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Texas congressional candidates will face off in Spanish debate, health policies among key issues

Texas' first congressional candidate debate in Spanish could help decide one of the closest races in the country. Incumbent Republican Rep. Francisco "Quico" Canseco, 63, a tea party conservative, will face challenger Pete Gallego, 50, a Democratic state representative, Tuesday night in an hourlong debate aired by Spanish-language network Univision.

27 Sep 2012

Study finds increase in number of total knee replacements among U.S. Medicare population

Total knee replacement is a very common and safe surgery that's used to relieve severe pain and disability caused by knee osteoarthritis, and to improve patients' quality of life. However, it's also very expensive at approximately $15,000 per procedure. With an estimated 600,000 total knee replacements performed annually in the United States, the aggregate annual cost for total knee replacement (also known as total knee arthroplasty or TKA) is $9 billion.

27 Sep 2012

Loyola to formally bless and dedicate new Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing building on Sept. 29

Loyola University Chicago will formally bless and dedicate the new Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing building at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29. This event will take place on the Health Sciences Campus located at 2160 S. First Ave. in Maywood. Tours of the facility will follow the blessing and dedication.

27 Sep 2012

Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology debuts new iPad app

As tablet ownership trends away from early adopters and moves to the mainstream, the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology has debuted a new app, available for iPad users, that will allow readers to access interventional radiology literature and multimedia—when they choose, ensuring fast, convenient access to up-to-the-minute peer-reviewed articles, podcasts, images and more.

27 Sep 2012

Report details Ga. mental health improvements; Colo. attempts to integrate physical, mental care

A new report shows improvement in Georgia's mental health system, but problems persist. In the meantime in Colorado, new experiments try to combine mental and physical well-being to better care for patients.

27 Sep 2012

NABE survey: Next decade will be marked by rising health costs, fewer employers providing coverage

A group of polled economists believe fewer employers will provide health-care coverage for workers over the next decade as the planned overhaul to the system takes effect. The National Association of Business Economics on Monday released its latest Economic Policy Survey, and 60% of the economists surveyed believe fewer businesses will provide insurance for workers over the next ten years.

27 Sep 2012

Deficit continues to be test for Obama -- with debate about Medicare and Medicaid central to both campaigns

The New York Times reports that with the deficit over $1 trillion, President Barack Obama and GOP presidential pick Mitt Romney propose different prescriptions, especially regarding government health programs. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports on how health firms are preparing for possible election outcomes.

27 Sep 2012

Roundup: Calif. deciding on exchange name; Further scrutiny for Calif. adult day care eligibility; N.C. nurses embracing evidence-based practices

As states work to comply with the federal health care law, many are designing their insurance exchanges, where people will be able to shop for coverage. But just the word 'exchange' sounds to many like off-putting government-speak, and some states are eager to come up with a more appealing name for these new marketplaces. Peter Lee, who directs California's Health Benefit Exchange, says it's up for a new name, and he says they want it to sound fresh, dynamic and innovative.

27 Sep 2012

Cost of glaucoma revealed

The first 6 months after an open-angle glaucoma diagnosis are the most costly within the first 2 years of having the condition, report US researchers.

26 Sep 2012

Retail Benefits acquires My HSA Rewards

Retail Benefits today announced the acquisition of My HSA Rewards, an innovative program that allows employees to use cash back from shopping to reduce healthcare costs.

26 Sep 2012

Political cartoon: 'Fourth And Goal'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Fourth And Goal" by Chris Weyant.

26 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 26, 2012

Today's headlines include a reports about a round of new polls sizing up the status of the presidential campaign as well as one from The Associated Press measuring public opinion about the implementation of the health law.

26 Sep 2012

New report: Population aging will have broad economic consequences for the U.S.

The aging of the U.S. population will have broad economic consequences for the country, particularly for federal programs that support the elderly, and its long-term effects on all generations will be mediated by how -- and how quickly -- the nation responds, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council.

26 Sep 2012

Romney scolded for emergency room remark

During his Sunday interview on CBS's 60 Minutes, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said that uninsured Americans can get care in emergency rooms -- a comment that drew a critical response from the American College of Emergency Physicians.

26 Sep 2012

Women's eNews examines maternal health in Morocco

"Morocco has made great strides in improving maternal health in recent years, decreasing its maternal mortality ratio by over 60 percent since 1990," but "a wide maternal health gap" exists between women in urban and rural areas, where deliveries generally are attended by an experienced yet untrained family member, Women's eNews reports.

26 Sep 2012

New cervical cancer screening test introduced in El Salvador

"A new way to screen poor women for cervical cancer was introduced this month in El Salvador, using a test that was originally developed in China," the New York Times reports.

26 Sep 2012

Medicare plans, policies draw analysis, voters' interest

News outlets report on how Medicare and other health policy issues will play in the presidential debates; on similarities and differences between the candidates' Medicare plans; and offer tips for reporters trying to cover this complicated issue.

26 Sep 2012

Health insurance to provide easy-to-understand plan summaries

On Monday, a health law provision goes into effect that requires insurance companies to provide user-friendly guides that provide explanations of plan benefits that will be as clear and easy to understand as the nutrition facts provided on food packages.

26 Sep 2012

Presidential candidates should address HIV epidemic more directly

Following the XIX International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2012) in July, "delegates left Washington with a clear focus on achieving an AIDS-free generation," Chip Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, writes in the Huffington Post's "The Big Push" blog.

26 Sep 2012

Forbes features interview with president of Friends of Global Fight

Forbes features an interview with Deborah Derrick, president of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in which she "discusse[s] her motivations for pursuing a career in international affairs and social change, her experience as a senior program officer at the [Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation], what lessons she learned during her time at Gates that are most applicable in her new executive role at Friends of the Global Fight, the current landscape of challenges and solutions, and the role of technology in accelerating progress."

26 Sep 2012