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Greater clarity on legal implications of testing incapacitated patients for blood-borne viruses needed

Anaesthetists are calling for greater clarity on the legal implications of testing incapacitated patients for blood-borne viruses, after a survey found that this is often done following staff needlestick injuries, in possible breach of UK legislation.

31 Aug 2010

Record number taking anti-poverty programs, COBRA coverage alternatives examined

One in six Americans is now taking advantage of government anti-poverty programs, including more than 50 million on Medicaid, for which enrollment is up 17 percent since the recession began in December 2007, USA Today reports. "The program has grown even before the new health care law adds about 16 million people, beginning in 2014. That has strained doctors. … As caseloads for all the programs have soared, so have costs. The federal price tag for Medicaid has jumped 36% in two years, to $273 billion. Jobless benefits have soared from $43 billion to $160 billion.

30 Aug 2010

Also in Global Health News: GM mosquitoes; Iodine deficiency in Nepal; South African health workers strike; Novartis to build vaccine plant in Brazil; Population control in Niger

Malaysia is still "considering releasing" up to 3,000 mosquitoes that are genetically modified to "combat dengue fever, in a landmark field trial that has come in for criticism from environmentalists," Agence France-Presse reports. The insects are modified "so that their offspring quickly die," which researchers hope will cull the population and lessen the risk of dengue.

30 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The costs of public employees' health benefits, more on Medicare Advantage, and will reform undermine medical innovation?

We want to spend just a little less, so that we have more money for other purposes. And we want to spend just a little differently, so that we're getting a higher quality, more humane health care system (Jonathan Cohn, 8/30).

30 Aug 2010

Some small businesses look forward to health care tax credits

Word of new tax credits for some small businesses continued to make the rounds in news reports this weekend, as business owners seek to make sense of it details.

30 Aug 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

"[N]ew diagnostic techniques [for tuberculosis] need to be studied in children," according to a Lancet Infectious Diseases Reflection. "Tuberculosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide, but estimates of disease burden are inaccurate because most cases are not confirmed," the author writes. He discusses a study published in the same issue that examines various methods for diagnosing TB in children.

27 Aug 2010

Coke employees protest cancellation of employee health benefits without prior notification

Striking Coke employees and supporters will converge on the Sounders game at Qwest field on Saturday to inform fans about Coke's attack on employee health care. Coke cancelled health care for 500 of its employees without prior notification, after employees went on strike over the Company's refusal to bargain in good faith.

27 Aug 2010

Ants use antibiotics to inhibit growth of unwanted fungi, bacteria

Research led by Dr Matt Hutchings and published today in the journal BMC Biology shows that ants use the antibiotics to inhibit the growth of unwanted fungi and bacteria in their fungus cultures which they use to feed their larvae and queen.

27 Aug 2010

Exposing victimized children to disaster increases emotional, behavioral problems: Study

A new national study not only has confirmed that children who have been exposed to disasters from earthquakes to fires are more prone to emotional problems, but many of those children may already have been experiencing maltreatment, domestic abuse or peer violence that could exacerbate those issues.

27 Aug 2010

Aon Consulting survey finds increase in monthly COBRA contributions for terminated employees

As the national unemployment rate continues to hover around 10 percent, health care costs for those jobless Americans have seen a year-over-year increase, according to Aon Consulting, the global benefits and human capital consulting business of Aon Corporation.

26 Aug 2010

N.C. Dept. of Corrections could cut inmate health care costs by requiring hospitals to bill Medicaid; Minn. lawmakers urge governor to seek enhanced Medicaid funds

WRAL: "The [N.C.] state Department of Correction could cut the health costs for inmates by $11.5 million a year by requiring hospitals and other medical service providers to bill Medicaid for eligible expenses, according to a state audit released Tuesday. The amount of potential savings would increase in 2014, when health care reform expands Medicaid eligibility, auditors said.

26 Aug 2010

Data shows street outreach workers are effective in preventing youth violence

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy describes how using street outreach workers is an effective strategy to reach and engage youth with the goal of violence prevention and intervention.

