News 2013
Congratulations, President Obama, and Thank You, Dr. Kevin Fenton
Buried amid the wonderful news of the re-election of President Barack Obama and the glorious pomp and ceremony of his inauguration is the sad news of the departure of Kevin Fenton, M.D., Ph.D., from his post as director of the CDC's National Center on HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. Dr. Fenton is a proud, openly gay Black man who spent the last seven years leading that billion dollar center at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He left his position on Dec. 21, 2012, to head a new, national public health agency in the United Kingdom. All African Americans concerned about HIV/AIDS should note his departure as we celebrate President Obama's second inauguration.
Read more: Congratulations, President Obama, and Thank You, Dr. Kevin Fenton
Massachusetts: Getting a Head Start on the Affordable Care Act
Now that the biggest challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been overcome, it's up to the states to comply with the law. One state that knows a little about health care reform is Massachusetts, which has had mandatory health insurance since 2006. However, state officials say that despite the head start, there are still improvements to come thanks to the ACA.
Read more: Massachusetts: Getting a Head Start on the Affordable Care Act
Family Planning Providers Key in Fight Against HIV
The Title X Family Planning Program, administered by the HHS Office of Population Affairs (OPA), provides funding to more than 4,000 service delivery sites across the country to support voluntary, confidential, and low-cost education, counseling, testing, and related preventive health services that allow individuals and couples to plan and space births. The family planning service sites funded through this program are key allies in the nation’s response to HIV, providing family planning and related preventive health services—including HIV prevention and testing—to more than 5 million low-income or uninsured men, women, and adolescents each year. All Title X funded agencies are required to provide, at a minimum, HIV/AIDS prevention education, including education on HIV risks and infection prevention, and HIV testing, either on-site or by referral.
Read more: Family Planning Providers Key in Fight Against HIV
Obama Discusses Health Care Role in Debt-Ceiling Debate
At a White House news conference Monday, President Obama discussed how he sees Medicare, Medicaid and other health care spending factoring into the looming conflict over raising the federal debt ceiling.
An edited transcript follows.
Read more: Obama Discusses Health Care Role in Debt-Ceiling Debate
Emergency Departments are on the Frontline of the Flu
What does it feel like to be working in an emergency department during this nasty flu season? Every day feels like Monday.
Dr. Bill Frohna stands in the crowded emergency room of Medstar Washington Hospital Center in D.C. (Photo by Jenny Gold/KHN).
Read more: Emergency Departments are on the Frontline of the Flu