Latest KFF Health News Stories
Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about the debt-ceiling limit and ongoing budget talks as well as the GOP’s emerging Medicare rift.
WHO Releases Annual World Health Statistics Report
The WHO on Friday released its annual World Health Statistics report, which includes data on more than 100 indicators
AP Reports On Global Fund’s Release Of Information On Corruption, Fund Responds
After an Associated Press story on Friday reported that the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria “will make public more detailed information about money it has lost to corruption and mismanagement, but won’t release other information critics have sought … that might have made it possible to calculate how much of the money investigated is lost to corruption, or what percentage of the fund’s overall disbursements are misspent” (Heilprin, 5/13), the Global Fund released a statement saying it “remain[s] fully committed to accountability for the intentions, process, funding and results of our projects.”
LCD Conference Ends With 10-Year Action Plan
The Fourth U.N. Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) closed in Istanbul on Friday “with a number of recommendations seeking to halve, from 48 to 24, the number of LDCs during the next 10 years,” the Guardian’s “Global Development” blog reports (Tran, 5/13).
OPINION: New HIV Infections More Expensive Than Providing Antiretroviral Drugs To Existing Patients
In light of study findings released last week showing the risk of HIV transmission can be reduced by 96 percent if HIV-positive patients begin combination antiretroviral therapy as soon as possible, a San Francisco Chronicle editorial asks, “The evidence is clearly starting to show that it’s much better to treat patients earlier, but from where will the money come?”
Gingrich Calls GOP Medicare Voucher Plan Radical
Now that he is officially in the running to be the Republican nominee for president, Newt Gingrich made his opinions very clear while appearing on Sunday morning talk shows.
Fits And Starts Continue For Health Law Implementation
News outlets report on a variety of aspects of the health law ranging from the IPAB and ACOs to the two states to most recently gain waivers from the Department of Health and Human Services.
World Health Assembly Begins In Geneva
As the 64th World Health Assembly gets underway in Geneva, the body will consider “an array of subjects pertaining to reforms of the organisation and its financing, vaccines, fake medicines, and influenza pandemic preparedness, as well as communicable and non-communicable diseases,” Intellectual Property Watch reports (Saez, 5/13).
Uganda Launches PEPFAR-Supported Mobile Male Circumcision Clinic
U.S. Ambassador to Uganda Jerry Lanier on Friday in Kampala launched a Mobile Medical Male Circumcision clinic, a project of the PEPFAR-supported Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP), New Vision reports.
Sanofi Hopes To Launch Dengue Vaccine In 2014
France’s Sanofi-Pasteur, the world’s largest vaccine maker, said Friday it hopes to introduce a dengue vaccine in 2014 to some high-risk nations, AlertNet reports.
Ugandan Parliament Fails To Debate Legislation Criminalizing Homosexual Acts
Legislation that criminalizes homosexual acts in Uganda did not make it to the floor of the country’s Parliament on Friday, meaning “the bill is essentially dead, for the moment,” PRI’s “The World” reports (Porter, 5/13).
Viewpoints: Ryan On ‘Shared Scarcity’; Romney Fallout; Baltimore’s Ambitious Health Plan
A selection of opinions and editorials from around the country.
Business Trends Shape Medical Practices
Minnesota Public Radio reports that independent practices increasingly face an uphill battle while the Minneapolis Star Tribune notes that in workplaces across the nation the “company doctor” is making a comeback.
WellPoint Raises Stakes With New Hospital Reimbursement Policy
The Wall Street Journal reports that WellPoint Inc. will cut off annual payment increases to hospitals that fail to deliver quality patient care.
States Struggling With Medicaid Costs Look For Innovation
News outlets look at three states that are seeking alternate ways to handle Medicaid.
State Roundup: Calif. Considers Safety Measures For Mental Hospitals
News outlets report on state developments on health policy.
Medicare Trustees: Funds Will Run Out Sooner Than Expected
Last Friday, the Medicare trustees offered their annual take on the fiscal fitness of the health insurance program for senior citizens and the disabled. The reviews were worse than last year’s projections.
NY Election May Offer View Of Voters’ Take On GOP Medicare Plan
Just as this New York election approaches, news outlets analyze how public opinion is breaking in regard to the plan, as included in the budget advanced by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Other elected officials are also offering their own responses to the approach.
WFP Resumes Food Aid Operations In South Sudan
The World Food Program (WFP) has resumed food aid operations in South Sudan after operations were suspended last month because of violence, Reuters reports.
Antiretrovirals Important To Protect HIV-Positive Children From Measles
Scientific American looks at the possible link between HIV prevalence and a recent increase in the number of children dying from measles in sub-Saharan Africa.
