Latest KFF Health News Stories
This week’s research roundup includes studies from the New England Journal of Medicine, the Annals of Internal Medicine, the Government Accountability Office, the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Center for Studying Health System Change.
First Edition: November 22, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more reports on deficit reduction issues, the continuing politics swirling around the health law repeal effort and employers’ soaring health care costs.
Rush To Merge Doctors And Hospitals Is Raising Consumers’ Concerns
The health law “envisioned doctors and hospitals joining forces, coordinating care” to cut costs through entities called Accountable Care Organizations, The New York Times reports. But consumer groups are concerned that the effort could create “incentives for doctors and hospitals to stint on care.”
Mass. And Minn. Officials Struggle With Controlling Health Costs, Guaranteeing Quality
News outlets report that Massachusetts’ health reform hasn’t adequately addressed the soaring cost of health care, according to the state’s Attorney General.
Tackling Physical, Mental Health Of Prisoners Would Improve Public Health, Researchers Say
Providing the more than 10 million people incarcerated around the world “with better health care could prevent outbreaks of HIV and tuberculosis from spilling over into the general population experts say,” the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.
By the end of this year, an additional 64 million people will fall into extreme poverty as a result of the global economic downturn that started in 2008, the World Bank said in a study on “member banks’ response” to the situation, Reuters reports. The bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.25 per day. The report is based on the findings of a group, created “to appraise the effectiveness of its response to the global downturn,” the news service writes.
U.S. Falling Short Of Its Goals To Improve Access To Clean Water, Sanitation Worldwide, Report Says
The U.S. is falling short on its goal of improving conditions for the 2.6 billion people worldwide without access to clean water and sanitation despite the fact the Water for the Poor Act became law in 2005, according to a report (.pdf) released Thursday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), WaterAid, CARE and 11 other organization, Food Safety News reports (11/19).
Thirty-four percent of malaria-endemic countries are complying with WHO guidelines to monitor artemisinin resistance within their borders, the agency said in a report on Thursday, CBS News reports (11/18). Reuters reports that artemisinin “is the best drug available against malaria, especially when used in artemisinin combination therapy (ACT), which combines it with other drugs that finish off the [malaria] parasite” (Nebehay, 11/18).
Political Cartoon: Mayberry R.F.D.?
Kaiser Health News provides a political cartoonist’s perspective on health policy developments with “Mayberry R.F.D.?” by Eric Allie.
Health Industry Players Offer Insights, Expectations About Overhaul’s Impact
Some players within the health industry are not enthusiastic about completely repealing the new health law. Meanwhile, other corners of the health care sector are predicting the financial results they expect for their businesses as the implementation marches forward.
No Agreement On Health Cost Containment At Bipartisan Commission
The Obama administration’s bipartisan commission studying efforts to reduce the nation’s debt remained at odds – after three days of closed door meetings – on how to deal with health care costs.
Repeal, replace and revise are the new health overhaul buzzwords as key Republican Senators sign on to an amicus brief in support of states’ legal challenge to the health law and Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, who will be the Speaker of the House in the upcoming Congress, pledged quick legislative action to repeal the measure. Meanwhile, Senators advance an alternative approach.
States Focus On Medicaid Budget Challenges
Waivers, drug benefits and even diapers … these are the topics under discussion as states continue to focus on ways to address the budget challenges associated with their Medicaid programs.
Senate Acts On Medicare Doctor Pay Fix
Although the Senate agreed to postpone for one month cuts in Medicare physician payments, the House must still act, too, in order to delay a scheduled fee reduction that will kick in Dec. 1.This very short-term approach is likely to frustrate the physician community.
State Roundup: California PPOs ‘Low Marks’; Geriatric Nursing; Physician Shortages
News outlets covered a range of developments including workforce issues in Minnesota and California, and a Kentucky order for insurers to provide child-only policies.
Today’s OpEds: Opposing Views On Hospital Medical Errors; Lesson For Andy Harris; Dems And Abortion
Views from around the country on health policy topics such as medical errors and the “gotcha’ culture in Congress.
A report (.pdf) released on Thursday by UNICEF highlights the recent progress made in reducing the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) despite ongoing social pressures in five African countries, Deutsche Presse-Agentur/M&C reports. (11/18). “Millions of girls worldwide are cut or mutilated each year,” according to a UNICEF press release (.pdf). “The practice, a serious violation of their human rights, can cause severe, lifelong health problems including bleeding, problems urinating, childbirth complications and newborn deaths,” the release adds (11/18).
Cholera Confirmed In Florida Woman Who Traveled To Haiti
“The first known case of cholera in the United States linked to the outbreak in Haiti was confirmed Wednesday by health officials who said a southwest Florida woman contracted the disease while visiting family in a region at the heart of Haiti’s epidemic,” the New York Times reports.
