Latest KFF Health News Stories
Medicare Roundup: Courts Widen Coverage of Skilled Care; Experts Give Enrollment Advice
Two federal courts rule that Medicare beneficiaries with persistent chronic conditions can get covered for home health care; experts advise Baby Boomers to sign up early for Medicare benefits and review their plans closely.
Debt Panel On Hold Until Election Cycle Ends
President Barack Obama’s bipartisan debt-reduction commission is in a holding pattern until after the volatile elections.
Seniors Play Powerful Role In Today’s Elections
Seniors play a powerful role in the midterm election; AARP provides an interactive guide on voting.
Staff Member Of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Quits Over Cancelled Meeting
Kenneth Lin, a staff member of the United States Preventive Services Task Force, quits over a cancelled meeting that was supposed to examine prostate-cancer screening.
First Edition: November 2, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including speculation about what will become of the health reform law after the election.
Kenya First Of Four Countries To Launch UNICEF, Partners Initiative Aimed At PMTCT Of HIV
On Friday, UNICEF and the Kenyan government announced a partnership aimed at preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV by providing HIV-positive mothers with packs of medicines they can easily administer to themselves or their babies at home, IRIN/PlusNews reports. According to the news service, the “‘mother-baby pack’ contains antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) and antibiotics that women can easily administer themselves at home to reduce the risk of infecting their babies and is colour-coded to make it easy to use even for illiterate mothers; each colour shows which drugs are to be taken during pregnancy, during labour and after delivery” (10/29).
House Win Would Give GOP The Ways, Means To Roll Back Health Law
As the GOP seems poised to make major gains in Congressional seats, politicians and news outlets are speculating what that would mean for the new health law.
Races Make Final Health Overhaul Messages Clear As Election Day Nears
Candidates push their final messages for Tuesday’s elections, while the debate over the health care overhaul still reverberates in some districts.
WHO Director-General In Pakistan To Monitor Flood Relief, Polio Vaccinations
WHO will continue to support efforts to boost polio eradication efforts in Pakistan, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said recently during talks with Pakistani health officials, the Associated Press of Pakistan reports. Chan was in the country to review health relief operations in Pakistan’s flood-affected areas.
IRIN Examines Debate Over Malaria Control Versus Eradication
After the recent publication of the Lancet series on malaria eradication, IRIN examines the debate over control versus eradication, stating the findings of some of the studies.
Media Outlets Look Ahead To Obama’s Trip To India
Several media outlets looked ahead to President Barack Obama’s scheduled visit to India later this week, as part of his Asia-Pacific tour.
A selection of today’s opinions and editorials from across the U.S.
Insurance Costs Continue To Surge
The cost of health insurance continues to surge, and the effect of the new health law is still unclear, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Medicare Cuts Become Hot Topic In Mid-Term Election Campaigns
Medicare again becomes a “rallying point” on the campaign trail as the GOP points to health reform’s program cuts as a recent to vote against Democrats.
More Companies Push Employee Wellness Programs
More companies follow the example of General Mills and push for more employee wellness programs.
Minn. Will Accept Federal Assistance, Tenn. Tackles Burgeoning Drug Abuse Problem
States address a range of health policy issues.
AHRQ: Hospital Admissions For Adverse Drug Reactions Have Doubled
News outlets report on the hospital industry, including admission rates, mergers and quality improvement programs.
Open Enrollment Brings Higher Premiums For 2011
As open enrollment for many employer-sponsored health plans approaches, workers are faced with higher premiums in 2011, yet again.
Health Law Challenges: Birth Control, Grandfathering, State’s Exchanges
Among the complications posed by the health law is the fight over “social mores” that could stem from the possibility that free contraception will be made available to women as a result of its provisions.
