to meet the nation’s demand for health professionals — whether in rural areas or in primary care specialties.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment Climbs, Premiums Fall
The increase in enrollment was larger than expected.
India Has Worst Child Mortality Gender Differential Worldwide, New U.N. Data Show
An Indian girl between the ages of one and five years old is 75 percent more likely to die than an Indian boy, giving the country the worst gender differential in child mortality in the world, according to new data released by the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the Times of India reports. The “data for 150 countries over 40 years show that India and China are the only two countries in the world where female infant mortality is higher than male infant mortality in the 2000s,” the newspaper writes (Shrinivasan, 2/1). In India, for every 100 deaths among females one to five years old, 56 males of the same age group die, whereas the global average is 111 male child deaths to every 100 female children, India Today notes. “Higher mortality among girls is a powerful warning that differential treatment or access to resources is putting girls at a disadvantage,” the report said, according to the news service (2/1).
HHS Essential Benefits ‘Bulletin’ Draws Tide Of Comments
As the official window of time allowed for groups to react to the Department of Health and Human Services essential benefits proposal closed, a variety of objections, concerns and common themes became clear.
Setting The Scene For The Supreme Court’s Consideration Of The Health Law
Two state attorneys general will face off at the National Press Club on the constitutionality of the health overhaul. In other news, a Mississippi district court judge has agreed to hear a different legal challenge to the measure.
Insurance News: Sen. Feinstein Supports State Review Of Rate Increases
Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced she is supporting a ballot measure to give California regulators the power to approve health insurance rates. In other news, Blue Shield in California says it will cover an autism behavioral therapy and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Colorado and Connecticut announce plans to pay doctors for coordinating care.
State Roundup: Iowa Senate Provides $5M For Mental Health
A selection of health policy stories from around the U.S.
Viewpoints: Censoring Flu Research; Assailing Komen’s Move To Cut Planned Parenthood Funding
A selection of editorials and opinion articles about health care policy from around the country.
One Part Of HIV/AIDS Series Examines Germany’s Government Policies Surrounding Epidemic
As part of a week-long series, titled “Generation Positive,” looking at the HIV epidemic in the U.S. and Washington, D.C., WTOP’s Thomas Warren examines the history of HIV/AIDS in the U.S. compared with Germany, where he traveled as a fellow with the RIAS Berlin Kommission. The article describes “the history of HIV in Germany, including the governmental policies aimed at handling the disease and how the virus is treated medically,” according to the introduction (Warren, 2/1).
Longer Looks: Enhanced Scrutiny Of IVF Clinics; School-Based Health Care
A selection of in-depth articles on health policy from Time, the Columbia Journalism Review, National Review and Governing magazine.
The Health Law Implementation Challenges Faced By States
States’ ability to implement the major changes that take effect in 2014 are tied to the decisions they face now. Meanwhile, governors’ “state of the state” speeches reflect an overall cautious mood.
CSIS Report Examines Changing Role Of Private Sector In Global Health
This report, published by the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) on Tuesday and titled “The Private-Sector Role in Public Health,” reflects on an evolution in the roles and responsibilities of business in global health over the recent decades. “Private-sector engagement was among the main issues addressed at the recent 4th High Level Forum for Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea,” CSIS writes on its website, adding, “[A]s Lars Thunell, executive vice president and CEO of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), observed, ‘This could be the turning point where we recognize the mutually supportive roles of the private and public sectors in promoting development'” (Sturchio/Goel, 1/31).
First Edition: February 2, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from Capitol Hill about ongoing efforts to reach a deal on the “doc fix” as well as the latest on the flap between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and Planned Parenthood.
