Latest KFF Health News Stories
Researchers Closer To Developing Meningitis B Vaccine
“New research may bring scientists one step closer to developing a vaccine that protects against hundreds of strains of meningococcus B, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis,” according to research published last week in Science Translational Medicine, HealthDay News reports. Researchers used methods that allowed them to identify the most effective vaccine candidate, technology that could be used to develop vaccines for malaria and AIDS, the news service notes (7/15).
Viewpoints: NYT On Medicaid’s Value; WSJ Against Exchanges; Chicago Tribune On Food Deserts
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
FBI Struggles To Uncover Health Care Scammers Who Flee For Cuba
McClatchy reports on the high number of Cuban fugitives who evade trial by leaving American shores and heading south.
Minorities Get Help Acccessing Mental Health Care
The Detroit Free Press reports on some of the specific challenges in play and the steps being taken to get past them.
NPR reports on an AARP study that finds that, although familty caregivers are doing a lot to help society, they need more help themselves.
IPAB Continues To Draw Repeal Talk
Health exchanges, accountable care organizations, high-risk pools and waivers are among health law hot topics also attracting headlines.
Swaziland’s King Mswati Urges Men To Get Circumcised To Prevent HIV Infection
Swaziland’s King Mswati III on Friday called on men in the kingdom to get circumcised to help reduce their risk of contracting HIV, Agence France-Presse reports. “Urging his nation to ‘take care of your lives
State Roundup: Strain Felt From Home Care, Adult Day Care Cuts
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
Medicaid ‘Vulnerable’ In Deficit Talks
The latest GOP proposal being floated in the House exposes Medicaid to heavy cuts because of the plan’s cap on federal spending. Meanwhile, some advocates question the commitment of some Democrats to defending the program.
Capitol Hill Prepares For Politically Charged Votes On Debt Limit
With the deadline just about two weeks away, lawmakers continue to struggle to reach an agreement surrounding the effort to raise the nation’s borrowing limit.
Health Programs Among Moving Parts In Debt-Deal Negotiations
President Barack Obama has signaled that he is open to changes in Medicare and Social Security. Meanwhile, hospitals raise the ire of some lawmakers because of ads designed to protect health program spending, and drug makers are put on notice.
$100 Million Spent On New Orleans Hospital Project
The Times-Picayune examines the initial state costs for the new Charity Hospital. Meanwhile, a proposed hospital sale in Denver continues to bring criticism and the Dallas Morning News looks at the financial health of hospitals in north Texas.
Washington Post Examines Access To Maternal And Child Health Care In Sierra Leone
The Washington Post examines access to maternal and child health services in Sierra Leone after the government dropped fees for such services last year, a move that “appears to have sharply cut into mortality rates for pregnant women and deaths from malaria for small children.”
WHO To Warn Against Use Of TB Blood Test
The WHO on Sunday said it will release a guidance later this week on widely used blood tests for tuberculosis (TB), warning “against using such tests for the infectious lung disease that affects some 14 million people worldwide” because they can produce incorrect results, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.
States Grapple With Reduced Federal Medicaid Match
Stateline looks at the effect to states of the loss of extra federal matching funds for Medicaid. In addition, other news outlets explore the difficulty of finding physicians who accept Medicaid patients, a financial analysis of cuts in Medicaid funding being considered as part of the debt talks in Washington and the fight in Florida over moving enrollees to a managed care style plan.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest news on the debt-ceiling talks as well as reports on IPAB and health exchanges.
Debt-Ceiling Debate’s Effect On Medicare, Medicaid Likely To Have Election Consequences
Heading into another week of debt-ceiling negotiations, Democrats and Republicans continue to tussle over Medicare and Medicaid.
Efforts To Solve Debt Crisis May Affect Medicaid Funding
The New York Times reports on growing concerns among governors that federal payments, including Medicaid funding, could be trimmed under any deal reached in Washington to raise the federal debt limit. Meanwhile, Politico Pro says that a GOP House proposal would shield Medicare from cuts but not Medicaid.
Drug Industry Rebates: The Sequel
On KHN’s blog today, Mary Agnes Carey writes: “At a Friday news conference, President Barack Obama made it clear that drug industry rebates to Medicare are very much in the mix as negotiators try to find ways to reduce federal spending on entitlement programs.”
Angst Rises Over Proposed Health Cuts
News outlets report on efforts by health care players to make clear their concerns about proposed reductions in spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other safety net programs.
