Latest KFF Health News Stories
Investigators Wondering: Fraud, Bad Medicine Or Union Manuevering At Calif. Hospital Chain?
The Los Angeles Times reports that state and federal investigators are trying to determine whether “a serious health problem or multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud” is behind a reported spike in blood poisoning cases at hospitals operated by Prime Healthcare Services.
First Edition: October 12, 2010
Today’s early morning highlights from major news organizations look at a probe of a California hospital chain, the effect that the governors’ races around the country will have on the federal health law and a review of prescription purchases that shows more Americans are foregoing their medicines.
“An agreement to contribute $100 million for a private-sector program to increase agricultural output in poor countries was announced by Canada, the U.S. and the [World Bank’s] International Finance Corp [IFC] on Friday,” Reuters reports (Somerville, 10/8).
Urgent Care Clinics Find Place In Market, Other Health Care Industry News
Florida Today/USA Today reports that urgent care clinics, “in a growing trend,” are seeing consumers increasingly turn to walk-in clinics “and urgent care centers for treatment of minor ailments and injuries instead of trying to squeeze in an appointment with a primary care provider or waiting at a crowded emergency room.”
World Bank, IMF Discuss Development Funds At Annual Meeting
The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) fund requires new resources from Western governments to adequately fight global poverty, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said on Saturday during the annual meetings of the bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington, D.C., the Guardian reports. The IDA “provides soft loans and grants to the 79 poorest countries,” the newspaper writes.
Insurers are increasing premiums. In upstate N.Y., two insurers are asking for double-digit raises. Ohio consumers also expecting to pay more.
Today’s opinions and editorials evaluate the health law’s first court-room test, the prudence of Medicare Advantage cuts and the seriousness of a plan to curb the deficit drafted by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
Arizona Struggles With Severe Medicaid Cuts; Medicaid Fraud Task Force Targets Abuse In Iowa
States address a range of health policy issues.
Microsoft To Shift Part Of Health Care Costs To Workers
Microsoft Corp., long known for generous employee benefits, has told workers that starting in 2013 they will start contributing to the cost of health insurance premiums.
Doctors Pushing Hard For Medicare Pay Fix
A 23 percent cut in reimbursements is scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 1, but physicians are putting pressure on Congress to change that.
HHS Awards $727 Million To Community Health Centers As Part Of New Law
The Obama administration announced it will soon award $727 million to community health centers around the nation to help them build new clinics and improve safety net care in America.
Health Overhaul Rhetoric Intensifies On Campaign Trail
Democrats, including Sen. Russ Feingold, are touting their health care votes as they debate Republicans who want to repeal the law.
Retiree Health Plans Not Covered By Health Law; Some Small Businesses Get Tax Credits
For some, the new health law brings an expansion of coverage and subsidies, but others discover that the fine print means they won’t benefit as expected.
Soldier Suicides Still High Depite Army’s Prevention Program
The New York Times reports that “nearly 20 months after the Army began strengthening its suicide prevention program and working to remove the stigma attached to seeking psychological counseling, the suicide rate among active service members remains high and shows little sign of improvement.
Mammography, Vaccines Still Raise Questions In Consumers’ Minds
NPR reports on two preventive measures that, despite years of research, still have consumers wondering what to do.
Physician Shortage Expected To Balloon To 91,500 in 2020
News outlets report on workforce issues for physicians, including the doctor shortage, Medicaid pay cuts and the effects of long work hours on medical residents.
WHO Western Pacific Meeting To Address Maternal Health, Rise In Dengue
Maternal health and dengue fever are among the issues that will be discussed at the 61st session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific, Bernama reports. The meeting, which will take place this week in Malaysia, will be attended by 21 ministers and health officials from 33 countries in the region. WHO Regional Director of the Western Pacific Shin Young-Soo spoke at a press conference Sunday ahead of the meeting (10/10).
Committee On World Food Security Meeting Begins In Rome
A high-level meeting of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Committee on World Food Security
Obesity Treatments Falter, But Researchers Announce Gene Links
Research reveals gene sites linked to obesity. Meanwhile, obesity drugs falter as obesity costs continue to rise.
