Latest KFF Health News Stories
Increased Access To PMTCT Needed To End Pediatric AIDS, Build An ‘AIDS-Free Generation’
In this post in the Huffington Post’s “Impact” blog, Charles Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, responds to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech at the NIH last week in which she called for an “AIDS-free generation,” writing, “As Secretary Clinton pointed out, we’ve never before had as many tools to get ahead of the disease as we do now,” such as male circumcision and treatment as prevention, “[b]ut one of the cornerstones of her strategy to create an AIDS-free generation is a tool we’ve actually had in our arsenal for a long time: the ability to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.”
Cancer Drug Joins List Of Medicines In Short Supply
The drug Doxil, which is the second-line treatment for patients with ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma or Kaposi’s sarcoma, has been in short supply since mid-summer.
The Downfall Of A Database That Offered Patient Safety Insights
ProPublica reports on the latest news regarding the National Practitioner Data Bank.
NPR: VA Is Creating Medical Data ‘Gold Mine’
Part of the reason this sweeping medical database is possible is that the Department of Veterans Affairs has been keeping computerized medical records for more than two decades.
Problems In India’s Public Health Care System Lead To Growth Of Private Medicine
Toronto’s Star reports on how problems within India’s health care system — such as absent doctors and nurses, a lack of necessary equipment, corruption and one of the lowest health budgets in the world — has led to the mistrust of the public system and has paved the way for private medicine in the country. According to the newspaper, “In a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology survey in India, 79 percent said they opted for private doctors or traditional healers rather than government-run hospitals,” and that “they spent an average seven percent of their monthly income on health care.”
Report Highlights Difficulties In Uncovering Medicare Fraud
The AP reports on how federal officials struggle to monitor Medicare fraud contractors who look for fraud in the program.
Fact-Checking Romney’s Debate Performance
CNN examines comments made by GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney regarding the possible dollar savings that could result by repealing the health law, while the AP revisits his positions regarding the Massachusetts health law he signed while that state’s governor. Also in the news, more on Rick Perry’s Texas and where the candidates state on health research.
N.J. Plans To Use Managed Care System For Medicaid Enrollees With Mental Health Problems
The N.J. effort must secure federal approval first. Also in Medicaid news, a judge in California this week will hear arguments in the challenge to the state’s plans for adult health care.
CLASS Act Repeal Vote Will Test Dems’ Unity
Legislation to repeal the program, which is no longer being implemented by the Obama administration, will be marked up on Tuesday by a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee.
A selection of editorials and opinions on health policy from around the country.
Super Committee May Delay Tax Details
As the panel’s Nov. 23 deadline approaches and doubts about its ability for success persist, a new approach is emerging in which the panel may opt to postpone politically difficult decisions by deciding the amount of new revenue their deficit-reduction plan would require, but leaving specifics to Congress’ tax-writing committees to fill in next year.
State Roundup: Md.’s Medical Home; N.Y. Malpractice Action; Texas Nursing Homes
A variety of stories from around the country about health care.
Obama Administration Unveils Plan To Expand Health Care Work Force
The initiative, which is part of the White House’s “We Can’t Wait” agenda, will release funds to hire and train health workers as part of its effort to give the U.S. economy a boost.
Survey Of Health Opinion Leaders Finds ‘Unflagging’ Health Overhaul Support
In this survey, conducted by the Commonwealth Fund and Modern Healthcare, 89 percent of respondents supported moving forward with the measure’s implementation. In related news, the National Committee for Quality Assurance plans this month to begin accrediting accountable care organizations. Meanwhile, in local coverage, North Carolina’s health exchange grant remains unspent and a rural California county has its own health reform calculus.
VOA News Examines Foundation’s Efforts To Treat MDR-TB Patients In North Korea
VOA News examines the Eugene Bell Foundation’s work in North Korea to detect and treat patients with multiple-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). The foundation is treating about 600 patients in North Korea, where “[c]onditions … are ideal for the spread of TB. The climate is cold. Most citizens live and work in small spaces, and lack proper nutrition to maintain a strong immune system,” VOA writes (Herman, 11/11).
Ethiopia Reduced Child Mortality Rate By More Than Half Over Past 20 Years
Ethiopia has reduced its child mortality rates by more than half since 1990, from about 20 percent to 8.8 percent, “through campaigns to increase the number of health workers and clinics throughout the country, government and aid officials said on Friday,” Reuters reports. “Reducing malnutrition, which is an underlying factor in at least half of all under-five deaths, has had a profound impact on the survival rates of children,” Ethiopia State Minister of Health Keseteberhan Admassu “told a gathering of representatives of United Nations agencies,” according to the news agency. “Keseteberhan said the nationwide malnutrition rate has been slashed by 32 percent, with prevalence to being underweight dropping to 28.7 percent in 2010 from 42.1 percent in 2000,” Reuters writes (Maasho, 11/11).
Study Identifies Five Areas Of Global Health On Which Canada Can Focus
A “year-long assessment done by the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences concluded there is a strong rationale for Canada to play a more strategic role in global health, while recognizing the scale of humanitarian needs,” and to “focu[s] on five areas where its research is strongest, including indigenous health,” the Globe and Mail reports. “The report, released at the Global Health conference in Montreal on Sunday, identified five areas where Canada could have significant impact on global health, including public health programs, community-based primary health care, partnerships with developing countries in research/education and global health innovation,” the newspaper writes (Priest, 11/13).
Cambodia Set To Distribute More Than 2.5M Mosquito Nets By End Of Year
“Millions of Cambodians are set to receive insecticide-treated mosquito nets as part of a government-led effort to mitigate the risk of malaria and dengue fever,” IRIN reports. “The nets will be distributed by the National Malaria Control Centre with technical assistance from WHO” and funding from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, according to IRIN. “The project aims to distribute 785,000 insecticide-treated nets in six provinces this month, including three of those hit hardest by the worst flooding in more than a decade, and “[i]n December, 1,915,000 insecticide-treated nets will be distributed in 13 provinces, the health ministry said,” IRIN writes. In 2010, Cambodia recorded 56,217 malaria cases and 135 deaths from the disease, according to the news service, which adds “Prime Minister Hun Sen [has] set a target for eliminating deaths from malaria by 2015, and infections by 2025” (11/14).
