Latest KFF Health News Stories
FAO Report Warns Increases In Cereal Production May Not Be Enough To Offset Global Economic Downturn
Worldwide cereal production is expected to increase in 2011-2012, but “there is uncertainty about the improvement’s impact on food security because of the global economic slump and increased risks for recession,” according to a U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report released on Thursday, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.
First Edition: October 7, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, reports about what the Institute of Medicine recommends in terms of the criteria and methods the Department of Health and Human Services should follow in developing the health law’s essential benefits package.
Hints Of Progress Emerge From ‘Super Committee’ Deliberations
A top GOP House lawmaker hopes the deficit-cutting panel will focus entirely on health care costs to reach the $1.2 trillion savings target. Meanwhile, in the background, the Wall Street Journal reports that nearly half of all U.S. households receive government benefits, with about 34% getting means-tested assistance such as Medicaid.
CLASS Implementation Oversight Listed In HHS Work Plan
But GOP lawmakers are seeking an actuarial report from the Department of Health and Human Services that may offer insights into this controversial long-term care insurance program’s fiscal viability.
Foreign Affairs Committee Votes To Prohibit U.S. Funding To U.N. Population Fund
The Republican-led House Committee on Foreign Affairs voted Wednesday to approve a bill that would prohibit the U.S. government from providing funding to the U.N. Population Fund, an organization “that helps women and children in developing countries with reproductive health and family planning,” Agence France-Presse reports (Cassata, 10/5). “House Republicans say they are pushing the legislation because the fund, known as the UNFPA, is complicit in China’s controversial one-child policy, which enforces abortion and sterilization,” the Huffington Post writes (10/5).
Debt Panel Medicaid Cuts Could Have Major Impact On State Budgets
Also, in other Medicaid news, a Florida official testifies in court that the state system for children has no major problems while criticism grows of plan to turn over the Medicaid program to managed care companies.
Poor Dental Care Leads To Health Problems, Costs
Meanwhile, a survey finds that Americans are open to new options for dental care to help address the high costs and shortage issues.
‘Bad’ Hospitals May Treat Larger Share Of Poor Patients, Study Finds
These hospitals may now also face financial hardship as penalties for giving lower quality care kick in.
With Economic Pressure, Work Patterns, More People Lose Insurance
The Des Moines Register examines a new report on the decline in employer-based health insurance and The Philadelphia Inquirer highlights the increasing number of people losing insurance because of the economic downturn. In Georgia, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution finds more people turning to high-deductible insurance policies.
“The [U.S.] government has said it is hopeful that Zambia will be able to reduce maternal and child mortality, and has pledged to contribute” millions in funding to programs to help further that goal, the Times of Zambia reports. “Speaking during a meeting between U.S. government officials and the media, Global Health Initiative (GHI) Executive Director Lois Quam pledged her government’s commitment to partnering with the Zambian government in order to address major health concerns in the country,” the newspaper adds.
On Campaign Stump, Obama Embraces ‘ObamaCare’
Also on the trail, a conservative group has launched ads aimed at derailing Mitt Romney’s run for the GOP presidential nomination. One of their reasons: his record on health reform while governor of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, at a fundraiser, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius charges Republicans with turning back the clock on women’s health.
HHS Inspector To Step Up Anti-Fraud and Abuse Efforts In 2012
One new item on the to-do list will be to review hospitals deemed to be at high risk of submitting improper bills to Medicare. Also, The Fiscal Times details how lab test costs could be squeezing Medicare and Medicaid.
House Lawmaker Looks Into Drug Shortages, Price Markups
Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., the ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has begun an investigation into ‘gray market’ drug distributors and how they may be driving up costs and adding to the nation’s current shortage of cancer and critical-care products.
MedPAC Plan To Revamp Medicare Physician Pay Draws Intense Opposition
Providers, including doctors and hospitals, say the panel is relying too much on cuts within the industry to pay for this overhaul.
State Roundup: Health Alliances Formed In Calif.
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
A selection of today’s opinions and editorials from around the nation.
Funding Issues Affect Health Exchanges, Community Health Centers
News outlets examine why some states are not pursuing funding to aid in the creation of health exchanges, and how community health centers – targeted for expansion by the health law in order to build the health system’s capacity – are now facing cuts.
Longer Looks: Bart Stupak’s New Life; Moving Primary Care Out Of The ER
This week’s articles come from The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Governing and American Medical News.
