Latest KFF Health News Stories
Tony Blair Visits Sierra Leone, Calls For Increased Investment, Better Governance
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for increased investment in Sierra Leone during a trip to the country over the weekend, VOA News reports.
To Reduce Global Hunger, Access To Food Must Be Expanded
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil from 2002 to 2010, outlines priorities in the battle to end global hunger in a Guardian opinion piece.
Michelle Obama Heads To Africa
“U.S. first lady Michelle Obama left for Africa on Sunday, embarking on her second official solo journey abroad with a goal of advancing U.S. policies on education, health, and democracy,” Reuters reports.
Guardian Examines Cervical Cancer In Africa
The Guardian examines how Africa is handling cervical cancer, which is the second most common cancer among women on the continent.
Medicare, Medicaid Are Hot Topics In Debt-Ceiling Talks
The future of these entitlement programs will be in play this week as negotiations continue, with both parties beginning to make concessions and to hint that a deal could emerge.
September Will Mark The End Of HHS Mini-Med Waiver Program
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday that it will stop accepting applications for waivers from the health law’s minimum coverage requirements.
State Roundup: Employee Benefit Battles Heat Up; Mass. Cost Controls
News outlets report on a variety of state health policy issues.
Medicare Targets 5 Fla. Hospitals For Patient Readmissions
Several articles highlight problems at local hospitals.
Fight Against Planned Parenthood Expands With Wis. Plan To Cut Funding
The Wisconsin state legislature adopts budget that strips $1 million from Planned Parenthood.
Viewpoints: Compromises On Fixing Medicare?; ‘Progress’ On AIDS; Working Families Falling Behind
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Hospitals Hope To Make Primary Care Docs Salaried Employees
The Washington Post reports on this trend, which could have a concrete impact on they way medical care is delivered. If the health care system is to be reshaped into a team-oriented care continuum — an objective outlined in one of the health law’s central intitiatives — primary care physicians would be key to the effort.
Home-Based Care Increasingly Seen As Alternative To Nursing Homes
The health law includes provisions to assist people who want to stay in their homes longer. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reports on knowlege gaps among adult children who may become caregivers to aging parents.
Small Health Facilities, Solo Practices Face Health IT Challenges
News outlets report on trends in health IT and the implementation of electronic medical records.
Little-Noticed Change Could Cause Higher Costs For Out-Of-Network Care
The Wall Street Journal reports on a develop that may cause consumers to face higher bills.
Medicare Hires Northrup Grumman For Predictive Modeling Anti-Fraud Project
The defense contractor will develop rapid methods to analyze Medicare claims before they are paid. Meanwhile, CNN reports on how “phantom pharmacies” are a new trend in health care fraud.
The Complexitites Of Medicare’s Doctor Pay Dynamics
Poltico Pro reports on why overhauling Medicare’s physician pay formula presents so many challenges.
Groups Rev Up Behind Their Causes, Revisit Health Law Positions
As Tea Partiers roll through Iowa on a bus tour, single-payer advocates rally outside the annual convention of the health insurer trade group, America’s Health Insurance Plans. Meanwhile, as the American Medical Association’s House of Delegates meets in Chicago, its members will revisit the organzation’s position on the individual mandate. In the background, some of the physician organization’s members blame the AMA’s declining ranks on the position it took in support of the health law.
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about new trends in the health care marketplace.
Weekend political chatter swirled around health care issues.
HHS Announces Deadline For Health Law Waivers
Officials give health plans that do not meet coverage requirements until Sept. 22 to apply for controversial waivers. All plans that secure a waiver will be able to apply for extensions.
