Latest KFF Health News Stories
Congressional Delegation Visits U.S.-Funded Development Projects In Tanzania
A Congressional delegation traveling in Africa visited Arusha, Tanzania, on Wednesday “to see first-hand the impact of development projects” funded by the U.S., IPP Media reports, noting that the delegation included Senators Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), John Thune (R-S.D.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and Rep. Kay Granger (R-Tex.). The delegation met with farmers who have used drought- and disease-resistant maize varieties, as well as “visited Ngarenaro Health Centre in Arusha, which receives support from private and U.S. government organizations,” including USAID, the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and PEPFAR, the news service writes. According to a press statement, “the delegation also visited Ghana and South Africa, and would meet with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) officials in Stuttgart, Germany, following their trip to Africa,” IPP notes (1/14).
California Single-Payer System Has Another Go Before Senate Committee
A proposal to institute a single-payer health care system in California has found its way to a key state Senate committee. The proposal, which would cover all Californians through a state-run health insurance program, died in the Senate Appropriations Committee in California last year.
State Roundup: State Lawmakers, Governors Planning Health Legislation
A selection of stories from Maryland, Iowa, Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, California, New Jersey, Georgia and Massachusetts.
Ore. Governor Proposes ‘Coordinated Care’ For State’s Medicaid Program
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber is proposing to change the state’s Medicaid program by ending its fee-for-service model and instituting “coordinated care organizations” to manage patients’ chronic care to keep them out of hospital rooms.
Making Doctor Notes More Accessible To Patients
The Houston Chronicle reports that Texas physicians are leading this trend. Meanwhile, KHN offers advice to help patients better understand what they might be reading.
U.S. Readies Plan To Fight Alzheimer’s
Government health officials are meeting this week to develop a national strategy for treating and preventing the disease.
Appeals Court OKs Immediate Enforcement Of Texas Abortion Law
A federal appeals court ruled Friday that a new Texas abortion law that requires doctors to perform a sonogram and play a sound of the fetal heartbeat 24 hours before an abortion procedure can be immediately enforced while the law is appealed. Opponents hoped to delay the enforcement a few weeks.
Wis. Company Helps Lead The Way To Digitizing Health Records
The New York Times examines the work of Epic Systems, which supplies electronic records for large health care providers.
Study Finds Medicare Doesn’t Pay Adequately For Clot-Busting Stroke Treatment
Reuters reports on a study that finds the powerful drugs cost U.S. hospitals substantially more than Medicare will pay.
Obama’s Plans For SOTU Address
The Washington Post reports that President Barack Obama hopes to “strike a balance” in the upcoming speech, which will include listing accomplishments and actions such as enacting the health law.
GOP Presidential Hopefuls Clash In S.C. Debate, On Airwaves
Republican candidate Rick Santorum is unveiling a new ad that will compare rival Mitt Romney to President Barack Obama, citing the Massachusetts health law Romney signed while governor.
Viewpoints: Health Care Is A Civil Right; A Medicare Strategy Based On Lenin
A selection of editorials and opinions on health care policy from around the country.
S.D., Wis. Wrestle With Health Exchange Implementation
While Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker faces a dilemma regarding his state’s Early Innovator Grant, South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced his state wouldn’t try to pass health exchange legislation because “there is too much uncertainty.”
Will The Health Law’s Future Be Decided By The High Court Or The Election?
Media outlets weigh the various scenarios that could play out and where the ultimate muscle exists to advance or undo the health law.
Insurance In The States: New York Retailers Often Don’t Cover Employees
In New York City, a new study has found only three of 10 retail workers get health insurance through their job. In the meantime, the federal government is stepping up scrutiny of health insurers in Arizona, and Connecticut considers changes to appeal insurance company coverage denials.
U.S. To Provide Nearly $1B Over Five Years To Bangladesh For Poverty, Health, Agriculture Programs
A U.S. Embassy statement on Saturday said the U.S. would provide nearly $1 billion to Bangladesh over the next five years “towards alleviating poverty and malnutrition, as well as family planning and the fight against infectious diseases,” Reuters reports. “The funds will also be used to support research in improving farm productivity and deal with the impact of climate change,” the news service writes, adding, “As of 2011, the U.S. government has provided over $5.7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh” (Quadir, 1/14).
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday “urg[ed] the Taliban to allow teams conducting a polio vaccination campaign access to areas under their control” and “said that whoever hampers the medical workers ‘is the enemy of our children’s future,'” the Associated Press/Washington Post reports (1/17). “A total of 80 cases of the crippling disease were reported in Afghanistan last year — a three-fold increase over 2010, the health ministry said on Tuesday, marking a major setback in the drive to eradicate polio worldwide,” Agence France-Presse writes, adding that “Karzai appealed to religious and community leaders to persuade the insurgents to allow the immunization teams to vaccinate children” (1/17).
First Edition: January 17, 2012
Today’s early highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that look forward to what’s on tap as Congress returns to work as well as the the House GOP’s emerging election-year strategy and President Obama’s plans for the state-of-the-union address.
S.C. Primary Race Heats Up: Abortion, Health Law Affect Evangelical Endorsement
A group of religious conservatives endorsed Rick Santorum, and GOP presidential candidates prepare for debate tonight.
Health Law’s Individual Mandate, Essential Benefits Draw Headlines
A new study concludes that dropping the individual mandate would result in overall lower health spending but increases in health insurance premium costs. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat reports on the drama that surrounds the Obama administration’s essential benefits proposal.
