Latest KFF Health News Stories
First Edition: November 4, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the super committee’s apparent impasse, and details on Mitt Romney’s plan to cut the deficit.
Global Fund Releases Additional Audits As Part Of Internal Investigation
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on Tuesday posted the results of several internal audits, showing “that 12 more probes had turned up an additional $20 million of mismanagement, alleged fraud and misspending,” the Associated Press/CBSNews.com reports.
100 Lawmakers Urge Deficit Panel To Consider ‘All Options’
A letter from this bipartisan group of House members to the super committee asked that the panel strive for a larger, $4 trillion deal. Meanwhile, Politico offers four possible scenarios that could play out for health interests.
Parsing The Health Law’s Winners And Losers, And Its Chances For Survival
The AP reports on some of the measure’s unexpected beneficiaries and The Christian Science Monitor details how it could be dismantled. Also, California Healthline follows the money that is lobbying to preserve the measure.
PlusNews reports on the results of the Zambia-South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction (ZAMSTAR) study released on Monday at the International Lung Health Conference in Lille, France, which show that “[h]ome-based tuberculosis (TB) education and testing reduced community TB prevalence by about 20 percent.” Noting that “the trial cost US$27 million [and] the interventions it piloted cost about $0.80 per patient,” the news service writes that while “the cost-effectiveness of household outreach has not yet been calculated, … [t]his will be of particular interest not only to national policymakers but also donors, who continue to tighten purse strings amid a global economic downturn” (11/1).
Investment In USAID Has Saved Millions Of Lives, Is Critical For U.S. Security
In this Politico opinion piece, Brian Atwood and colleagues, all former USAID administrators in previous Democratic or Republican administrations and current advisers to the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, write, “Over [the last] half-century, USAID has had an extraordinary record of accomplishment. Using less than one percent of the U.S. budget annually, the American people have demonstrated their deepest values through USAID programs, saving tens of millions of lives worldwide with immunization programs, oral rehydration therapy, treatment for HIV/AIDS and work on other diseases.” They add, “Because of the efforts of the American people, more than one billion people now have safe drinking water, smallpox has been eradicated and tens of millions have been saved through USAID’s famine relief efforts.”
Financial Investment, Progress In HIV/AIDS Treatment Must Be Protected By International Patent Law
In this Hill opinion piece, John Castellani, CEO and president of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, writes, “Over the past three decades, more than 30 treatments have been approved to treat HIV/AIDS,” but he adds, “While this is remarkable progress, it’s not enough.” He continues, “In order for scientific progress in these areas to continue, the substantial financial investments in medicines created in America’s biopharmaceutical labs — medicines that take years and billions of dollars to develop — must be protected by international patent laws.”
Calif. Hospital Association Sues Over Medi-Cal Provider Cuts
The state recently received federal approval for a 10 percent cut in reimbursements for services from physicians, laboratories, pharmacies and nursing and long-term-care facilities.
Stimulus Funds Will Help Build Health IT Systems, But Not Sustain Them
iWatch News reports on how this finding is raising concern among state officials about how they will keep paying for these systems when the federal money is gone. Meanwhile, KHN – in partnership with NPR and Oregon Public Radio – takes a look at how electronic medical records can be used.
NEJM: Cancer Drug Shortage Relates to Economics
A perspective in this week’s New England Journal of Medicine outlines this connection. Meanwhile, a House Democrat ramps up his investigation into the “gray market” and how it is contributing to the shortage.
Plans For Insurance Exchanges In Conn. And Kansas Hit Some Roadblocks
Conn. consumer advocates trying to change the exchange board while Kansas governor and insurance commissioner are at odds on the strategy for that state.
Senate GOP Attempts To Officially Undo CLASS Act
An attempt to bring up a bill to fast-track efforts to repeal fthe CLASS Act was beaten back by Democrats. But the AARP and 50 other advocacy groups sent a letter to lawmakers asking them not to touch the measure.
Experts Look To India To Develop Accurate, Affordable TB Diagnostics
SciDev.Net examines tuberculosis (TB) in India, which has the world’s highest TB burden, and some experts’ hopes that researchers in the country can develop accurate and affordable diagnostic test kits. “The recognition that no new anti-TB vaccine is expected before 2015 has prompted experts to pin their hopes on improving diagnosis,” the news service writes. “One cause for worry in India is a plateau in the number of new cases being detected at 87 percent of actual infections, over the past five years,” and another is the “slow rate of decline of the disease in India,” SciDev.Net notes, adding, “Despite the drawbacks, global experts at [a recent TB] conference were optimistic that Indian diagnostic companies would soon form a world hub for high-quality generic diagnostics” (Padma, 11/3).
Roundup: Mental Health Hospital Woes; N.Y. Medicare Scam Bust
Today’s state news includes reports from Kansas, Georgia, Minnesota, New York and Michigan.
Health Law’s Reproductive Health Provisions Continue To Draw Criticism
At a Wednesday subcommittee hearing, faith-based providers and some House Republicans lamented new federal rules that they say could erode long-standing “conscience clauses.”
Glaxo Pays $3 Billion To Settle U.S. Investigations
The settlement will also cover a Department of Justice probe into Glaxo’s development and marketing of the diabetes drug Avandia.
Viewpoints: The Campaign Against Birth Control; Paying For N.Y.’s Autism Mandate
A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy issues from around the country.
Cain Offers Up His Views On Health Policy
In a short policy speech delivered on Capitol Hill, GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain expressed his support for repealing the 2010 health law and replacing it with market-based reforms.
The Skinny On ‘Narrow Networks’
Health Net of Arizona is joining with Banner Health to offer a new type of HMO plan. In other news, Health News Florida reports on WellCare and Humana’s profits.
