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GOP repeal plans move ahead in House and Senate; Support to undo 1099 reporting provision gains momentum

In the House, Republicans begin their committee-level efforts to dismantle the health law today. Meanwhile, GOP senators continue to push for a repeal vote in the upper chamber.

27 Jan 2011

Obama briefly highlights foreign policy themes in State of Union address

President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday "focused on jobs, budget trimming, and investment, but he also underscored foreign policy concerns and outlined an approach to international relations with 'a new level of engagement,'" CBS News' "Political Hotsheet" blog reports.

27 Jan 2011

State of the Union address includes brief, but clear, defense of health law

President Barack Obama made clear that he is willing to tinker around the edges of the sweeping reform, but not return to the days before the measure became law. Media outlets analyzed the specifics of his comments and offered a big picture view of the impact of the entire speech, including fact-checking some of his related policy ideas and budget recommendations.

27 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 26, 2011

Reporting for KHN, in collaboration with Politico, Bara Vaida writes: "Lobbyists for doctors, hospitals and drug companies are urging lawmakers to derail a planned government panel that health industry officials fear will sharply curb Medicare spending -- a critical revenue source for them".

26 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 25, 2011

Today's health policy headlines include speculation about what President Barack Obama will say during tonight's State of The Union address and how the GOP will respond to it.

25 Jan 2011

East Liverpool City Hospital, Foundation Radiology Group enter imaging services agreement

Foundation Radiology Group, the premier provider of diagnostic imaging professional services for community hospitals, is pleased to announce its exclusive imaging services agreement with East Liverpool City Hospital located in East Liverpool, Ohio.

25 Jan 2011

St. Jude Medical's Athena programmer DBS system receives Australian TGA approval

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced regulatory approval from the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of its Athena™ programmer, a deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy management system.

24 Jan 2011

New research shows how humans readily learn to throw long distances

Can't help molding some snow into a ball and hurling it or tossing a stone as far into a lake as you can? New research from Indiana University and the University of Wyoming shows how humans, unlike any other species on Earth, readily learn to throw long distances. This research also suggests that this unique evolutionary trait is entangled with language development in a way critical to our very existence.

24 Jan 2011

HIMSS establishes new Latino Initiative to focus on health IT needs

With the Hispanic population as the nation's largest minority, HIMSS announces the establishment of a new HIMSS Latino Initiative to focus on health IT needs for the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino market.

23 Jan 2011

After repeal vote, what becomes of health reform messaging, public opinions

News outlets report on how the next chapters of the debate will be marked by both parties seeking to "mold" public opinion. An example: a recent speech by Newt Gingrich in which he warns of a possible "health dictatorship." In the background, polls continue to explore how the American public views the law.

21 Jan 2011

The Ensign Group to purchase CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa located in Utah

The Ensign Group, the parent company of the Ensign group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services, hospice care and assisted living companies, announced today that it has agreed to purchase CHRISTUS St. Joseph Villa, a continuing care retirement community located in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the CHRISTUS Marian Center, a behavioral health center operated within St. Joseph Villa.

21 Jan 2011

USAID administrator discusses agency's plans to reduce spending, reform development practices

USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, "in a speech on Wednesday, outlined steps USAID is taking to improve its balance sheet, including moving costly senior jobs from places such as Paris and Tokyo, reducing its real estate portfolio and doing more work with in-house experts rather than expensive contractors," Reuters reports.

21 Jan 2011

WHO Director-General expresses concern over public mistrust of vaccines

During the WHO's executive board meeting Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan expressed concerns over what she called a "'worrisome' public mistrust of vaccines, following signs of a tail-off in flu vaccination," Agence France-Presse reports (1/18).

20 Jan 2011

Children's Hospital Los Angeles becomes only Autism Treatment Network site in California

Following a competitive application process, Michele D. Kipke, PhD, Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, was awarded a $420,000 grant which will allow the hospital to become part of the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) as an ATN Center of Clinical Excellence.

20 Jan 2011

Roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver?; 'Sweeping' Texas budget cuts; Wisconsin tort reform; Aspen's 'dismal' health coverage

The Legislature will meet in special session today to give Gov. Jan Brewer authority to seek a Medicaid waiver from the federal government, the first step to cutting health care for 280,000 Arizonans. Brewer and Republican lawmakers say the move is needed to balance the state budget and keep the rest of the state's Medicaid program intact.

20 Jan 2011

Positive top-line results from TC-5619 Phase 2 trial in patients with schizophrenia

Targacept, Inc. today announced positive top-line results from a Phase 2 clinical proof of concept trial to assess TC-5619 as an augmentation therapy to improve cognition in patients with schizophrenia.

20 Jan 2011

Curcumin and dye brilliant blue G may help block dangerous swelling in TBI

An old Indian spice and a dye whose cousin makes sports drinks blue are pointing scientists toward better treatment of traumatic brain injuries.

19 Jan 2011

WHO Director-General opens executive board session with calls for reform

Kicking off a nine-day annual WHO executive board meeting Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called for the board to consider areas where the agency can redirect resources in a more targeted manner so as to achieve greater outcomes, Reuters reports.

19 Jan 2011

Vocollect to be acquired by Intermec for $190 million in cash

Riverside Partners,, a Boston-based private equity firm, announced today that its portfolio company Vocollect, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by Intermec, Inc. for US $190 M in cash. Vocollect is the world leader in voice solutions for workforce management of mobile workers.

18 Jan 2011

News outlets examine reaction to WHO plan to contain drug-resistant malaria

In follow-up coverage of the WHO's announcement Wednesday of a plan to contain the spread of artemisinin-resistant malaria, news outlets examined the scope of the problem, reactions to the plan and speculations of how the anticipated $175 million annual cost would be funded.

14 Jan 2011