Latest KFF Health News Stories
Public-Private Partnerships Can Help Poor Access Health Care, Reach Economic Potential
In this Washington Post “Davos Diary” blog entry, Kate Roberts, vice president of corporate marketing, communications and advocacy at PSI, writes about what to expect at the World Economic Forum, beginning on January 25 in Davos, Switzerland. Noting that poor health and access to health care can prevent a growing middle-class population from reaching its “full economic potential,” Roberts writes, “The key to changing this scenario will be finding ways to encourage this emerging class of consumers to adopt healthier behaviors, and giving them the means to do so.” She says public-private partnerships are critical to solving these issues.
Universal Access To HIV Treatment Can Be Achieved
“Thirty years after AIDS made its deadly debut, a future without the disease is finally within reach,” a Boston Globe editorial states, adding, “But just as science is on the verge of winning the battle, financial resources and political will are flagging.” The editorial details reductions in HIV spending, a Congressional stipulation that U.S. funds cannot be spent on needle-exchange programs, and new science showing how HIV treatment can help people living with the disease live longer and reduce the risk of them spreading the virus.
Abortion Foes Take Aggressive Position In 2012 Debate
As part of their election-year strategy, some anti-abortion groups plan to force President Obama and congressional Democrats into a corner on an abortion-related issue.
Medicare Math And The GOP Candidates
News outlets report on some of the specific health policy positions being advanced by the GOP presidential primary field.
Mass. Gov. Again Seeks Health Insurance Payment Overhaul
Articles detail the Massachusetts state of the state address, efforts in Iowa to probe denials in the high risk pool and other legislative news.
Targeted Repeal Votes Part Of House GOP Health Agenda
Some specific provisions the Republican leadership plans to hold repeal votes on include the Medicare advisory panel and the CLASS Act. Meanwhile, the AMA is pointing to “war savings” as a possible way to pay for the fix to the Medicare physician payment formula.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
State Roundup: Calif. Fights Feds On Mental Hospital Oversight
News outlets report on a variety of health issues around the country.
States’ Hesitancy Could Delay Insurance Exchanges Development
At issue is what some see as the law’s uncertain future — which many link to the outcome of the upcoming election and the Supreme Court’s decision. The Minneapolis Star Tribune offers its home state, Minnesota, as a case study.
Sebelius Takes To Airwaves On ‘The Daily Show’
During her appearance, host Jon Stewart pressed her on the Obama administration’s decision to let states define the health law’s “essential benefits.”
High Court Rejects Request For Debate Over Kagan’s Health Law Recusal
The justices, who are scheduled to hear more than five hours of arguments challenging the health law, turned down the request without comment. Kagan did not participate in the decision.
PCORI Releases Draft Of Research Priorities
The draft, which offered insight into the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute’s priorities and comparative effectiveness research agenda, did not single out any specific diseases or treatments. The institute did seek public comment.
First Edition: January 24, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new survey that indicates the percentage of Americans lacking health insurance coverage rose for the fourth straight year.
High Court Rejects Request For Debate Over Elena Kagan’s Recusal From Health Law Review
The justices turned down the request without comment and Justice Elena Kagan did not participate in the decision. KHN tracked the related news coverage.
International HIV/AIDS Alliance Releases Report Examining Potential Effects Of Global Fund Shortfall
The non-governmental organization (NGO) International HIV/AIDS Alliance has released a new report in response to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria’s announcement in November that “no new grants would be approved until 2014,” VOA News reports. According to the news service, the report, titled “Don’t Stop Now,” “examines the potential effects of the funding shortfall in five countries.”
Address Drug Resistant Pathogens As Part Of ‘Next Stage Of Global Health’
This post in the Foreign Policy Association blog discusses reports from earlier this month of “an emerging strain of ‘totally drug-resistant’ tuberculosis (TDR-TB)” in India, which the Indian government last week denied, “arguing that the 12 cases were in fact extensively drug resistant (XDR).” The blog states, “Whether or not it’s fair to use the TDR moniker, drug resistance is a serious, emerging issue that may very well define the next stage of global health,” concluding, “We are reaching a turning point, one at which some drug resistant pathogens are on the cusp of shifting from a handful of cases, an endemic, to a bigger, epidemic or even pandemic problem. Now is the time to initiate discussions on what the global community will do to stem drug resistance” (Robinson, 1/21).
Cooperation Needed To Fight TB
In this post in Global Health Frontline News’ “Notes From the Field” blog, Kevin Cain, chief of the tuberculosis (TB) branch for a research and public health collaboration between the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the CDC in Kisumu, Kenya, reports on TB research underway as part of the collaboration. Cain highlights several current research initiatives in Kisumu and concludes, “The world cannot afford another phase of neglect. We know by partnering with governments as well as affected communities in innovative ways more progress can be made improving programs and the tools available for diagnosing, treating, and preventing TB, and lives will be saved” (1/20).
U.S. Should Assume Leadership Role In Saving Global Fund
A funding shortfall led the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria to announce in November that “it won’t make any grants to fund programs for at least two years,” a Deseret News editorial notes and calls on the U.S. to take a leadership position in saving the fund. The editorial states, “Few worldwide initiatives have the success record of the Global Fund …, but those breakthroughs may not have much chance to save many lives,” and notes that the non-profit lobbying group “Results is calling for the Obama administration to assemble an emergency meeting of donor nations this spring to find ways to ensure that the fund and its programs are able to continue and to provide new medicines where they are needed most.”
Medical Groups Maintain Pressure For ‘Doc Fix’
The medical lobby continues to push for a longer-term solution as the current temporary patch to the Medicare physician payment formula is set to expire March 1. Also, what’s to become of the IPAB in the upcoming congressional session?
Some States Flummoxed By Health Law’s Promise Of Affordable Care
News outlets report on a variety of health law implementation issues, including an Associated Press report detailing how the overhaul is lagging in the states. Other reports examine questions about ACOs, essential benefits and other specific provisions.
