Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Confluence Of Circumstances’ Resulted In Haitian Cholera Outbreak, U.N.-Appointed Panel Says
Haiti’s cholera outbreak, which started last October, “was caused by a South Asian strain that contaminated a river where tens of thousands of people wash, bath, drink and play,” a report (.pdf) from an independent U.N.-appointed panel said on Wednesday, the Associated Press reports. “Although many have blamed the epidemic on U.N. peacekeepers from South Asia working in Haiti, the report issued by the panel declined to point the finger at any single group for the outbreak, saying it was the result of a ‘confluence of circumstances'” (5/4).
Savings Projected From ‘Emerging’ Generic Drugs
But the Federal Trade Commission found an “unprecedented” increase in drug industry deals to delay the availability of these cheaper drugs.
House Passes Restrictive Abortion Measure
In other House action, the chamber approved another bill related to stripping funds from the health law. This one targeted money for a program in last year’s health care law providing for construction of school-based health clinics.
The Philadelphia Inquirer details the requirements of this Medicare regulation, for which enforcement began last month.
26 States Ask Court To Uphold Decision To Overturn Health Law
The states filed a motion Wednesday with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. In the background, individual states continue action to block the law’s implementation.
Viewpoints: Gov. Daniels’ Reversal?; IPAB’s Medicare Fix; Texas Medicaid Cuts
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Colo. Legislature Close To Final Consideration Of Health Exchange Bill
Bipartisan coalition has supported the measure.
Bills To Tighten Abortion Regulations Advance In Texas, La.
State legislatures are considering measures favored by groups opposing abortion.
State Roundup: Vt. House Could Vote On Universal Health Care Today
News outlets across the country report on developments in health policy.
House Hearing Will Include Effort To Revive ‘Balance Billing’
Testimony will come from the nation’s largest physician organizations, which will tell a House subcommittee about the need to replace Medicare’s current payment system. Meanwhile, on the personnel front, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has a new chief medical officer, and CMS Administrator Donald Berwick is talking about his “service.”
Longer Looks: States Creating Health Compacts; IPAB Under Fire
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reading from around the Web.
Quinnipiac Poll Finds Voters Dislike GOP Plans For Medicare, Medicaid
The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire reports that, based on these results, Republicans have some selling to do. The Washington Post gets back to basics with a primer on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a range of health policy developments — budget news, a House vote on the abortion issue and the latest regarding the health law.
Headache Disorders Prevalent But Under-Treated And Cause Financial Burden, WHO Report Says
Approximately half to three quarters of adults ages 18 to 65 experienced headache last year, making headache disorders one of the most prevalent but under-treated health problems in the world, according to a report released Tuesday by the WHO, Xinhua reports (Deng, 5/4).
Desmond Tutu Calls On Youth To Lead Next Generation In HIV/AIDS Fight
Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday at a meeting on Robben Island, South Africa, that “was meant to be a symbolic passing of the torch from an older generation of activists to younger people,” called on youth to lead the next generation in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Agence France-Presse reports (5/3).
U.N. Report Forecasts Global Population Increases Through 2100
The world’s population “is expected to grow from nearly 6.9 billion currently to 9.3 billion by 2050 and 10.1 billion by 2100,” the U.N. said in a report on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports, noting that the U.N. uses the projections “to devise and fund programs for problems ranging from climate change to maternal mortality” (5/3).
Secretary Of State Clinton Launches Collaborative Mobile Application To Advance Maternal Health
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday launched the Mobile Alliance for Maternal Action (MAMA), a “mobile application development partnership aimed at delivering free health care information and tips to pregnant women and mothers around the world via cell phone,” Federal Computer Week reports (Lipowicz, 5/3).
Targeting Mosquito Larvae And Not Adults Could Worsen Dengue Epidemics, Study Says
Targeting only mosquito larvae and not adult insects in insecticide-based dengue control programs could increase mosquito resistance and decrease human immunity to the disease, particularly in urban areas, according to a study published online in the Lancet on Tuesday, Agence France-Presse reports.
Group Of Foundations Launches Food, Agriculture Policy Research Initiative
A group of foundations on Tuesday in Washington launched AGree, a food and agriculture research initiative, Bloomberg reports (Bjerga, 5/3).
