Latest KFF Health News Stories
Viewpoints: IPAB Debate; Medicare Flap Continues; WSJ On VT Single Payer
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizationsm, including reports about a new poll that shows Americans don’t believe Medicare has to be cut in order to balance the budget.
Ryan Defends Medicare, Medicaid Plan; Gingrich Tries To Counter Last Week’s Attack On GOP Budget
News outlets report on continuing fallout of Newt Gingrich’s comments last week on Medicare. Today, Rep. Paul Ryan, the author of the GOP plan, responded.
Medicare Worries May Tip Balance To Democrat In NY Congressional Race
With less than 10 days before election day, GOP prospects for victory in a congressional race seem less likely.
Huntsman’s Stance On Utah Health Mandate Questioned
Health issues play an key role in the GOP presidential campaign as the former Utah governor’s efforts on an overhaul in his state are examined. Meanwhile, Rick Santorum says he supports GOP plan to revamp Medicare.
Protesters Favoring Health Reform Disrupt Aetna Meeting
Group entered shareholders’ meeting and complained about health insurance trade group’s opposition to federal overhaul law.
OPINION: Global Health Community Must Recognize Merits Of HIV Treatment As Prevention
“Many interesting research questions now lie ahead. But most urgent will be the assessment of the practical impact of these findings and their public health importance in generalised epidemics,” according to a Lancet editorial about last week’s release of study results showing early HIV treatment dramatically reduces transmission risk. “Another immediate issue will be to reflect these findings in ongoing and future prevention trials,” the Lancet adds.
N.J. Seeks Waiver To Trim Medicaid Rolls; Texas Trims Medicaid Budget
News outlets report on Medicaid issues in the states.
Separation Of Family Planning, HIV Funding Harms Women, Girls In Developing World, Advocates Say
Advocates at a meeting in Paris about women, population and development, held ahead of next week’s G8 summit, said that HIV prevention methods can also be used to further family planning goals, Deutsche Welle reports.
CDC Issues Guidelines On Dealing With The Walking Dead
Hoping to draw attention to other disaster preparedness, a normally stoic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines this week on how to cope with an invasion of brain-munching zombies.
Inter Press Service reports on the possibility that the World Health Assembly “could adopt landmark resolutions asking governments to improve water and sanitation to eradicate cholera and guinea worm,” the latter of which exists in only four countries
Electrical Experiment Helps Paralyzed Man Stand, Walk
An electrode experiment has helped a paralyzed man stand and walk for short periods. In other news, Ford is developing health-monitoring technology for cars.
16 Countries Pledge To Reduce Maternal, Newborn, Child Mortality
Sixteen countries have announced new commitments aimed at significantly reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality, by “focus[ing] on measures proven effective in preventing deaths, such as increased contraceptive use, attended childbirth, improved access to emergency obstetric care, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, and childhood immunizations,” ANI/Sify News reports (5/20).
Studies: Unintended Pregnancies Cost Taxpayers $11B A Year
Two studies have found that unplanned pregnancies cost taxpayers up to $11 billion per year. The figure is sure to generate discussion on Capitol Hill as lawmakers grapple with funding for Planned Parenthood.
Editorial Boards, Columnists Have Lots To Say About Gingrich And Medicare
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Malian Government To Reimburse GAVI Alliance For Grant Money After Joint Investigation Shows Misuse
The GAVI Alliance on Thursday said an investigation conducted by a GAVI transparency and accountability team and auditors from the Malian government “has found that $563,000 was misused in two of its cash-based projects in Mali, and Malian authorities have agreed to pay it back,” Reuters reports.
Coburn Writing His Own Budget, Sebelius Helps Dems Refine Medicare Message
Sen. Tom Coburn is writing his own budget, which he started before leaving the “gang of six” talks on deficit reduction. Meanwhile, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is helping Democrats refine their message on the GOP budget.
Global Fund Disbursed Record $3B In 2010, Faces More Than $1B Shortfall For 2011-13, Report Says
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Thursday in Paris released a report (.pdf) noting that while it disbursed a record $3 billion in 2010, the $1.3 billion shortfall if faces for 2011-2013, “threaten[s] goals to roll back diseases that together claim more than four million lives a year,” Agence France-Presse reports.
WHO Member States Adopt Resolutions On Financing, Reform And Flu Pandemic At World Health Assembly
A committee of WHO member governments this week at the World Health Assembly in Geneva “adopted a resolution on the future financing of the organisation and a broad set of reforms, as well as a resolution on the WHO’s management of [the H1N1] influenza pandemic showing no evidence of wrongdoing,” Intellectual Property Watch reports (Saez, 5/20).
Conservative Groups Urge States, Insurers To Seek Health Law Waivers
Two groups on the right are urging states and insurers to seek waivers from the Democrats’ health care law including exemptions from so-called “mini-med” plans and medical-loss ratio requirements. HHS is also refusing to release the names of rejected waiver applicants.
