Health Affairs And RWJF Launch Health Policy Briefs With Look At Medicare Advantage

Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) are pleased to announce a new series of Health Policy Briefs aimed at providing clear, accessible overviews of timely and important health policy topics. The first brief explores the current debate over cutting payments to Medicare Advantage plans – the privately run health plans that now serve almost a quarter of Medicare enrollees.

Health Policy Briefs will be available at no cost on the

Health Affairs And RWJF Launch Health Policy Briefs With Look At Medicare Advantage

Health Affairs and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) are pleased to announce a new series of Health Policy Briefs aimed at providing clear, accessible overviews of timely and important health policy topics. The first brief explores the current debate over cutting payments to Medicare Advantage plans – the privately run health plans that now serve almost a quarter of Medicare enrollees.

Health Policy Briefs will be available at no cost on the

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Health Issues In State Of The State Addresses

The following highlights health issues mentioned in governors’ recent state of the state addresses.
Kentucky: In his Feb. 4 speech, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) said his proposal to fill the state’s $456 million budget shortfall “clearly articulates priorities for investment” in “basic health care for our most vulnerable populations,” among other things. He said that providing health care “is not only a moral obligation but one that carries economic return.” He added, “But to protect our priorities we need the targeted application of new revenue, which I propose we obtain by significantly increasing our tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products.” According to Beshear, Kentucky has “a cigarette tax which is the fourth-lowest in the entire nation,” but “the health toll of smoking is devastating.” He said, “We spend $1.5 billion a year on health problems related to smoking, including $487 million in Medicaid costs alone — a cost, ironically, that more than matches our current shortfall.” Beshear said, “The people of this state overwhelmingly support a significant increase in tobacco taxes” (Beshear speech text, 2/4).

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report Highlights Health Issues In State Of The State Addresses

The following highlights health issues mentioned in governors’ recent state of the state addresses.
Kentucky: In his Feb. 4 speech, Gov. Steve Beshear (D) said his proposal to fill the state’s $456 million budget shortfall “clearly articulates priorities for investment” in “basic health care for our most vulnerable populations,” among other things. He said that providing health care “is not only a moral obligation but one that carries economic return.” He added, “But to protect our priorities we need the targeted application of new revenue, which I propose we obtain by significantly increasing our tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products.” According to Beshear, Kentucky has “a cigarette tax which is the fourth-lowest in the entire nation,” but “the health toll of smoking is devastating.” He said, “We spend $1.5 billion a year on health problems related to smoking, including $487 million in Medicaid costs alone — a cost, ironically, that more than matches our current shortfall.” Beshear said, “The people of this state overwhelmingly support a significant increase in tobacco taxes” (Beshear speech text, 2/4).

KDE 4.2 RC1 Released

The KDE project has released the first release candidate for KDE 4.2. “The KDE Community today announced the immediate availability of “Cilense”, (a.k.a. KDE 4.2 Release Candidate), the only planned release candidate for the KDE 4.2 desktop. Cilense is aimed at testers and reviewers. It should provide a solid ground to report last-minute bugs that need to be tackled before KDE 4.2.0 is released. Reviewers can use this release candidate to get a first look at the upcoming KDE 4.2 desktop which provides significant improvements all over the desktop and applications. It is not recommended for everyday use, however.”

KDE 4.2 RC1 Released

The KDE project has released the first release candidate for KDE 4.2. “The KDE Community today announced the immediate availability of “Cilense”, (a.k.a. KDE 4.2 Release Candidate), the only planned release candidate for the KDE 4.2 desktop. Cilense is aimed at testers and reviewers. It should provide a solid ground to report last-minute bugs that need to be tackled before KDE 4.2.0 is released. Reviewers can use this release candidate to get a first look at the upcoming KDE 4.2 desktop which provides significant improvements all over the desktop and applications. It is not recommended for everyday use, however.”

Editorial, Opinion Piece Discuss Possible Obama Policy Change To Allow Funding For Embryonic Stem Cell Research

The Tennessean on Monday published an editorial and an opinion piece examining issues related to embryonic stem cell research.

~ Tennessean: If President-elect Barack Obama issues an executive order to overturn the Bush administration’s ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, the way in which he addresses the issue “could be an early sign as to his effectiveness as president,” according to the editorial. The editorial says, “The new president would be wise first to thoroughly explain his reasoning for the decision but also do so in ways that persuade, not just inform.” The editorial continues that Obama “should also highlight the views of prominent Republicans” who support the research, including former first lady Nancy Reagan and former Sen. Bill Frist (Tenn.). According to the editorial, “Polls have shown that a majority of Americans believe the government should ease current restrictions on the research. The more the new president can illuminate a consensus on the issue the better his efforts will be.” It adds, “If Obama wants to make stem cell research a priority, he should make his decision look as inclusive as possible,” concluding, “A contentious start on a controversial issue would not be a good way to begin a presidency” (Tennessean, 11/24).

Strong Public Policy Measures On Alcohol Price And Availability Would Be More Effective Than Clinical Treatments, Say Experts

Three of Britain’s leading experts in alcohol policy and treatments say that strong public policy measures on price and availability of alcohol would be far more successful than clinical treatments or current Government initiatives in reducing alcohol-related harm. In the same way that doctors use evidence-based medicine to treat individual patients, the Government should use the overwhelming evidence we already have to implement stronger public policy measures on alcohol instead of persisting with measures that have little or no evidence of success.

National’s Health Policy Welcomed, New Zealand Medical Association

The New Zealand Medical Association welcomes the release today of Part 1 of the National Party’s health policy.

“We welcome in particular their recognition that clinicians need to have more say in the planning and delivery of our health services,” says NZMA Chairman Dr Peter Foley. The reference to trusting and empowering clinicians more is very welcome. “It’s critical that the health professional bodies are part of this process. “

Elder Mistreatment – American Medical Association Adopts New Health Policy

The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician organization, voted today at its Annual Meeting to adopt the following new public health policy.

Many physicians have encountered older patients they suspect may be mistreated, yet there is little guidance to help them in their care of these individuals. A set of nine policy recommendations have been adopted for better clinical care and increased education and research in the area of elder mistreatment. Among the recommendations is the development of curriculum at the residency level on how to recognize elder mistreatment, as well legislation that promotes clinical, research, and educational programs in the prevention, detection, treatment, and intervention of elder abuse.