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Children often neglected in HIV/AIDS testing, treatment, Rwandan official says

Children should be placed at the center of HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, Agnes Binagwaho, executive secretary of Rwanda's National AIDS Control Commission, said recently, the New Times/AllAfrica.com reports.

17 Jun 2008

Condom distribution programs, conjugal visits could slow spread of HIV in Caribbean prisons, official says

Establishing condom distribution programs in Caribbean prisons and allowing conjugal visits for married prisoners could help reduce sex among inmates and slow the spread of HIV, Marcus Day, adviser to the Association of Caribbean Heads of Corrections and Prison Services, said recently, AFP/Google.com reports.

17 Jun 2008

G8 nations should increase aid to Africa to meet 2010 targets

The Group of Eight industrialized nations should increase assistance to Africa in order to meet pledges to double aid to the continent by 2010, according to a report released on Monday in London by the Africa Progress Panel, the Washington Post reports.

17 Jun 2008

NPR program examines Brazil's antiretroviral program, efforts to collaborate with other countries to fight HIV

NPR's "Tell Me More" on Thursday included a discussion with Brazil's HIV/AIDS program director Mariangela Simao. Simao discussed progress in Brazil's no-cost antiretroviral program and the country's efforts to collaborate with Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa on HIV prevention.

17 Jun 2008

More than half of AIDS-related deaths in Washington, D.C., not reported

More than half of the AIDS-related deaths that occurred in Washington, D.C., from 2000 to 2005 were missed by the city's system for reporting such deaths, according to an analysis by the district's Department of Health and CDC that was published recently in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Washington Post reports.

17 Jun 2008

Health IT might not produce immediate savings, but it could improve quality of care, reduce health disparities

Health IT Now! Coalition on Friday at a Capitol Hill briefing asked lawmakers to pass legislation that would subsidize health care providers for the adoption of electronic health records, ensure interoperability among health care information technology platforms and address privacy concerns, CongressDaily reports (CongressDaily, 6/13).

17 Jun 2008

U.S. health care debate must address 'plight of the underinsured,' editorial states

While reducing health care costs and the number of uninsured U.S. residents "are critical priorities for this country, ... the health care debate needs a wider focus to also address the plight of the underinsured," a New York Times editorial states.

17 Jun 2008

Newspapers highlight health care, economic proposals of Presidential candidates Obama, McCain

In broader pieces on the economy and taxes, two newspapers recently addressed parts of the health care proposals of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) and presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.).

17 Jun 2008

Gingrich outlines proposal to address health care costs

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Wednesday in Omaha, Neb., outlined a proposal to help reduce health care costs that includes a health insurance mandate for U.S. residents with annual incomes more than $75,000, the AP/Lincoln Journal Star reports.

17 Jun 2008

Hawaii physicians, hospitals urge Gov. Lingle to release Medicaid physician payment funds

Hawaii hospital officials and physicians are concerned that $18 million in Medicaid payments, including $10 million in federal matching funds, could be lost if Gov. Linda Lingle (R) does not authorize the release of $8 million for Medicaid physician payments by June 30, the Honolulu Advertiser reports.

17 Jun 2008

Coalition calls for end of redesigned Medicaid program in West Virginia

A coalition of religious, labor and health care activists, on Wednesday said West Virginia should suspend its redesigned Medicaid program because it penalizes low-income children and adults, the Charleston Gazette reports

17 Jun 2008

Pennsylvania Senate Republicans unveil health care plans

Pennsylvania Senate Republicans on Tuesday unveiled a health care proposal that would enhance care provided at community health centers and create a high-risk pool for state residents who are unable to obtain health coverage elsewhere, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Raffaele, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 6/10).

17 Jun 2008

Colorado SCHIP classified 10% of beneficiaries incorrectly

Colorado auditors on Monday said that Children's Health Plan Plus, the state's version of SCHIP, incorrectly classified 10% of beneficiaries, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reports.

17 Jun 2008

Expansion of health insurance could help reduce health care disparities, lawmakers, experts say

Proposals to expand health insurance to all U.S. residents could help reduce, but would not eliminate, health care disparities, lawmakers and health care experts said on Tuesday at a House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing, CQ HealthBeat reports.

17 Jun 2008

Life expectancy in U.S. reached record high of 78.1 years in 2006

Life expectancy for U.S. residents reached a record high of 78.1 years in 2006, compared with a previous record high of 77.8 years in 2005, according to a preliminary report released on Wednesday by the National Center for Health Statistics at CDC, the Washington Post reports. For the report, Melonie Heron, a NCHS demographer, and colleagues analyzed 95% of the death certificates collected in the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 2006.

17 Jun 2008

Health care disparities found for female veterans

Female veterans do not receive the same quality of outpatient care as male veterans at about one-third of the 139 Department of Veterans Affairs facilities that offer it, according to a report released on Friday by VA, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

17 Jun 2008

American Medical Association provides first ever guidance on medical tourism

To ensure the safety of patients considering traveling abroad for medical care, new guiding principles on medical tourism were adopted today at the American Medical Association's (AMA) annual policy-making meeting. The nine principles are the first-of-its- kind, and outline steps for care abroad for consideration by patients, employers, insurers and third-parties responsible for coordinating travel outside of the U.S.

17 Jun 2008