Latest KFF Health News Stories
Family Planning Should Be ‘Cornerstone’ Of U.S. Policy In Afghanistan
“Without attention to population, countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan stand a good chance of staying mired in poverty, conflict, and corrupt, repressive government. That is why sustained investment in family planning by the United States and other countries would do more to stabilize the political climate there than any other foreign-policy initiative,” Jennifer Dabbs Sciubba, former Defense Department consultant and the Mellon Environmental Fellow in the department of international studies at Rhodes College, writes in a Philadelphia Inquirer opinion piece.
This week’s reports come from the National Governors Association, the Journal Of Public Health Policy, the Government Accountability Office, the Journal Of Internal General Medicine, the New England Journal Of Medicine, the Urban Institute and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
First Edition: September 2, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on a new study of the health problems suffered by 9/11 first responders.
Health Politics: Huntsman Supports Ryan Plan; Perry’s Thoughts On Health Law
GOP presidential contenders Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry express their views on the nation’s health care system.
NAIC Members Raise Concerns About Exchange Waiver Process
Meanwhile, the S.C. governor turns down federal funds for building her state’s exchange.
HHS Awards $40 Million In Public Health Grants
The funds, which are partly from the health law and will go to states, will help support health departments.
Researchers Seek Ways To Reduce Battlefield Amputations, Identify Heart Attacks Early
A Kansas scientist has developed a device to stabilize fractures during battle in the hopes of cutting down the number of amputations needed. Meanwhile, St. Jude researchers have launched a study of a new heart defibrillator.
Florida Steps Up Efforts Against Pill Mills; Hospital Executives Under Scrutiny
The New York Times looks at Florida’s efforts to stop illegal sales of prescription drugs while other outlets examine local hospital issues.
Cardin Is ‘Optimistic’ That ‘Super Committee’ Will Fix SGR
Repealing SGR would end the series of “doc fix” legislative patches. Also: KHN’s Mary Agnes Carey discusses likely consensus builders on the debt panel.
Calif. Bill To Regulate Health Insurance Rates Dies
Heavy lobbying in the state Senate helped kill the bill, which would have strengthened the state’s ability to review insurance premium increases.
Wis. Patients Getting Tested For HIV After Misuse Of Equipment
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a nurse misused equipment to teach diabetic patients how to inject insulin. Meanwhile, researchers look at how hospital uniforms can carry germs.
Medi-Cal Investigation Of Inflated Bills Yields Settlement From Lab Corp.
Meanwhile, federal investigators look into suspicious sales of prostheses, and S.D. whistle blower earns reward from federal government.
UnitedHealthcare To Administer Major Calif. Physicians Group
The insurer will acquire the management arm of a practice association of 2,300 physicians.
Medicaid Changes Plaguing Some Recipients
State Medicaid program cutbacks are having an effect on care for low-income Americans.
Hospital Growth Slows, NLRB Issues Nursing Home Union Decision
Moody’s predicts the slowdown will continue for several years. Meanwhile, the NLRB overturns a 1991 policy on unions in nursing homes.
Study: EHRs Improve Diabetes Care, Improve Clinical Quality
A Case Western Reserve University study has found electronic health records could help keep patients healthier – at least those with diabetes – and that clinical quality improvement is greater at practices that use EHRs.
Roundup: New Health Center Money In Ill.; Groups Question Insurers On Discrimination In Fla.
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
New Federal Study Spotlights Heavy Soda Consumption
CDC finds that half of Americans consume drinks containing sugar, such as soda and energy drinks, and that teenagers and young adults drink the most.
“A study conducted in Uganda and Zambia by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) found high rates of syphilis and HIV co-infection among pregnant women in both countries,” but showed that “integrating rapid syphilis screening and HIV testing for pregnant women was feasible, cost-effective, and helped to prevent transmission of syphilis and HIV from mother-to-child,” PlusNews reports.
Obama Gets Tough On Abortion Protesters; State Abortion Laws Challenged In Courts
Access to abortion clinics and challenges to new state abortion laws are in the news.
