Latest KFF Health News Stories
Reuters Examines Reproductive Health Issues In Russia
Reuters examines abortion, contraception and sex education in Russia, where, “[t]wo decades after the Soviet Union’s collapse, wider availability of contraception and a resurgence of religion have reduced the numbers of abortions overall, but termination remains the top method of birth control in Russia.”
Innovation Needed To Improve Water Delivery Systems
With more than one billion people lacking access to clean and safe water, and waterborne diseases causing 7,000 child deaths every day worldwide, “[i]t’s more important than ever that we be willing to look at old problems and find innovative ways to solve them. The issues of water access, quantity and quality need to be addressed at the same time,” Kevin McGovern and Quincy Jones, chair and honorary chair, respectively, of The Water Initiative (TWI), write in a Huffington Post opinion piece.
Health Insurance Exchanges Generating Controversy, Even Within GOP
Various states are wrestling with what to do about developing their insurance exchanges.
Four-Year Kala Azar Treatment Study Launched In India, Bangladesh
“A four-year test of drugs to treat a widespread parasitic disease called kala azar was announced on Monday by the governments of India and Bangladesh, Doctors Without Borders, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative [DNDi] and other groups,” the New York Times reports. Kala azar, also known as visceral leishmaniasis, is transmitted by sand flies and affects approximately 500,000 people worldwide at any one time. The disease can cause skin boils, and, if left untreated, can also “cause persistent fever, weight loss, an enlarged spleen and … death,” the newspaper notes.
Brazil Leading Fight Against Hunger, WFP Head Says
“Brazil is a world leader in the fight against hunger and its experience can be shared with other countries, visiting World Food Programme [WFP] chief Josette Sheeran said Monday … in the northeastern city of Salvador while inaugurating a local branch of a newly established Center of Excellence Against Hunger based in [the capital] Brasilia,” Agence France-Presse reports (11/7). The center “will assist governments in Africa, Asia and Latin America by drawing on the expertise of WFP and Brazil in the fight against hunger, while promoting sustainable school feeding models and other food and nutrition safety nets,” the U.N. News Centre writes (11/7).
Psychology Graduate Students Face Gap In Training Opportunities
The New York Times reports on a lack of internships available to students graduating in clinical psychology.
Fewer Businesses Take Advantage Of Health Tax Credits
The Treasury Department says the number of small businesses taking a new tax credit set up in the 2010 health law is smaller than expected. Also, a report to be issued Thursday says the FDA should not be in charge of health information technology.
‘Bundling’ Pay To Doctors And Hospitals Is Challenging
Studies in the journal Health Affairs looked at the concept of bundling payments to doctors and hospitals in which they are paid for “episodes of care” rather than for each individual treatment. The studies note the potential of such a move but also the difficulties.
First Edition: November 8, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories on malpractice reforms and previews of voting in Ohio on two ballot questions affecting health care issues and a Mississippi abortion issue.
GlobalPost Reports On Second Round GHI Country Selections
GlobalPost’s “Global Pulse” blog reports on the addition of 21 countries to the original group of eight Global Health Initiative (GHI) countries in a second round of selections. The Obama administration has “review[ed] detailed plans from each on main strategies and goals,” according to U.S. officials, the blog reports. The blog writes, “Unlike the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), GHI’s plan from the start was to spread its principles of better integration of programs and expanding into new health areas as quickly as possible.”
Viewpoints: Weighing The Ballot Measures in Miss. And Ohio; The Super Committee’s Task
A selection of editorials and opinions about health policy from around the country.
Medicare Touts Progress On Closing Doughnut Hole
Meanwhile, MedPAC makes recommendations for controlling costs for “dual eligibles,” and Medicare sees new rules bring costs down for weight loss surgery.
States Trying To Wrangle Medicaid Costs, With Some Unintended Consequences
Across the country, changes to Medicaid programs are causing controversy.
U.N. Agencies Respond To Flooding In Horn Of Africa
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) “reports heavy rains and flooding in parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are causing havoc among thousands of displaced Somalis in the region” and “flood-damaged roads are hampering relief efforts to thousands affected by the heavy rains,” VOA News reports (Schlein, 11/4). “UNHCR spokesperson Andrej Mahecic told a press briefing in Geneva that the agency has distributed 4,500 assistance kits so far, which include plastic sheets, plastic buckets and soap,” the U.N. News Centre writes (11/4). “In addition to providing emergency relief for floods, other U.N. agencies continue to increase their efforts to help Somalis who suffer from famine and insecurity,” VOA notes (11/4).
Blue Shield Of Calif. Turns To Retail Stores; Poll Finds Workers’ Share Of Health Costs Growing
Insurer’s retail outlet in San Francisco will be in a supermarket. Meanwhile, a poll of large U.S. employer health spending by Modern Healthcare finds workers’ costs are increasing.
Congress Examines Options To Improve Availability Of Prescription Drugs
CQ HealthBeat reports that Congress has taken an interest in tightening supplies of many drugs.
U.N. Increasing Joint Aid Efforts With Cambodian Government To Assist Flood Victims
The U.N. reported Friday “that it is increasing its joint efforts with Cambodian authorities and aid providers to offer food assistance to some of the thousands of people that have been displaced by severe flooding recently,” the U.N. News Centre reports. According to the news service, “Some 240,000 people have been displaced by heavy rains and according to the World Food Programme (WFP), 10 percent of the rice crops have been destroyed and 265,000 hectares of rice fields have been damaged, raising the price of rice by 12 percent” (11/4).
Fighting STDs: 20th Anniversary Of Magic Johnson News; HPV And Boys
The L.A. Times reflected back on the changes since Magic Johnson’s announcement that he was HIV-positive, and NPR examined the HPV vaccine controversy.
Federal Officials Say New Program Can Improve Health Services
The Innovation Advisors Program, intended to help leaders bring change to Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, could help spark changes throughout the industry, Modern Healthcare reports.
