The Impending Catastrophe: A Resource Book on the Emerging HIV/AIDS Epidemic in South Africa

Indications show that South Africa’s 15-25 year olds are the most severely affected by the continuing spread of the HIV disease in that country. According to a report released May 11, 2000, by Abt Associates (South Africa) Inc., an international consulting firm, the rate of new infections among this group is as high as 60%, with young women being particularly vulnerable. Over 3.5 million people are currently estimated to be HIV infected in South Africa, and this number is projected to more than double over the next decade unless major behavioral changes are adequately promoted and realized. This report is a resource book and offers detailed analysis and data of the disease s impact on South Africa’s health, economic and social systems.

• Executive Summary
• Full Report

The National Survey on the Uninsured from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and the Kaiser Family Foundation is this year’s first nationwide survey on Americans’ attitudes about the growing uninsured population and the difficulties uninsured people face getting medical care. The survey also assesses public attitudes on options to address the problem.

• News Release: NewsHour/Kaiser Survey Spotlights Misconceptions About the Medically Uninsured
• National Survey of the Uninsured
• Toplines/Survey
• Key Facts
• Chart Pack
• Fact Sheet
• Public Opinion Update

The Washington Post/Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University , conducted in July and August of 1999, undertakes one of the most comprehensive looks at Latinos in America today. It examines Latino attitudes regarding values, politics, race relations and social policies and compares those attitudes to non-Latino whites and blacks. In addition it provides a closer look at Latino immigrant perceptions of the U.S. The large scope of the study allows for comparisons to be made between Latinos born in the U.S. to those born outside and among Latinos with different national backgrounds. Results from this survey were released by The Washington Post in a series of articles beginning on January 16, 2000.

• Topline

Recent reports on patient protection legislation were prepared for the Kaiser Family Foundation by Phyllis Borzi and Sara Rosenbaum of the Center for Health Services Research and Policy, The George Washington University Medical Center. These reports provide a side-by-side comparison of the patient protection provisions in the differing versions of H.R. 2990 passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives in 1999, which are being considered in Conference Committee in 2000. The comparative analysis report includes a discussion of the similarities and differences between the bills; a detailed side-by-side comparison of the bills including their scope, patient protections, benefit claims and appeals procedures, and ERISA preemption and plan liability provisions; and definitions of terms. The brief overview highlights the key similarities and differences between the two bills.

: A Comparative Analysis of Key Provisions of the House and Senate Versions of H.R. 2990

A Brief Overview of Major Features of : House and Senate Versions of H.R. 2990

Note: This publication is no longer in circulation. However, a few copies may still exist in the Foundation’s internal library that could be xeroxed. Please email order@kff.org if you would like to pursue this option.

Georgetown’s Report on External Review of Health Plan Decisions: An Update

External Review of Health Plan Decisions: An Update, prepared for the Kaiser Family Foundation by Geraldine Dallek and Karen Pollitz of The Institute for Health Care Research and Policy, Georgetown University. In November 1998, the Kaiser Family Foundation released a report prepared by Georgetown University on external review programs in 13 states and the Medicare program. In the last year and a half, the number of state external review programs has more than doubled to include 32 states and the District of Columbia, and many private health plans have voluntarily provided external review programs. This report analyzes the current trends and features of state external review programs.

• External Review

This report, Medicaid Managed Care for Persons with Disabilities: A Closer Look, presents an overview of the findings and summarizes the results of the case studies of Medicaid managed care programs that enroll persons with disabilities in four states: Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, and New Mexico. This report also draws from the findings of the 1998 national survey of state practices (Publication #2114) and focus groups of low-income disabled individuals (Publication #2152). This report addresses the issue of how persons with disabilities fare under managed care. It describes ways that managed care is affecting overall health care delivery for some of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens and describes the lessons learned for policymakers who enroll – or plan to enroll – persons with disabilities in their managed care programs. A companion paper, Descriptions of Programs in Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, and New Mexico, provides in-depth descriptions of the four case studies.

Background Paper

This report provides in-depth descriptions of the case studies in these states. The case studies are based on interviews conducted in the fall of 1998 with state officials, provider and plan representatives, and advocates. This report provides an overview of each state’s Medicaid program, followed by an analysis of the structure and impact of various program features, such as whether capitated and/or PCCM programs are offered; whether the programs are mandatory or voluntary for people with disabilities; whether disabled people are covered by mainstream managed care or by a separate specialized program; and whether behavioral health is offered under a managed arrangement or an alternative approach. (Publication #2163) A companion paper, A Closer Look (Publication #2179), presents an overview of the findings and summarizes the results of the case studies.

Case Studies

This report updates a 1994 case study of California’s Medicaid managed care initiative. California uses three predominant managed care models in its Medi-Cal program: county organized health (COHS), geographic managed care (GMC), and the two-plan model. This case study focuses specifically on Los Angeles County’s two-plan model and Orange County’s COHS model. It is one of a series of reports from the Kaiser/Commonwealth Low-Income Coverage and Access Project.

This project examines how changes in the Medicaid program have affected health insurance health insurance coverage and access to care for the low-income population in eight states: California, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas.

The Uninsured and Their Access to Health Care

Drawing on data from the updated Uninsured in America: A Chart Book (May 2000), this fact sheet outlines the problem of the uninsured in America, providing data on the growing number of uninsured Americans and a profile of the uninsured population. It also explores causes of uninsurance and synthesizes studies on the effects of going without health coverage.

• Fact Sheet

During the 1999 legislative year, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed legislation addressing patient protections under health care plans. The purpose of this brief overview is to highlight in broad terms the key similarities and differences between the bills in four general areas: scope of coverage; patient protections; benefit claims and appeals procedures; and ERISA preemption of state laws and health plan liability (including expanded patients’ rights to sue and remedies). This brief comparison does not address certain other provisions contained in the bills (including those relating to HealthMarts and Association Health Plans found only in the House bill) or their various revenue-related proposals.

• Report: A Brief Overview of Major Features of Pending Patient Protection Legislation: House and Senate Versions of H.R. 2990