Latest KFF Health News Stories
IRIN Examines Factors Influencing Health Worker Migration And How Countries Working Toward Solutions
In this article, “IRIN took a look at some of the push and pull factors behind health worker migration, and what countries are doing to address them.”
U.K., U.S., Australia, Gates Foundation Promise Funds To GAVI Alliance At Pledging Conference
At a pledging conference for the GAVI Alliance in London on Monday, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Microsoft founder, announced his foundation will provide an additional $1 billion in funding for the organization over the next five years, while Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said his country will provide $210 million over the next three years, Reuters reports (Croft/Kelland, 6/13).
How Foreign Policy Influences Health
In a BMJ analysis, Ilona Kickbusch of the Graduate Institute of International Studies’ Global Health Program, outlines four ways in which foreign policy and health can interact.
Heavy Rains Increasing Number Of Cholera Cases In Haiti
Heavy rains in Haiti have increased the number of cholera cases in the country, the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports.
Number Of E. Coli Deaths In Germany Reaches 35, Authorities Say
“Four more people have died in Germany, health officials said Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths from an E. coli outbreak to 35,” CNN reports.
Dengue Vaccine Could Be Available In Four Years
A vaccine against the mosquito-borne infection dengue, the first to reach the final stage of clinical testing, “has seen ‘very promising’ results in Thailand, a specialist involved in the tests said on Friday,” Reuters reports (Petty/Mahlich, 6/10).
Gates Foundation, Chinese Search Engine Company Launch Initiative To Reduce Smoking In China
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Robin Li, CEO of the Chinese search engine company Baidu Inc., on Saturday announced the formation of a global alliance for public health with its first initiative focused on smoking cessation, Bloomberg reports (6/11).
Clinton Announces Plans To Increase Food Program Funding In Tanzania
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the Obama administration plans to increase funding for nutrition programs in Tanzania as part of its Feed the Future initiative, VOA News reports (Stearns, 6/12).
Pawlenty Makes ‘Obamneycare’ A Buzz Word In Nomination Contest
The Los Angeles Times predicts that the GOP candidates will be making “bold right turns” during Monday night’s New Hampshire debate, which is considered the first major debate of the 2012 campaign.
Parties Continue To Clash Over Ways To Curb Medicare Spending
Amidst a pitched political debate over the federal deficit, all sides agree that health care spending must be addressed. Still, Medicare continues to cause considerable political differences.
Viewpoints: Private Vs. Public Medicare; N.J. Medicaid Tough Choices; IPAB’s Cost Controls
A selection of viewpoints from around the country.
Panetta: Finding Savings In Military Health Care Programs On To-Do List
He has said that he is open to finding “sensible efforts to control DOD’s health care costs” but would seek to maintain the level of care.
Hospital Trends Mark Changes In Employment, Admission Patterns
Meanwhile, in Oregon, hospital profit margins were down in 2010, according to the state Association of Hospitals and Health Systems.
State Roundup: GOP Control Leads To Sweeping Changes; Budgets Still Lean
News outlets report on state health policy issues.
Turning The Tables: Brits Fear American Health System
As Great Britain works at overhauling its National Health System, many there are expressing grave concerns about moving toward a “Yankee” model.
Some Democrats May Not Hold Steady Against Medicaid Cuts
Politico Pro reports that at there are certain Democrats who could be persuaded to join GOP efforts to trim away at the program’s rules.
Announcement Of Congressional Wellness Caucus Slated For Today
Also, The Hill reports on what motivated some first-term members of Congress to run for the House of Representatives even though they had never held office before.
Medicaid: Texas, N.J. Move Toward Major Changes
Proposed changes in Medicaid operations in Texas, New Jersey and Arizona are expected to trim the number of enrollees in those programs.
HHS Offers Medicaid Guidance For Same-Sex Couples
Late last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services clarified that same-sex couples are entitled to the same protections that exist for heterosexual couples when one member enters a nursing home.
Mayo Clinic Will Not Participate In ACO Program
The clinic, a prestigious health care facility, is raising questions about the health law’s accountable care organizations, saying the draft program regulations are at odds with the way Medicare is operated.
