Latest KFF Health News Stories
‘Money Well Spent Today Means Less Money Spent Tomorrow’ On HIV/AIDS
This Lancet Infectious Diseases editorial responds to the Global HIV/AIDS Response 2011 progress report (.pdf) launched by the WHO, UNICEF, and UNAIDS on November 30, writing that the report “contains much good news on treatment and prevention, but the gains made by past efforts are jeopardized by the ongoing global financial crisis and dwindling funds.”
What 2012 Holds For State Reform Efforts, Health Law Implementation
Vermont, Oregon and Georgia are considering what the new year will bring for their efforts to implement health reforms, including formation of insurance exchanges. In California, the state’s pool of money for the pre-existing health condition plan is getting a new infusion of funds.
GOP Candidates Trade Barbs Over Health Care Policies
Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, speaking in Iowa, said the government should not be running the medical world. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney outlines his views on abortion while Michele Bachmann uses the Supreme Court’s scheduling announcement to reiterate her position against the 2010 health law and question that of her opponents. Also, Romney’s health policies are again in the spotlight.
Viewpoints: If Not The Health Law, Then What?; Shifting Medicare Costs Isn’t Enough
A selection of editorials and opinions about health care policy from around the country.
Fate Of India’s Food Security Bill Unknown; Analysts Say It May Harm Country’s Economy
“Though approved by the Cabinet Sunday, the fate of the much-anticipated Food Security Bill, which will guarantee cheap food for India’s masses, is far from sealed,” the Wall Street Journal’s “India Real Time” blog reports, noting that the “bill is to be tabled in Parliament this week.” When the bill comes up for a vote, after potentially spending weeks in committee, “all political parties are expected to support the bill which will provide subsidized food grains to 75 percent of the rural population and about half of urban households,” the blog writes.
First Edition: December 20, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that the Capitol Hill deadlock continues over the payroll tax cut extension. Also in the news, the HHS picks for “pioneers” to test a new health care model and the Supreme Court’s plan to hear health law arguments in March.
Congress Passes FY12 Spending Bill, Including Funding For Global Health
“The Senate on Saturday passed the final spending bills for 2012, eliminating the risk of a government shutdown until next fall,” National Journal reports (Snell/Friedman, 12/17). The House passed the measure on Friday, National Journal notes (Goldmacher/Friedman, 12/16). According to Inter Press Service, “U.S. foreign aid and support for multilateral institutions emerged in somewhat better shape than many observers had expected” (Lobe, 12/16).
Grand Challenges Canada, Gates Foundation Announce Grants To Develop Portable Diagnostic Tools
The Canadian government-funded non-profit Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation “have invested around $32 million in the discovery and development of new and improved diagnostic tools to help health workers in developing countries, with the aim of speeding up treatment and saving lives,” IRIN reports (12/16). “Innovative point-of-care diagnostic tools such as a piece of woven fabric which can test blood or urine for disease and a simple, easy to use test for diagnosing diarrheal disease which is the biggest killer of developing world children under the age of five are some of the projects which are receiving funding,” according to a Grand Challenges press release (.pdf) (12/16).
India’s Cabinet Passes Food Security Bill
“India’s cabinet agreed on Sunday to tackle widespread malnutrition with food subsidies for two-thirds of the country’s 1.2 billion population, a move that may shore up support for the government but carries risks for the faltering economy,” Reuters reports. “The new scheme aims to tackle rates of child malnutrition that are worse than in sub-Saharan Africa, but critics say slowing growth and a widening fiscal deficit in Asia’s third largest economy mean the timing of the bill is irresponsible,” the news agency writes (Prusty, 12/18).
ABC News’ 20/20 Examines Maternal Health, Mortality Worldwide
ABC News’ 20/20 on Friday examined maternal health and mortality worldwide in a program titled “Giving Life: A Risky Proposition.” The show was a sort of “sequel” to a series launched last year called “Be the Change: Save a Life,” host Diane Sawyer said (12/16). ABC News also posted a list of statistics related to maternal health (Jester, 12/17).
Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline To Increase Sales Of Pneumococcal Vaccines Through GAVI
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and GlaxoSmithKline are increasing their sales of reduced-cost pneumonia vaccines to developing countries through the GAVI Alliance “by more than 50 percent, marking the scale-up of an international program to protect millions of children,” Reuters reports (Hirschler, 12/16).
U.S. To Work With South Sudan On Agriculture; Aid Agencies Warn Of Hunger Threat
“Speaking at a two-day development and investment conference for South Sudan in Washington, D.C., [Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton said the newly independent country had the potential to be ‘one of Africa’s breadbaskets'” and said the U.S. would work with private sector partners to invest in the nation’s agriculture system, the Guardian reports. “However, aid agencies cautioned that the excitement about investment opportunities should not overshadow the country’s immediate humanitarian needs,” the newspaper writes.
U.N. Asks For $447M In Humanitarian Aid For Yemen
The U.N. on Sunday released its Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan 2012, asking for $447 million in humanitarian assistance targeted toward four million vulnerable people in the country, Reuters reports (Fuchs, 12/18). A statement from the U.N. Inter-Agency Standing Committee said more than half of those at risk will be “severely food insecure” in the coming year, Agence France-Presse notes.
Payroll Tax Cut Extension And ‘Doc Fix’ Stall In House
What appeared to be a “sure deal” is now coming undone as House Republicans are balking at the Senate’s short-term approach.
