Latest KFF Health News Stories
“Over the last year, the Obama administration has aggressively pushed a $433 million plan to buy an experimental smallpox drug, despite uncertainty over whether it is needed or will work,” the Los Angeles Times reports. “Senior officials have taken unusual steps to secure the contract for New York-based Siga Technologies Inc., whose controlling shareholder is billionaire Ronald Perelman, one of the world’s richest men and a longtime Democratic Party donor,” including “replac[ed] the government’s lead negotiator for the deal” and “blocked other firms from competing,” the newspaper adds.
GE Capital Healthcare Flexes Muscle, Reaps Benefits
Also in health business news, Sutter Health names a new chief operating officer.
Increased Access To PMTCT Needed To End Pediatric AIDS, Build An ‘AIDS-Free Generation’
In this post in the Huffington Post’s “Impact” blog, Charles Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, responds to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech at the NIH last week in which she called for an “AIDS-free generation,” writing, “As Secretary Clinton pointed out, we’ve never before had as many tools to get ahead of the disease as we do now,” such as male circumcision and treatment as prevention, “[b]ut one of the cornerstones of her strategy to create an AIDS-free generation is a tool we’ve actually had in our arsenal for a long time: the ability to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.”
Cancer Drug Joins List Of Medicines In Short Supply
The drug Doxil, which is the second-line treatment for patients with ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma or Kaposi’s sarcoma, has been in short supply since mid-summer.
The Downfall Of A Database That Offered Patient Safety Insights
ProPublica reports on the latest news regarding the National Practitioner Data Bank.
NPR: VA Is Creating Medical Data ‘Gold Mine’
Part of the reason this sweeping medical database is possible is that the Department of Veterans Affairs has been keeping computerized medical records for more than two decades.
Problems In India’s Public Health Care System Lead To Growth Of Private Medicine
Toronto’s Star reports on how problems within India’s health care system — such as absent doctors and nurses, a lack of necessary equipment, corruption and one of the lowest health budgets in the world — has led to the mistrust of the public system and has paved the way for private medicine in the country. According to the newspaper, “In a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology survey in India, 79 percent said they opted for private doctors or traditional healers rather than government-run hospitals,” and that “they spent an average seven percent of their monthly income on health care.”
Report Highlights Difficulties In Uncovering Medicare Fraud
The AP reports on how federal officials struggle to monitor Medicare fraud contractors who look for fraud in the program.
Fact-Checking Romney’s Debate Performance
CNN examines comments made by GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney regarding the possible dollar savings that could result by repealing the health law, while the AP revisits his positions regarding the Massachusetts health law he signed while that state’s governor. Also in the news, more on Rick Perry’s Texas and where the candidates state on health research.
N.J. Plans To Use Managed Care System For Medicaid Enrollees With Mental Health Problems
The N.J. effort must secure federal approval first. Also in Medicaid news, a judge in California this week will hear arguments in the challenge to the state’s plans for adult health care.
CLASS Act Repeal Vote Will Test Dems’ Unity
Legislation to repeal the program, which is no longer being implemented by the Obama administration, will be marked up on Tuesday by a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy from around the country.
Super Committee May Delay Tax Details
As the panel’s Nov. 23 deadline approaches and doubts about its ability for success persist, a new approach is emerging in which the panel may opt to postpone politically difficult decisions by deciding the amount of new revenue their deficit-reduction plan would require, but leaving specifics to Congress’ tax-writing committees to fill in next year.
State Roundup: Md.’s Medical Home; N.Y. Malpractice Action; Texas Nursing Homes
A variety of stories from around the country about health care.
Obama Administration Unveils Plan To Expand Health Care Work Force
The initiative, which is part of the White House’s “We Can’t Wait” agenda, will release funds to hire and train health workers as part of its effort to give the U.S. economy a boost.
Survey Of Health Opinion Leaders Finds ‘Unflagging’ Health Overhaul Support
In this survey, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund and Modern Healthcare, 89 percent of respondents supported moving forward with the measure’s implementation. In related news, the National Committee for Quality Assurance plans this month to begin accrediting accountable care organizations. Meanwhile, in local coverage, North Carolina’s health exchange grant remains unspent and a rural California county has its own health reform calculus.
VOA News Examines Foundation’s Efforts To Treat MDR-TB Patients In North Korea
VOA News examines the Eugene Bell Foundation’s work in North Korea to detect and treat patients with multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The foundation is treating about 600 patients in North Korea, where “[c]onditions … are ideal for the spread of TB. The climate is cold. Most citizens live and work in small spaces, and lack proper nutrition to maintain a strong immune system,” VOA writes (Herman, 11/11).
