Latest KFF Health News Stories
Canadian Government Says Canada’s G8 Maternal, Child Health Plan Will Not Include Abortion
Canada on Monday at a meeting of G8 development ministers in Halifax, Canada, said its maternal and child health initiative, which is expected to be a “centerpiece issue” at the G8 summit in late June, will not include funding for abortion, the Associated Press/Washington Post (Gillies, 4/26).
Report Looks At HIV/AIDS Funding In Developing Countries
“A global pullback on commitments to fund and fight AIDS is resulting in restrictions on the number of people being enrolled into treatment programmes, more frequent drug shortages, and reduced national AIDS budgets,” according to a report (.pdf) released Monday by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), BMJ News reports.
As Health Reform’s Specifics Continue To Emerge, So Do Questions And Answers From Stakeholders
Among the law’s hot topics are how its medical loss ratio provisions will be implemented; what states will decide about high risk pools; and how the measure will change employers’ choices about providing health care.
Trade Negotiations Between EU, India Could Affect Access To Low-Cost Generic Drugs
Ongoing negotiations between the European Union (EU) and India “could make it harder for millions
Companies Providing Home Care Receive Large Medicare Reimbursements
An analysis of Medicare payments to home health care companies by The Wall Street Journal indicates that some companies might be taking advantage of the system for their financial benefit.
In addition, a new study finds that the suburbs of Washington, D.C., are lagging behind the city’s efforts to help slow the spread of HIV.
CNN: Hospital Markup On Supplies Can Be Big
CNN reports on a physician who was shocked to see the markup on a pair of forceps used when she had surgery.
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of Tuesday’s opinions and editorials from around America.
Doctors Struggle To Contact ER Patients As Departments Bear Larger Patient Burden
MSNBC reports that doctors in ERs face significant barriers in providing the best care.
Master’s Programs Focus On New Generation Of Health Care Management Professionals
Health care management is growing in popularity among business schools, according to a report in the New York Times.
House Lawmaker Discusses Possible Five-Year Medicare Physician Payment Fix
Lawmakers consider a five-year Medicare physician payment fix.
Gangs Increasingly Involved In Medicare Fraud
“Gangs across the country are arming themselves with powerful weapons to bilk taxpayers out of billions of dollars through Medicare fraud,” ABC News reports.
Commission On Debt Will Focus On Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security
Lawmakers are prepping for a battle over the role of government in entitlements such as Medicare and Medicaid as a commission to examine the national debt prepares to begin work.
States Uneasy About Impact Of Medicaid Expansion
The expansion of insurance coverage under the health reform law is due largely to an expansion of the government-funded Medicaid program, which is causing some doctors to worry about the specifics of implementation.
Experts Debate Rationing And End-Of-Life Care; Hospice Use Rises In Colorado
PBS televises recent debate among four experts on bio-ethics on rationing and end-of-life care.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including details about how states are reacting to high risk pools and questions about the sweeping expansion of Medicaid.
OPM announces plans to invest in technology to track federal employees’ health claims to check effectiveness of providers. Agency also announces that it is asking Congress to modify law so it can offer coverage this year to young adults who are kicked off their parents’ plans.
Humana First Quarter Earnings Up, Stock Price Drops On Health Reform ‘Fears’
The health insurer saw big growth in its Medicare Advantage plans, saw its stock price drop because of profit-taking and worries about the effects of the new health law.
World Bank-IMF Report Tracks Impact Of Global Economic Downturn On MDGs
Though the global economic crisis has slowed the pace of efforts to reduce poverty in developing countries, the countries remain “on track” to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) target to halve extreme poverty by 2015, a World Bank Group and IMF report says.
