Latest KFF Health News Stories
Fate Of Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Pools, Health Exchanges May Hinge On High Court Ruling
News outlets report on what might become of programs such as high risk pools and health exchanges if some or all of the health law is overturned by the Supreme Court.
“Zimbabwe is one of the key countries to watch in the drive to eliminate pediatric AIDS in Africa,” Chip Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, writes in this post in the Huffington Post’s “Global Motherhood” blog, adding, “Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Welfare and its international partners — including the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.K. Department for International Development (DfID), and most recently the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) — have helped turn the tide of the pandemic in children.” He writes, “In June 2011 at the United Nations, a Global Plan was introduced to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015,” and notes, “Zimbabwe was among the first of many countries to answer the call.”
Joint UNAIDS/UNDP Brief Highlights Potential Impacts Of Free Trade Agreements On Public Health
“A new UNAIDS/UNDP joint issues brief [.pdf] highlights the potential impacts of free trade agreements on public health,” UNAIDS reports in a feature story on its website. “The brief concludes that ‘to retain the benefits of [flexibilities in the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)], countries at a minimum should avoid entering into free trade agreements that contain obligations that can impact on pharmaceutical price or availability,'” the article states. It adds that “the potential impact of a number of current or planned free trade agreement negotiations taking place across the world — particularly affecting countries in the Asia and the Pacific region — can hinder countries’ rights to implement such flexibilities” (6/1).
CMS Turns To Contractors To Help Fight Health Care Fraud
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will rely on local contractors as part of a two-pronged effort to uncover fraudulent claims. Meanwhile, the dean of the University of Missouri’s medical school steps down amid a federal investigation into potential Medicare billing fraud by two radiology professors.
High-Deductible Health Plans Pick Up Steam
Seventy percent of large companies participating in a recent survey said they’ll offer high-deductible insurance by 2013 combined with accounts that let patients buy medical services with pre-tax dollars.
Medicaid News: Ga. Working On Reshaping Program
News outlets look at a variety of Medicaid issues in California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas and Wisconsin.
$25 Million Grant Announced To Improve States’ Care For Frail Elderly
Stateline reports on a new HHS grant to help low-income adults with mental and physical disabilities remain in their communities. Meanwhile, California submits a plan to federal officials for the transition of dual eligibles to managed care.
Mo. Gov. Faces Defining Choice On Abortion Bills
Missouri’s governor faces tough choices on a pair of abortion bills awaiting his signature or veto — moves that could have national implications. In the meantime, Louisiana lawmakers have approved a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Mass., Calif. Insurers Will Pay Millions In Rebates To Their Customers
Nationally, insurers are expected to return about $1.3 billion.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
States Eye Health Law Changes — Consider Next Moves In Implementation
State officials in Minnesota, California and Washington are among those moving ahead regardless of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
Bloomberg’s Proposed Super-Size Soda Ban Is Latest Attack In War Against Obesity
New York City mayor seeks to limit the size of sugary beverages, but the plan draws scorn from the soft drink industry and heightens the debate about how involved government should be in efforts to “steer individual behavior in the name of health.”
Several outlets offer opinions on obesity issues and on the New York City mayor’s proposal to curb the sale of sugary drinks.
Walgreen, Express Scripts Dismiss Claims Against Each Other
But the fact the two companies have dropped these claims does not mean they are nearing a new deal.
Roundup: Cracking The Cost-Savings Code In Mass.; Va. Releases Abortion Clinic Regs
A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, Virginia, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Arizona, Illinois, Connecticut and North Carolina.
Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt Picked To Lead Romney Transition Team
So far, Leavitt has acted as a “low-profile advisor” to GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Meanwhile, advisors to President Barack Obama and Romney spar over issues of job creation and the health law. News outlets also report on how some religious leaders and scholars who backed Obama in 2008 are now skeptical.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest news on implementation of the health law, on the pending Capitol Hill effort to repeal the medical device tax and reports from the states.
Report Offers Glimpse of Health Law’s Impact On Washington State
Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is weighing in on the fate of the Affordable Care Act with a report released this week about what’s at stake for Washingtonians if the law is overturned by the Supreme Court.
WHO To Continue Discussion On R&D Reform Focusing On Health Needs In Developing Countries
“Proposals for new mechanisms to improve the funding and coordination of health research for the developing world, potentially including a binding international convention, will be formally discussed over the next year, the World Health Assembly concluded last week (21
PMTCT Of HIV ‘Critical, Effective’ To Making Progress In Child Survival
In this post in the Management Sciences for Health’s (MSH) “Global Health Impact” blog, Scott Kellerman, global technical lead for HIV/AIDS at MSH, discusses USAID’s “Every Child Deserves a 5th Birthday” campaign and recent attention to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. He notes that U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe “have called for the elimination of pediatric HIV by 2015,” and writes, “We can move closer to the goal of eliminating pediatric HIV by 2015 by treating the mother, treating the baby, and continuing to treat the mother” (5/31).
