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Viewpoints: Mass. experience may not be true test for national health law; 'Dishonest' campaign by medical device makers

Massachusetts is often held up as a window into America's health insurance future, because it embarked on what came to be called the Romneycare reform six years ago. Like the Affordable Care Act provisions going into effect nationwide next year, Romneycare aimed to increase the fraction of the population with health insurance by imposing mandates on employers and employees and by subsidizing health insurance plans for middle-class families without employer plans.

23 May 2013

More than half of U.S. docs now using EHRs

More than half of U.S. doctors have switched to electronic health records and are using them to manage patients' basic medical information and prescriptions, according to federal data set to be released Wednesday.

23 May 2013

Study suggests that data from new electronic AIMS can be used to assess surgical procedure

Data from new electronic anesthesia information management systems can be used to assess surgical procedure- and institution-specific blood requirements, according to a study from the June issue of Anesthesiology.

23 May 2013

Outreach effort moves forward despite Sebelius controversy

Families USA Executive Director Ron Pollack tells CQ Healthbeat that the flap won't prevent a robust effort by the nonprofit group, Enroll America, to sign up the uninsured. Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney draws parallels to earlier allegations about President Barack Obama's birth certificate.

23 May 2013

Medicaid expansion popular in Southern states, despite govs' opposition

A poll by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies found popular support for this and other health law provisions in five southern states despite the conservative political climate. Meanwhile, expansion supporters are strategizing about their next moves in states where they have not been successful.

23 May 2013

Tribal leaders pass resolution supporting Governor Brewer's Medicaid Expansion Effort

Tribal leaders passed a resolution supporting Governor Jan Brewer's Medicaid Expansion Effort at the May 17, 2013 meeting of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association.

23 May 2013

Health issues play a part in House immigration talks, budget cuts

Politico reports that issues related to the health benefits made available to undocumented immigrants as they seek citizenship could muddy House negotiations. In addition, House Republicans have pressed forward with budget cuts that would impact Indian health care and a number of other domestic programs.

23 May 2013

Federal appeals court strikes down Arizona ban on abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy

A federal appeals court struck down an Arizona law Tuesday that bans most abortions in that state after 18 weeks of pregnancy. The three-judge panel said the law violates a woman's constitutional right to end a pregnancy before a fetus can survive outside the womb -- typically 24 weeks.

23 May 2013

Researchers find that over 40% of patients treated for COPD did not actually have the disease

More than 40 percent of patients being treated for COPD at a federally funded clinic did not have the disease, researchers found after evaluating the patients with spirometry, the diagnostic "gold standard" for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

23 May 2013

Physicians face medical challenges in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients

Physicians at Monash University and The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, Australia describe the logistic, medical, and societal challenges faced in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients.

22 May 2013

First Edition: May 22, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how the Medicaid expansion is shaking out in Virginia and Texas, as well as a report about the role health care is playing as the House attempts to negotiate an immigration reform measure.

22 May 2013

Implementation issues: Coverage 'ping pong' among emerging concerns

The notion of how life events could cause disrupted health coverage is a focus for policy makers. In addition, news outlets also are reporting on developments related to high-risk pools, and a break between the White House and organized labor regarding how the implementation process is shaping up.

22 May 2013

Viewpoints: Slowing health costs; What causes genetic testing to be so expensive; Iowa governor offers Medicaid supports a 'glimmer of hope'

We have done it. We have decreased the increase in the cost of healthcare. ... Is this decline the desperately needed bend in the healthcare cost curve or just the impact of the depressed economy? ... A slower growth of healthcare cost would mean less burden on the individual family, freeing that family to invest in and live a higher quality of life.

22 May 2013

Study: Physicians increasingly rely on ERs to determine whether patients need to be hospitalized

Emergency rooms account for about half of the nation's hospital admissions and accounted for virtually all of the rise in admissions between 2003 and 2009, according to a study released on Monday.

22 May 2013

State roundup: Nearly 13,000 Calif. hospital workers set to strike

Respiratory therapists, nursing aides, surgical technicians and other patient care workers plan to stage a walkout starting Tuesday morning at five University of California medical centers. More than 12,000 workers from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are expected to participate in the two-day strike over staffing, pay and pension reform, union officials said. An additional 3,400 workers from the University Professional and Technical Employees union plan a one-day sympathy strike (Gorman, 5/21).

22 May 2013

State programs, agreements with feds aim at better mental health care delivery

States seek to improve how they deliver mental health care: In Georgia, a revamp shows success stories; Connecticut seeks an agreement to better care for children with mental health problems; and in Texas, lawmakers back a diversion program to keep the mentally ill from jail.

22 May 2013

Some GOP lawmakers target HHS Secretary Sebelius for fundraising

The members of Congress are questioning Sebelius' efforts to solicit funds for Enroll America, which is trying to help get people signed up for benefits under the federal health law.

22 May 2013

New U-M poll shows 1 in 100 parents believe their kids use prescription stimulants to boost grades

As high schoolers prepare for final exams, teens nationwide may be tempted to use a "study drug" -- a prescription stimulant or amphetamine -- to gain an academic edge. But a new University of Michigan poll shows only one in 100 parents of teens 13-17 years old believes that their teen has used a study drug.

22 May 2013

Marketing new health insurance options poses challenges

The Wall Street Journal explores issues surrounding the health law's "navigators," a small army of people who are supposed to help millions of Americans sign up for coverage. Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News reports on questions about how the one in five households who lack traditional bank accounts will be able to pay their insurance bills.

22 May 2013

Health care innovations in technology spotlight

A Silicon Valley conference offers insights regarding what's working and what is coming next for health care innovation. Meanwhile, some startup companies are aiming technology advances at medication adherence.

22 May 2013

Health Care News and Research

Viewpoints: Mass. experience may not be true test for national health law; 'Dishonest' campaign by medical device makers

More than half of U.S. docs now using EHRs

Study suggests that data from new electronic AIMS can be used to assess surgical procedure

Outreach effort moves forward despite Sebelius controversy

Medicaid expansion popular in Southern states, despite govs' opposition

Tribal leaders pass resolution supporting Governor Brewer's Medicaid Expansion Effort

Health issues play a part in House immigration talks, budget cuts

Federal appeals court strikes down Arizona ban on abortions after 18 weeks of pregnancy

Researchers find that over 40% of patients treated for COPD did not actually have the disease

Physicians face medical challenges in treating spine trauma in morbidly obese patients

First Edition: May 22, 2013

Implementation issues: Coverage 'ping pong' among emerging concerns

Viewpoints: Slowing health costs; What causes genetic testing to be so expensive; Iowa governor offers Medicaid supports a 'glimmer of hope'

Study: Physicians increasingly rely on ERs to determine whether patients need to be hospitalized

State roundup: Nearly 13,000 Calif. hospital workers set to strike

State programs, agreements with feds aim at better mental health care delivery

Some GOP lawmakers target HHS Secretary Sebelius for fundraising

New U-M poll shows 1 in 100 parents believe their kids use prescription stimulants to boost grades

Marketing new health insurance options poses challenges

Health care innovations in technology spotlight

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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