Latest KFF Health News Stories
States’ Legal Challenge Focuses High Court On Medicaid Expansion
It is expected that the high court will soon decide which among the key issues and lawsuits challenging the health reform measure it will hear. In related news, media outlets offer local angles on how health law implementation is going and how it might impact specific states.
WHO Warns Of Water-Borne Disease Risk For Thailand Flood Victims
The WHO on Saturday said hundreds of thousands of flood victims in Thailand are at risk of water-borne diseases and infections, though no major outbreaks have been reported, Agence France-Presse reports. “The spread of communicable diseases such as diarrhea, respiratory illness and conjunctivitis among displaced flood victims in shelters was a key concern, the country’s WHO representative Maureen Birmingham told AFP,” adding, “Flood-affected people also faced an increased risk of skin fungal infections and leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through contaminated water,” according to the news service (10/23).
As Malaria Vaccine Research Goes On, Continue To Support Existing Prevention Tools To Save Lives
In this Huffington Post opinion piece, Tido von Schoen-Angerer, executive director of the Doctors Without Borders Access to Essential Medicines Campaign, responds to the results of the RTS,S malaria vaccine clinical trial announced last week, writing, “A malaria vaccine that works would be a major breakthrough. But while the latest advance toward the development is scientifically important, there are several reasons to be cautious about the difference this vaccine could make, on the basis of current results.”
Universal HIV Screening In ERs Not Practical, French Study Suggests
Universal HIV screening in the ER is not a practical option, researchers from France’s Emergency Department HIV-Screening Group write in a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine on Monday, Reuters reports. According to the study, “[m]ore than 1,100 people would have to be offered HIV tests in the emergency room to find just one new infection,” Reuters notes.
DRC Must Rethink Preparedness Strategy To Curb Cholera Outbreaks, Health Experts Say
“With almost 17,000 cases reported in the latest nationwide cholera outbreak, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) must rethink its preparedness strategy to curb future outbreaks, health experts told IRIN,” the news service reports. “According to Kossi Ayigan of the WHO, the health cluster coordinator, the emergency response phase of the current cholera outbreak is drawing to a close and should be followed by firm action on proper sanitation and provision of safe drinking water by the government and its development partners,” according to IRIN.
Medical Colleges Report Enrollment Is Rising
According to data released Monday by the Association of American Medical Colleges, the pool of total applicants to medical schools hit an all-time high this year.
Health Systems Take Long Look At Medical Malpractice Self-Insurance
Modern Healthcare reports that an analysis conducted by risk-management firm Aon and the American Society for Healthcare Risk Management concluded that doctors insured by hospital-employers tend to have lower overall liability loss rates than their peers on commercial malpractice plans.
Cigna Makes $3.8 Billion Deal To Buy Medicare Carrier
With the purchase of HealthSpring, Cigna will become a major source of both Medicare prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage coverage.
State Medicaid Officials Evaluating Adult Day Health Care, Dental Services
In California and South Carolina, Medicaid issues are being considered.
As Part Of Health Law, States Begin Launching ‘Medical Homes’
In Missouri and Kansas, news outlets are covering plans to create medical homes.
Huntsman: Mass. Health Law Shows Romney Isn’t Conservative Enough
In the GOP presidential primary fray, Jon Huntsman challenged former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu for backing Mitt Romney because Romney, according to Huntsman, is not his equal in conservative credentials. Meanwhile, Romney pushes back on a Mass. program which allowed illegal immigrants to have access to safety net health care services. Lastly, NPR profiles Ron Paul.
State Roundup: Mental Hospital Security; Drug Development Urged
A selection of some health care stories from around the country.
Viewpoints: Mental Health Care For Vets, Perry On Federal Spending, Cain’s Views On Abortion
A selection of opinions on health care policy from around the country.
IG Points Finger At Medicaid Prescription Drug Program Oversight
The Health and Human Services Inspector General report found that not one of 14 states recently audited have adequate controls in place.
Clinton Announces Increase In U.S. Aid To Horn Of Africa By $100M
Speaking at a World Food Programme (WFP) awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S. “is increasing food aid to drought-hit and strife-torn Horn of Africa nations where millions of people are at risk of starvation and malnutrition,” Reuters reports (Allen, 10/24).
Health Law Supporters Launch Effort To Recapture The ‘Obamacare’ Brand
The campaign, which is based in Colorado, will highlight the law’s benefits.
Without CLASS, What’s Next To Help Meet Long-Term Care Needs?
The New York Times and Politico both offer analyses of what went wrong and what might happen next
