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Chronic illnesses among children not adequately addressed

Current methods of delivering health care to kids are woefully unable to cope with a pediatric disease pendulum that has swung from acute to chronic illnesses, says a researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

13 Sep 2004

Premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose at about five times the rate of inflation

Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums increased an average of 11.2% in 2004 -- less than last year’s 13.9% increase, but still the fourth consecutive year of double-digit growth, according to the 2004 Annual Employer Health Benefits Survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research and Educational Trust (HRET).

12 Sep 2004

Women starting mammography on time, but failing to follow up

A new study finds most women now follow the recommendation to receive their first screening mammogram at age 40, but there is widespread failure to return promptly for subsequent exams and several sub-populations of women still are not being screened by the recommended age.

12 Sep 2004

Consumers with health insurance are willing to help cover costs for uninsured people

The subject of universal healthcare is always a hot topic but never more so than in an election year.

8 Sep 2004

13 percent of U.S. children have had a special health care need

Approximately 13 percent of U.S. children have had a special health care need, and significant proportions of their families experience financial problems related to the child's condition, according to an article in the September issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

7 Sep 2004

Extension of Australia's Medicare safety net will ease the financial burden on pregnant women

Australian Medical Association President, Dr Bill Glasson, said yesterday that the Government’s decision to extend the Medicare safety net to cover out-of-hospital private obstetrics services would ease the financial burden on pregnant women and their families.

1 Sep 2004

Are Latin America and the Caribbean ready to meet the health challenges of the coming senior boom?

Advances in medicine and public health have dramatically increased life expectancy in Latin America and the Caribbean.But is the region ready to meet the challenges of the coming "senior boom"?

31 Aug 2004

New York Municipalities to include contraceptives in prescription drug coverage

New York State Attorney General recently announced that 17 municipalities in Westchester County have agreed to extend their healthcare coverage to include prescription contraceptives following an investigation by his office.

23 Aug 2004

Significant link between depression and the development of coronary heart disease

A study of French power company employees has found a significant link between depression and the development of coronary heart disease (CHD). The research is published today in the International Journal of Epidemiology, edited in the Department of Social Medicine at Bristol University.

23 Aug 2004

Health care plans not likely to curb health care costs

Consumer-directed health care (CDHC) - high-deductible plans often touted as the answer to spiraling health care costs - is not likely to curb health care costs, and could even worsen health outcomes by reducing patients' receipt of needed preventive care and care for chronic conditions, says a new report from The Commonwealth Fund.

22 Aug 2004

Wireless breakthrough for home health monitoring and remote disease management

The device provides immediate benefits to patients by utilizing advanced wireless and Internet technologies, carefully implemented for seamless and automated operation with a minimum need for patient interaction to improve patient quality of life, convenience and compliance in their daily monitoring.

17 Aug 2004

Potential for a significant increase in the number of Americans without health insurance

As the U.S. economy struggled during the 2001 economic recession and less-than-robust job growth during the recovery, concerns escalated about the potential for a significant increase in the number of Americans without health insurance.

16 Aug 2004

New European health insurance card

Proposals for the UK-wide introduction of the new European health insurance card are being published today.

16 Aug 2004

66,000 elderly California residents or people with disabilities will continue their home and community-based services

The Independence Plus program, created by President Bush, helps states to achieve the goals established in President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative.

13 Aug 2004

New poll shows consumers back health savings accounts

HSA-based health insurance plans combine individually owned savings accounts with traditional major medical insurance. HSAs give individuals the opportunity to use tax-free funds to pay day-to-day medical bills and to save for future health care expenses.

13 Aug 2004

Nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year

A new analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that nearly half (48%) of all uninsured children have not had a well-child visit in the past year.

5 Aug 2004

$19 million in grants to help 66 of the nation’s health centers expand capacity

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced more than $19 million in grants to help 66 of the nation’s health centers expand capacity to serve 270,000 more rural and inner-city Americans, including many without health insurance.

3 Aug 2004

Different types of cataracts produced identifiable and repeatable results using wavefront diagnostic equipment

A study published today in the August edition of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery reports that wavefront technology, a new way of measuring how vision is distorted by irregularities in the eye, offers a widely accepted means for corroborating cataract patients' vision complaints, which may lead to earlier treatment with attendant enhanced patient safety and less loss of quality of life.

2 Aug 2004

There are about 200 million eligible voters. All of them have a stake in the U.S. health care system

The AMA has released a new ad during the Democratic National Convention in Boston urging Democratic Party leaders to work with the AMA to address critical issues facing U.S. health care.

29 Jul 2004

New publication looks at the immediate effects of the Medicare Modernization Act

Before the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA), private plan options for beneficiaries had eroded substantially, with severely limited or no choice in most communities.

27 Jul 2004