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Insurers fear consequences of individual mandate being struck down

The Hill writes that letting the 2010 health law stand without the individual mandate is the worst possible outcome for insurers. Meanwhile, CQ looks into the Medicaid expansion issue and demands for Kagan and Thomas to recuse themselves.

23 Nov 2011

Medicare to cover infusion costs for prostate cancer vaccine, company says

In Medicare news, the drug maker Dendreon says federal officials have said they will pay doctors to administer the drug. Also, policymakers are studying Medigap to see if curbs on those policies could help cut Medicare costs.

23 Nov 2011

Families with chronically ill member less likely to benefit from employer-sponsored insurance

Benefits paid out under employer-sponsored health care plans are less generous to families covering a member with a chronic illness than to families without a chronically ill member, according to a trio of university researchers. The difference is due primarily to higher out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs.

23 Nov 2011

Super committee ends work without a deal; Automatic cuts take effect in 2013

A special congressional committee created to try to curb the national debt abandoned its work and conceded failure Monday. ... Although Republicans offered to raise taxes by $300 billion over the next decade, they insisted on conditions that all but guaranteed that the wealthy would not be hit hard. And Democrats refused to agree to deep cuts in spending on health care for the poor and the elderly unless the rich were forced to make greater sacrifices.

23 Nov 2011

Person based resource allocation can predict future costs of general practices

A new formula that can predict future health costs more accurately than previous models could help guide commissioning budgets for general practices under the government's new Health Bill, finds a study published on bmj.com today.

23 Nov 2011

In Colo. and Mass., worries about health care impact of super committee's failure

"Uncertainty" was a word used repeatedly Monday by Colorado economists and industries in lamenting the failure of the congressional super committee ... Health care is another area with super committee consequences, resulting "in millions of dollars in reduced Medicare payments to Colorado providers for many years to come" by restricting access, Steven Summer, president of the Colorado Hospital Association, said in a statement.

23 Nov 2011

George W. Bush to travel to Africa to raise awareness about cervical, breast cancer

Former President George W. Bush will travel next month with former first lady Laura Bush and officials with the George W. Bush Institute to Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia "where they'll visit clinics and meet with governmental and health care leaders ... to raise awareness about cervical and breast cancer, an effort he calls a 'natural extension' of" the PEPFAR program launched during his presidency, the Associated Press reports.

23 Nov 2011

Partnerships, additional funding allow for expansion of PEPFAR to combat cervical cancer

In this post in the Public Health Institute's "Dialogue4Health" blog, Jeffrey Meer, director of PHI's Washington-based advocacy on global health, writes that "a significant expansion of PEPFAR's existing work to combat cervical cancer" through a partnership with the George W. Bush Institute known as Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon (PRRR); a 50 percent increase in the U.S. government's "commitment to screen and treat for this type of cancer from $20 million over five years to $30 million"; and additional funding from Susan G. Komen for the Cure "to expand breast cancer awareness and prevention among the same target population of women receiving care at PEPFAR-funded HIV service sites" has allowed "the wonderfully robust PEPFAR prevention and treatment platform, considered one of the great global health achievements in recent times, to be made available to a whole new type of prevention -- in this case for a non-communicable disease (NCD)."

23 Nov 2011

University of Liverpool introduces HEP i-chart for HCV patients

The University of Liverpool has launched an iphone app, HEP i-chart, that provides Hepatitis C (HCV) patients with quick and easy access to the latest information about drug interactions.

23 Nov 2011

IPS examines HIV in the Caribbean, highlights challenges in addressing at-risk populations

Inter Press Service examines HIV in the Caribbean, where "the HIV burden varies considerably among and within countries" in the region. "'I think the prevention programs in many countries are not reaching the right people,' Michel de Groulards, regional program adviser of the UNAIDS Caribbean Regional Support Team, told IPS," the news service writes, adding, "One factor, de Groulards believed, may be that after 25 years of providing treatment, some countries have reached a plateau.

23 Nov 2011

California providers sue over Medicaid rates; Texas weighs steep cuts for Medicaid rehab

The federal law extends Medicaid coverage to millions of Americans in 2014, including childless adults. But with permission – and dollars – from the federal government, California started the expansion early. ... Surprisingly though, the roll-out of what conservatives derisively call "Obamacare" has largely gone unnoticed in Bakersfield.

