Latest KFF Health News Stories
Research Roundup: Recession’s Big Impact On Men’s Insurance Coverage
This week’s reports come from Morbidity And Mortality Weekly Report, the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Urban Institute, the Kaiser Family Foundation, The New England Journal Of Medicine and The National Bureau Of Economic Research.
Medicaid A Factor In Minnesota Budget Surplus
The state’s unexpected $876 million surplus is partly due to lower-than-expected Medicaid enrollment.
Business Interest Grows In Employee Wellness And Consumers’ Health Choices
Media outlets report on how corporations are mindful of “healthy” opportunities. Meanwhile, WellPoint announces that it will begin covering lung CT scans for heavy smokers.
On World AIDS Day, Obama Announces Plan To Redirect $50 Million To Fight AIDS
President Barack Obama told advocates, patients and other stakeholders that his administration will do more to get antiretroviral drugs to people infected with HIV – in the United States and in low-income countries around the world.
State News: Mass. Seeks Medicaid Waiver Extension; Calif. Payment Reform
A selection of health policy stories from California, Georgia, Texas, Colorado, Massachusetts and Louisiana.
As Gingrich Gains Support In Polls, His Policies Draw Attention, Too
News outlets analyze GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s policy positions, including those regarding Medicare and other health issues.
Today is Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick’s last day. News outlets offer views on the agency’s work during his tenure at its helm.
GOP Develops Strategies To Focus On Health Law In Upcoming Election Season
The Hill reports that central to the Republican plan is to keep the spotlight on some of the measure’s controversial topics while the Supreme Court contemplates the individual mandate.
First Edition: December 1, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on congressional efforts to extend a payroll tax break and other work that must be done, such as the Medicare doc fix, before the end of the year.
Study: Few Healthy Food Choices At Calif. Children’s Hospitals
Only 7 percent of entrees at the 14 leading California children’s medical centers were deemed healthy.
Foster Kids More Likely To Be Given Psychotropic Drugs
Study finds foster children were prescribed the drugs at rates 2.7 to 4.5 times higher than other kids in Medicaid.
Obama Marks World AIDS Day With Funding Increases
The Ryan White program will get a $15 million funding boost, and an additional $35 million will go to state ADAPs.
ACOs Are Bursting Out All Over
A new report from Leavitt Partners found 164 “ACO entities” in 41 states in the U.S.
Opinion Pieces, Editorials Recognize World AIDS Day
Thursday, December 1 is World AIDS Day. The following is a summary of several opinion pieces published in recognition of the day.
Multimedia Resources Published In Recognition Of World AIDS Day
The following is a summary of multimedia resources published in recognition of World AIDS Day, observed on Thursday, December 1.
Opinion Pieces Address Global Fund’s Future After Cancellation Of Round 11 Grants
The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria decided to cancel Round 11 grant approval during a two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana, that concluded on November 22, according to a Global Fund press release (11/23). The following opinion pieces address this action.
‘Simple Solutions’ Available To Improve Family Health
“Although advances in vaccines, nutrition and family health have dramatically reduced the number of child deaths in the past 50 years, nearly eight million children younger than five still die every year,” Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, writes in this CNN opinion piece. She adds, “To me, this number is unacceptable, because most of these deaths could be avoided” by providing antibiotics, sterile medical supplies, or education on breastfeeding, as well by improving access to nutrient-rich foods and effective contraceptives.
Papua New Guinea Experiencing ‘Crisis In Maternal Health,’ Government Task Force Says
“Decades of neglect, a failing health system and remote mountainous topography have created a ‘crisis in maternal health,’ according to a government taskforce in Papua New Guinea (PNG),” IRIN reports. “While progress has been made since the taskforce released its recommendations in 2009, some 250 women are still dying for every 100,000 live births, according to a 2008 inter-agency estimate,” the news service writes, adding, “Maternal mortality rates in PNG doubled from 1996-2006, states the government’s most recent national health survey.”
