Latest KFF Health News Stories
World Economic Forum Launches Risk Network To Address Financial, Food Security Risks
The World Economic Forum launched the Risk Response Network (RRN) at its meeting, which opened Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland, the Economic Times reports.
Majority Of Americans Favor Foreign Aid Cuts, Poll Finds
A USA Today/Gallup poll released on Wednesday found that a majority of Americans oppose spending cuts when asked about specific programs, except for foreign aid, The Hill’s blog, “Briefing Room,” reports (Fabian, 1/26).
GM Mosquitoes For Dengue Prevention; Polio In Haiti; Malnutrition In Pakistan; Pharma’s Interest In India.
U.N. Women Executive Director Bachelet Launches 100-Day ‘Action Plan’
During the inaugural meeting of U.N. Women’s executive board this week, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet laid out a 100-day action plan for the newly-launched agency, Inter Press Service reports.
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayanm, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, “pledged $100 million Wednesday to deliver vaccines to children in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Reuters reports.
GOP Focuses Health Law Attacks During Two House Hearings
The hearings represent the first of what will likely be a long list of hearings and new legislation designed to question and denounce the new health law. With the measure in the spotlight, the debate surrounding its fiscal impact also is a “hot topic.” Meanwhile, some Democrats who last year opposed the health overhaul are starting to find value in it.
States Step Up Legislative, Legal Action Against Federal Overhaul
State legislatures are considering bills to undermine the sweeping health overhaul. In addition, a Virginia court promises speedy action in a pending legal challenge. And, of course, the concept of “waivers” continues to draw interest.
Scrutiny About New York State’s Medicaid Program Continues
The Wall Street Journal reports on the program’s fraud unit while KHN explores the plans for New York’s plans to revamp the entire program.
WellPoint’s Strategy To Diversify
The Wall Street Journal reports on the insurer’s strategy.
Health news today includes reports from California, Texas, Mass., Minnesota and Kansas.
White House Renominates Berwick As Medicare Chief
Six months after installing Dr. Don Berwick to direct the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services with a recess appointment, the Obama administration has renominated him.
CBO Projections, Deficit Reduction Talk Causes Medicare Nerves
The need to take steps to reduce the federal deficit is leading some to experience “Medicare jitters.”
Viewpoints: Is Obama Abandoning His Health Victory?
Today’s opinions include commentaries from The New Republic, Politico, The Baltimore Sun and the New England Journal of Medicine.
First Edition: January 27, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about two House hearings advanced by the GOP to further their repeal efforts and more information on the budget deficit.
Mass Cholera Vaccination Early In Outbreak Could Stem Spread Of Disease, Studies Show
“The cholera bacterium has undergone important mutations in recent years, causing longer outbreaks of the disease with increased fatalities, researchers reported on Wednesday,” Reuters reports. “In a package of papers published in the journal PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, they said mass vaccinations should be considered as a solution even after outbreaks have begun,” the news service writes (Lyn, 1/26).
Also In Global Health News: Germany To Withhold Global Fund Contribution; Protecting Pregnant Women From Malaria; FAO Food Price Warning; Polio In Angola.
Lancet Series Examines Health Issues Facing Populations In Southeast Asia
“Southeast Asia’s 600 million people are facing a raft of new health challenges as the disaster-prone region undergoes some of the world’s fastest social change,” according to a series of papers and commentary pieces, published Tuesday in the Lancet, Agence France-Presse reports (1/25). “Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam were among the countries surveyed by the journal, which called for universal health coverage especially to protect the poor,” Reuters writes (Lyn, 1/25).
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete were in Geneva on Wednesday to open a meeting aimed at “developing a framework” to monitor the implementation of a $40 billion U.N. maternal and child health initiative, according to CBC News. Harper and Kikwete are co-chairs of a commission that is charged with ensuring accountability for the pledges.
Obama Briefly Highlights Foreign Policy Themes In State Of Union Address
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday “focused on jobs, budget trimming, and investment, but he also underscored foreign policy concerns and outlined an approach to international relations with ‘a new level of engagement,'” CBS News’ “Political Hotsheet” blog reports.
State Of The Union Address Includes Brief, But Clear, Defense Of Health Law
President Barack Obama made clear that he is willing to tinker around the edges of the sweeping reform, but not return to the days before the measure became law.
