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Some governors worry about proposals to expand Medicaid as part of reform effort

The provisions in health care reform legislation have caused concern among some governors who fear it could increase financial burdens on their states.

18 Sep 2009

World Bank says additional 89M in 'extreme poverty' by 2010, asks for increased aid

An additional 89 million people are expected to be pushed to levels of "extreme poverty" by the end of 2010, according to a new World Bank report that urges developed nations to increase aid to developing countries, Bloomberg reports.

18 Sep 2009

Mcgill Food Conference to focus on shortage of food in Guatemala

Some of the important reasons underlying the current food crisis in Guatemala - where more than 50,000 families don't have enough to eat and women and children in particular are today struggling to survive - are at the top of the agenda of McGill University's second annual Global Food Security Conference, Oct. 5-7, in Montreal.

18 Sep 2009

CTI project to enhance child nutrition in Malawi and Tanzania

A McKnight Foundation grant recently awarded to Compatible Technology International (CTI), Tanzania's Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) will address these needs. The organizations are combining their expertise for a four-year $673,000 research and development grant project, which will focus on enhancing child nutrition and the livelihoods of rural households in Malawi and Tanzania.

18 Sep 2009

Summa Health System responds to healthcare reform

As the health insurance reform debate continues in Washington, D.C. and around the country, Summa Health System provides the following response to the latest developments in the debate and the potential impact on Summa. As a system, Summa continues to inform the debate by sharing its perspective on various policy changes and urges adoption of policies that would impact its patients' health in a positive way, including efforts to expand affordable health insurance to those without coverage.

18 Sep 2009

Debate focuses on cost for coverage mandates

The Democratic reform proposals in Congress mandate that people have health insurance and provide for different levels of government subsidies, which causes debate on how much people should pay for their health care. NPR reports on the bill released Wednesday by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus: "The latest bill, however, provides less generous subsidies, which could make it harder for middle-class families to afford the mandatory insurance."

18 Sep 2009

Two-day forum addresses maternal, child mortality in Asia-Pacific region

Poor health care, gender inequality, violence and poverty are to blame for Asian-Pacific countries' failure to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality rates in the region, Noeleen Heyzer, executive secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said during the Asia-Pacific Forum on International Conference on Population and Development in Bangkok.

18 Sep 2009

The Ontario Government must act to reduce the financial barrier to mental health services: MFH

Financial barriers can be immense for people who suffer from mental illness and the Ontario Government has an opportunity to act now. The All-Party Committee on Mental Health and Addictions is hearing from groups and individuals on what should be included in a strategy for the province.

17 Sep 2009

Proposal to impose tax on insurers for individual health insurance plans is unfair and unnecessary: Teamsters

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said the proposal to impose a 35 percent tax on insurers for individual health insurance plans worth more than $8,000 is unfair and unnecessary.

17 Sep 2009

US NetMark project helps build African and international businesses

The NetMark project, a $67 million, USAID-funded public-private partnership to prevent malaria, ends September 30, but the bed net market continues to thrive in seven countries where it operated-Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zambia. Not only did the U.S. investment help spur major spending by private companies-for every $1 in public funds, African and international businesses spent $1.30-the new commercial sector now exists.

17 Sep 2009

Leading doctors call for climate change action to prevent 'global health catastrophe'

On Wednesday, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) and the Lancet simultaneously published an editorial (available here and here) and an accompanying letter (here and here) from 18 doctor association leaders to highlight the need for action at a December U.N. conference on climate change in Copenhagen, Reuters reports (Doyle, 9/16).

17 Sep 2009

Key Democrat says he won't support finance bill 'in its present form'

Sen. John Rockefeller, the Senate Finance Committee's number two Democrat, said Tuesday that he will not support Sen. Max Baucus' health reform bill "in its present form." Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to open debate on the bill by the end of September.

17 Sep 2009

Baucus Bill garners no Republican support

Sen. Max Baucus is unveiling his health overhaul bill today at noon and news outlets noted it will not have any Republican support.

16 Sep 2009

Baucus works to iron out Medicaid, abortion and costs in health reform bill

Sen. Max Baucus is addressing the final questions in his Senate Finance Committee health care reform bill and plans to offer it Wednesday, opening the way for a committee vote next week and a floor vote the week after.

16 Sep 2009

Andersonville Arts Weekend art sales proceeds to support HIV-affected families

During the Arts weekend, over 25 of Olmetti's works and installations will be featured at SIR Spa. Proceeds from art sales will benefit the Chicago House, in support pf the mission of Chicago House and Social Service Agency to provide housing and supportive services to HIV-affected families and individuals who may also be impacted by poverty, homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness.

15 Sep 2009

Winner of 2009 Annie E. Casey Innovations Award announced

The Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University today announced Wraparound Milwaukee of Milwaukee County as the 2009 winner of the Annie E. Casey Innovations Award in Children and Family System Reform. As part of Milwaukee County’s Department of Health and Human Services, Wraparound Milwaukee is the first government-operated managed care service designed to treat emotionally disturbed youth in the home setting.

15 Sep 2009

Children's sexuality linked to genetic influences: Study

Previous research has found that children raised in homes without a biological father have sex earlier than children raised in traditional nuclear families. Now a new study that used a novel and complex design to investigate why this is so challenges a popular explanation of the reasons.

15 Sep 2009

Baucus plans last attempt at bipartisan bill, Dems acknowledge moderates' key role

This week is crucial for Sen. Max Baucus, who is trying to win bipartisan support from his Senate Finance Committee negotiators. If not, he is likely to join a Democrat-only effort to reform the health care system.

14 Sep 2009

Report urges world leaders to expand access to free health care in developing countries

A new report from Oxfam and 62 other non-governmental organizations and health groups finds that international goals aiming to reduce child and maternal mortality rates are "desperately off track," with four million babies around the world dying annually within 28 days of birth, Agence France-Press reports (9/13).

14 Sep 2009

WFP appeals for $5.2m to feed at least 500,000 Malawaians through Dec. 2010

The U.N.'s World Food Programme (WFP) made an international appeal Thursday for $5.2 million to help feed more than half a million people in Malawi through the end of next year, Agence France-Presse reports.

14 Sep 2009