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First Edition: September 11, 2013

Today's headlines include reports that some House GOP lawmakers are taking a hard line against funding for the health law in the ongoing debate about raising the nation's debt limit.

11 Sep 2013

Financial incentives on hypertension care shows increased blood pressure control

In an examination of the effect of financial incentives on hypertension care at 12 outpatient clinics, physician-level (individual) financial incentives, but not practice-level or combined incentives, resulted in greater blood pressure control or appropriate response to uncontrolled blood pressure, according to a study in the September 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Sep 2013

New types of choices, expertise add value to idea of 'aging in place'

Amy Goyer, the home and family expert at AARP, recommends that a geriatric case manager, social worker or other professional analyze the older person's needs to find the best option.

11 Sep 2013

State highlights: Texas Gov. Perry touts tort reform; Calif. lawmakers want to pass 100 bills per day

A measles outbreak in a vaccination-wary North Texas megachurch and soaring rates of whooping cough across the state are drawing renewed calls for immunization legislation, which some lawmakers and medical professionals argue would help the state prevent public health crises (Aaronson, 9/10).

11 Sep 2013

Study shows huge cost implications in getting injured patients to appropriate trauma hospitals

During a three-year period in seven metropolitan areas in the western United States, the emergency medical services system sent more than 85,000 injured patients to major trauma hospitals who didn't need to go there - costing the health care system more than $130 million per year, according to an Oregon Health & Science University study published today in the journal Health Affairs.

11 Sep 2013

Jersey Shore University Medical Center doctors receive volunteer faculty awards from Rutgers RWJMS

Jersey Shore University Medical Center physicians Glenn S. Parker, M.D., FACS, interim chief of Surgery; Stacy Doumas, M.D., Psychiatry; and Meghan Rattigan, D.O., Obstetrics and Gynecology, recently received volunteer faculty awards from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

11 Sep 2013

The health law could add an extra pinch at tax time for some consumers

The Wall Street Journal reports that some people who receive government help to buy coverage could find they owe Uncle Sam money at tax time. Meanwhile, a new online poll conducted by Reuters/Ipsos examines the question of whether young, unisured people will buy into the health law's new insurance offerings.

11 Sep 2013

Accuracy of diagnoses does not differ between simple and complex multitasking conditions

Physicians may be able to complete simple tasks concurrently while diagnosing a patient without affecting the accuracy or speed of diagnoses, human factors researchers have suggested, based on the findings of a recent laboratory experiment.

11 Sep 2013

'Pay for performance' programs focus on high quality care delivery

Paying doctors for how they perform specific medical procedures and examinations yields better health outcomes than the traditional "fee for service" model, where everyone gets paid a set amount regardless of quality or patient outcomes, according to new research conducted by UC San Francisco and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

11 Sep 2013

GOP readies plan to fund gov't, force Dems to vote on defunding Obamacare

House Republicans are planning to help pass a stopgap measure funding the federal government, but they also plan to force Democrats in the Senate to vote on defunding the health law in the process.

11 Sep 2013

House to consider measure to hold Obamacare exchange subsidies until applicants' income is verified

In other news on Capitol Hill: Sen. McConnell's close ties to Humana are examined, the Senate eyes legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration greater oversight of compounding pharmacies, and Republican lawmakers are questioning Obamacare's hiring practices.

11 Sep 2013

Screening of growth disorders using EHR system linked with higher rate of detection in kids

"Monitoring of linear growth is a well-established part of pediatric health care in the developed world. Although monitoring aims to support early diagnosis and timely treatment of disorders affecting growth, such disorders are often diagnosed late," write Ulla Sankilampi, M.D., Ph.D., of Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland, and colleagues.

11 Sep 2013

New bill allows Californians to directly access physical therapist services

California's Senate passed AB 1000 (Wieckowski/Maienschein) to allow Californians to directly access physical therapist services. The bill passed off the Senate Floor and now goes back to the Assembly to approve amendments before heading to the Governor's desk.

11 Sep 2013

Health exchanges will help some retirees bridge the Medicare gap

The New York Times reports on how the health law may assist some retired people who do not yet qualify for Medicare obtain affordable health insurance. In addition, Kaiser Health News details how the health law does and does not intersect with Medicare.

11 Sep 2013

Health law fact-checking and helpful hints

News outlets examine claims about the health law, including the "five top myths that refuse to die." They also provide consumer information about the next stage of implementation -- the open enrollment period that begins Oct. 1 for online insurance marketplaces in every state.

11 Sep 2013

Experts to develop internet-based platform that links health data with environment, climatic factors

Experts from the University of Exeter, the Met Office, Public Health England, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and University of Bristol will be involved in the project which, over three years, will develop an internet-based platform that will link health data with information on the environment and climate.

11 Sep 2013

US cancer care system in crisis

Delivery of cancer care in the U.S. is facing a crisis stemming from a combination of factors -- a growing demand for such care, a shrinking oncology work force, rising costs of cancer care, and the complexity of the disease and its treatment, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

11 Sep 2013

New strategy to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections

Simply replacing the connector in the IV system in patients with central lines could help reduce deadly bloodstream infections, researchers at Georgia Regents University have found.

11 Sep 2013

New Medicaid enrollees under health law more likely to be younger, healthier

States expanding Medicaid under Obamacare are likely to see more people who are healthier, thinner, white and male, according to a study in the Annals of Family Medicine. Another Health Affairs study finds the expansion could pay for health care for the chronically homeless, thereby saving money for states and local governments.

11 Sep 2013

Safety labeling changes announced for extended-release and long-acting opioid analgesics

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced class-wide safety labeling changes and new postmarket study requirements for all extended-release and long-acting opioid analgesics intended to treat pain.

11 Sep 2013

Health Care News and Research

First Edition: September 11, 2013

Financial incentives on hypertension care shows increased blood pressure control

New types of choices, expertise add value to idea of 'aging in place'

State highlights: Texas Gov. Perry touts tort reform; Calif. lawmakers want to pass 100 bills per day

Study shows huge cost implications in getting injured patients to appropriate trauma hospitals

Jersey Shore University Medical Center doctors receive volunteer faculty awards from Rutgers RWJMS

The health law could add an extra pinch at tax time for some consumers

Accuracy of diagnoses does not differ between simple and complex multitasking conditions

'Pay for performance' programs focus on high quality care delivery

GOP readies plan to fund gov't, force Dems to vote on defunding Obamacare

House to consider measure to hold Obamacare exchange subsidies until applicants' income is verified

Screening of growth disorders using EHR system linked with higher rate of detection in kids

New bill allows Californians to directly access physical therapist services

Health exchanges will help some retirees bridge the Medicare gap

Health law fact-checking and helpful hints

Experts to develop internet-based platform that links health data with environment, climatic factors

US cancer care system in crisis

New strategy to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections

New Medicaid enrollees under health law more likely to be younger, healthier

Safety labeling changes announced for extended-release and long-acting opioid analgesics

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

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Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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