Latest KFF Health News Stories
Wall Street Journal Looks At Challenges Facing U.S. Aid Operations In Pakistan
“A massive U.S. aid program that has made Pakistan the world’s second-largest recipient of American economic and development assistance is facing serious challenges, people involved in the effort say,” the Wall Street Journal reports in an article detailing the difficulties.
BMJ News Examines Ongoing Investigation Of WHO’s Handling Of H1N1
BMJ News reports on the ongoing external investigation of the WHO’s handling of the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic, following recent statements to the WHO’s executive board meeting by review committee chairman, Harvey Fineberg. Despite initial expectations that the external review committee would produce a draft of its findings in January, Fineberg “said the panel was planning a meeting on 28-30 March, and it would distribute in advance to all WHO member nations copies of a draft summary of its principal findings, conclusions, and recommendations, for comments and reactions, before it finalises the report.”
Vaccination Campaigns To Stop Yellow Fever Spread Get Underway In E. Africa
Individuals traveling across East Africa on Friday were ordered to begin receiving mandatory yellow fever vaccines in an effort “to contain an outbreak of the disease in Uganda,” which has sickened an estimated 190 people, resulting in 48 deaths as of Dec. 30, 2010, the Citizen reports (Ubwani, 1/22).
GOP Health Agenda Includes Medical Malpractice, Cost Concerns
The Republican House to-do list also includes action by oversight committees to investigate waivers given in regard to the health law. Meanwhile, KHN details six provisions from the sweeping measure that the GOP may seek to repeal or replace.
Senate GOP Leaders Press For Health Law Repeal Vote
Senate Republicans say they need to have a vote on repealing the health overhaul – even if they are going to lose – in order to be “on the record” about what they want and to make good on their campaign promises.
Roundup: Mass. BCBS Chief On Health Costs; Georgia Insurance Exchange, Arizona Waiver Request
A roundup of state news from Arizona, Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Minnesota.
Viewpoints: Reps. Ryan, Kind On Repeal; Opinions On What’s Next For Health Reform
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
WSJ: Lawsuit Explores Fight Over Role Of Residential Institutions For People With Disabilities
The Justice Department and state of Arkansas are involved in this emotional case.
Health Care Jobs Can Be Tough To Find But Primary Care Docs Are In Short Supply
News outlets report on the health care workforce, including how the primary care physician supply is getting tighter as baby boomers’ health needs increase.
Feds Recoup Billions In Health Care Fraud Cases
According to USA Today, whistle-blowers helped federal agents recover this record-breaking amount in health care fraud judgements.
Meanwhile, in other health reform policy news, Arizona tries a new work-around related to federal Medicaid rules, conservative think-tanks develop policy alternatives for the “repeal-replace” environment and the Administration weighs in regarding an ongoing Michigan challenge to the health law.
In New Congress, Roe v. Wade Anniversary Draws Out Critics And Defenders
The politics of abortion appear to be re-energized on Capitol Hill and in the activity surrounding the early posturing around the 2012 GOP presidential nomination.
First Edition: January 24, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports foreshadowing possible Senate action on repealing the health overhaul.
Republicans Attack Health Law, Call For Senate Repeal Vote; Obama To Defend Law In SOTU
News outlets previewed the President’s State of the Union address and highlighted Sunday debate on the health law.
Sen. Barrasso Calls For Senate To Move On Health Repeal
The Hill reports that Wyoming senator, in weekly address, asks, “Are you better off or worse off now that the health care law has been on the books for almost a year?”
Foreign Policy’s blog “The Cable” reports on Thursday’s call by a group of “conservative House Republicans … for a drastic defunding of the U.S. Agency for International Development and a host of other programs” (Rogin, 1/20).
Rotavirus Vaccine Significantly Cuts Child Hospitalizations, Study Says
Developing and developed countries that require children to be vaccinated against rotavirus “have significantly reduced the number of children admitted to hospitals with the disease, a report showed on Thursday,” Reuters reports (Kelland, 1/20).
Global Poverty Summit Addresses MDGs, Global Trade Policy
At the Global Poverty Summit January 16-19 in Johannesburg, South Africa, “academics, policy-makers, civil society activists and development workers … agreed that the [U.N. Millennium Development Goals] MDGs have made a difference, but have fallen far short of the ambitious targets on poverty, education, health, gender equality and global partnership that 189 countries committed to achieving by 2015,” IRIN reports.
WHO Executive Board Supports Saving Smallpox Virus Stocks
As the WHO executive board continues meeting in Geneva this week, members “on Thursday backed efforts by the U.S. and Russia to keep the last known stocks of the smallpox virus for research to combat terrorism, in an initial debate over the fate over what is left of one of the world’s most lethal pathogens,” the Wall Street Journal reports. According to the article, the 34-member board supported the notion “that those stocks are needed to finish developing drugs and vaccines to counter a potential bioterror attack or accidental release of smallpox from unsanctioned stocks, officials familiar with the talks said.”
