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New report addresses difficult issues for design of health insurance exchanges

A new report from The Commonwealth Fund provides recommendations for state and federal policymakers as they design and implement the new health insurance exchanges which are a key element of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

30 Sep 2010

Iowa Medicaid Enterprise selects Ingenix to manage Program Integrity initiative

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME), a unique combination of State employees and commercial vendors responsible for managing Iowa's $3 billion Medicaid program, has chosen Ingenix to manage its Program Integrity initiative to help ensure that taxpayer dollars are properly spent.

30 Sep 2010

Kaiser Permanente donates Convergent Medical Terminology to IHTSDO

Kaiser Permanente today donated its Convergent Medical Terminology (CMT) to the International Healthcare Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO) for U.S. distribution through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) so that all health care providers arge and small can benefit from the translation-enabling technology.

30 Sep 2010

NIH awards $3.1 million to further fund Inovio's universal SynCon flu vaccine development

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that Inovio Pharmaceuticals and the University of Pennsylvania have received a grant of $3.1 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director's Office to further fund Inovio's universal SynCon™ flu vaccine development.

30 Sep 2010

NIH awards three grants to explore novel treatment strategies for muscular dystrophy

Three grants totaling more than $4.5 million, from agencies of the National Institutes of Health, will be used to explore novel treatment strategies for muscular dystrophy.

30 Sep 2010

State Watch: Health insurance advocate proposed in Penn., Calif. OKs medical parole for incapacitated inmates

A bill that would create a state office of health insurance consumer advocacy, representing consumers interests on any insurance matter before the courts or any state department or agency has been introduced in the state House in hopes of passage before the end of the 2009-2010 legislative session. The bill is aimed at helping consumers navigate the new federal health law

30 Sep 2010

Senate Democrats defeat GOP effort to reopen health care debate over HHS regulation

"Senate Democrats held together and beat back an attempt from Republicans to begin a piece-by-piece repeal of the healthcare law, defeating a resolution that would roll back an HHS rule on how new regulations apply to health insurance plans that existed before the overhaul bill was signed into law," Congress Daily reported.

30 Sep 2010

Health law's medical loss ratios, exchanges scrutinized

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, which is working with the Department of Health and Human Services on implementing key parts of the health law, is still considering how to determine the kinds of insurers' expenses that are considered medical care.

30 Sep 2010

Grants seek to bolster, expand primary care workforce

CQ HealthBeat: "Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Tuesday announced $320 million in grants to bolster and expand the nation's primary care workforce as part of the health care overhaul law. … Of the $320 million, $253 million will go to six programs administered by HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration The money will be used by states to deal with current and expected labor shortages.

30 Sep 2010

Austrian AGES approves Baxter's PREFLUCEL vaccine for seasonal influenza

Baxter International Inc. today announced the first approval of PREFLUCEL by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). The vaccine was shown to be effective in preventing seasonal influenza and is indicated for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and the elderly. PREFLUCEL is manufactured using Baxter's proprietary advanced Vero cell technology.

From Baxter International Inc. 30 Sep 2010

Health IT Blotter: Extension center choices, Medicaid meaningful use, 'build or buy' shift

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has selected the final two of 62 regional extension centers (REC), which will help small, rural hospitals and private physicians with the nationwide rollout of electronic medical records (EMR) systems.

30 Sep 2010

Kaiser Permanente donates Convergent Medical Terminology for open access

Kaiser Permanente is donating its Convergent Medical Terminology (CMT) for open access to help facilitate the nation's transition from paper-based medical records to Electronic Health Records (EHR). CMT was designed by clinicians to facilitate the use of EHRs by clinicians and patients. Kaiser Permanente has the world's largest private sector electronic health record.

29 Sep 2010

NINDS establishes new sites as part of Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a component of the National Institutes of Health, has established two new sites as part of the Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research. The NINDS grants will provide a five-year investment totaling more than $16 million for Emory University in Atlanta and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, N.Y.

