Latest KFF Health News Stories
H1N1 Spread Continues Worldwide; First Death In Asia Confirmed
The H1N1 (swine flu) virus has now infected more than 52,000 people, leaving 231 dead, the WHO said Monday, AFP/Washington Post reports.
African Scientists Ask Developed Countries For Greater Investment in African Research
The Network of African Science Academies (NASAC) issued a statement (pdf) asking developed countries to establish training programs that would allow African students to stay in Africa or other developing countries in effort to curb the “tide of African talent leaving the continent’s universities,” CNN reports.
1.02B Chronically Hungry People Worldwide, U.N. Says
For the first time, the number of chronically hungry people worldwide is greater than 1 billion, according to a recent U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) statement, the Financial Times reports.
Obama Team Ready To Start Health Reform Rally
President Obama’s media team this week is preparing a media blitz to coincide with the shrinking timeline for getting a health reform package passed in the Senate, Roll Call reports.
Senators Debate Public Plan, Co-ops For Health Overhaul
Senators crafting health reform are debating a number of issues ahead of the revelation of proposal including the inclusion of a cooperative as an alternative to a government-run public plan.
Dodd Stretched Thin On Finance And Health Roles
Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., is hearing criticism that he cannot handle his role in financial regulatory reform while he sits in for ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy on the House’s health committee, Politico reports.
Lawmakers Look For New Taxes, Cuts To Pay Reform Bill
Lawmakers are considering deductions on medical expenses, value-added taxes, spending cuts and other options to foot the reform bill.
House Dems To Open Hearings Amid Controversy Over Finances, Public Plan
“House Democrats are pushing forward with a partisan health care bill even as a key Senate Democrat labors to achieve an elusive bipartisan compromise on President Barack Obama’s top legislative priority,” the Associated Press reports.
Some Governors Oppose Medicaid Expansion Proposals
“Some governors are pushing to scale back or kill proposals to expand Medicaid to provide health-care coverage to the uninsured, raising a new challenge to President Barack Obama’s effort to overhaul the system,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Advertising Focuses On Public Option
Advertisers focus their attention on the public option.
Firms Tweak Benefit Plans In District Of Columbia And Baltimore Area
As firms tweak their benefit plans, workers absorb some more health costs while also gaining some perks.
Details Remain Unclear On Medicare Drug Deal
The White House formally announced the drug manufacturers’ plan to lower Medicare drug prices Monday. While details still remain unclear, it appears drug companies may benefit from the deal.
Good Bet In Market Pullback: Health-Care Shares
“As sentiment and the stock market increasingly look bearish, look for the recent outperformance in health care to continue,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
A Selection Of Editorials And Opinions
Hospital costs, the deficit and lessons from California are among the subjects in today’s opinion pieces.
Dental Health Advocates Want To Sink Teeth Into Health Care Reform
As the Obama administration rolls out its massive health care reform effort, many dental-health experts worry that they will be left out.
E-health Enables More Personalized Medicine; Group Fights For Digital Patient Rights
The “medical home” model is successful for patients in part because technology allows coordination of care between primary care doctors and specialists. Meanwhile, a new group of is pushing for a “wired patient’s bill of rights.”
Obama Signs Anti-Smoking Measure
President Barack Obama on Monday in the Rose Garden with a number of lawmakers and other guests “signed the strongest anti-smoking measure ever, calling it an extraordinary accomplishment that will help keep children from getting hooked on cigarettes,” the Associated Press reports.
Obama, AARP Announce Agreement To Cut Prescription Drug Costs
President Barack Obama appeared with AARP chief Barry Rand Monday morning to announce an agreement among pharmaceutical companies to cut prescription drug costs for seniors.
Florida-Based Organization Encourages Black Women To Be Tested For HIV
The one-year-old Florida-based organization Sistas Organizing to Survive on Saturday held a rally in Orlando that sought to raise awareness of HIV among black women and encourage them to be tested.
HIV Testing Kits To Be Distributed To Residents In Washington, D.C., This Week
On Wednesday, a national HIV testing campaign called “Don’t?Guess?Test!” is making a “controversial move” by distributing free HIV testing kits that have not been approved by FDA in the lead up to National HIV Testing Day on June 27.
