Latest KFF Health News Stories
NPR Examines Controversial Drug Being Used To Save Women’s Lives
In another installment in NPR’s summer-long series “Beginnings,” NPR’s All Things Considered aired a story on Wednesday examining how the controversial drug misoprostol is being used worldwide to save women’s lives.
‘Exact Correlation’ Between Peacekeeper Arrival And Cholera Outbreak In Haiti, Study Says
“Evidence ‘strongly suggests’ that a United Nations peacekeeping mission brought a cholera strain to Haiti that has killed thousands of people,” according to a study conducted by a team of epidemiologists and physicians and published in the July issue of the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, the Associated Press reports. The Haitian government has recorded more than 363,000 cases of cholera more than 5,500 deaths since the outbreak began in October.
Nature News Examines African Nations’ Progress In Science
Nature News examines African countries’ scientific capacity and efforts in a series of articles. “The forecast for science in Africa has brightened over the past decade. After enduring civil wars and economic crises, many countries have entered a period of rapid growth and leaders are starting to see science and technology as the keys to progress.
Minnesota Nears Government Shutdown
A judge rules that some health services should be continued.
State Roundup: Calif. Braces For Budget Cuts; Mass. Weighs Premium Freeze
News outlets examine a variety of state health policy issues.
Bloomberg: Ryan Medicare Vouchers Save Little
In the background, political ads are heating up related to the debate over Medicare cost savings and plans to revamp the health insurance program for seniors.
Viewpoints: Abortion Law Debates; Medicare Cost Examinations; State Reform Building Blocks
A selection of today’s opinions and editorials from around America.
Panel Advises FDA To Reject Avastin As Breast Cancer Drug
The unanimous recommendation by this committee of cancer experts increases the likelihood that the drug will no longer be widely available for the treatment of breast cancer. Avastin, however, will continue to have the Food and Drug Adminstration’s approval for use in treating certain other cancers.
USA Today: New Study Shows Wide Variation In Health Costs
The findings indicate that patients can pay widely different amounts for the same medical procedures – even in the same town.
IOM Report Highlights Need For Changes In Pain Management
Defining pain as “a major public health problem,” the Institute of Medicine offered recommendations to make systemic and cultural changes in how pain could either be prevented or managed better.
White House Backs Boost In COBRA, Health Insurance Premium Subsidies
Modern Healthcare reports that the Obama administration is supporting a temporary boost in these subsidies to help workers who have lost their jobs and, therefore, their health coverage.
Health Law’s Cost And Coverage Issues Draw Attention
In an exclusive report, the Associated Press notes an unintended consequence of that health law – some older adults could pay sharply different amounts for private health insurance. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat reports on some recent developments in the policy debate over the health law’s maintenance-of-effort provisions.
Longer Looks: A Medicare Compromise; Improving Mental Health Policies
Every week, Kaiser Health News reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web.
Obama Links Medicare, Medicaid Cuts To New Revenue
And on Capitol Hill, some Senate Democrats
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Health Law
The majority decision, issued by a three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, included the support of a Republican appointee to the federal bench — the first to affirm the individual mandate’s constitutionality.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about yesterday’s decision from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the health law.
Federal Appeals Court In Cincinnati Upholds Health Law
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that the health overhaul did not exceed Congress’ powers under the Constitution’s Commerce Clause. KHN tracked the news coverage.
Dems Reject Plan To Raise Medicare Eligibility Age
As negotiations over raising the nation’s debt ceiling continue, two senators advanced a proposal to squeeze savings from Medicare. It includes raising the eligibility age to 67.
Medicaid Advocates Fret Over Plans For Cuts
Politico reports that advocates fear an idea proposed by the Obama administration to change the way federal matching funds work could have very negative results. Meanwhile, groups – including faith-based organizations – opposing Medicaid cuts continue to step forward.
Swaziland’s Supply Of Antiretroviral Drugs Running Low
“Cash-strapped Swaziland’s state hospitals have only two months’ supplies of AIDS drugs, the country’s health minister has told parliament in an assessment that AIDS patients and activists took as a death sentence,” the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports. More than 60,000 Swazis receive antiretroviral medicine at no cost from state-run hospitals.
