Latest KFF Health News Stories
Common Infections Could Become Deadly With Increase In Antibiotic Resistance, WHO’s Chan Says
As more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, “common infections could become deadly, according to” WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, who spoke on Wednesday at a conference titled “Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Time for Action” in Copenhagen, ABC News reports. “‘Some experts say we are moving back to the pre-antibiotic era. No. This will be a post-antibiotic era. In terms of new replacement antibiotics, the pipeline is virtually dry,’ said Chan. ‘A post-antibiotic era means, in effect, an end to modern medicine as we know it. Things as common as strep throat or a child’s scratched knee could once again kill,'” the news service notes (Moisse, 3/16).
UNDP Launches Global Water Solidarity Platform
The U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) recently launched the Global Water Solidarity Platform “at the World Water Forum in Marseille, France, where 20,000 participants from the private, public and non-profit sectors [met] to address the water crisis,” according to a UNDP press release. “The Global Water Solidarity Platform, which is supported by the governments of France and Switzerland, connects local authorities and organizations to take action to solve water and sanitation challenges, through which, for example, municipal water authorities in more developed countries can take direct action to support the improvement of water and sanitation services in developing contexts by contributing one percent of their revenue or budgets,” the press release states (3/15).
Al Jazeera Examines Global Maternal Mortality
Al Jazeera examines maternal mortality worldwide, saying, “If the situation continues at its current rate, the world will not meet” the U.N. Millennium Development Goal “to reduce maternal mortality by 75 percent between 1990 and 2015.” Though the estimated number of women who die of maternal mortality has dropped from 546,000 in 1990 to 340,000 today, a woman’s lifetime risk of dying during or following pregnancy in developing countries “is still high at one in 31,” compared with one in 4,300 in developed countries, the news agency reports. “Attaining zero maternal death would require greater community involvement and commitment” and increased access to contraceptives and skilled birth attendants, according to experts, Al Jazeera notes (Arjunpuri, 3/19).
A preliminary report on the Uganda AIDS Indicator Survey, conducted by the Ministry of Health, shows the country’s “HIV prevalence rate [has] stagnated over the last 10 years, [and] the number of people infected with HIV has risen from 1.8 million people to 2.3 million today,” the Observer writes. “Health experts at the launch of the preliminary report said this is not only worrying for a poor country like Uganda, but also shows that the billions of dollars sunk into prevention are not reaping any results, as people continue to get infected,” the newspaper writes.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the anticipation and anxiety that surrounds the Supreme Court’s upcoming health law oral arguments.
GOP Plans For Medicare, Health Reform Repeal Draw Scrutiny
Political observers are noting challenges for Republican lawmakers in upcoming budget, health law and Medicare debates. And some Democrats in the Senate are being pressured on the issue of keeping one of the health law’s safeguards for slowing Medicare’s costs.
Sides Counting Down To Supreme Court Health Reform Arguments
With the historic arguments over the 2010 reform law less than 10 days away, the Supreme Court rejected video and live audio of the proceedings. The court will release audio every day.
HHS Proposes Options For Contraception Coverage Rule
The Obama administration reiterated the no-copay-for-contraceptives rule but suggested ways religious-affiliated institutions could comply.
Administration Tailors Health Law Arguments To Key Justices
Part of their challenge is to convince the justices the health care marketplace is “unique.” Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius talked to Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill about “alternatives” to the individual mandate if it were struck down. And The Wall Street Journal reports the oral arguments before the Supreme Court may be the hottest show in Washington.
CBO: Employer-Based Health Insurance Could Decline Under Health Law
The Congressional Budget Office report notes — under a worst case scenario — that as many as 20 million people could lose their work-based coverage in 2019. The law’s opponents embraced this figure, but the CBO says the more likely number is 3 to 5 million.
States Consider Wide-Ranging Abortion, Contraception Legislation
A host of abortion and contraception legislation is winding its way through state legislatures: Democrats are focusing on regulating male reproductive health in at least six states; Michigan abortion providers face greater scrutiny; and Arizona could require those seeking birth control give a medical reason they need it.
House Republicans Slow Fight Against Birth Control Coverage Rule
And, on the Senate side, a group of Republicans introduced a bill that would end traditional Medicare and allow seniors to join the insurance plans that are available to members of Congress.
Feds Begin Funding Cuts To Texas Women’s Health Program
Federal officials said they would begin to phase out their 90-percent portion of the Texas Women’s Health Program as they had promised to do after Texas lawmakers banned Planned Parenthood from the program. CMS officials said the reductions would be gradual.
MedPac Urges Repeal Of SGR, Specific Payment Cuts
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission took on these and other issues in its March report to Congress.
Tom Hanks, The Hollywood Touch Draw Attention To Obama Campaign Video
The 17-minute documentary looks at the administration’s record and helps set the tone for the re-election campaign.
Medicaid Commission Report Urges Steps To Improve Quality Of Care, Reduce Costs
According to news outlets, the report focused on the care of patients with disabilities, and steps to make sure anti-fraud efforts don’t add to states’ burdens.
Status Checks: Health Law Implementation
As the Supreme Court prepares to consider challenges to the law’s constitutionality, news outlets report on its impact so far and what’s next to be implemented.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
State Highlights: Minn. Tort Reform; Calif. Prepares – Or Not – For Newly Insured
A roundup of health policy news from Minnesota, California, Kansas, Connecticut, Oregon, Missouri, Washington D.C. and Colorado.
Hospital News: Minn. Bill Would Require Hospitals To Disclose ‘Futility Policies’
Measure being considered in Minnesota would require hospitals to disclose if they withhold treatment to avoid wasting medical resources. In Florida, public hospitals are looking at mass layoffs to save money.
