Latest KFF Health News Stories
Cholera Epidemics Spread Through West And Central Africa Affecting Tens Of Thousands, OCHA Reports
“Cholera epidemics have hit tens of thousands of people and killed more than 1,400 others in seven West and Central African countries since the start of the year, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a report on Tuesday,” AlertNet reports. According to the news service, affected countries include Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Republic of Congo (Fominyen, 9/7). The Red Cross, which said the outbreak was spreading, expressed concern that it could hit refugee camps along the Sudanese border, according to Agence France-Presse (9/7).
Viewpoints: Lessons From Massachusetts?; FTC And ACOs; Arizona Partner Benefits
A selection of opinions from a variety of publications.
Cochrane Review Studies Quality-Oriented Payment Models
Medscape reports that the study’s authors found insufficient evidence to support or oppose payment approaches such as accountable care organizations or medical homes.
Medicare Fraud Dragnet Snares 91 Nationwide
In its continued health care fraud crackdown, the Obama administration announced Wednesday that charges were filed against 91 people in eight cities. These people are accused of bilking Medicare out of an estimated $300 million.
Feds Stop Brain Stent Stroke Study After Failures
The federal study found these stents actually did more harm than good and was abruptly stopped.
Seniors, Medicare Drug Coverage And The Doughnut Hole
A Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that fewer Medicare drug plan enrollees are hitting the coverage gap. Those who are in it, however, bought fewer drugs.
African Countries See Slow Progress In Reducing Maternal Mortality To Achieve MDG 5
Inter Press Service examines what some experts are calling a lack of commitment from health care workers, which they say is “among the reasons why Africa may not succeed in achieving Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 on improving maternal health by 2015 by reducing maternal mortality by three quarters.” According to IPS, “Studies conducted by the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) in East, West and Southern Africa found that most countries are struggling to provide universal access to reproductive health.”
Docs’ Group Pushes For Changes To Medicare Payment Setting Panel
Meanwhile, other news outlets report on the challenges private practice physicians face in serving their patients and their own bottom lines, and ProPublica explores drug company payments to doctors.
Studies Find Health Care Costs Rose While Providers Profited
Research published in the journal Health Affairs details the impact of increasing health care costs and what factors are driving them. Also in the news, the Government Accountability Office released a report on states’ oversight of health insurers’ premium costs.
As Obama Readies Jobs Plan, Health Sector Leads Pack
President Barack Obama will unveil a new jobs plan today. In the meantime, News outlets report on how health jobs are one clear area of promise.
Longer Looks: Unknowns In Sports Medicine; Shackling Pregnant Prisoners
Today’s articles come from The New York Times, Newsweek/The Daily Beast, the Huffington Post, Governing, American Medical News and AARP.
First Edition: September 8, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from last night’s GOP presidential debate, as well as explorations of what the future might hold for the ‘Super Committee’ and new developments related to physician payment issues.
Hospitals: HHS Inspector General Counsel Backs Telemedicine Plan For Stroke Care Program
Hospital issues making headlines include a telemedicine plan, the unreliability of some children’s hospital rankings and how some long hospital wait times can be deadly.
HHS Finds More Than 30,000 Health Record Breaches
The security breaches were relatively small scale but they exposed records of nearly 8 million people, Modern Healthcare reports.
Calif. Woman Presses For Breast Cancer Law
Nurse had mammograms every year and they showed nothing, but she says doctors knew she had a condition, “extremely dense breast tissue,” that could mask cancer.
Suit Accuses Generic Drugmakers Of Overcharging Medicaid
Three firms are accused by a whistleblower of getting pharmacies to dispense more expensive dosage forms than what was prescribed.
HHS Secretary Tours Alaska Health Care Facilities; Judge Halts Rollback Of Ariz. Same-Sex Benefits
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
CDC Reports Slight Drop In Smoking; Tick Worries Blood Experts
News outlets report on a variety of public health issues.
Attention Focuses On ‘Super Committee’ And Medicare
Health care industries and professionals have contributed millions of dollars over the years to the lawmakers now on the special deficit panel, The Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, some liberal groups are pressuring to protect safety-net programs, while a member of the committee comments on the possibility of compromise.
Viewpoints: Perry And Medicaid; Flawed ‘Universal’ Coverage?; Nursing Home Regulation
A brief collection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
