Latest KFF Health News Stories
JAMA Study: Heart Failure Hospitalization Rates Fall
The rate of hospital admissions for elderly patients in the U.S. fell by nearly 30 percent in the past decade, based on an analysis of Medicare data. This finding, being published today, is viewed as progress against cardiovascular disease and the costs associated with this illness.
UnitedHealth’s CEO Expresses Cautious Outlook
The comments from the health insurer’s CEO pointed to factors like costs pegged to the federal health law and also “a modest increase” in doctor’s office and outpatient visits, although health care usage remains below historical trends.
Health Law Buzz Words: Essential Benefits, MLRatio And Federal Exchanges
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services are seeking input from stakeholders regarding how to structure the health law’s essential benefits package. Also, new documents detail the dynamics behind Florida’s MLR waiver request. Meanwhile, HHS signals that there will be a federal exchange.
Experts Recommending Fewer Cancer Screenings
New cervical cancer screening guidelines to be released today are the latest example of this emerging cautious view.
Report: U.S. Weak On Health Care Quality, Access, Affordability
The report concluded that these weaknesses in the American health system are having a “profound effect” on the overall health of the nation’s population.
Higher Medicare Premiums Will Undermine Social Security’s Raise
Social Security recipients are expected to get a 3.5 percent cost-of-living increase in January, but a boost in the cost of Medicare Part B premiums will likely offset some of the impact.
First Edition: October 19, 2011
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report that health policy issues triggered “withering attacks” during last night’s Las Vegas GOP presidential debate.
Snowe Breaks From GOP Pack On Health Care Spending Issues
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, is one of two Republicans who did not sign on to the Finance Committee GOP recommendations for the super committee. Snowe reportedly took issue with the calls to tighten Medicare eligibility requirements and to block grant the Medicaid program.
Confusion Reigns After Obama Administration Suspends CLASS
Even though the White House signaled that the long-term insurance program will not be implemented, President Barack Obama made clear yesterday that he is opposed to the measure’s repeal. Meanwhile, the decision to suspend the plan from going forward has left many experts to ask what’s next in the effort to address the nation’s long-term care issues.
Russia Pledges Money To Support HIV, TB Programs In Neighboring Countries
“Russia plans to step up its international role in fighting infectious disease across eastern Europe and central Asia, in what some observers see as the latest effort by the Kremlin to reassert its political influence over its former Soviet neighbors,” the Financial Times reports. “Arkady Dvorkovich, economic aide to President Dmitry Medvedev, pledged money for a new international development agency to support programs against HIV and tuberculosis (TB)” at the Millennium Development Goal 6 Forum hosted in Moscow last week, the newspaper notes.
Use Of Social Media To Fight Malaria Shows ‘Great Promise’
As the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation hosts the second international Malaria Forum in Seattle this week, Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Gates Foundation, in this entry in the Huffington Post’s “Impact” blog reflects on the advances made in the fight against malaria since the first Malaria Forum four years ago. She writes that “we’re seeing great promise using communications technologies in malaria endemic countries” and highlights social media campaigns conducted by Malaria No More and the U.N.’s social media advocacy group, Social Media Envoys. She concludes, “We have seen that everyone can make a difference, no matter their location. … The rest is up to you” (10/17).
CDC: Visits To Emergency Rooms On The Rise
The increased rates are leading emergency room docs to step up their interest in medical liability reform.
A selection of today’s editorials and opinions from around the country.
Aging Population Drives Job Growth In Health Care
MarketWatch reports that the health sector continues to be a major source of job growth.
Assessing Health Policy Positions On The Campaign Trail
NPR compares and contrasts the health policies of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama.
“Nearly a third of all countries affected by malaria are on course to eliminate the mosquito-borne disease over the next 10 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday … [i]n a progress report (.pdf) published by the Roll Back Malaria (RBM) partnership at the start of an international Malaria Forum conference in Seattle,” Reuters reports (Kelland, 10/17). “The [WHO] has awarded malaria-free certification to three nations in the past four years, according to the report,” Agence France-Presse notes, adding, “If current successes in the fight against malaria continue, more than three million lives can be saved by 2015 with the elimination of the disease in eight to 10 countries, RBM said” (10/17).
Study: Digital Mammography No More Effective Than Other Screening Tests
iWatch News reports that a study comparing digital mammography screening with less expensive film mammography found the two equally effective at detecting cancer in most women.
State Roundup: Mass. Mulls ‘Global Payments’; Oregon Liability Cost Studied
A roundup of news from various states, including California, Massachusetts, Iowa, Oregon, Texas, Michigan, Illinois and Georgia.
