Latest KFF Health News Stories
Rural Thoughts On Improving The Health Care System; Plus Other State News
Kaiser Health News examines rural health care in Kentucky and finds community health care models there offer lessons for America’s broader health care system, despite lingering problems.
Maternal Mortality, Abortion Rates Decline In Former Soviet Bloc
Over the last decade, the maternal mortality rate has dropped by 50 percent in some former Soviet bloc and Balkan countries, according to a U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) report released Thursday, Agence France-Presse/France24 reports.
New York Times Examines Impact Of Small, Direct Grants To Boost Development In Afghan Village
The New York Times examines the use of small, direct grants to improve health and development in Afghanistan. The article focuses on efforts in “Jurm, a valley in the windswept mountainous province of Badakhshan, in the northeast,” where small amounts of money
Today’s Opinions And Editorials
Today’s opinion topics include abortion, insurance and filibusters.
News Outlets Examine USAID Administrator Nomination
PBS’ Online NewsHour explores the recent nomination of Rajiv Shah as USAID administrator and the outlook for the agency. “While Shah still needs to be confirmed by the Senate, there has been high anticipation for a successor to be named. There is broad consensus in the government and aid community that the agency
Doctors Face Image Problems; Patients Deal With Shortages, Are Urged To Question Care
Doctors confront the fading image of primary care providers.
Health Policy Research Round Up – Medicare and Massachusetts
The Research Roundup today includes the “secrets of Massachusetts’ success” with health reform legislation, Medicare hospital readmission rates, an examination of Part D and a look at Americans’ attitudes about funding global health.
AMA Takes On Social Issues, Backs Reform, Rebuts 100-Year Trend
After a century of health-reform opposition
Insurer Recruits Employees To Oppose Health Bills, Angers Consumer Group
“In an aggressive new effort to influence the congressional health care debate, UnitedHealth Group this week e-mailed its 75,000 U.S. employees, urging them to contact their senators and providing two form letters attacking specific legislative proposals,” the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
DC HIV Study: Can Intense Treatment Prevent Spread?
The NIH-supported study will provide tools to the District of Columbia’s health department to improve patient tracking and follow-up.
Veterans’ Health: Measuring The Scope Of Mental Health Challenges
NPR highlights the efforts of retired General Eric Shinseki, who heads the Department of Veterans Affairs, to measure the scope of veterans’ mental health issues.
Suggestions Abound For Cutting National Health Care Costs
Two publications looked at the problem of rising health costs and ways to try to “bend the cost curve.”
Overhaul Could Leave Kids’ Hospitals Strapped For Cash
Health reform could place a disproportionate burden on children’s hospitals, because they will face cuts along with other hospitals, but do not stand to benefit from expansions in insurance coverage, industry advocates say.
Democrats Insist Obama Trip To Asia Won’t Slow Health Care Bill
President Barack Obama won’t likely miss much in the way of the health care reform debate while he is in Asia for eight days, aides say.
First Edition: November 13, 2009
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports of the possibility of a Medicare payroll tax in health reform legislation as well as continuing analysis of the overhaul’s winners and losers and the CDC’s new estimate of the far-reach of the swine flu.
Details Emerge For Possible Medicare Payroll Tax In Senate Health Bill
A proposal to apply Medicare taxes to capital gains earned by wealthy Americans as part of health overhaul legislation is ‘in play’ as the Senate continues to move toward floor action on the sweeping bill.
Washington Independent Looks At Response To Newly Nominated USAID Head
The Washington Independent examines the development community’s response to the nomination of Rajiv Shah for USAID administrator.
CDC Expected To Revise Estimated Number Of U.S. H1N1 Deaths
Ahead of the anticipated CDC release of revised U.S. H1N1 (swine flu) death toll estimates, Reuters examines how the agency and WHO measure the impact of the virus, after both organizations “stopped trying to count actual cases months ago, once it became clear that H1N1 was a pandemic that would infect millions.”
Health Minister Calls For Ramped Up Fight Against HIV/AIDS In South Africa
South African health minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Tuesday called for a reinvigorated effort in the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS, echoing comments recently made by South African President Jacob Zuma, Agence France-Presse reports.
