Latest KFF Health News Stories
Longer Looks: Life Of A Medicare Demo Project; Broken Hearts; AIDS Funding
Every week, reporter Jessica Marcy selects interesting reads from around the Web.
Hospital Mergers Trigger Disputes
News reports detail developments in Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
California’s Mental Health Care Services Continue To Shrink; Iowa Seeks Reform
While Iowa has hopes of reforming its mental health services, a new study notes real problems in California.
The New England Journal of Medicine has perspectives on a variety of health policy topics today.
State Roundup: Fla.’s Growing Medicaid Costs; Md.’s Unspent Disabilities Money
A selection of stories from California, Iowa, Florida, Maryland, Louisiana and Missouri.
The inspectors made their remarks while testifying before the Senate Special Committee on Aging.
GAO: Most Insurers Met Health Law Spending Rules — Even Before They Kicked In
The report examined insurance plans in 2010, before the new rules took effect, and found that at least 64 percent of eligible insurers would be incompliance.
Medicare To Cover Obesity Screening, ‘Intensive Behavioral Therapy’
This coverage decision ensures that an estimated 30 percent of the 42 million people who participate in Medicare will be able to undertake physician-supervised weight-loss programs.
World AIDS Day Marks Progress, But Much Work Remains
News reports detail emerging strategies to prevent infection, but also examine lagging treatments and the populations that continue to have the highest incidence rates.
The Lipitor Story: Drug Companies Brace For Losses As Patent Expires
News outlets analyze the impact that generic Lipitor could have on costs and the “era of ‘blockbuster drugs'” as well as the strategies from Lipitor’s maker to block its generic competitors. Meanwhile, some of these generics are already reaching the marketplace.
Recusal Fight Continues – Unlikely To Affect Justices, But Could Impact Public View Of The Ruling
Politico reports that the recusal requests come from the left and right and focus on Elana Kagan and Clarence Thomas.
House Committee Gives Nod To CLASS Act Repeal Bill
The panel approved the measure by a 33-17 vote.
First Edition: December 1, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports that Republicans in Congress are advancing a plan to charge wealthy beneficiaries more for Medicare in order to cover the costs of the proposed payroll tax extension.
“The number of new HIV cases in Saudi Arabia declined by 9 percent to 1,121 in 2010 from the previous year, the official Saudi Press Agency said, citing a Health Ministry official,” Bloomberg reports (Carey, 11/29). “The official Saudi Press Agency quotes deputy health minister Ziyad bin Ahmed as telling an HIV/AIDS conference Monday that the new cases include 439 Saudi citizens and 682 non-Saudis,” the Associated Press writes, adding, “Bin Ahmed said that since 1984, 16,334 people have tested positive for HIV” (11/28).
South Africa ‘Witnessing First Steps Of AIDS-Free Generation’
In this Business Day opinion piece, Donald Gips, the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, examines progress made in the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS, writing that, through the coordination of governments, civil society, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), educational institutions, and researchers from around the world, “we now have the tools that allow us for the first time to set the goal of achieving an AIDS-free generation — when virtually no children are born with the virus; we have effective and comprehensive education and prevention strategies that help to reduce risk; and those who are infected with HIV have access to treatment that helps prevent them from developing AIDS and transmitting the virus.”
Xinhua Examines HIV/AIDS In China
Xinhua posted several articles examining HIV/AIDS in China. The first looks at HIV/AIDS among the general population. The article notes that 346,000 people are living with HIV in China, and the “number is predicted to hit 780,000 by the end of 2011, according to an expert panel … [c]onsisting of members from China’s Ministry of Health (MOH), the World Health Organization and UNAIDS,” the MOH reported in a statement released on Tuesday (11/29). A second article discusses HIV/AIDS among the country’s older population, especially men, and college students (11/30).
States Receive Federal Health Exchange Implementation Grants
The Obama administration announced on Tuesday that nearly $220 million in new grants would be awarded to 13 states bringing the total that have been awarded such assistance to 29. The latest round of grantees includes seven of the states run by GOP governors that are suing the administration to overturn the health law.
