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Larkin Community Hospital achieves 'A' for patient safety

Larkin Community Hospital, one of Florida's twelve statutory teaching hospitals and the largest osteopathic teaching hospital in the nation, was named one of the safest hospitals for patients by The Leapfrog Group.

17 May 2013

First Edition: May 17, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the GOP vote to repeal the health law -- for the 37th time -- as well as how the current IRS scandal is being connected to the health law's implementation.

17 May 2013

Weekend reading: Volunteers in the battle with heart disease; Psychiatry without medication; Owning your genes

Psychiatrists who take time with their patients are not the norm. It's not because others don't care. Rather the system rewards efficiency, not empathy.

17 May 2013

Controversy lurks as cloning technique yields embryos with eye on stem cell therapies

Political and ethical fights over human cloning may follow the latest stem cell therapy advance after scientists created embryos that are genetic copies of living people in an effort to treat diseases such as Alzheimer's.

17 May 2013

Researchers evaluate distribution of Spanish smoking relapse prevention booklet series

Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida have evaluated how Florida health care and social service agencies distribute "Libres para Siempre" ("Forever Free-"), a Spanish smoking relapse prevention booklet series.

17 May 2013

Women with chronic physical disabilities do become pregnant, new study finds

Like the general public, health care professionals may hold certain stereotypes regarding sexual activity and childbearing among women with disabilities. But a new study finds that women with chronic physical disabilities are about as likely as nondisabled women to say they are currently pregnant, after age and other sociodemographic factors are taken into account.

17 May 2013

Acting CMS chief Marilyn Tavenner becomes agency's first confirmed head in 7 years

In a 91-to-7 vote, the Senate approved President Barack Obama's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Tavenner, who has been the agency's acting administrator, was endorsed by Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va.

17 May 2013

St. Louis College of Pharmacy students win national Script Your Future Award

A team of students at St. Louis College of Pharmacy and Washington University School of Medicine was chosen as one of three winners of the national Script Your Future Award, a national campaign to raise awareness about medication adherence.

17 May 2013

Viewpoints: When a doctor should keep quiet; 2 views of hospital pricing; Stem cell 'snake oil'

In medical school, we were taught not to withhold information from our patients or to be "paternal" in making decisions for them. We internalized the idea that fully informed patients are better equipped to make treatment decisions.

17 May 2013

Roundup: N.D. abortion clinic sues to stop new law; Health care savings close budget hole in Conn.; Calif. counties struggle to expand mental health care

The running battle over the regulation of abortions entered a North Dakota courtroom on Wednesday, as the state's sole abortion clinic sued to block a new law that it says could force it to shut down. The law, requiring doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, was promoted by anti-abortion legislators, who argued that it would mean better care for women who suffer medical emergencies (Eckholm, 5/15).

17 May 2013

HHS to pay $1 billion for ideas to drive down health costs

The availability of a second round of grants -- funded by the health law -- was announced to support approaches to reduce costs and improve care. The initial round, announced last year, funded 107 organizations.

17 May 2013

Retiree medical expenses fall, but they still exceed most people's expectations

A study released by Fidelty Investments estimated that a couple, who are enrolled in traditional Medicare and retiring in 2013, will need $220,000 to cover medical costs throughout their retirement.

17 May 2013

In many state legislatures, the Medicaid expansion saga continues

News outlets offer updates on the future of uncertain Medicaid expansion plans in Texas and Arizona as well as a progress report from California.

17 May 2013

House GOP lays groundwork for fall budget face-off

The chairman of the House tax-writing committee has been laying the groundwork for advancing an overhaul of the tax code to scale back deductions and reduce rates.

17 May 2013

Health law repeal votes offer important campaign trail symbol for some Republicans

Many GOP lawmakers see today's scheduled vote to repeal the health law as important to their campaign trail messaging.

17 May 2013

Appeals court to hear Liberty University health law challenge

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., will hear arguments on Thursday related to the lawsuit brought by the Christian university.

17 May 2013

Pennsylvania receives grant to design state healthcare innovation plan

Governor Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to design a state healthcare innovation plan.

17 May 2013

PENTAX Medical releases EPK-i5010 Video Processor with PENTAX i-SCAN

PENTAX Medical Company, a healthcare industry leader in endoscopic imaging, announces the U.S. launch of the EPK-i5010 Video Processor with PENTAX i-SCAN™, the industry's highest resolution HD+ imaging technology for flexible endoscopy.

From PENTAX Medical Company 16 May 2013

First Edition: May 16, 2013

Today's headlines detail the Senate confirmation of Acting Chief Marilyn Tavenner to run the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

16 May 2013

Doctors transform how they practice medicine

Kaiser Health News staff writer Ankita Rao reports: "The buzz, and anxiety, in the medical profession is palpable – trade magazines tout new coping strategies, doctor groups discuss the transformation of practices. Physicians are experimenting with business models and new practice techniques, hoping to find work that is both financially and personally rewarding" (Rao, 5/15).

16 May 2013