Latest KFF Health News Stories
Longer Looks: Cities Coping With Aging Populations; New Apps For Health
A list of good reading options includes articles from The New York Times Magazine, The Weekly Standard, Governing, American Medical News and Hospitals & Health Networks Weekly.
State Roundup: Pa. May Put Half Of AdultBasic Members On Medicaid
Today’s news reports come from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oklahoma, Florida and Georgia.
Calif. Joins Suit Against Sutter Health, Alleges Fraud Charges For Anesthesia
The state insurance commissioner says the company, one of California’s largest health care providers, double billed for some services and overcharged for others. Sutter denies the allegations.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including examinations of how President Obama’s deficit plan would handle health care spending.
Obama Plan Builds On Health Law Policies To Further Curb The Growth Of Health Care Costs
Summaries of news coverage of the health-related proposals that the White House says would save an additional $340 billion by 2021, $480 billion by 2023 and at least an additional $1 trillion in the subsequent decade.
Driving Safety Initiative Launched To Help Reduce Road Accident Casualties
The independent Commission for Global Road Safety on Tuesday in London announced the launch of the Driving Safety Initiative to “help reduce worldwide crash casualties,” the New York Times’ “Wheels” blog reports.
Report Highlights Dangers Aid Workers Face, Suggests Strategies To Ensure Their Safety
Over the past decade, humanitarian aid worker casualties have tripled, rising to more than 100 deaths per year, according to a report (.pdf) released Tuesday by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), the Associated Press reports (Snow, 4/12).
The decision on Tuesday by Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency to increase the level of severity at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant “does not mean the public health risk is any worse or that the disaster resembles Chernobyl in 1986,” the WHO and other agencies said in response to the announcement, Reuters reports.
Media Report On Additional FY11 Budget Details
Multiple news outlets examined the proposed reductions of the FY11 spending measure that was released on Tuesday.
WHO Group Hopes To Have Virus-Sharing Draft Agreement Finalized By Friday
Countries are narrowing in on a “deal to speed up their response to the next flu pandemic by sharing virus samples in return for access to affordable vaccines,” co-chairs of a WHO working group told reporters on Tuesday, Reuters reports. The group, which is meeting this week and just last week was in meetings with drug manufacturers and WHO member states about the plans, says it hopes to have a draft agreement finalized by Friday to be voted on during next month’s World Health Assembly, according to the news service (Nebehay, 4/12).
House GOP Budget Plan Under The Microscope
More details of the House GOP budget plan are taking shape, including the blueprint’s inclusion of Democratic Medicare cuts that were subject to Republican criticism during the election season. Other parts of the health law also would stay intact. Meanwhile, the full House is scheduled to vote on the 2012 budget measure this week.
Viewpoints: Dems Vs. Ryan On Entitlement Cuts; Defending Planned Parenthood
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
NPR Examines History Behind Recent Congressional Fight Over Planned Parenthood Funding
Despite what NPR characterizes as “three decades” of continuing efforts to “defund” Planned Parenthood, efforts to change the current approach have been unsuccessful. And that makes abortion opponents angry.
Barbour Takes On Health Care Issues
In a speech to the Congressional Health Care Caucus, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) discussed a range of issues related to health reform, including the role of consumers in addressing health care costs, state flexibility and, of course, “RomneyCare.”
Obama Administration Unveils New Initiative To Reduce Medical Errors
The new, $1 billion patient-safety program comes on the heels of a recent study that found one in three Americans admitted to hospitals will experience some type of medical error or accident.
AP: Poll Shows Support For Health Law Drops With Budget Woes
The Associated Press reports that the health overhaul – in the midst of an ongoing budget debate – has its lowest level of support since its passage.
Signs Of Failure, Difficulties Evident In Nation’s Mental Health System
The Boston Globe reports on new federal government findings regarding a “crisis” in the New Hampshire state mental health system. Meanwhile, KHN reports on how mentally ill patients sometimes are left to languish in hospital emergency departments.
Winners And Losers In Short-Term Spending Compromise
Community health centers and a voucher program supported by Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., take hits, while funding for HIV and STD prevention – despite early reports – dodges a cut.
State Roundup: Lawmakers Consider Insurance Purchase Across State Lines
Today’s news reports come from Kansas, Florida, Maryland, Georgia, Maine, Connecticut, Oregon, California. Massachusetts, South Dakota and Texas.
