Latest KFF Health News Stories
Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria Widespread In Europe, Report Says
Multi-drug resistant bacteria “are increasing their grip in Europe with rates of drug resistance in one type of bacteria reaching 50 percent in the worst-hit countries, health officials said Thursday,” Reuters reports. “In a report [.pdf] on multi-drug resistant bacteria, … the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which monitors disease across the European Union, said the need to combat resistance was ‘critical,'” the news agency writes, adding, “To a large extent, antibiotic resistance is driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, which encourages bacteria to develop new ways of overcoming them” (Kelland, 11/17).
Report By Aid Watchdog Group Finds Many International Donors Lack Transparency
IRIN examines the results of a report by the aid watchdog group Publish What You Fund that examines “whether donors publish information about their budgets, their allocation and procurement policies, or audit reports on their own performance” and “finds that most international aid donors are still not open enough about their aid programs, and some offer no information at all.” The report, which “ranks 58 aid-giving countries and organizations according to their openness about 37 aspects of their aid programs,” was released in anticipation of the fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Busan, South Korea, at the end of the month, where “transparency will be up for discussion,” according to IRIN. Some of the organizations ranked in the report include the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the GAVI Alliance, the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) and the African Development Bank, according to IRIN (11/16).
Pollution Threatens Health Of Chinese Population, UNEP Report Says
“The pollution that has accompanied China’s spectacular rate of economic growth will have dire health consequences for its population, the United Nations has warned in a report,” the International Business Times reports. “Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP), told media that already hundreds of thousands of Chinese people have suffered respiratory illnesses or died prematurely due to the heavy smog that envelops some cities in the country,” the news service writes.
Case Challenging Vets’ Mental Health Care Goes Back To Appeals Court
The full appeals court will now consider the case. In May, a three-judge panel had ordered sweeping changes in the system.
Outside Groups Launch TV Ads Warning About Medicare Cuts
Americans United for Change, AFSCME, SEIU and MoveOn.org are among the groups targeting GOP lawmakers regarding proposals to cut Medicare. Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is striking back with ads of its own warning about government-run health care.
Survey Finds Health Care Costs A Key Issue In Presidential Campaign
But Americans remain split in their support for the health law. Meanwhile, in news from the campaign trail, Paul, Romney, Perry and Bachmann all grab health policy headlines.
Study: Health Insurance Premiums Soar In All 50 States
The new study by the Commonwealth Fund confirmed what other research had highlighted as a national trend in employer-sponsored coverage — higher costs for skimpier benefits.
CMS Delays Florida MLR Decision; Conn. Exchange Board Under Fire
In Florida and Connecticut, officials are wrestling with issues related to implementation of the national health reform law.
House Gives Nod To Correcting Medicaid ‘Glitch’
The measure, which already passed the Senate, will now go to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature.
Schwartz Presses Super Committee To Advance Her ‘Doc Fix’ Proposal
The plan, advanced by Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., would prevent a 27.4 percent cut in Medicare physician payments from kicking in Jan. 1, phase out the current outdated formula and transition to a new one. Though some physician groups are lining up behind her approach, the American Medical Association has not yet “on board.”
State Roundup: Calif. Cuts Make Public Health Outlook Bleak
A selection of stories from California, Maine, Florida, Indiana, Alaska, Massachusetts and Oregon.
North Georgia To Get Mental Health Pilot Program; Kansas City Providers Decry Blue Cross Rate Cut
Georgia officials are designing a system for 31 counties that will combine a crisis telephone service and authorization and payment under one roof. In Kansas City, insurance officials say payment cuts bring reimbursement in line with other rates.
Insurers Seek Health Law Exemption For Plans Sold To Americans Overseas
Four insurers have said that denying this request could put at risk as many as 1,100 U.S. jobs.
Medicaid Officials Struggle With Surge In Long-Term Care Needs
Two news articles look at different parts of Georgia’s Medicaid issues.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy from around the country.
Longer Looks: The Supreme Court And Health Law Politics
This week’s selection includes articles from The Daily Beast, The Atlantic, National Review, Mother Jones, the New Yorker and American Medical News.
First Edition: November 17, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that the Supreme Court’s review of the health law shocks Medicaid advocates and more on the continuing struggles of the super committee.
Regardless Of Outcome, Decision Will Be Landmark Ruling
News outlets explore and analyze various elements of the Supreme Court’s consideration of the health law.
Facing Pressure From All Sides, Deficit Panel Keeps Hands Off Health Law
The sweeping 2010 health law has stayed largely intact even as the super committee members struggle to slash the nation’s deficit. Meanwhile, the clock continues to tick down toward the deadline as even more proposals are floated.
