Latest KFF Health News Stories
Retiree Health Funds Run Low, Program To Close Early
A notice in Friday’s Federal Register made clear that the fund designed to help cover health insurance for early retirees would stop taking claims for expenses incurred after Dec. 31.
House Plan Would Give Temporary Relief To Docs, Draws Hospital Concern
The “payment patch” would largely be paid for by charging higher Medicare premiums to affluent seniors and by cutting hospital payments.
Lawmakers Move Closer To Completing Legislative To-Do List
Still remaining on the list, however, is action to prevent a scheduled reduction in Medicare payments for physicians. A proposal to avert this cut is included in a broader measure that would extend the payroll tax break.
PlusNews Examines African Government Funding For, Engagement In HIV Research
“Unless African governments increase their funding for and engagement in HIV research, the continent cannot hope to attain equal status in determining its research agenda and priorities, speakers said at the 16th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Africa,” PlusNews reports. “Donor-driven funding often means that research starts and ends on the say-so of funders, rather than being based on a country’s needs,” the news service writes. The article includes comments from researchers, funders, and representatives of research initiatives (12/9).
Millions Of People In African Sahel Need Food Assistance, U.N. Agencies Say
“Millions of people in Africa’s Sahel region need urgent help to cope with food shortages brought on by erratic rainfall and drought, and at least one million children in the area face malnutrition next year, U.N. agencies warned,” AlertNet reports. “The World Food Programme (WFP), which called for a new type of response to climate-related crises, estimates that between five and seven million people in the semi-arid zone just south of the Sahara need assistance now,” and it “said the situation would worsen if nothing was done to help the countries in need — as more people are expected to run out of food supplies by February and March next year,” the news service writes (Fominyen, 12/9).
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about Congress’ efforts to inch toward the finish line on a spending deal, on a payroll tax bill and on a way to avert a scheduled deep cut in Medicare reimbursement rates for doctors.
Health Care – And The ‘$10,000 Bet’ – A Hot Topic At GOP Debate
The candidates traded barbs about the individual mandate to buy insurance and what they would do about the health law.
Romney Assails Gingrich For Remarks About GOP Medicare Plan
Former Massachusetts governor reminds voters in Iowa that his opponent once dismissed the bill drawn up by House Republican Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan.
House GOP’s Tax Bill Includes Medicare Pay Fix, Cuts To Health Law Funding
The plan would cut $21 billion in health law funding and $16 billion in hospital payments.
Kaiser Health News: Fund To Help Cover Early Retirees Nearly Out Of Money
The KHN blog Capsules reports that the $5 billion fund that helped cover health insurance for more than 5 million people will stop taking claims for expenses incurred after Dec. 31 because it is running out of money.
Science Examines HIV Prevention Trials, Challenges To Implementing New Strategies
Science examines recent successes in clinical trials in the HIV prevention field, limitations to mathematical models resulting from these trials, and funding issues facing campaigns to ramp up HIV prevention interventions. “[M]odels now suggest that combining [prevention strategies] might virtually stop HIV’s spread,” but “there’s a vast difference between a study having success and thwarting HIV in the real world,” according to Science. “Models only point out routes to ending AIDS, and many will surely differ,” the magazine writes, concluding, “But for the first time since AIDS surfaced 31 years ago, many researchers believe the destination itself is no longer a mirage” (Cohen, 12/9).
HHS Awards $14.5 Million To Fund School-Based Clinics
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the money will help treat about 112,000 students.
Data Inform Decision-Making Among Patients, Doctors, Insurers
A study uses a new measure to judge nation’s health care, another asks doctors to rate the best and worst insurers.
State Roundup: Consumers Dispute Iowa Rate Hike; Fla. Criticized On Nursing Homes
A selection of stories from Florida, Maryland, California, Louisiana, Iowa, Wisconsin and Connecticut.
HHS Released Final Rules On New Health Co-Ops
The nonprofit, consumer-owned insurance plans are part of the health overhaul set in motion by the 2010 law.
House Republicans Want Insight Into MLR Rules; Texas Seeks Waiver
House Republicans want to know if HHS consulted state insurance commissioners when writing MLR rules, while Texas seeks a waiver.
GOP To Pitch ‘Doc Fix’ As Part Of Payroll Tax Cut Extension Plan
Boehner is readying a plan to continue a payroll tax cut and has sweetened the pot for rank-and-file Republicans with cuts to the health law and approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. The plan would almost certainly face stiff opposition in the Senate.
Medicaid News: Fla. Gov. Scott’s Budget Tackles Hospital Reimbursements
Also, Georgia and New Hampshire have their own Medicaid provider news.
Microsoft, GE Form New Company To Create Health Care Software
The joint venture seeks to help health organizations integrate data.
