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Weighing the cost and benefits of screenings and MRIs

The New York Times offers two stories examining medical advances for determining disease and injuries and whether that has improved health or just increased health costs.

31 Oct 2011

ZAMSTAR project reduces prevalence of tuberculosis by 22%

The results of a large-scale community-randomized trial presented at the 42nd World Conference on Lung Health in Lille, France today show that the Zambia-South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction (ZAMSTAR) project reduced the prevalence of tuberculosis by 22%.

31 Oct 2011

Commuting by car or public transport associated with negative effects on health

A mobile workforce can help improve a country's economy but the health of effects of commuting on the commuters and on the costs to industry in terms of sick days is largely unknown. From a commuter's point of view, the advantages of daily travel, such as a better paid job or better housing conditions, need to be weighed against adverse health effects.

31 Oct 2011

Smart City-Smart Village initiative to improve health and wellbeing of Rakyat

Sustainable, high-value and inclusive projects under the Smart City-Smart Village initiative of Malaysia's recently-formed Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) were identified by leaders of international and local companies convened Oct. 27-28 in Kuala Lumpur.

29 Oct 2011

Federal officials approve Calif. cuts in Medicaid

Gov. Jerry Brown sought the waiver from the Obama administration to reduce reimbursements to doctors, pharmacies, nursing homes and other providers by 10 percent.

29 Oct 2011

USAID celebrates 50 years of partnership with Kenya

This post in USAID's "IMPACTblog" -- the third of a four-part series on USAID's partnership with Kenya -- reports on how "USAID's health and population program ... works with partners in Kenya to bring health workers directly to the communities. These health workers provide information and care through HIV/AIDS and malaria programs, as well as work with community religious leaders to discuss family planning."

29 Oct 2011

NTDs among America's poor populations must be addressed

"The number of Americans living in poverty is at an all-time high, with close to 50 million people living below the poverty line," therefore "we desperately need a national dialogue about the unique afflictions of the bottom 50 million, paying particular attention to their neglected tropical diseases, which represent important stealth reasons trapping them in a vicious cycle of poverty," Peter Hotez, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, writes in an Austin-American Statesman opinion piece.

29 Oct 2011

Book discusses how America can solve its weight problems without government intrusion

America's emerging "fat war" threatens to pit a shrinking population of trim Americans against an expanding population of heavy Americans in raging policy debates over "fat taxes" and "fat bans." These "fat policies" would be designed to constrain what people eat and drink - and theoretically crimp the growth in Americans' waistlines and in the country's healthcare costs.

29 Oct 2011

Political cartoon: 'Magic Revolving Door'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh perspective on health policy news with "Magic Revolving Door" by Matt Wuerker.

29 Oct 2011

First study to evaluate primary care usage in ethnic group of diabetes patients

Ethnic differences in appointment keeping may be an important factor in poor health outcomes among some minority patients with diabetes, according to a new study.

29 Oct 2011

'Heroes of Hope Race for Brain Tumor Research' event to be held on Nov. 6

Veronica Cappalonga, 28, knows a lot about living with cancer. Diagnosed at age 6 with leukemia and at 22 with a malignant brain tumor, the Los Angeles (Mar Vista area) resident will walk in the Nov. 6 Heroes of Hope Race for Brain Tumor Research - not only to help fundraise, but also to show that survivors can fight these diseases with dignity.

29 Oct 2011

Medicare 2012 Part B premiums will be lower than expected

The Obama administration cheered the news regarding the cost of Part B premiums in part because it could give a political boost to President Barack Obama's popularity among older voters.

29 Oct 2011

Study explores how physicians describe their language skills

Communicating with patients who do not speak English is a challenge facing all health care providers. New research shows that even those physicians who say they are fluent in a second language may be overestimating their actual skills.

29 Oct 2011

Twelve students participate in Hartford Doctoral Fellows Program in Geriatric Social Work

Twelve outstanding students have been chosen as the newest participants in the Hartford Doctoral Fellows Program in Geriatric Social Work. The program is funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation, administered by The Gerontological Society of America, and directed by James Lubben, DSW, MPH.

29 Oct 2011

Feds make arrests in $18 million Medicare and Medicaid scam

The alleged fraud was based on an "elaborate" prescription drug scheme that involved a physician, a pharmacist and 15 others and included the recruitment of veterans, homeless people, poor people and the elderly.

29 Oct 2011

Mount Sinai co-sponsors 'The Impact and Future of Medical School Rankings' summit

A panel of prominent medical school deans from across the country convened yesterday in New York City to discuss the future of annual medical school rankings issued by U.S. News & World Report, which are now celebrating their 20th anniversary.

29 Oct 2011

VUMC doctors to begin statin drug screening for rare genetic variation

Vanderbilt University Medical Center doctors announced today they will begin screening patients who take commonly prescribed statin drugs for a rare genetic variation that can increase risks for side effects from these drugs such as muscle aches, kidney damage and even death.

29 Oct 2011

State highlights: Wash. Gov. announces more budget cuts

For the fourth year in a row, Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday outlined more than $1.5 billion in state cuts to health care, social services, prisons and education.The latest round would increase public-school class sizes, eliminate subsidized health care for the working poor and release hundreds of inmates early…. The state's Basic Health Plan would close, ending state-subsidized insurance for about 35,000 low-income people.

29 Oct 2011

Reducing elderly patients' mobility does not prevent hospital falls

In 2008, as part of a larger initiative aimed at reducing preventable hospital errors and lowering costs, Medicare stopped reimbursing for the treatment of injuries related to in-hospital falls.

29 Oct 2011

New KFF poll finds dwindling Democratic support for health law

The overhaul's popularity reached an all-time low this month, a change that was driven by eroding confidence among Democrats, according to a new poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

29 Oct 2011