KFF designs, conducts and analyzes original public opinion and survey research on Americans’ attitudes, knowledge, and experiences with the health care system to help amplify the public’s voice in major national debates.
National Survey of Latinos: Education – Chartpack and Summary of Findings
The chartpack and summary of findings from a comprehensive survey of Latino attitudes toward education, public schools and a variety of education issues, including the No Child Left Behind Act. This national survey is released against the backdrop of major changes in the nation’s K-12 system as states and school districts apply sweeping new federal requirements. The survey includes substantial comparison samples of whites and African Americans.
A new project by National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School examines Americans’ views on sex education in the nations public schools. The project reviews whether Americans think sex education should be taught in school, what kind of sex education should be taught, and surveys middle school and high school principals on what is actually happening in the schools.
In this report we examine how ten states from around the nation have responded to their budget crises in fiscal year 2004. While states vary in the depth of the budget pressures they faced, as state revenues remained depressed, all were required to make difficult choices among spending reductions, tax increases, or other revenue measures. In general, we found states with few exceptions relied on targeted revenue measures, such as cigarette and alcohol taxes, but were unwilling to engage in significant increases in personal or corporate income taxes or sales taxes. States did continue the pattern of recent years of drawing on reserves or rainy day funds, transferring monies from dedicated trust funds and shifting spending or taxes across time periods to address current shortfalls. Due to the length of the document, we have also provided the chapters broken down by state to facilitate viewing and downloading capabilities.
Is the State Fiscal Crisis Over? A 2004 State Budget Update – Issue Brief
This paper, which updates a September 2003 analysis by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, finds that although the state fiscal situation is improving, states are by no means out of the woods yet.
This paper describes Medicaid’s existing financing structure and examines its implications for the federal government, for states, and for coverage of the low-income populations Medicaid serves.
KNOW HIV/AIDS is launching its second year on Super Bowl Sunday with the world premiere of one of the initiative’s new PSAs. The campaign, which includes media placements valued at $200 million in 2004, will run across Viacom’s broadcast, cable, radio, and outdoor advertising properties. In addition, a number of television shows have incorporated HIV/AIDS themes in upcoming episodes. MTV, MTV International, The N, BET, VH1, Showtime, Sundance Channel and Infinity Broadcasting have special HIV/AIDS-related programming planned throughout the year. And, Simon & Schuster will place ads with facts about the disease on the back of its titles. Get more details on the 2004 campaign.
KNOW HIV/AIDS will launch the second year of the campaign during the pre-game show for Super Bowl XXXVIII. Check your local listings and return to this link after the Super Bowl to see the complete ad.
On February 1, the KNOW HIV/AIDS Website will have a new look. We took feedback from the 6.4 million visitors in 2003 and are introducing a site that is easier to use and quicker to navigate with new features for individuals and organizations. Get a sneak peek.
CBS will air The Blackwater Lightship, a drama that explores how three generations of women learn to deal with their differences when a son reveals that he has AIDS. When: Wednesday, February 4 at 9:00pm ET/PT
UPN will air an episode of The Parkers when T learns that the girl of his dreams is living with HIV. When: Monday, February 16 at 8:00pm ET/PT
This report, based on a brief survey update of state officials conducted in December identifies changes related to Medicaid spending growth and cost containment that have taken place since the beginning of Fiscal Year 2004.
This survey, conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Hewitt Associates between June and September 2003 provides detailed information on retiree health programs offered by large private-sector employers. The data in this survey reflect the responses of 408 large firms (private-sector employers with 1,000 or more workers) and provides information on eligibility, benefits, premiums, and total cost in 2003, and offers insights as to what changes employers say they are likely to make in the near future. An article based on the survey’s findings appeared in the January 14, 2004 online issue of Health Affairs (see link below).
This chartpack (charts used at the briefing releasing this survey), from the survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Hewitt Associates between June and September 2003, provides detailed information on retiree health programs offered by large private-sector employers. The data in this survey reflect the responses of 408 large firms (private-sector employers with 1,000 or more workers) and provides information on eligibility, benefits, premiums, and total cost in 2003, and offers insights as to what changes employers say they are likely to make in the near future.
This survey of state Medicaid pharmacy programs updates a survey conducted in 2000 and reports Medicaid prescription drug policies in effect in early 2003. It covers utilization management policies, payment and purchasing policies, utilization review policies, and policies for managed care enrollees and persons residing in institutions.
