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Continued International Investment, Decreased Discrimination Key To Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Says U.N. Secretary-General
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon during a General Assembly meeting Tuesday urged governments not to cut aid for the international fight against HIV/AIDS, the AP/Washington Post reports. Even as Ban "called for "bold action" not only to increase funding but also to break down social barriers to achieve the goal set by world leaders in 2006 of universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention services, treatment, care and support by 2010," he and other speakers at the meeting "reviewing progress and challenges in the battle against AIDS indicated that it will be exceedingly difficult - if not impossible - to reach the goal" (Lederer, AP/Washington Post, 6/16).
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Study Shows Protein May Be Strongest Indicator Of Rare Lung Disease
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) have discovered a protein in the lungs that can help in determining progression of the rare lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).
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Federal Funding Should Be Available For Abortion Services, Opinion Piece Says
"The current debate over government funding for abortion in the health care plan is a reminder of how we have failed poor women," Frances Kissling writes in a Salon opinion piece. According to Kissling, the 32-year-old Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion services, has played a large role in denying impoverished women access to the procedure. "Restoring those funds has not been a top priority for pro-choice advocates, who sadly concluded that because the public does not care about poor women and is actually hostile to poor women who have sex and become pregnant, it would be futile to put too much capital into reversing Hyde," Kissling writes.However, "we have an opportunity to make amends" by reversing the Hyde Amendment and restoring federal funding for abortion services, according to Kissling. "But the portents are not promising," she writes, adding that a group of "pro-life" Democrats in the House in a recent letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) "laid down the first major antiabortion challenge to health care reform." In addition, the Obama administration "has refused to rule out including abortion in the health care package, but President Obama is already signaling that the status quo on abortion is likely to endure," Kissling writes."The longer it takes to pass a plan, the more momentum against including coverage for abortion -- and possibly contraception -- will build," Kissling writes, adding that "there is a good chance there will be limits on government funding for abortions in the health care package, if not outright exclusion." A compromise being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee would not prohibit or require private insurers offering government plans from covering abortions but would prohibit the use of federal funds to pay for them. "Whether this would result in a reduction of coverage in such plans is unclear, but it is possible," she continues."The timing is critical. The need is great, and growing," Kissling writes, adding, "If abortion services are excluded from the health care reform package, the number of women who will not be able to afford abortions is bound to rise and the number of unwanted children will increase." Kissling concludes, "One hears over and over again that we all agree that the health care system is broken; the status quo is not acceptable. The status quo on coverage for abortion is especially unacceptable" (Kissling, Salon, 7/27).
Cardiovascular

Health Plans Support Consumer Protections

Health plans reiterated their strong support for new market rules and consumer protections to cover all Americans and guarantee coverage for pre-existing conditions. "Health insurance reform is an essential part of health care reform," said AHIP President and CEO Karen Ignagni. "Health plans have listened to concerns of the American people and proposed reforms to cover everyone and make sure no one is locked out of the system because of a pre-existing condition." Last year, health plans offered a proposal that includes far-reaching market reforms and new consumer protections. Health plans proposed guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions, discontinuing rating based on a person"s health status or gender and a personal coverage requirement to achieve universal coverage. To learn more about AHIP"s reform proposal, please visit . These proposals are highlighted in a new national television ad campaign AHIP launched last week in support of bipartisan health care reform. To view the ad, please visit here. In a national survey, more than 70% of Americans signaled their support for a personal coverage requirement as part of a reform plan that includes market reforms, new consumer protections and tax credits. To read more on this poll, click here. Background on Individual Market Reform AHIP"s survey of the individual market shows that individually purchased health insurance is far more affordable and accessible than is widely known. The survey found that 9 out of 10 applicants undergoing medical underwriting were offered coverage. The plans commonly purchased by consumers provided financial protection and a wide range of benefits, including coverage for behavioral health, prescription drugs and preventive services. Some individuals are unable to purchase individual health insurance coverage in the private market because of their health status. One approach taken by states to address this issue has been the enactment of guarantee issue legislation without a coverage requirement. These well-intentioned reforms have often resulted in severe unintended consequences, including significantly higher costs for all policyholders. A report by Milliman, Inc. found that enactment of guarantee issue laws in the absence of a coverage requirement may incentivize people to defer seeking coverage until they have health problems - a situation which unfairly penalizes those who are currently insured. According to the report, states that implemented these laws saw a rise in insurance premiums, a reduction of individual insurance enrollment and no significant decrease in the number of uninsured. To learn more about the individual market survey and the Milliman report, please visit here. Providing Health Benefits


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