Latest KFF Health News Stories
Rural Hospital Places Critical Bet On Health IT; Technology Raises Fears Of Hackers
A small, rural hospital in Missouri is “rolling the dice” on electronic medical records, its CEO says.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations.
Health Insurer Chief Says ‘Villain’ Comments Hurt Process
On a conference call with reporters Tuesday morning, Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans, said the “Washington politics as usual” of finger pointing at health insurers is hurting the process of trying to forge consensus on health reform.
Schumer: Senate Democrats Might Approve Health Reform Legislation Without Republicans
Some Senate Democrats are flexing their legislative muscles about going it alone if the GOP doesn’t agree to a bipartisan plan by mid-September.
Grassley’s Prediction: Health Reform Legislation To Face Final Vote In November
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said on Monday that legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system is likely to face a final vote in the middle of November, Radio Iowa and The Hill report.
Black AIDS Institute Executive Director Discusses HIV/AIDS Among Black Community
PRI’s “Tavis Smiley Show” recently conducted an interview with Phill Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute, where he discussed HIV/AIDS among the black community, findings from the organization’s recent “Passing the Test” report and its “Test One Million” campaign, the role of the media in HIV/AIDS efforts and other issues.
Needle Exchange Restrictions Included In House Bill Could Hinder Programs, Advocates Say
A recently passed House bill that lifts the ban on the use of federal funding for needle exchange programs, which included an amendment addressing the locations of needle exchanges, “according to many health and human rights advocates, has been diluted to the point that it won’t help the same urban areas most afflicted by those illnesses,” the Washington Independent reports.
Scientists Discover New Strain Of HIV Closely Related To Simian Virus
Scientists have discovered a new strain of HIV in a 62-year-old woman from Cameroon that “differs from the three known strains
Impact Of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s HIV/AIDS Funding Cuts On County, Local Programs Examined
California HIV/AIDS service providers recently met to analyze how Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s (R) recent funding cuts to the state Office of AIDS “would affect county health programs, non-profit service providers and their clients,” the California Progress Report reports.
Editorial Discusses Removal Of Needle Exchange Funding Ban
A Wilmington News Journal editorial discussed the potential lifting of the ban on using federal funding for needle exchange programs.
AFP Examines Debate Over H1N1 Spending, Resource Allocation
The Agence-France Press examines the debate over how much developed countries are spending to fight the H1N1 virus.
Nigeria, UNICEF Launch First National Child Health Week
UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman, who visited Nigeria to launch the country’s first ever National Child Health Week, said an unacceptably high number of children in the country are dying from preventable diseases, and she called on Nigerian government officials to provide integrated healthcare, Xinhua reports.
Washington Post Examines Health Toll Of Congo Conflict
The Washington Post examines the devastating toll the conflict in the Congo has had on the health of the country’s displaced civilians, as told through the death of a 36-year-old farmer, who succumbed to typhoid fever far away from the home he abandoned.
Clinton Embarks On 7 Nation African Tour
“U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton heads this week on a seven-nation tour of Africa aiming to prove U.S. commitment to the continent after the administration’s early focus elsewhere,” AFP/ABS-CBN News reports.
Breastfeeding Can Save 1.3M Children Annually, WHO Says To Mark World Breastfeeding Week
About 1.3 million children’s lives could be saved each year by teaching new mothers how to breastfeed, but many women do not receive help and stop trying, the WHO said on Friday ahead of the start of World Breastfeeding Week, which runs from August 1 through August 7, Reuters reports.
House Recesses, Democrats Reflect On Accomplishments And What’s Ahead
House Democrats celebrated late last week the passage of a health reform bill out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, but face a lot of work to do still to reform health care when they return, Roll Call reports.
Democrats Hone August Health Care Message, Republicans Plan Counter-Offensive
Democrats have agreed upon the message to relay to constituents during the August recess: The health insurance industry is the ‘bad guy.’
White House Retools Message As GOP Opposition, Public Opinion Push Back
“[T]he White House team is retooling its message and strategy, hoping a more modest approach will reinvigorate Obama’s signature domestic policy initiative and give him a first-year victory for Democrats to carry into the 2010 midterm elections,” the Washington Post reports.
Senate Dems In The Hot Seat On Health Overhaul
In the final week of debate before the Senate recess, the Finance Committee continues talks on bipartisan legislation, but Senate Republicans and Democrats alike are ramping up their health care rhetoric and considering more drastic options.
