Latest KFF Health News Stories
Conference Calls For East African Countries To Prioritize Water, Sanitation Programs
During a sanitation conference being held in Kampala, Uganda, this week, “experts have urged regional countries to prioritize programs aimed at increasing access to safe water and sanitation” to move them closer to reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target in 2015, New Times/allAfrica.com reports. “According to Water Aid, an international NGO, one billion people still lack access to safe drinking water while 2.4 billion lack adequate sanitation,” the news service writes.
Obama Seeks To Mollify Democrats On Health Overhaul Plan, Costs
President Obama’s intensifying push for health care reform took to lobbying individual Democratic lawmakers Thursday as he looks for votes to pass an overhaul.
Democratic Division On Abortion Language In Health Overhaul Jeopardizes Chances For Passage
As Democratic lawmakers busy themselves gathering votes for a new push on health care reform, Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., is leading a contingent of anti-abortion lawmakers in fighting for stricter restrictions on the procedure in exchange for their votes.
Study, Conference Highlight Risks Associated With Migrant Workers’ Limited Access To Health Services
Despite being at high-risk for HIV infection, migrant workers in Southern Africa have a challenging time accessing HIV prevention and treatment services, according to a new study by the International Office of Migration (IOM), PANA/Afrique en ligne reports.
News organization have “fact checks” on the reconciliation procedure and health reform provisions.
Lancet World Report Examines GAVI’s Funding Gap
Lancet World Report examines the challenges ahead for the GAVI Alliance, which after a decade of “steadily increasing financing” is now “facing a funding shortfall for the next decade that could hamper the roll-out of new vaccines.” GAVI leaders attribute the funding challenges to the global economic crisis, which has kept government aid budgets from increasing, according to the Lancet.
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Kaiser Health News presents a selection of opinions and editorials.
Legislation Requires Hospitals To Disclose Prices In Wisconsin
In other state news, Idaho looking for $42 million in Medicaid cuts, Michigan wrestles with a nursing shortage and Texas senior care facilities concerned that state will reduce Medicaid payments.
American Cancer Society Stresses Importance Of Educating Patients To Risk Of Prostate Screening
In new guidelines, The American Cancer Society stresses that physicians should better educate patients to the risk and benefits of PSA testing. The organization also calls for end of some screening programs.
Small Health IT Firms May Be Able To Compete With GE-Sized Giants
Federal funding for electronic medical records will likely reshape the health IT industry, where 300-400 firms ranging from GE subsidiaries to small, private companies now compete for clients.
Former Executive Criticizes Catholic Charities’ Gay Marriage Backlash
A former senior executive at Catholic Charities in Washington has spoken out against the group’s decision to eliminate health coverage for new spouses altogether in order to avoid offering the same benefits to same-sex couples.
Advocates, Opponents Target Two Dozen Swing Votes
Expensive grass roots campaign has begun to secure the vote of roughly two dozen members of Congress seen as swing votes on the health care bill.
Senators To FDA: Lift Ban On Gays Donating Blood
“The time has come to change a policy that imposes a lifetime ban on donating blood for any man who has had gay sex since 1977, 18 senators said Thursday,” according to The Associated Press.
Recent studies also examine the effect of comparative effectiveness research and improving nursing home care for seniors who have both Medicaid and Medicare coverage.
In White House Meeting, Sebelius Urges Insurers To Release All Details On Rate Hikes
Insurance companies should disclose more information about how they spend money to justify their rate hikes, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a group of insurance executives Thursday.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the White House’s intensified push for health reform and the intra-party rifts faced by Democrats.
The White House Full Court Press On Health Care
President Obama had two different meetings with House Democratic lawmakers in hopes of securing votes and adding momentum to his health overhaul effort.
Sebelius Meets With Insurance Execs, Challenges Them To Be Transparent
President Obama dropped by the session to further punctuate his administration’s concerns.
U.S. foreign policy should rely more on diplomacy and “soft power,” Admiral Mike Mullen, chair of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a speech at Kansas State University on Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reports. “U.S. foreign policy is still too dominated by the military