29 Sep 2010

AMIA calls out specific challenges to proposed modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Enforcement Rules

In comments sent to Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) called out 10 specific challenges to proposed modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Enforcement Rules. AMIA's comments, sent on behalf of its membership of 4,000 informatics professionals, detail key issues of concern related to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on HIPAA modifications, along with suggestions for models of change.

29 Sep 2010

Some Democrats, including Reid, embrace health law as fall campaign battles continue

Politico: Some House Democrats are touting the new health law — and their support of it — as a positive in their fights to keep their seats in midterm elections this fall. The Democrats are "framing key provisions as a 'Patient's Bill of Rights.' Spurred by last week's release of a series of rigid insurance rules, the lawmakers are defying this election season's conventional wisdom placing by health care front and center." Among them are Reps. Dina Titus and Shelley Berkley or Nevada.

29 Sep 2010

HHS announces grants to help seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers navigate long term care options

Modern Healthcare: As part of the new health law, HHS is distributing $68 million in grants "to help people navigate their health and long-term-care options. The grants will be going to states, territories, tribal and community-based organizations to help seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers make more-informed decisions about their health and long-term care.

29 Sep 2010

Early initiation of ART may prevent immune system damage in HIV patients: Study

HIV-infected individuals who begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) soon after acquiring the virus may have stronger immune responses to other pathogens than HIV-infected individuals who begin ART later, a new study from the National Institutes of Health has found. This finding suggests that early initiation of ART may prevent irreversible immune system damage and adds to the body of evidence showing significant health benefits from early ART.

29 Sep 2010

Today's Opinions: Challenging health law critics' words; The case for Calif. health exchange; Holes in the GOP pledge

If critics really want to go back to the days when insurance companies ran wild with no accountability, they should have the courage to say so openly instead of hiding behind distracting attacks. In the meantime, we're going to keep standing up for American families and small business owners who deserve a system that works for them (Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, 9/28).

29 Sep 2010

Study finds that 90% of EDs nationwide also offer preventive-care services

People go to emergency departments when they've broken a leg, been stabbed or otherwise need urgent care. But a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine finds that 90 percent of EDs nationwide also offer preventive-care services.

28 Sep 2010

State Roundup: N.Y. small businesses protest health insurance premium hikes; Arizona Medicaid crisis; a new payment system for Massachusetts?

Massachusetts officials are reviving the state's ambitious plan to change how doctors and hospitals are paid, aiming to hand the Legislature a specific proposal by Jan. 1 to end disagreement over controlling health spending.

28 Sep 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

New report addresses difficult issues for design of health insurance exchanges

Iowa Medicaid Enterprise selects Ingenix to manage Program Integrity initiative

Kaiser Permanente donates Convergent Medical Terminology to IHTSDO

NIH awards $3.1 million to further fund Inovio's universal SynCon flu vaccine development

NIH awards three grants to explore novel treatment strategies for muscular dystrophy

State Watch: Health insurance advocate proposed in Penn., Calif. OKs medical parole for incapacitated inmates

Senate Democrats defeat GOP effort to reopen health care debate over HHS regulation

Health law's medical loss ratios, exchanges scrutinized

Grants seek to bolster, expand primary care workforce

Austrian AGES approves Baxter's PREFLUCEL vaccine for seasonal influenza

Health IT Blotter: Extension center choices, Medicaid meaningful use, 'build or buy' shift

Kaiser Permanente donates Convergent Medical Terminology for open access

NINDS establishes new sites as part of Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence in Parkinson's Disease Research

AMIA calls out specific challenges to proposed modifications to HIPAA Privacy and Enforcement Rules

Some Democrats, including Reid, embrace health law as fall campaign battles continue

HHS announces grants to help seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers navigate long term care options

Early initiation of ART may prevent immune system damage in HIV patients: Study

Today's Opinions: Challenging health law critics' words; The case for Calif. health exchange; Holes in the GOP pledge

Study finds that 90% of EDs nationwide also offer preventive-care services

State Roundup: N.Y. small businesses protest health insurance premium hikes; Arizona Medicaid crisis; a new payment system for Massachusetts?

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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