Latest KFF Health News Stories
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in a letter to lawmakers on Wednesday “warned House Republicans about pushing ahead with a bill to cut funds for the United Nations, saying she would recommend that President Barack Obama veto the legislation” that is expected to be considered by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports. “Clinton said the bill would severely limit U.S. participation in the world body, undercut U.S. interests and damage the security of Americans at home and abroad,” AP writes (10/12).
“Twenty-six countries have ‘alarming’ or ‘extremely alarming’ hunger levels, with the situation deteriorating particularly badly in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to this year’s Global Hunger Index,” AlertNet reports. The report (.pdf) was released by the International Food Policy Research Institute, Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide and “focuses on the impact of rising food prices on the world’s poorest people,” the news service writes. “DRC
‘Doc Fix’ Dilemma Makes Debt Panel’s Job More Difficult
According to Reuters, sources indicate panel members are interested in taking on this Medicare issue, but doing so would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and complicate their efforts to find federal budget savings. Meanwhile, in related news, AHIP – America’s Health Insurance Plans – is lobbying the committee regarding an approach to debt reduction that involves coordinating care for dual eligibles.
Detailing How Romney’s Health Law Waivers Would Work
Politico reports on how GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney’s health law waiver plan would work – states could skirt some of the measure’s biggest requirements, but it’s still not a complete repeal. Meanwhile, news from the campaign trail indicates that Romney is facing attacks from GOP rival Texas Gov. Rick Perry as well as the White House. And as Herman Cain, another GOP candidate, picks up momentum, details of his 9-9-9 economic plan are emerging – including the fact that it would eliminate payroll taxes that pay for Medicare and Social Security.
Health IT Incentives May Not Always Work As Intended
iWatch News reports that nearly half the federal dollars meant to encourage physicians and hospitals to adopt electronic medical records went to providers who were already embracing the technology.
Medical Panels Continue To Wrestle With Conflict-Of-Interest Issues
The federal government has not yet written guidelines that would help address this problem, even though the rules were mandated as part of the health law.
Medicare Part B Premiums Going Up, Cutting Into Social Security COLA
The Social Security Administration is expected to announce the program’s first cost-of-living adjustment in two years. But a boost in Medicare premiums will undermine how much benefit receipients experience.
Hospitals, Health Groups Going Green
The Washington Post reports on this health sector trend, in which health industries are using their purchasing power to push manufacturers to make more environmentally friendly products.
Medicaid Waivers, Enrollment Problems Plaguing States
In Arizona, California and Virginia, Medicaid issues are looming.
Employees Face New Choices, Costs This Open Enrollment Season
For example, Wells Fargo is offering its employees new choices, which may pose challenges for them.
State Roundup: Anti-Abortion Legislation Campaign
A selection of health care news from around the country.
Conrad: Repealing Health Law Via Budget Rules Would Be Misuse
Also in the news, media outlets report on a range of issues related to the health law’s implementation, including accountable care organizations, essential benefits and an HHS warning about a fake website related to the measure’s pre-existing condition insurance plan.
Legislation News: Obama Promises To Veto Anti-Abortion Bill
The House is expected to pass an abortion-related bill today, but like other similar legislation, it is not likely to make progress in the Democrat-controlled Senate. Meanwhile, a number of other health-related measures and subjects are moving on both sides of the Capitol, including a rural health proposal and another related to a health tax credit aimed at easing the contractor tax compliance burden. Lastly, two Senate Democrats expressed concerns about the Prevention Trust Fund’s advisory panel.
Bonuses Tied To Medicare Advantage’s Star System Reward Plans For Quality
Nine plans scored top marks for 2012, up from only three in 2011.
A collection of editorials and opinions from around the country.
Longer Looks: For Doctors, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
This week’s articles come from The Economist, The Atlantic, Mother Jones and American Medical News.
First Edition: October 13, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report about how Mitt Romney’s health law waiver plan would work — states could skirt some of the measure’s biggest requirements, but it’s still not a complete repeal.
Guardian Photo Gallery Shows North Korea’s Food Crisis In Pictures
The Guardian published a gallery of photographs taken in North Korea by Damir Sagolj, after “[a] harsh winter and widespread flooding have exacerbated the food shortage in [the country], leaving millions of people on a knife edge.” Sagolj traveled to North Korea with a group of journalists invited by the government “to see at firsthand how the situation has hit the country’s farm belt” in an effort to “highlight the humanitarian crisis” (10/11).
AMREF Selects Ugandan Midwife To Lead Maternal Health Campaign
The African Medical and Research Foundation [AMREF] has selected Esther Madudu, a midwife at the Tiriri health center in northeast Uganda, to lead its global campaign, Stand Up for African Mothers, the Guardian’s “Poverty Matters Blog” reports. The goal of the project is to reduce maternal deaths worldwide by 25 percent and train an additional 30,000 midwives, “including 10,000 in Uganda,” according to the blog. Madudu will travel to France this week, “where she will address delegates at the Women’s Forum Global meeting, alongside Uganda’s minister of health, Christine Ondoa,” the blog notes (Ford, 10/12).
New data published in the WHO’s 2011 Global Tuberculosis Control Report on Tuesday, “shows that the number of people who fell ill with [tuberculosis (TB)] dropped to 8.8 million in 2010, after peaking at 9 million in 2005,” the U.N. News Centre reports. “The report shows that the TB death rate dropped 40 percent between 1990 and 2010, and all regions, except Africa, are on track to achieve a 50 percent decline in mortality by 2015,” the news service writes (10/11). “The countries the WHO especially noted for progress in the fight against the disease were Kenya, [Tanzania], Brazil and China,” Reuters reports (Selyukh/Ulmer-Nebehay, 10/11).
