Latest KFF Health News Stories
$100 Million Spent On New Orleans Hospital Project
The Times-Picayune examines the initial state costs for the new Charity Hospital. Meanwhile, a proposed hospital sale in Denver continues to bring criticism and the Dallas Morning News looks at the financial health of hospitals in north Texas.
Washington Post Examines Access To Maternal And Child Health Care In Sierra Leone
The Washington Post examines access to maternal and child health services in Sierra Leone after the government dropped fees for such services last year, a move that “appears to have sharply cut into mortality rates for pregnant women and deaths from malaria for small children.”
WHO To Warn Against Use Of TB Blood Test
The WHO on Sunday said it will release a guidance later this week on widely used blood tests for tuberculosis (TB), warning “against using such tests for the infectious lung disease that affects some 14 million people worldwide” because they can produce incorrect results, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.
States Grapple With Reduced Federal Medicaid Match
Stateline looks at the effect to states of the loss of extra federal matching funds for Medicaid. In addition, other news outlets explore the difficulty of finding physicians who accept Medicaid patients, a financial analysis of cuts in Medicaid funding being considered as part of the debt talks in Washington and the fight in Florida over moving enrollees to a managed care style plan.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest news on the debt-ceiling talks as well as reports on IPAB and health exchanges.
Debt-Ceiling Debate’s Effect On Medicare, Medicaid Likely To Have Election Consequences
Heading into another week of debt-ceiling negotiations, Democrats and Republicans continue to tussle over Medicare and Medicaid.
Efforts To Solve Debt Crisis May Affect Medicaid Funding
The New York Times reports on growing concerns among governors that federal payments, including Medicaid funding, could be trimmed under any deal reached in Washington to raise the federal debt limit. Meanwhile, Politico Pro says that a GOP House proposal would shield Medicare from cuts but not Medicaid.
Drug Industry Rebates: The Sequel
On KHN’s blog today, Mary Agnes Carey writes: “At a Friday news conference, President Barack Obama made it clear that drug industry rebates to Medicare are very much in the mix as negotiators try to find ways to reduce federal spending on entitlement programs.”
Angst Rises Over Proposed Health Cuts
News outlets report on efforts by health care players to make clear their concerns about proposed reductions in spending for Medicare, Medicaid and other safety net programs.
Global MDR-TB Response Has Been Slow, Report Says
A report (.pdf) released recently and compiled by the Treatment Action Group, Medecins Sans Frontieres and Partners In Health says that international efforts aimed at scaling up treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) have been slow due to weak government action, low funding and a “sluggish response by international support mechanisms,” BMJ News reports.
Viewpoints: Debt Dilemma; IPAB Intense Defense; Minnesota Middle-Ground
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
International Affairs Budget Is Issue Of National Security, State Department Official Says
Tom Nides, the State Department’s new deputy secretary for management, said the State Department will argue against potential budget cuts by highlighting the essential role international affairs spending plays in preserving U.S. national security, Foreign Policy’s “The Cable” blog reports.
Lancet Issue Dedicated To HIV/AIDS Ahead Of IAS Conference
The current issue of the Lancet is dedicated to HIV/AIDS, a theme meant to coincide with the 6th International AIDS Society (IAS) Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention taking place in Rome, Italy, July 17-20, according to a Lancet article (7/16).
State Highlights: Minn. Officials Reach Deal To End Shutdown
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
DRC Facing Cholera, Measles Outbreaks, U.N. Says
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has recorded more than 3,000 cases and 192 deaths from cholera since March, according to a U.N. report on the outbreak, VOA News reports (7/14).
Alabama Insurance Premium Hikes May Soon Come Under Federal Scrutiny
In other state insurance news, the Georgia health plan that covers about 700,000 state workers, retirees and dependents is facing low reserves, and two California insurers announces new coverage for autism therapy.
Bill Offered To Undo HSA Health Law Provision
Bipartisan legislation was introduced Thursday to remove restrictions on tax-exempt health spending accounts – a revenue-raising provision of the health law that was estimated to garner $5 billion over 10 years.
What Do Proposed Cuts Mean For Medicare’s Future?
The LA Times examines whether recent proposals to raise Medicare’s eligibility age might find traction – maybe now, maybe after the 2012 election. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat offers an analysis about why cutting Medicare is so difficult.
Governors To Focus On Health Exchanges’ Big Picture
During the National Governors Association meeting on Saturday, “broad-stroke policy decisions” will be discussed – in terms of what states need to know to set up an exchange in the face of tight budgets. Meanwhile, a new AARP report concludes that consumers will have an easier time in these marketplaces if they don’t have too many options.
