Morning Breakouts

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Analysis: How Will $155 Billion Deal With White House Really Affect Hospitals?

Morning Briefing

When hospitals agreed to accept a $155 billion pay cut from the federal government to help Washington raise money for reform efforts earlier this month, many were surprised. But The Economist says hospitals have a lot to gain.

Mass. Panel Recommends Scrapping Doctors, Hospitals Payment System

Morning Briefing

A Massachusetts panel wants the state to scrap the current system for paying for health care, in which each service or visit generates a separate fee, instead paying a yearly lump sum for each patient.

CBO Head Says…

Morning Briefing

Under questioning by members of the Senate Budget Committee, CBO director Douglas Elmendorf said bills crafted by House leaders and the Senate health committee do not propose the changes necessary to reduce the trajectory of federal health spending by a significant amount.

Federal Grant Awarded To Austin, Texas HIV/AIDS Organization Targeting Former Inmates

Morning Briefing

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has awarded AIDS Services of Austin a five-year, $1.6 million grant to fund a program targeting black residents who were recently incarcerated, the Austin Business Journal reports.

Amarillo, Texas To Use State Grant For HIV Surveillance Activities

Morning Briefing

The Amarillo, Texas City Commission on Tuesday received a grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services, of which $51,636 will be used for HIV surveillance activities across the Texas Panhandle Region, NewsChannel10.com reports.

Boston Arm Of Multi-City Study To Focus On Sexual Health, HIV Risk Among Black Gay, Bisexual Men

Morning Briefing

Boston-based Fenway Health and the Multicultural AIDS Coalition “have launched the recruitment phase of a new study aimed at learning more about the sexual health of black gay and bi[sexual] men and finding effective strategies for HIV prevention within the black gay community,” Bay Windows reports.

USA Today Examines Afghan Health Sector Successes, Need For Further Improvements

Morning Briefing

When considering an overhaul of “the failure-plagued Afghanistan reconstruction program,” U.S. development officials are looking to Afghanistan’s health sector, “where more than $1 billion in international aid since 2002 has produced measurable results,” USA Today reports.

South American Health Ministers Gather In Argentina To Discuss H1N1 Preparedness

Morning Briefing

The health ministers of six South American countries gathered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Wednesday to “coordinate defenses against” the H1N1 (swine flu) virus which has killed nearly 200 people in the region,” the AFP/Google.com reports.

Senate Panel Advances Health-Care Overhaul, But Battle Lines Sharpen

Morning Briefing

A key Senate Committee cleared its health overhaul package Wednesday, but criticism quickly emerged from industry players and moderate Democrats who have been courted for months, calling into question the prospects for a bipartisan bill.