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U-M receives new $1.5 million HSS grant for GENESIS nursing program

Deborah Kay Mitchell, 26, decided in high school to pursue nursing, and a decade later she's still excited to continue working in and learning about her field.

15 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: While health care demand rises, medical schools turn away thousands; Jeb Bush on state-based Medicaid changes

Despite high unemployment, there is one bright spot in the economy: while nearly all other sectors shrank during the recession, jobs in health care increased by more than 1.2 million, with most paying salaries of over $60,000. And demand for those workers will keep improving. ... But for American health workers, this is hardly good news. Despite a labor shortage, our crowded medical professional schools are turning away hundreds of thousands of qualified applicants; to fill the gap, we are importing tens of thousands of foreign workers.

15 Sep 2012

Supplies and devices may contribute to increase in average cost per patient discharge

Inpatient hospital treatment accounts for the largest proportion of health care spending in the U.S., with the use of diagnostic imaging services such as MRIs, frequently implicated as the probable cause. A new analysis finds that the biggest expense may not be imaging technology but from supplies including medical devices, such as stents and artificial joints.

15 Sep 2012

Sebelius found to have violated the Hatch Act

The U.S. Office of Special Counsel concludes that HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated the federal law that governs government officials' political actions.

15 Sep 2012

A mysterious form of cell death uncovers prime suspect for new cancer drug development

A mysterious form of cell death, coded in proteins and enzymes, led to a discovery by UNC researchers uncovering a prime suspect for new cancer drug development.

15 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 14, 2012

Today's headlines include stories detailing the politics stirred up by GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan's return to Capitol Hill, as well as reports about new poll numbers and the latest about how health issues are playing on the campaign trail.

15 Sep 2012

McDonald's to list calorie counts on menu boards

News outlets describe the fast-food restaurant's move to provide this menu information both in its restaurants and drive-thrus across the country as part of an effort to get ahead of federal menu-labeling requirements.

14 Sep 2012

Number of uninsured Americans drops by 1.3 million

New census data shows that for the first time since 2007, the number of Americans without health insurance declined. However, high rates of poverty persisted.

14 Sep 2012

National Academy of Sciences announces recipients of 10th annual Communication Awards

Recipients of the 10th annual Communication Awards were announced today by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine.

14 Sep 2012

Global response to NCDs has gained momentum over past year

"Cancers, cardiovascular diseases, chronic lung diseases and diabetes -- four of the biggest killers among the group together known as non-communicable diseases (NCDs) -- have emerged as one of the greatest social and economic development challenges of this century," George Alleyne, director emeritus of PAHO, and Nils Daulaire, director of the Office of Global Affairs at the Department of Health & Human Services and the U.S. representative on the WHO's Executive Board, write in the Huffington Post's "Impact" blog.

14 Sep 2012

New efforts to improve Medicaid in California, Colorado

Advocates caution that California's ambitious program for dual eligibles could be problematic, while Colorado's effort to move Medicaid patients into medical homes is showing savings.

14 Sep 2012

Global child mortality rates fall 41% since 1990, U.N. reports

"Child mortality worldwide has fallen 41 percent since 1990, the result of myriad improvements in nutrition, access to vaccines and antibiotics, cleaner deliveries, better care of infants immediately after birth, and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets," according to "the findings of a report released Wednesday by three United Nations agencies and the World Bank," the Washington Post reports.

14 Sep 2012

U-M able to decrease annual Medicare spending by $2,499

In a nationwide program that aimed to provide better care at a lower cost for Medicare participants, the University of Michigan made the most progress in reducing costs and improved the quality of care patients received.

14 Sep 2012

New ads, campaign appearances deepen political lines in the sand

As former President Bill Clinton concludes his two-day Florida campaign tour for President Barack Obama, he continued to hammer domestic themes including the importance of the health law and to criticize GOP statements regarding Medicare.

14 Sep 2012

Fortified foods program aims to alleviate malnutrition in Afghanistan

Noting the Copenhagen Consensus has stated that "large-scale micronutrient fortification is a proven and cost-effective intervention that can mitigate malnutrition in the form of vitamin and mineral deficiencies and enhance the well-being of millions."

14 Sep 2012

FSMB receives three-year HRSA grant to streamline state medical licensure process

The Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) has been awarded a three-year grant from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to continue initiatives currently underway to streamline the state medical licensure process and reduce statutory and regulatory barriers to telemedicine. The grant is the third the FSMB has received from HRSA since 2006 to facilitate license portability.

14 Sep 2012

Humanitarian crisis in Syria grows as conflict continues, officials warn

"International relief officials reported an increasingly grim aid crisis stemming from the Syria conflict on Tuesday, with two million people there not getting desperately needed help, and a sudden acceleration of refugees overwhelming the ability of neighboring countries to absorb them," the New York Times reports.

14 Sep 2012