Blog Posts Report On International Treatment As Prevention Conference In Vancouver
April 26, 2012
Morning Briefing
Two separate posts in the Center for Global Health Policy’s “Science Speaks” blog report on the International Treatment as Prevention conference in Vancouver. The first post recaps an update from Stephen Becker of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday “about the Foundation’s treatment optimization activities,” writing, “According to Becker, the Foundation acknowledges that treatment will be at the center of HIV prevention efforts, but ‘no amount of treatment will obviate the need for primary prevention modalities'” (Lubinski, 4/24). The second post reports that, “[d]espite its status as one of the poorest countries in Africa and its failed effort to garner a Round 10 grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria — Malawi is moving forward to implement ‘Option B+’ for pregnant women,” meaning “pregnant and lactating women are enrolled in antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs for life, regardless of CD4 count” (Lubinski, 4/24).
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 20, 2011
By Stephanie Stapleton
October 20, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Good morning! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports analyzing the super committee’s progress, and detailing how Republican rivals’ stabs at ‘Romneycare’ are starting to gaining traction. The Washington Post: Supercommittee’s Lack Of Progress On Debt Reduction Raises Alarms On Hill Committee members say there is still time to cut a deal […]
CHIP Outreach Gets More Kids Covered
By Phil Galewitz
August 18, 2011
KFF Health News Original
If you build it, they will come … at least some of the time. The number of children eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) but not enrolled fell to 4.3 million in 2009 from 4.7 million the prior year, according to a report out today. The drop is significant because it occurred even […]
The Specifics: How Obama Plans To Cut Health Programs By $320 Billion
By Phil Galewitz
September 19, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports that the biggest cut to Medicare requires pharmaceutical companies to lower the rates for low-income beneficiaries.
Today’s Headlines – Sept. 6, 2011
By Lexie Verdon
September 6, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Welcome back from the Labor Day holiday! Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations include reports from a GOP presidential candidate forum in South Carolina and analysis of what to expect as Congress returns to Washington. Los Angeles Times: GOP Hopefuls Court ‘Tea Party’ Conservatives In South Carolina In a Labor Day warm-up for […]
Today’s Headlines – Oct. 19, 2011
By Stephanie Stapleton
October 19, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Good morning! 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. Los Angeles Times: Vegas Debate: Romney Faces Withering Attacks Over Healthcare After the candidates sliced and diced Herman Cain’s “9-9-9” plan, they turned their attention to the […]
Improved Access To Family Planning In Africa Will Lead To Economic Development
April 3, 2012
Morning Briefing
Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation writes in an opinion piece in Nigeria’s Vanguard, “My top priority as a co-chair of the foundation I run with my husband is making sure that all families have access to safe and effective contraception tools that empower them to make a decision about what’s best for them and their family. And that means encouraging aid donors and governments here in Nigeria and across Africa to make family planning a priority.” Improved access to modern methods of contraception and child spacing would save millions of lives, “[b]ut family planning doesn’t just save lives; it also makes life better for families and communities, becoming a key driver of economic development,” Gates continues.
Berwick Turns 65: Medicare Chief First To Join Medicare
By Phil Galewitz
September 8, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Friday is a big day for Medicare chief Donald Berwick. He turns 65 and will become the first head of the federal health insurance program for the elderly and disabled to be a beneficiary at the same time. “I’m excited,” he told KHN in a pre-birthday interview Thursday. “I feel like I’m in my 20s […]
Senate Democrats Seek Justification For Plan B Decision
December 14, 2011
Morning Briefing
Thirteen Democrats and one independent expressed disappointment in Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’ decision to block younger teenagers from buying the emergency contraceptive known as “Plan B” without a prescription. Meanwhile, a federal judge says he will review the decision.
Obama Defends Limits On Morning-After Pill
December 9, 2011
Morning Briefing
The New York Times, Washington Post and others analyze the president’s support of his health secretary’s decision to limit access to the Plan B pill.
