Latest KFF Health News Stories
PlusNews Highlights 10 Major HIV Headlines Of 2011
In a year-end recap of major HIV-related headlines, IRIN/PlusNews writes, “It’s been a roller coaster of a year in HIV and AIDS. AIDS turned 30 in 2011, and with new evidence of the effectiveness of HIV treatment as prevention, experts are increasingly talking about ‘the end of AIDS.’ At the same time, however, funding for HIV has become ever more uncertain, jeopardizing efforts to put new, life-saving science into action.”
In-Your-Face Advertisements Target Childhood Obesity
The ads have drawn strong criticism, but Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is standing by the effort.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
State Roundup: Texas Health Assistance Program Closing
A selection of stories from Maryland, New York, Texas, Florida, Kentucky, Washington and Massachusetts.
Medicaid News: Wis. To Lift Cap On Long-Term Care
News outlets also report on Medicaid developments in New York, Ohio and Colorado.
India’s Successful Polio Vaccination Campaign Could Bring First Disease-Free Year
“In India, a mass vaccination campaign involving more than a million volunteers reduced cases nationally by 94 percent between 2009 and 2010, from 741 to 42, and down to the single case last year,” the Guardian reports, adding, “If in India as a whole there are no more confirmed cases before 13 January, the country will have completed its first year without a new victim. And if polio is gone from India, the only countries where the disease is still endemic would be Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
Moving Forward: The Medicare Debate In 2012
The AP reports on some of the surprising similarities that can be found behind the partisan rhetoric surrounding Medicare.
Study: In-Hospital Mortality Rates Questioned As Measure Of Quality
Research in Monday’s Annals Of Internal Medicine indicates that it may make more sense to review mortality over a set window of time, rather than the number of people who die while in the hospital.
Supreme Court Justices’ Recusal Questions Continue To Grab Headlines
While the Wall Street Journal takes a look at how the individual mandate could be viewed by specific justices, news services report on the chief justice’s view of the health care recusal issue.
CMS Delays Two Anti-Fraud Projects
Modern Healthcare reports that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has put on hold its initiative targeting fraud related to power wheelchairs and its expansion of the Recovery Audit Contractors. Georgia Health News reports on how health care fraud has taken root in Georgia.
GOP Plan To Reclaim White House Will Turn Obama’s Words Against Him
The Washington Post reports on the Republican battle plan, which will undoubtedly include his past claims about lowering the cost of insurance premiums. The Associated Press reports on how the GOP primary race has yet to “fully test” candidate Mitt Romney’s health care record. Also, The Hill reports that the Republican presidential field appears to be “moving to the right” on abortion issues.
McConnell Names Conferees For Tax-Cut, Doc Fix Negotiations
Late last month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., named his picks to negotiate for a year-long extension of the payroll tax holiday and Medicare doc fix.
IRIN, GlobalPost Examine Malnutrition In Yemen
IRIN reports that “[a]id workers hope ‘shocking’ new malnutrition figures from a survey conducted in western Yemen will help highlight the serious humanitarian situation in the country and prompt donors to act immediately.” The survey, conducted by Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population and supported by UNICEF, “found a global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 31.7 percent — meaning nearly one third of children surveyed suffered from either moderate or severe acute malnutrition — of which nearly 10 percent were severe cases. These figures are more than double the internationally recognized emergency threshold of 15 percent,” IRIN writes (12/27).
U.S. Offers Initial $125 Million To UNHCR In 2012
“The United States said Thursday it will contribute an initial $125 million to the [U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR)] 2012 operations, including support for refugees returning to Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Agence France-Presse reports, noting, “The State Department said the funds
First Edition: January 3, 2012
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that New York seniors are experiencing reduced prescription coverage and more California patients are being added to the health insurance rolls.
Health Care 2012: Medicare Faces Big Changes, New State Laws Include Abortion Issues
News outlets began 2012 by looking ahead at what is promising to be a busy health care year, especially because of the law.
Geisinger System: We Won’t Hire Smokers
The Pennsylvania health care system announced it won’t be hiring smokers, though the policy won’t apply to current employees.
Roberts Defends Colleagues And Court’s Recusal Policy
In year-end message, Supreme Court chief justice addresses growing controversy about whether Justices Thomas and Kagan should participate in the health law case.
HHS Awards CHIP ‘Performance Bonuses’ To 23 States
The extra payments will go to states which have streamlined the enrollment for their Children’s Health Insurance Programs.
GOP Struggles To Find Replacement Plan For Health Law
Republicans have pledged to “repeal and replace” the 2010 overhaul, but they haven’t formulated the replacement yet, The Washington Post reports. Meanwhile, others examine prospects of a long-term Medicare fix for doctors’ payments.