21 Aug 2010

Positron signs agreement with Covidien for automated compounding of radiopharmaceuticals

Positron Corporation, announced it has signed an agreement with Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, under which Covidien will provide technical assistance to Positron in connection with Positron's development of technology to automate the compounding of radiopharmaceuticals.

20 Aug 2010

Study outlines recommendations for prevention, management of health epidemics

A new study reveals that the oil and gas industry supply chain which includes oil companies, contractors and sub-contractors does not perceive the full extent of the risks that HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria pose to its workforce, productivity and profitability. The study conducted by management consulting firm Booz & Company in partnership the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) outlines why the oil and gas industry should improve its understanding of the hazards posed by these three epidemics and makes ten recommendations for how to make health a priority.

19 Aug 2010

Insurers, small businesses and ER care all affected by overhaul

News outlets consider the impact of health reform on insurers — who are seeking flexibility on mandates — as well as changes to premiums, small businesses and emergency room care.

13 Aug 2010

Survey finds high level of noncompliance with PPE protocols among safety professionals

Nearly all of the safety professionals in a survey released today said that workers in their organizations had at some point failed to wear the necessary safety equipment while on the job. An exceedingly high 98 percent of respondents who attended the recent American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) show in Baltimore answered "yes" when asked if they had observed workers not wearing safety equipment when they should have been, according to the survey, which was conducted by Kimberly-Clark Professional.

12 Aug 2010

HSA urges Vancouver General Hospital to maintain outpatient Domestic Violence Program

Less than a week after a sudden announcement to emergency room staff, Vancouver General Hospital has already begun dismantling a much-needed Domestic Violence Program that has been serving the community for 18 years.

10 Aug 2010

DOJ likely to intervene in St. Jude heart device kickback lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice may intervene in a lawsuit against heart-device maker St. Jude Medical Inc. after allegations the company used medical studies to "pay kickbacks and boost product usage," The Wall Street Journal reports. "The U.S. Attorney's office in Boston launched an industry-wide probe nearly five years ago into whether makers of pacemakers and defibrillators were making improper payments to doctors.

10 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 9, 2010

Today's health policy headlines include dispatches from the campaign trail, news of the President's weekly address and developments from the health care marketplace.

9 Aug 2010

The Biggest Loser, Active.com announce launch of The Biggest Loser Event Challenge

NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and The Active Network, Inc.'s flagship website Active.com today announced the launch of The Biggest Loser Event Challenge, powered by Active.com, a series of nationwide 5K and one mile events designed to inspire Americans of all fitness levels to get moving with others.

7 Aug 2010

Worker News and Research

Greater clarity on legal implications of testing incapacitated patients for blood-borne viruses needed

Record number taking anti-poverty programs, COBRA coverage alternatives examined

Also in Global Health News: GM mosquitoes; Iodine deficiency in Nepal; South African health workers strike; Novartis to build vaccine plant in Brazil; Population control in Niger

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The costs of public employees' health benefits, more on Medicare Advantage, and will reform undermine medical innovation?

Some small businesses look forward to health care tax credits

Recent releases in Global Health

Coke employees protest cancellation of employee health benefits without prior notification

Ants use antibiotics to inhibit growth of unwanted fungi, bacteria

Exposing victimized children to disaster increases emotional, behavioral problems: Study

Aon Consulting survey finds increase in monthly COBRA contributions for terminated employees

N.C. Dept. of Corrections could cut inmate health care costs by requiring hospitals to bill Medicaid; Minn. lawmakers urge governor to seek enhanced Medicaid funds

Data shows street outreach workers are effective in preventing youth violence

Positron signs agreement with Covidien for automated compounding of radiopharmaceuticals

Study outlines recommendations for prevention, management of health epidemics

Insurers, small businesses and ER care all affected by overhaul

Survey finds high level of noncompliance with PPE protocols among safety professionals

HSA urges Vancouver General Hospital to maintain outpatient Domestic Violence Program

DOJ likely to intervene in St. Jude heart device kickback lawsuit

First Edition: August 9, 2010

The Biggest Loser, Active.com announce launch of The Biggest Loser Event Challenge

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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