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Incentives for Ontario surgeons drive greater use of laparoscopic colon cancer surgery

Financial incentives for Ontario surgeons are likely a key factor driving greater use of laparoscopic colon cancer surgery, says a study led by a McMaster University surgeon.

23 Jul 2013

GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences launches new office to improve medical care

The GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences is pleased to announce the establishment of the Office of Clinical Practice Innovation. The new office will serve as the organizational home for developing and evaluating clinical interventions to improve medical care.

23 Jul 2013

Capsules: Humana fills blank spots in Mississippi Obamacare map

Now on Kaiser Health News' blog, Jay Hancock reports: "Filling a potential coverage void, Humana Inc. said Friday it will sell health insurance in 36 Mississippi counties that might have otherwise been left out of a marketplace for subsidized policies sold under the Affordable Care Act" (Hancock, 7/19).

23 Jul 2013

Investigating one of the 'fundamental flaws' in the pricing of health care

The Washington Post investigates how the use of data plays into what some view as a distortion in physician pay.

23 Jul 2013

New life for 'Death Panel' bill, but same fights loom

One lawmaker has reintroduced his bill that would pay Medicare doctors for having "end-of-life" conversations with patients -- an idea that has bitterly divided Congress in the past. In the meantime, another lawmaker wants to change -- and simplify -- Medicare's reimbursement coding system.

23 Jul 2013

Study documents reversal of established medical practices in last decade

While there is an expectation that newer medical practices improve the standard of care, the history of medicine reveals many instances in which this has not been the case. Reversal of established medical practice occurs when new studies contradict current practice. Reporters may remember hormone replacement therapy as an example of medical reversal. A new analysis published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings documents 146 contemporary medical practices that have subsequently been reversed.

23 Jul 2013

Complications of preventable conditions more likely to land former prisoners in hospital

Complications of diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and other preventable conditions are more likely to land former prisoners in the hospital, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the July 22 online issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

23 Jul 2013

IT issues pose challenges for health law

News outlets also report on how other changes are affecting small business owners, hospitals and students.

23 Jul 2013

Health care professionals face workplace risks, on-the-job injuries

Healthcare workers -- particularly nurses, nurses' aides, orderlies, and attendants -- suffer more musculoskeletal injuries than those working in any other field, a Public Citizen report found. Those injuries cost the U.S. about $7 billion each year, according to the Public Citizen report, which was written by Keith Wrightson and Taylor Lincoln, both of the organization's Congress Watch division. The increased number of on-the-job injuries may be the result of comparatively sparse rates of safety inspections at healthcare facilities, according to 2010 data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Petrochko, 7/19).

23 Jul 2013

Anthem Blue Cross won't join California's small business exchange

The move by California's largest insurer for small businesses raised concerns about the state's ability to offer competitive rates. Meanwhile, Humana will step in to fill a potential insurance void in Mississippi, offering coverage in 36 counties where no other plans had been slated to be sold.

23 Jul 2013

MedImpact Healthcare Systems joins AHIP Select Program

MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc., the nation's largest privately held pharmacy benefits manager, has joined America's Health Insurance Plans Select Program representing pharmacy benefit management.

23 Jul 2013

Improving vaccination rates in boys plays a crucial role against HPV infection

Improving vaccination rates against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in boys is key to protecting both men and women, says new research from University of Toronto Professor Peter A. Newman from the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

23 Jul 2013

Detroit seeks retiree pension, health care cuts in Bankruptcy Filing

Detroit and its retirees begin a court fight this week over how much the city can cut its pension and health care benefits as it seeks to discharge $19 billion in debt.

23 Jul 2013

Study finds link between mental illness and premature death in people with epilepsy

People with epilepsy are 11 times more likely to die prematurely than the general population, and the risk appears to be much higher for individuals with common co-existing psychiatric illnesses*, especially depression and alcohol and drug use disorders, new research published in The Lancet suggests.

22 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 22, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the continuing efforts in opposition to the health law as well as a Washington Post investigation into a "flaw" in U.S. health care pricing.

22 Jul 2013

Experts join together to form Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment

Dozens of autism experts across a variety of specialties have joined together to form the Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment. The consortium will bring together researchers, physicians, scientists, service providers, educators and parents to collaborate on a broad range of research, education and advocacy projects.

22 Jul 2013

African-Americans, Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites

Blacks and Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites, finds a new study in Health Services Research.

22 Jul 2013

Experts to focus on health care challenges at U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products

Patient advocates, industry leaders, medical researchers, government officials, and investors will join together in Bethesda, MD, on Oct. 7 - 9 for the 3rd annual U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products.

20 Jul 2013

BCBSMA exceeds state and national health care spending standards in 2012

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts exceeded federal standards by $396 million and state standards by $242 million in the amount it spent on medical benefits on behalf of its members in 2012.

20 Jul 2013

State highlights: Court hears arguments on Fla. 'gun-gag' law; Univ. of Minn. seeks to scale back coverage; fewer Utah docs see Medicaid patients

The top attorney for the state of Florida asked a federal appeals court today to reinstate a Florida law that regulates what physicians can ask patients about gun ownership, asserting that the law does not actually stifle such questions. Yes, it does, countered a lawyer representing several Florida medical societies and individual physicians who challenged the law as an infringement on their First Amendment right to free speech (Lowes, 7/18).

20 Jul 2013