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New algorithm eliminates exposure to radiation when diagnosing children with acute appendicitis

Implementation of an algorithm aimed to diagnose pediatric patients with suspected appendicitis reduces the utilization of computed tomography (CT) scans, without affecting diagnostic accuracy, Mayo Clinic Children's Center researchers have found. The study was recently published in the journal Surgery.

1 Aug 2014

Medical education in sub-Saharan Africa is being revitalized through U.S. funded effort

Medical education in sub-Saharan Africa is being revitalized and expanded through a U.S.-funded effort that is dramatically increasing enrollment, broadening curricula, upgrading Internet access and providing cutting-edge skills labs and other technologies.

1 Aug 2014

Viewpoints: GOP lawsuit against Obama on health law is not a 'stunt'; 'wisdom' lacking in the House; the danger of cyberattacks on hospitals

"So sue me" is President Obama's message to Congress. And on Wednesday the House of Representatives took up his taunt, authorizing a lawsuit to challenge the president's failure to faithfully execute provisions of the Affordable Care Act as passed by Congress. The House lawsuit is no "stunt," as Mr. Obama has characterized it.

1 Aug 2014

Birth control pills may increase risk for breast cancer

Women who recently used birth control pills containing high-dose estrogen and a few other formulations had an increased risk for breast cancer, whereas women using some other formulations did not, according to data published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

1 Aug 2014

State highlights: Maryland's top health official leaving for Johns Hopkins; Minnesota lawmakers to propose legislation to require contraception coverage

Maryland's top health official, Joshua M. Sharfstein, announced Wednesday that he will leave at the end of Gov. Martin O'Malley's term in January to become an associate dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Johnson, 7/30).

1 Aug 2014

Longer looks: Pittsburgh's 'frayed safety net'; feeding hungry kids in the summer; curing cancer

More than a quarter of the hospitals in the Pittsburgh area closed in the first decade of the 21s century, drastically reducing the amount of charitable care available to the poor.

1 Aug 2014

Minn. exchange will add $3.16 million for repairs; Cover Oregon's problems lead to political casualties

News outlets report on developments regarding state online insurance marketplaces.

1 Aug 2014

InformedDNA reaches $4.5 million funding agreement with Zaffre Investments

InformedDNA, a leading provider of Genetic Benefits Management and the largest independent network of genetic specialists in the U.S., announced today that it has reached a $4.5 million funding agreement with Zaffre Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

31 Jul 2014

Oral wellness can help save money

The American Journal of Preventive Medicine recently published a study from United Concordia Dental that shows reduced hospitalizations and health care costs are possible when individuals with certain chronic conditions, or who are pregnant receive and maintain treatment for gum disease.

31 Jul 2014

House authorizes Boehner to proceed with lawsuit against President Obama

The House voted mostly along party lines to proceed with the lawsuit against President Barack Obama. The legal challenge, which focuses on last year's White House decision to delay the employer mandate, alleges that the president's use of executive power is unconstitutional.

31 Jul 2014

House approves sweeping overhaul of vets' health care system

The chamber passed the $16.3 billion measure 420 to 5, and it is expected to clear the Senate by the end of the day Thursday.

31 Jul 2014

IOM report calling medical education reform could set up major battle over funding

The report, which says the $15 billion spent annually to train doctors is failing, could lead to congressional battles and rivalries among doctors' groups.

31 Jul 2014

Hospital 'observation stays' scrutinized by Senate Aging Committee

Meanwhile, on the House side, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation that would allow people with group health insurance to keep policies that don't conform to the health law's standards.

31 Jul 2014

GAO report: Poor planning and contractor oversight led to Healthcare.gov woes

The government watchdog organization also found that more problems could emerge in the upcoming enrollment season. Investigators suggested implementation of a cost-control plan and improved oversight procedures, among other steps.

31 Jul 2014

Few states plan to extend Medicaid pay raise for primary care docs

The Government Accountability Office examines Medicaid's supplemental payments to hospitals and health care providers.

31 Jul 2014

Cigna's quarterly earnings up

Gains driven largely by global benefits operation after Cigna reported earlier that its business on the health law marketplaces was soft. News outlets also examine Humana and WellPoint's earnings.

31 Jul 2014

Household income plays key role in avoidable hospital visits across New Jersey

The household income of its residents is the most important factor in whether a community has high or low rates of avoidable hospital visits - conditions that could be better managed in a doctor's office or other health care settings if treated at an early stage, according to a report released today by the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy (CSHP).

31 Jul 2014

Findings underscore the importance of prenatal health care, postnatal breastfeeding

Young adults who were breastfed for three months or more as babies have a significantly lower risk of chronic inflammation associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, according to research from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.

31 Jul 2014

State highlights: New York state faces $1.3B Medicaid payback problem while Mayor De Blasio advances plan to reduce city employees' health costs

When Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his first labor agreements with New York City unions this spring, he was sharply criticized for granting long-awaited wage increases in exchange for promises of unspecified though sizable savings on health care expenses (Greenhouse and Stewart, 7/29).

31 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 31, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the possible hazards that the future might hold for healthcare.gov.

31 Jul 2014

Health Care News and Research

New algorithm eliminates exposure to radiation when diagnosing children with acute appendicitis

Medical education in sub-Saharan Africa is being revitalized through U.S. funded effort

Viewpoints: GOP lawsuit against Obama on health law is not a 'stunt'; 'wisdom' lacking in the House; the danger of cyberattacks on hospitals

Birth control pills may increase risk for breast cancer

State highlights: Maryland's top health official leaving for Johns Hopkins; Minnesota lawmakers to propose legislation to require contraception coverage

Longer looks: Pittsburgh's 'frayed safety net'; feeding hungry kids in the summer; curing cancer

Minn. exchange will add $3.16 million for repairs; Cover Oregon's problems lead to political casualties

InformedDNA reaches $4.5 million funding agreement with Zaffre Investments

Oral wellness can help save money

House authorizes Boehner to proceed with lawsuit against President Obama

House approves sweeping overhaul of vets' health care system

IOM report calling medical education reform could set up major battle over funding

Hospital 'observation stays' scrutinized by Senate Aging Committee

GAO report: Poor planning and contractor oversight led to Healthcare.gov woes

Few states plan to extend Medicaid pay raise for primary care docs

Cigna's quarterly earnings up

Household income plays key role in avoidable hospital visits across New Jersey

Findings underscore the importance of prenatal health care, postnatal breastfeeding

State highlights: New York state faces $1.3B Medicaid payback problem while Mayor De Blasio advances plan to reduce city employees' health costs

First Edition: July 31, 2014

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