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State highlights: N.C. lawmakers reach Medicaid agreement; Idaho asks SCOTUS to take up Medicaid reimbursement

For the past few weeks, two big issues have kept the two chambers of the General Assembly from reaching an agreement on next year's state budget: teacher salaries and Medicaid. But on Wednesday, the Senate and the House of Representatives finally moved closer to agreement on their Medicaid forecasts, loosening a logjam that's kept legislators in Raleigh past July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year (Hoban, 7/3).

4 Jul 2014

Researchers identify pathogenic mechanism common to several neurodegenerative diseases

An international team of researchers identified a pathogenic mechanism that is common to several neurodegenerative diseases. The findings suggest that it may be possible to slow the progression of dementia even after the onset of symptoms.

4 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

The Supreme Court wasted no time in delivering a message to anyone who thought its Hobby Lobby ruling was limited to religious objections to coverage of purported abortion methods: You're wrong.

4 Jul 2014

Women veterans support routine IPV screening, IPV-related care within VHA

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant health issue faced by women veterans, but little has been known up until now about their preferences for IPV-related care. A new study has found that most of these women support routine screening for IPV and want options, follow-up support, transparent documentation and Veterans Health Administration and community resources.

4 Jul 2014

Nine of 10 Obamacare applications with subsidy inconsistencies have yet to be resolved

The inspector general report details the government isn't quite sure how to fix the problem. In the meantime, a new health startup looks to cash in on helping companies enroll low-wage earners in Medicaid instead of company plans.

4 Jul 2014

Multicenter trial aims to find safety, effectiveness of probiotics in infants with stomach flu

Consumers worldwide spend billions of dollars each year on probiotic foods and supplements. But studies evaluating probiotics - microorganisms believed to aid digestive health - have been limited.

4 Jul 2014

NIH expands effort to diagnose misunderstood disorders

The agency announces $43 million for its Undiagnosed Disease Network, which by the summer of 2017 is expected to enroll at least 300 new patients with mysterious and intractable conditions per year. Meanwhile, online ER booking in California is the latest example of how hospitals are attempting to compete with one another.

4 Jul 2014

Medicare proposes to slightly raise kidney care payments

The CMS is proposing changes to payment policies for the treatment of end-stage renal disease that the agency estimates would increase payments by about 0.3 percent, or $30 million, in 2015.

4 Jul 2014

VA's medical inspector steps down

Dr. John Pierce, the director of the VA's medical inspector office, had served in that role since 2004, and is the fifth senior official at the VA to step down during the past six weeks. Also, stories look at how lawmakers are trying to reform the VA, and just why the VA was developed 100 years ago.

4 Jul 2014

Pneumonia patients treated with azithromycin face lower risk of death, slightly increased risk of heart attack

In a study that included nearly 65,000 older patients hospitalized with pneumonia, treatment that included azithromycin compared with other antibiotics was associated with a significantly lower risk of death and a slightly increased risk of heart attack, according to a study in the June 4 issue of JAMA.

4 Jul 2014

N.Y., Colo. insurers seek large 2015 premium increases; Ga. sees drop in rates

In New York, insurer requests for rate increases on the health law's exchange averaged 13 percent, while Denver Health is asking state regulators for a 17.5 percent hike next year. Georgia has a different story: Two companies are planning to enter the exchange next year and Blue Cross, the only statewide plan on the exchange this year, says it will drop rates by 7 percent.

4 Jul 2014

Promising new drug for metabolic syndrome

University of Utah researchers have discovered that an enzyme involved in intracellular signaling plays a crucial role in developing metabolic syndrome, a finding that has a U of U spinoff company developing a drug to potentially treat the condition.

4 Jul 2014

Health law still looms as issue in midterms

Nearly seven in 10 adults say their view of the health law will factor in their congressional voting decisions this fall, a new Bankrate.com survey finds. Other stories look at positions staked out by candidates in Tennessee, Kansas and Oregon.

