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Utah's Medicaid efforts may pave route for other red states

Gov. Gary Herbert and aides have been meeting with federal officials to find a different option. Meanwhile, news outlets look at the Medicaid expansion battles in Virginia and Florida and Republican concerns in Illinois.

1 Apr 2014

NCCN ORP awarded grant to study effectiveness of enzalutamide in solid tumors

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Research Program has been awarded a $2.2-million grant from Astellas Pharma, Inc. and Medivation, Inc. to develop a program to scientifically evaluate and define the clinical effectiveness of enzalutamide in solid tumors, including bladder, breast, endometrial, hepatocellular, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

1 Apr 2014

Assessing the possible impact of Obamacare on Nov. elections

A variety of news organizations analyzed what might happen in the fall, because of political campaigns built around the health law.

1 Apr 2014

L.A. Times: More than 9 million uninsured gain coverage

The newspaper's tally draws on state and federal enrollment reports, surveys by consultants and interviews with insurance and government officials. Meanwhile, insurers and others intensify efforts to sign up young customers.

1 Apr 2014

Patients with autoimmune disease have 3.8-fold increased risk of developing epilepsy

Patients with an autoimmune disease have a 3.8-fold increased risk of developing epilepsy, according to a new population-level study from Boston Children's Hospital based on health insurance claim data.

1 Apr 2014

Heparin proves effective than bivalirudin in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention after heart attack

In a comparison of two blood-thinning medications, heparin was associated with significantly fewer major cardiovascular events at 28 days than bivalirudin in patients receiving primary percutaneous coronary intervention after a heart attack, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session.

1 Apr 2014

Mobile phones with tobacco screening guidelines offer cessation counseling

Smartphones and tablets may hold the key to getting more clinicians to screen patients for tobacco use and advise smokers on how to quit. Even though tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the U.S., clinicians often don't ask about smoking during patient exams.

1 Apr 2014

Looking ahead at health law milestones

With open enrollment for 2014 set to formally close today, analysts note that it will take years to assess whether the health law succeeds at creating stable markets for those without employer-sponsored insurance. Several look at likely victories and hurdles.

1 Apr 2014

Full-field digital mammography associated with lower recall and biopsy rates, says study

Population-based screening with full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is associated with lower recall and biopsy rates than screen film mammography (SFM), suggesting that FFDM may reduce the number of diagnostic workups and biopsies that do not lead to diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

1 Apr 2014

Veterans struggle with mental health problems

More than half of the 2.6 million Iraq and Afghanistan veterans say they struggle with physical or mental health problems as a result of their service and feel detached from civilian life, according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

1 Apr 2014

Men with long-term HIV infections at higher risk of developing plaque in their coronary arteries

Men with long-term HIV infections are at higher risk than uninfected men of developing plaque in their coronary arteries, regardless of their other risk factors for coronary artery disease, according to results of a study led by Johns Hopkins researchers. A report on the research appears in the April 1 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine.

1 Apr 2014

Health care spending growth hits decade high

In other news, health care stocks have emerged as robust gainers in a resilient U.S. stock market.

1 Apr 2014

Americans' experience with health law depends on where they live

Some states that embraced the law, like Oregon, have had difficulty enrolling residents because of glitch-ridden online marketplaces, while others like New Hampshire have seen unexpectedly strong enrollments despite prevailing critical views.

31 Mar 2014

Artists benefit from health law, but rural residents may pay more

Self-employed Americans such as artists stand to gain under the health law, but rural residents may pay more for coverage because of the higher costs of delivering care in a sparsely populated area and the disproportionate number of older people. Other media outlets offer advice for consumers trying to make sense of the law.

31 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 31, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations offer assessments of the administration's campaign to get people signed up for health care and a look at the issues going forward after today's deadline for most enrollments.

31 Mar 2014

Pfizer issues statement on FDA approval of non-prescription drug, Nexium 24HR

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved over-the-counter Nexium® 24HR (esomeprazole 20mg) marking a key step towards providing those who suffer from frequent heartburn broader access to a brand doctors and patients have trusted for years.

31 Mar 2014

Coventry First commends passage of Kentucky Legislation

The Kentucky legislature unanimously passed landmark legislation to help seniors pay for long term care. The legislation enables seniors to pay for their long term care by selling their life insurance policies for as much as 10 times more than the cash surrender value and applying those proceeds toward their long term care.

31 Mar 2014

Otsuka acquires rights to develop and sell Eisai’s DACOGEN in the US, Canada and Japan

Eisai Inc., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., today announced the sale and assignment of its rights to a worldwide exclusive license for DACOGEN® (decitabine) for Injection to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., giving Otsuka full development and commercialization rights for the product in the former Eisai territories of the United States, Canada and Japan.

31 Mar 2014

Diabetic Ketoacidosis is disproportionately high among youth

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening but preventable condition, remains an important problem for youth with diabetes and their families. Diabetic ketoacidosis is due to a severe lack of insulin and it is often the presenting symptom of type 1 diabetes. It can also be present at the onset of type 2 diabetes.

31 Mar 2014

MADIT-CRT study: Boston Scientific CRT defibrillator reduces risk of death in mild heart failure patients

In the longest follow-up to date of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for mild heart failure patients, Boston Scientific Corporation's exclusively sponsored and landmark Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial – Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (MADIT-CRT) study demonstrated significant and sustained survival benefit for the indicated population.

31 Mar 2014