Latest KFF Health News Stories
This week’s research roundup includes studies from Health Affairs, RAND, the Urban Institute, First Focus, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Center for Studying Health System Change, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The Commonwealth Fund.
First Edition: December 17, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including action in a Florida courtroom regarding the 20-state challenge to the health law.
Florida Judge Hears Arguments In 20-State Health Law Challenge; Says Ruling Will Take Time
At issue are two key components of the sweeping health overhaul — it’s mandate that nearly everyone have health insurance and it’s expansion of the Medicaid program.
U.N. Says It Will Investigate Source Of Haitian Cholera Epidemic As Death Toll Rises
The U.N. is looking into establishing an independent commission to identify the source of Haiti’s cholera epidemic, Alain Le Roy, the U.N. under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, said on Wednesday, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports. “We are urging and we are calling for what we could call an international panel,” Le Roy said at a news conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York. “We are in discussions with (the U.N. World Health Organization) to find the best experts to be in a panel to be completely independent,” he added.
Global Fund Approves 79 Grants With Two-Year Commitment Of $1.7B
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria Board of Directors on Wednesday approved 79 grants with a two-year commitment of “$1.7 billion dollars for projects against the diseases, amid warnings that some hard-hit African countries were being left out,” Agence France-Presse reports. The commitment, according to Ethiopian Health Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who chair’s the Global Fund’s board, “shows that even in hard economic times, we can continue to expand the fight against the three diseases” (12/15).
Clinton Outlines QDDR Recommendations At Launch Event
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton released the Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) on Wednesday at the State Department, “pledging to focus more on conflict prevention and elevate the roles of U.S. ambassadors in coordinating the work of all U.S. agencies working abroad,” the Washington Post reports (Sheridan, 12/16).
U.S., South Africa Sign PEPFAR Partnership Agreement
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and South African International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane on Tuesday signed a “partnership agreement that will guide efforts on fighting HIV/AIDS in the African nation,” Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports (Wessels, 12/15).
Health Law Challenges Shift To Florida Courtroom
Today marks a “new day in court” as oral arguments will be heard in a Florida courtroom regarding the 20-state legal challenge. This lawsuit includes issues surrounding the health law’s individual mandate and Medicaid expansions.
White House To Hold Meetings With Stakeholders On Overhaul Implementation
News outlets offer reports about action on the implementation front, including White House stakeholder meetings and a vote by state insurance officials regarding the information health plans should provide consumers.
News outlets report on a variety of state developments.
Houston Chronicle: Testing Flex Money Limits
The Houston Chronicle details how the Internal Revenue Service is likely to view certain types of medical expenses in the context of flexible benefits plans.
Holder, Sebelius Convene Day-Long Summit On Health Care Fraud
In other news, a federal district judge upholds the prohibition on three former executives from the company that made the painkiller OxyContin – they will continue to be barred from involvement with any government-financed health care program.
Positive Economic Signs Evident In Health Sector
News outlets report that the health care sector has recently been posting more jobs and been the focus of more private equity investment interest.
Collaboration Seeks To Uncover The Best Strategies To Improve Health Care, Lower Costs
A group of health care organizations are joining forces to compile evidence on the strategies the work best to address a variety of common, and usually expensive, medical conditions. Meanwhile, the nation’s new Medicare chief is hitting the road to hear ideas about improving the health care system.
President Signs One-Year ‘Pay-Fix’; Medicare Tests Competitive Bidding For Common Medical Equipment
The Kansas City Star reports on a new Medicare program that will apply competitive bidding to common medical equipment and supplies. Meanwhile, President Obama signed into law yesterday a one-year delay in Medicare payment cuts for physicians.
Today’s op-eds come from news outlets including Politico, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal.
First Edition: December 16, 2010
Early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the continuing analysis of how the health law is faring in the courts.
IPS Examines NGOs’ Call To Reform World Bank’s Funding For Poorest Countries
“With the World Bank expected to announce a new funding package for the world’s poorest countries Wednesday, NGOs are making a last-minute appeal to donor countries to use their leverage to compel reforms at the institution,” Inter Press Service reports in an article examining the changes being requested and considered.
