Latest KFF Health News Stories
Reports Highlight Global State Of TB Epidemic, Concerns Over Drug-Resistant TB
Increasing rates of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) “are hampering world health programs aimed at tackling TB and threaten to wipe out progress made against the disease, scientists said on Friday,” Reuters reports (Kelland, 3/18).
Senate Passes FY11 Continuing Resolution To Keep Government Funded Through April 8
The Senate passed a continuing resolution on Thursday, which will now be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature, Roll Call reports. “The spending measure, which passed 87-13, would keep the government funded through April 8 and would cut $6 billion in spending” (Dennis, 3/17).
African Delegates Call On Countries To Do More To Prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission Of HIV
Delegates from 15 African countries this week concluded a three-day workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya, examining how countries can improve their efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, VOA News reports.
White House Seeks To Boost Health Law’s Support
The Obama administration hopes the one-year anniversary of the health overhaul will offer a fresh opportunity to increase public support for the measure.
House GOP Targets CLASS Act During Subcommittee Hearing
Republicans on the panel took issue with the 2012 start-up funding sought by the Department of Health and Human Services, though the long-term care program is one part of the health law Democrats have made clear they are open to refining. Meanwhile, Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., said he planned to introduce legislation that day – Thursday – to repeal the program.
Medicaid, State Health Programs Face Continued Budget Cuts
Voters in a Pennsylvania poll expressed their opposition to the cuts proposed by the state’s governor. Meanwhile, though, a number of states continue to wrestle with these spending challenges.
Senate OKs Short-Term Budget Bill, Buys Time For Talks About Deeper Cuts
In the background, a number of issues continue to be in play. These include the continuing tensions surrounding efforts by some GOP lawmakers to defund Planned Parenthood and to repeal the health law’s mandatory spending provisions. And, on a related note, issues related to reforming entitlement programs such as Medicare and Medicaid continue to draw attention.
State News: Calif., Ind. Hospitals Cope With Law’s Effects
Health care news from Texas, California, Kansas, Massachusetts, Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana and Minnesota.
Viewpoints: Too Many CT Scans; Single Payer Is ‘Best Solution’; WSJ On Wash. State ‘Overregulation’
A seleciton of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Are Newer Prostate Cancer Treatments – Now Gaining Popularity – Worth The Extra Cost?
Reuters explores the related issues raised in a report released this week.
Research Roundup: Successful Medical Homes; Shortage Of HIV Doctors
Today’s studies come from the Archives of Internal Medicine, the Institute of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Annals of Family Medicine.
Flexibility Key Word At Senate Hearing On State Exchanges
State officials from different political perspectives expressed interest in establishing health insurance exchanges, and an administration official promised “a wide berth” in how states choose to construct parts of the reform law.
House Lawmakers Introduce Bill To Protect Health Insurance Brokers
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., addresses how brokers are classified under the health law’s medical loss ratio requirement.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about events planned to mark the health law’s first anniversary as well as other developments related to the measure’s implementatioin and the budget issues Congress continues to wrestle.
U.S. Officials Discuss Proposed Foreign Aid Cuts At House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing
Proposed budget cuts could be “absolutely devastating” for American foreign aid programs, USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah said at a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Wednesday, the Associated Press reports.
Nutrition Experts Gather At WHO Headquarters To Discuss Ways To Fight Malnutrition
As world nutrition experts gather this week at the WHO headquarters to discuss ways to fight global malnutrition, VOA News examines the growing issues of “undernutrition and obesity, which affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.”
At One-Year Mark, Implications Of Health Law Emerge
Media outlets report on issues related to health law implementation and its one-year anniversary – including the unexpected importance taken on by waivers, the marketplace impact on health insurance brokers and the geography of the health care workforce issues likely to result.
Senate Finance Hearing Marked By Detailed Policy Discussions
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius testified before the panel where she defended the health law waivers so far granted by the administration and other aspects of the overhaul that have been subject to scrutiny and criticism.
