Latest KFF Health News Stories
Kansas City Is A Model For Health Care Cost Control
The Kansas City Star reports that the city may be able to provide Washington with a model for how fix a critical element for health care reform: bringing down exploding health care costs.
Obama, Democrats Walking Fine Line On Health Overhaul
Negotiations for a bipartisan health care overhaul are facing challenges from Democrats as well as Republicans.
White House Not Ruling Out Taxing Benefits, Public Plan Compromise
On ‘Meet the Press’ today, White House senior adviser said the administration isn’t ruling out taxing some health benfits, and that President Obama wouldn’t insist on having a public plan.
Montana Reports Increase In HIV Diagnoses
There have been 19 new cases of HIV diagnosed in Montana since the beginning of the year, whereas the state usually has an average of about 20 newly diagnosed cases annually, according to a recent report by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services.
Miami-Dade County, Fla., Launches Campaign Promoting Routine HIV Testing
The Miami-Dade County Department of Health on Thursday launched a campaign called “Test Miami,” which is designed to educate physicians, at-risk communities and pregnant women on the importance of routine HIV testing.
The Kaiser Family Foundation ahead of National HIV Testing Day on Saturday has released new and updated informational resources on HIV testing in the U.S., including a fact sheet that provides HIV testing statistics.
Columnists Discuss HIV Statistics, National Testing Day
“It’s getting harder to convince people of the urgency, that knowing your HIV status is better than not knowing, that this is still a serious problem,” columnist Wendi Thomas writes.
Many people who test positive for HIV are diagnosed late in the course of their infection when treatment might be less effective, according to a report published Thursday in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Kenya Seeks Support From PEPFAR To Expand Blood Transfusion Centers
Kenya’s Medical Services Permanent Secretary James Ole Kiyiapi announced Thursday that the government is in negotiations with PEPFAR for support in building additional blood transfusion centers in the country, Capital News reports.
USAID Commits $1M To Help Several African Nations Deal With Natural Disasters, Disease Spread
USAID announced Thursday a $1 million commitment to a Red Cross projected aimed at helping those “living along southern Africa’s Zambezi River cope with worsening natural disasters because of climate change,” the AP/Washington Post reports.
Mexican, Chilean Presidents Appeal For Developing Countries Access To H1N1 Vaccine
Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on Thursday emphasized the importance of developing countries having access to a vaccine that offers protection against the H1N1 (swine flu), “that has killed over 200 people and infected tens of thousands worldwide,” AFP/MSN Philippine News reports.
Finance Committee Senators: Reform Bill Trimmed To Less Than $1 Trillion
A bipartisan group of seantors on the Finance Committee said Thursday they’ve moved closer to cutting their health reform bill’s cost to under $1 trillion.
Critics Escalate Attacks On Health Care Overhaul
“The type of advertising war that helped doom the last effort to overhaul the nation’s health care system is heating up,” USA Today reports.
U.S. Swine Flu Cases Reach One Million
U.S. health officials on Thursday said they believe as many as 1 million Americans have been infected with H1N1.
Vitamin A Supplements Can Reduce Malaria Cases In Children By One-Third, Study Finds
In malaria-endemic areas, vitamin A supplements
Ohio May Face Medicaid Cuts And A Loss Of Coverage For Diabetics
In Ohio, a nursing home coalition warns of “life-threatening health risks” if Medicaid reimbursements are cut under Gov. Ted Strickland’s proposed budget plan while diabetes patients in the state are threatened by a lack of coverage.
Lobbyists Swarm Around Health Reform Activity
With billions of dollars are at stake, interest groups are pouring millions into Capitol Hill to make sure their concerns are represented.
Warranties And Reimbursements For Family Caregivers Provide Alternative Payment Methods
Health care warranties and reimbursement for family care-givers offer alternative and innovative methods for health care payments.
President Obama Joins In Chorus Of Complaints About CBO Figures
President Barack Obama joins the chorus of Democrats who criticize Congressional Budget Office numbers and claim that their analyses aren’t fair. The criticism comes after the agency provided $1 to $1.6 trillion estimates for two draft health care reform bills.
