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Mass. reform increases access to hospital care in vulnerable groups

Healthcare reform providing near-universal insurance coverage in Massachusetts led to increased access to hospital care among vulnerable groups—especially Hispanic and low-income populations, suggests a paper in Medical Care.

7 Aug 2012

IPS reports on efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission at public hospital in Cameroon

"For nearly two years, not a single child with HIV has been born at the public hospital in the Cite-Verte district of Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon," Inter Press Service reports, adding, "Emilien Fouda, the hospital's director, says this proud record is the result of combined effort by his staff and community support groups."

7 Aug 2012

Operating health exchanges: Federal officials prepare to take on 'herculean task' in many states

The New York Times reports that Obama administration officials are getting ready to set up and operate health insurance marketplaces in about half the states. Meanwhile, Stateline details how safety net hospitals face new financial worries as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling on the health law's Medicaid expansion.

7 Aug 2012

Viewpoints: Mass. at disadvantage in cutting health costs; McDonnell says Va. can point to better way

Massachusetts will be the first state to try to cap overall health care spending, both private and public, so that it will grow no faster than the state economy. The state was able to reach near-universal coverage because the vast majority of its population was already covered by some form of insurance. It also could subsidize coverage for the uninsured using a big pool of money that had been used for charity care. But when it comes to controlling health care costs, Massachusetts has no advantage, and in fact is starting behind most other states.

7 Aug 2012

Health coverage for the poorest Americans could be in jeopardy in many states

Health coverage for the poorest Americans could be in jeopardy in many states as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling last month on the Affordable Care Act, according to a new legal analysis.

7 Aug 2012

Childhood obesity on the rise in China

Childhood obesity is on the rise in China, and children and parents there tend to underestimate body weight, according to Penn State health policy researchers.

7 Aug 2012

Investing in improved quality of care can reduce costs for patients with diabetes

University of Minnesota School of Public Health researchers have found that medical group practices can reduce costs for patients with diabetes by investing in improved quality of care.

7 Aug 2012

Creatine may fight major depression in women

Women battling stubborn major depression may have a surprising new ally in their fight—the muscle-building dietary supplement creatine.

7 Aug 2012

Roundup: Other states watching Mass. effort to cut costs; Iowa official denies GOP lawmakers' demand on abortion

As Massachusetts launches an aggressive effort to contain health care spending, the rest of the country will be watching. On July 31, lawmakers passed first-in-the-nation legislation pegging healthcare expenditures at or below the state's overall rate of economic growth, a strategy officials estimate could save Massachusetts as much as $200 billion over the next 15 years.

7 Aug 2012

Manning ICU with 24-hour specialist staff does not improve long-term survival

Having round-the-clock rather than on-demand presence of an intensivist does not increase intensive care unit patients’ long-term survival rates, report US researchers.

6 Aug 2012

Ill. ACO showing promise on lowering hospital readmissions

The program, set up by Advocate, covers 380,000 enrollees, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Meanwhile, other outlets look at health law implementation efforts in Massachusetts and California.

6 Aug 2012

Clinton expresses concern over HIV in Uganda, stops in Malawi on 11-day African tour

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "expressed concern" over Uganda's increasing number of HIV infections on a visit to the country last week, part of an 11-day trip to eight African nations, Uganda's New Vision reports (Mukasa, 8/4).

6 Aug 2012

Previously uncharacterized protein dramatically influences inflammation

A UNC-led team of scientists describes the function of a previously uncharacterized protein that dramatically influences inflammation.

6 Aug 2012

U.N. urges Philippines to pass reproductive health bill amid protests from Catholic Church

"The United Nations has urged the Philippines to pass a bill that will allow the government to provide free contraceptives," BBC News reports (8/5).

6 Aug 2012

Home health care demand increases as baby boomers age

Demand for home health care workers is soaring as baby boomers - the 78 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964 - get older and states try to save money by moving people out of more costly nursing homes.

6 Aug 2012

Biden seeks to allay veterans' concerns about benefits

Speaking at the Disabled American Veterans' national convention, Vice President Joe Biden reminded the group that veterans benefits were exempted from the automatic budget cuts that will be imposed on military and domestic programs as of Jan. 2. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama signed into law a legislative package that provides improved health care, housing, education and memorial services.

6 Aug 2012

Uganda Ebola virus outbreak under control, WHO says

The Ebola virus outbreak that began last month in Uganda is under control, with health agencies having isolated the 176 people who had even slight contact with people who have contracted the virus, Joaquim Saweka, the WHO representative in Uganda, told reporters.

6 Aug 2012

Cholera affecting refugees in Eastern Congo, MSF reports

"The first case of cholera has emerged among thousands of people in an impromptu refugee camp in eastern Congo who fled fighting between a new rebel group and government forces backed by U.N. peacekeepers," according to Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), the Associated Press/Washington Post reports (Muhumuza, 8/3).

6 Aug 2012

Political cartoon: 'Fear Itself'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Fear Itself" by Steve Kelley.

6 Aug 2012

Blog examines impact of adolescent pregnancy in South Asia

As part of its monthly series Stories Behind the Statistics, "guest edited by FHI 360 on behalf of USAID'S IYWG, which provides technical leadership to improve the reproductive and sexual health of young people," the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog features a story by Gaj Bahadur Gurung, program coordinator for the National Federation of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nepal, who discusses the impact of adolescent pregnancy on girls and young women in South Asia.

6 Aug 2012