Latest KFF Health News Stories
Advocates Say Ending Violence Against Women Must Be Top Priority For U.N. Women
Nearly three quarters (72 percent) of women’s rights advocates say ending violence against women must be a top priority for U.N. Women, according to a report released Wednesday at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York, Inter Press Service reports. Released a day ahead of the official launch of the new agency, the “Blueprint for U.N. Women” survey, commissioned by the groups Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) and Oxfam, outlines “the views and efforts, documented in the report, of some 100 civil society organisations working in over 75 countries on human rights, gender equality and social justice,” according to the news service (D’Almeida, 2/24).
Media Examine Effects, Outlook Of Food Price Increases Worldwide
“A rush by farmers to expand plantings in many parts of the world is raising expectations that food prices may retreat as early as the second half of this year if weather conditions remain favorable,” the Wall Street Journal reports in a story examining how recent global developments could affect food price spikes.
House Republicans Drafting Two-Week Continuing Resolution With About $4B In Spending Cuts
In an effort to avoid a government shutdown, House Republicans are drafting a new continuing resolution (CR) that will include some cuts to the federal budget, Republican leadership aides said on Wednesday, Roll Call reports (Stanton, 2/23). “The measure will contain about $4 billion in spending cuts and will merge cuts approved last week by the House and several taken from President Obama’s list of program terminations and savings,” National Journal writes. “The CR would extend government financing for two weeks” and the cuts “would be prorated to reflect” the reductions that were approved in last week’s CR. “In other words, the $4 billion in savings would be roughly equal to the cuts the CR called for if carried out for just two weeks,” the publication notes.
Roundup: States Act On Medicaid And Health Spending, Payment Reform
States in the news today include Minnesota,Massachusetts, Florida, Louisiana and Georgia.
Judge Meant To Halt Health Law Implementation, States Say
Taking a position that the Obama administration’s request for “clarification” regarding a recent ruling on the health law’s individual mandate is “wishful thinking,” some states maintain the judge meant to stop work on the law’s rollout.
Poll Finds Continuing Confusion About Health Overhaul’s Status
According to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll, many Americans either believe the health law has been repealed or aren’t sure. (KHN is a program of the Foundation.)
Longer Looks: Best Health Policy Picks From Thought-Provoking Publications
Every Thursday, we feature a selection of thought-provoking pieces from a variety of sources. This week, among other things, there’s an essay from PBS Newshour’s Betty Ann Bowser and a look a mammography in Britain.
When It Comes To Elective Surgery, Where You Live Matters
A new study finds wide regional variations in the treatment Medicare patients receive, especially regarding elective procedures.
Viewpoints: Delaware’s Gov. On Wisconsin’s Woes, ‘Immovable’ GOP, Mrs. Obama Vs. Rush
Various viewpoints from The Hill, Politico, The Washington Post, the Miami Herald, the Sacramento Bee and KHN.
Abortion Issues Draw State-Level Attention
As Congress considers legislation to eliminate Planned Parenthood funding, state legislatures are also considering measures related to abortion issues.
Huckabee Takes Issue With Massachusetts’ Health Overhaul
While promoting his new book, the former Arkansas governor draws parallels between the Massachusetts’ plan and the federal health law, and said Mitt Romney, who was governor when the plan was enacted, should “apologize” for it now.
Wisc. Flare-Up Triggers Other States’ Actions On Health Benefits, Pensions
The controversial issues surrounding unions and collective bargaining agreements are bubbling up in other states as well.
States Focus On Health Insurance Exchanges
Politico Pro reports on efforts in some states to fight the creation of these health insurance marketplaces. However, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Georgia’s insurance commissioner, who opposes the federal health law, wants the state to create and run its own exchange.
Lawmakers Deadlocked Over Spending Bill
With a government shutdown looming, lawmakers are still at odds regarding a plan to provide current-year funding for the federal government. The House-passed measure includes deep cuts to a multitude of programs and blocks funding for the health law. In the Senate, Democrats maintain that they will not agree to such legislative riders. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is optimistic about deficit reduction plans in the longer term.
First Edition: February 24, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report about a new poll that finds many Americans believe the health law has been repealed.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on Tuesday “he will attempt to pass a ‘clean’ one-month stopgap funding measure at current spending levels when the Senate returns next week, in a bid to avoid a government shutdown,” CQ reports.
U.N. Commission On The Status Of Women Opens In New York
Kicking off the two-week 55th Annual Session of the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women in New York on Tuesday, Michelle Bachelet, the first under-secretary-general and executive director of U.N. Women, highlighted the role of gender equality in country development, peace and security, Angola Press reports (2/23). The commission draws together government officials, U.N. representatives, and members of the private sector and civil society groups, according to a U.N. press release (2/22).
New Strategies To Improve Developing Countries’ Access To Low-Cost Generic Drugs Needed, Experts Say
New strategies that ensure developing countries have access to low-cost generic medicines and encourage innovation are needed, according to experts who attended a recent meeting sponsored by the WHO, World Intellectual Property Organization, and World Trade Organization (WTO) that addressed growing concern that strict intellectual property protections are limiting access to low-cost generic medicines, BMJ News reports.
Daily Report Global Health Conversations: Health Sector Corruption
Recent media reports have drawn attention to an internal audit that revealed several countries’ misuse of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria grant money, totaling $34 million. The Kaiser Daily Global Health Policy Report’s Jennifer Evans spoke with Bill Savedoff, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development, to help put the audit’s findings into context and discuss the fund’s response to corruption. Savedoff recently co-authored the book, “Anticorruption in the Health Sector: Strategies for Transparency and Accountability.”