23 Nov 2011

New IOM report assesses breast cancer risk posed by environmental factors

Although women have little or no control over some of the risk factors for breast cancer, such as those related to aging and genetics, they may be able to reduce their chances for developing the disease by avoiding certain environmental risks. BREAST CANCER AND THE ENVIRONMENT: A LIFE COURSE APPROACH, a new report from the Institute of Medicine, assesses the breast cancer risk posed by various environmental factors, identifies actions that offer potential to reduce women's risk for the disease, and recommends targets for future research.

23 Nov 2011

Holiday health tips for cancer survivors

Surviving the holidays with one's waistline, bank account and sanity intact can be challenging for everyone, but the season affords specific pitfalls - and opportunities - for cancer survivors who are mindful of staying healthy throughout the season and beyond.

23 Nov 2011

Defending Washington's basic health plan; Questioning Wisconsin's proposed health care cuts

The Basic Health program has played an important role in extending the safety net to provide coverage to many low-income people who can't afford to purchase coverage on their own and don't qualify for Medicaid. It's much easier to retain an infrastructure than to build a new one from scratch. Simply put, leaving people without health insurance lengthens the recession and imposes costs on us all.

23 Nov 2011

Nine Heidelberg researchers receive European Research Council grants

In the framework of this year's round of the European Research Council's (ERC) competition for outstanding researchers, Heidelberg University has totted up a remarkable score.

23 Nov 2011

State roundup: Calif. retirees to retain health benefits; Emory, MinuteClinic partner in Ga.; Free services in Md.

Health benefits for government retirees may not be eliminated if state and local governments had clearly promised workers those benefits, the California Supreme Court ruled in an Orange County case Monday. The unanimous ruling is expected to make it more difficult for state and local governments to shave costs by cutting health benefits to retirees if elected officials in previous years made it clear that those benefits would last a lifetime.

23 Nov 2011

FSU professors available to provide perspective on fight against HIV/AIDS

As the world prepares to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, two Florida State University professors are available to provide perspective on the fight against HIV/AIDS.

22 Nov 2011

Victorian hospitals appeal against nurses’ protest action

Hospital administrators are planning to appeal to Fair Work Australia (FWA) today urging to change to the order aimed at stopping nurses' work bands. At present nurses are continuing to close hospital beds despite two directives from the industrial umpire.

22 Nov 2011

Number of annual polio cases in Nigeria quadruples; WHO, government working to vaccinate millions of children

Nigeria has reported 43 cases of polio so far this year, up from 11 cases in 2010, and the disease has spread to Niger, Mali, and Cote d'Ivoire, according to a WHO official, BBC News reports.

22 Nov 2011

Cognitive-behavioral therapy safe and effective for juvenile fibromyalgia

A recent trial shows cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) reduces functional disability and depressive symptoms in adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia. The psychological intervention was found to be safe and effective, and proved to be superior to disease management education.

22 Nov 2011

Healthcare News

Insurers fear consequences of individual mandate being struck down

Medicare to cover infusion costs for prostate cancer vaccine, company says

Families with chronically ill member less likely to benefit from employer-sponsored insurance

Super committee ends work without a deal; Automatic cuts take effect in 2013

Person based resource allocation can predict future costs of general practices

In Colo. and Mass., worries about health care impact of super committee's failure

George W. Bush to travel to Africa to raise awareness about cervical, breast cancer

Partnerships, additional funding allow for expansion of PEPFAR to combat cervical cancer

University of Liverpool introduces HEP i-chart for HCV patients

IPS examines HIV in the Caribbean, highlights challenges in addressing at-risk populations

California providers sue over Medicaid rates; Texas weighs steep cuts for Medicaid rehab

New IOM report assesses breast cancer risk posed by environmental factors

Holiday health tips for cancer survivors

Defending Washington's basic health plan; Questioning Wisconsin's proposed health care cuts

Nine Heidelberg researchers receive European Research Council grants

State roundup: Calif. retirees to retain health benefits; Emory, MinuteClinic partner in Ga.; Free services in Md.

FSU professors available to provide perspective on fight against HIV/AIDS

Victorian hospitals appeal against nurses’ protest action

Number of annual polio cases in Nigeria quadruples; WHO, government working to vaccinate millions of children

Cognitive-behavioral therapy safe and effective for juvenile fibromyalgia

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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