HHS: Plan B Access Will Stay Limited
December 7, 2011
Morning Briefing
The Department of Health and Human Services announced today that the morning-after pill will continue to be kept behind the pharmacy counter and girls younger than 17 will continue to need a prescription to obtain it. KHN tracked news coverage of this development.
U.S. To Provide Nearly $1B Over Five Years To Bangladesh For Poverty, Health, Agriculture Programs
January 17, 2012
Morning Briefing
A U.S. Embassy statement on Saturday said the U.S. would provide nearly $1 billion to Bangladesh over the next five years “towards alleviating poverty and malnutrition, as well as family planning and the fight against infectious diseases,” Reuters reports. “The funds will also be used to support research in improving farm productivity and deal with the impact of climate change,” the news service writes, adding, “As of 2011, the U.S. government has provided over $5.7 billion in development assistance to Bangladesh” (Quadir, 1/14).
State Roundup: Ga. Moves To Keep Docs; Ore. Health Plan Could Save $3.2B
January 11, 2012
Morning Briefing
A selection of health policy stories from around the U.S.
Sebelius Overrules FDA On ‘Morning After’ Pill’s OTC Availability
December 8, 2011
Morning Briefing
The decision to keep the contraceptive pill “Plan B” behind the counter could shield the Obama administration from a bruising battle with conservatives but comes at the expense of liberal groups who are “shocked” at the decision.
U.S. Farm Bill Has Global Implications For Food Security
March 6, 2012
Morning Briefing
In this ONE Blog post, Jennifer Wynn, an intern with ONE’s policy team, reports on a recent panel discussion held at George Washington University that examined the U.S. Farm Bill and its implications for global hunger and food security. “I would have never thought to make a connection between our farms and farms around the world … [b]ut after an evening with some of the field’s experts, it’s clear to me that domestic policy on agriculture has far-reaching impacts,” she writes. The panel included Ken Cook, president and co-founder of the Environmental Working Group; Margaret Krome of the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute; and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman (3/5).
Letters To KHN: Prominent Doctor, Nurses And Other Readers On Medicare Readmissions
August 8, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Readers react to Jordan Rau’s review of the upcoming Medicare push to make hospitals accountable for some of what happens to patients after discharge
Birth Control Without Copays Could Become Mandatory
By Julie Rovner, NPR News
July 19, 2011
KFF Health News Original
This story comes from our partner ‘s Shots blog Is there nothing in last year’s Affordable Care Act that people won’t fight over? The latest battle is set to come to a head Wednesday, when the independent Institute of Medicine is expected to make recommendations about preventive health care services for women. And one service […]
White House Nominates Global Health Expert Jim Yong Kim To Head World Bank
March 26, 2012
Morning Briefing
“The White House on Friday named Jim Yong Kim, the president of Dartmouth College and a global health expert, as its nominee to lead the World Bank” beginning “on June 30, when its current president, Robert B. Zoellick, will step down at the end of his five-year term,” the New York Times reports (Lowrey, 3/23). “Kim is a South Korean-born doctor, anthropologist and former head of the World Health Organization’s HIV/AIDS department,” the Financial Times notes (Harding/Leahy, 3/23). “Kim helped found the international aid organization Partners in Health, which provides care to patients in more than a dozen countries,” and served as the chair of the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, according to NPR (Horsley, 3/23). At a Rose Garden ceremony to announce the nomination, President Barack Obama said, “It’s time for a development professional to lead the world’s largest development agency,” the Associated Press reports (Pace, 3/24).
Birth Control Without Copays Could Become Mandatory
By Julie Rovner, NPR News
July 18, 2011
KFF Health News Original
Is birth control part of preventive care for women? That’s the question before an independent panel of experts. And their decision could force insurance companies to fully cover the cost of the pill and other prescription contraceptives
Viewpoints: Obama’s Lessons From LBJ; Plan B Positions; Choosing Gingrich
December 9, 2011
Morning Briefing
A selection of opinions and editiorials on health policy from around America.