4 Jul 2014

Digital mammograms may not be better at diagnosing older women, study finds

The Yale review adds to the mixed report card on digital mammography, reports NPR. Meanwhile, big increases in vaccination prices are straining public health budgets and creating dilemmas for some doctors, finds The New York Times.

4 Jul 2014

Administration cites Hobby Lobby ruling in response to challenge by religious nonprofits

The Obama administration cites the Supreme Court's opinion Wednesday to buttress its claim it has offered religious nonprofits an acceptable compromise to the health law's contraceptive coverage mandate. Meanwhile, House Democrats craft legislation that would bar for-profit companies from denying birth control coverage to their employees.

4 Jul 2014

First Edition: July 3,2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including more analysis of the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision and concerns in New York about significant insurance rate increases for 2015.

3 Jul 2014

State highlights: Ore. mediation for medical errors; Mich. home-help aides

A mediation program spearheaded by Gov. John Kitzhaber went into effect Tuesday, giving patients and their families an option besides suing when medical errors happen. But questions remain over how the mediation program will develop, including whether hospitals, doctors and other providers will take advantage of the program, or candidly discuss errors if they do. The result of a compromise between trial lawyers and the Oregon Medical Association approved in SB 483 last year, the Early Discussion and Resolution program is intended to cut down on lawsuits and boost the reporting of medical errors to help improve health care practices (Budnick, 7/1).

3 Jul 2014

Viewpoints: Court complicates women's health care; decouple work and coverage; Cuomo's fight against AIDS

The 5-4 decision, which runs 89 pages (including a 35-page dissent), is a messy, sprawling affair. The majority insists that its reach is narrow, while the dissent holds otherwise. What's clear is that the ruling will needlessly complicate not only constitutional and corporate law but also -- at least as significant -- health care for women who work at such companies (6/30).

3 Jul 2014

UCB, Dermira enter into licensing agreement for development, commercialization of Cimzia

UCB, a global biopharmaceutical leader, and Dermira, Inc., a privately held US-based dermatology company, announced today that they have entered into an exclusive licensing agreement for the development and future commercialization of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) in dermatology.

3 Jul 2014

Hobby Lobby ruling creates uncertainty about contraceptive mandate

The options the Supreme Court floated to extend coverage to women who work for closely held companies that object to covering contraception are opposed by some religious groups and women's rights groups. The compromise involves passing responsibility to an insurer.

3 Jul 2014

Health Care News and Research

State highlights: N.C. lawmakers reach Medicaid agreement; Idaho asks SCOTUS to take up Medicaid reimbursement

Researchers identify pathogenic mechanism common to several neurodegenerative diseases

Viewpoints: Expanding Hobby Lobby decision; the faux war on women; dispute over pelvic exams

Women veterans support routine IPV screening, IPV-related care within VHA

Nine of 10 Obamacare applications with subsidy inconsistencies have yet to be resolved

Multicenter trial aims to find safety, effectiveness of probiotics in infants with stomach flu

NIH expands effort to diagnose misunderstood disorders

Medicare proposes to slightly raise kidney care payments

VA's medical inspector steps down

Pneumonia patients treated with azithromycin face lower risk of death, slightly increased risk of heart attack

N.Y., Colo. insurers seek large 2015 premium increases; Ga. sees drop in rates

Promising new drug for metabolic syndrome

Health law still looms as issue in midterms

Digital mammograms may not be better at diagnosing older women, study finds

Administration cites Hobby Lobby ruling in response to challenge by religious nonprofits

First Edition: July 3,2014

State highlights: Ore. mediation for medical errors; Mich. home-help aides

Viewpoints: Court complicates women's health care; decouple work and coverage; Cuomo's fight against AIDS

UCB, Dermira enter into licensing agreement for development, commercialization of Cimzia

Hobby Lobby ruling creates uncertainty about contraceptive mandate

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