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Report calls for compensation for people infected by HIV through illegal blood sales in China

A new report, "jointly published by the Korekata AIDS Law Center in Beijing and the U.S.-based non-governmental organization Asia Catalyst," calls for the Chinese government to conduct "a full and independent investigation into the number of people affected" by illegal blood selling in central China in the 1990s that helped to spread HIV, "an official apology to the people affected, as well as compensation," BMJ reports.

10 Mar 2012

Kansas considers Medicaid changes; California advocates worry about their own overhaul

The Kansas legislature is considering changes to the state's Medicaid program including exempting long-term care services from some planned reforms.

10 Mar 2012

IPAB repeal progresses in the House

On Thursday, the House Ways and Means Committee approved legislation that would eliminate the health law's Independent Payment Advisory Board. The bill could be considered by the full House as early as the week of March 19, and it could attract some Democratic support.

10 Mar 2012

Health care politics: Contraception issues shift women to Dems, GOP contenders on Medicare's future

News outlets covered a poll on the health law and also analyzed Republican positions on abortion, contraception and Medicare.

10 Mar 2012

GOP lawmakers demand Medicaid financial report

The lawmakers charge that this actuarial information was due to them by Jan. 1 and is central to their ability to make decisions related to the entitlement program.

10 Mar 2012

Former British PM Gordon Brown publishes report examining child marriage, proposes 'global fund for education'

"Child marriage is a one-way ticket to a life of poverty, illiteracy and powerlessness for girls and the international community needs to take urgent action to stop it," according to an analysis published Friday by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Guardian reports.

10 Mar 2012

Calif. audit finds hospital did business with firms tied to CEO; Michigan hospital to become private

Reports on the business of healthcare also look at an Illinois ACO that is showing some progress and at New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's call for greater transparency in how insurers and providers bill consumers for out-of-network medical costs.

10 Mar 2012

4th quarter hospital revenues increase

Spending at hospitals surged in the fourth quarter, government data showed on Thursday, suggesting economic growth during that period could be revised significantly higher.

10 Mar 2012

Empowering women, promoting women's health strengthens international community

"As we honor the enormous impact women have on their families and communities worldwide, we also call on lawmakers to do more for global maternal and newborn health," Former White House Press Secretaries Mike McCurry and Dana Perino write in a post in The Hill's "Congress Blog," marking International Women's Day, which was celebrated on Thursday.

10 Mar 2012

Exchanges, high risk pools grab headlines

News outlets also continue to explore issues related to the development of state-based health exchanges as well as the costs and enrollment numbers associated with high-risk insurance.

10 Mar 2012

Global burden of disease revision covers 225 health conditions, 50 risk factors

At a plenary session Thursday at the 19th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Christopher Murray of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) "presented preliminary data from the 2010 revision of the Global Burden of Disease," which "is aimed at analyzing global health trends to quantify the comparative magnitude of health loss due to diseases, injuries and risk factors by age, sex and geography for specific points in time," the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog reports.

10 Mar 2012

GHI, Uganda working together to improve maternal, child health outcomes

A feature article in the Ugandan Observer examines a recent agreement signed by the U.S. and Ugandan governments "to drum up more support for maternal and reproductive health in Uganda." U.S. Global Health Initiative (GHI) Executive Director Lois Quam spoke at the signing, saying, "Investment in health in Uganda is one of the largest we make anywhere else in the world. Government must do more.

10 Mar 2012

AP poll: Health law remains divisive, but Americans worry less that it will undermine their own care

Attacked as a rationing scheme and praised as a lifesaver, President Barack Obama's health care law remains as divisive and confusing as ever. But a new poll finds Americans are less worried that the overhaul will undermine their own care. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the Associated Press-GfK poll shows that Americans are less concerned their own personal health care will suffer as a result of it.

10 Mar 2012

World commemorates International Women's Day

Speaking at an event at U.N. Headquarters to commemorate International Women's Day, which is observed annually on March 8, "Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday joined other senior United Nations officials ... in highlighting the potential of rural women to improve the well-being of entire societies if given equal access to resources and set free from the discrimination and exploitation that hold them back," the U.N. News Centre writes, noting this year's theme is "Empower Rural Women -- End Hunger and Poverty."

9 Mar 2012

Consumer coalition sues drugmakers over coupon programs

The lawsuit claims that these popular programs, which appear to save money for patients, actually increase costs and conceal information about the discounts from health plans.

9 Mar 2012

Report: Alzheimer's care to cost $200 billion this year

The report issued by the Alzheimer's Association also estimates that as many as 800,000 Americans have this illness and live alone. As many as half of these people don't have specific arrangements to help them get care.

9 Mar 2012

Obama administration: Mandate is respectful of individual rights

The Department of Justice argues that the individual mandate is more protective of individual choices than programs such as Medicare. In other news related to the health law, the clashes between consumer and business groups over the measure's required benefit summaries don't appear to be over.

9 Mar 2012

New study finds significant variation in head CT use

Imaging has been identified as one of the key drivers of increased healthcare costs. A new study from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School has found significant variation in the use of head computed tomography (CT), even within a single emergency department.

9 Mar 2012

Surgeon General finds much work needed to stop teen smoking

The federal report documents an "epidemic" of tobacco use among teens, which it says can stunt lung growth and accelerate development of health problems.

9 Mar 2012