Health Systems News and Research

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State Highlights: Indiana, N.H., Examine Obamacare Enrollment Gaps; New Blue Cross Contracts For Pa. Health System

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19 Oct 2013

Research roundup: Less savings needed for retirement health expenses; falls as a predictor of surgical outcomes

Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

19 Oct 2013

Use of effective, risky drug therapies by Medicare patients varies across US

A new report from the Dartmouth Atlas Project shows that the use of both effective and risky drug therapies by Medicare patients varies widely across U.S. regions, offering further evidence that location is a key determinant in the quality and cost of the medical care that patients receive.

18 Oct 2013

Psychotic symptoms alone denote medical health risk

People with symptoms of psychosis have an increased rate of medical comorbidities and unhealthy lifestyle habits even if they do not have a psychiatric diagnosis, shows a worldwide study.

17 Oct 2013

Viewpoints: Young people could spark needed entitlement changes; Priebus demands that Sebelius go; GOP's 'absurd debate' on Hill health coverage

Eventually this shutdown crisis will end. And eventually the two parties will make another stab at a deal on taxes, investments and entitlements. But there's one outcome from such negotiations that I can absolutely guarantee: Seniors, Wall Street and unions will all have their say and their interests protected. So the most likely result will be more tinkering around the edges, as our politicians run for the hills the minute someone accuses them of "fixing the deficit on the backs of the elderly" or creating "death panels" to sensibly allocate end-of-life health care.

17 Oct 2013

Results of Phase 3 clinical trial of contraceptive vaginal ring presented by Population Council

Today, the Population Council presented findings from a Phase 3 clinical trial that was designed to demonstrate the safety, efficacy, and acceptability of the Council's investigational one-year contraceptive vaginal ring (CVR).

16 Oct 2013

DFID, MRC and ESRC collaborate to improve health systems in low- and middle-income countries

The Wellcome Trust, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) today announced a -15 million collaboration to support research that will generate practical measures to improve health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

10 Oct 2013

New agreement gives Health Net's members access to 14 of Prime Healthcare's hospitals

Prime Healthcare Services is pleased to announce that it has contracted with Health Net of California for 14 of its hospitals.

10 Oct 2013

Prominent leaders explore new era of healthcare partnerships at MDS' annual conference

Prominent healthcare leaders from around the country were reminded that "You don't have to get big, you just have to play smarter and get better" as healthcare organizations explored strategies for success at MDS Consulting's 8th annual Healthcare Leadership and Executive Conference held recently in Las Vegas.

9 Oct 2013

Doctors concerned about electronic health records

Being able to provide high-quality health care is a primary driver of job satisfaction among physicians, and obstacles to quality patient care are a source of stress for doctors, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

9 Oct 2013

Viewpoints: Sen. Barrasso warns insurance buyers beware; it will take time to assess marketplaces

Today begins the first phase of Obamacare's big test. The Obama administration has spent months and millions of dollars promising people great benefits from the new government-run health insurance exchanges. Now Americans will see for themselves. ... Instead of lower health care costs and better access to care, here are four reasons for the buyer to beware (Sen. John Barrasso, 10/1).

2 Oct 2013

State highlights: NYC's plan to get bids for worker coverage meets roadblock; Iowa waits for Medicaid expansion waiver, readies enrollment

New York City's plan to solicit bids for health insurance for hundreds of thousands of workers has been put on hold. A Manhattan judge on Monday granted a preliminary injunction preventing the City from issuing the bids. A group of unions sued the city Aug. 10, shortly after Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city was planning to seek bids within days. Bloomberg said the request for proposals will look to save up to $400 million a year (10/1)

2 Oct 2013

First Edition: October 1, 2013

Today's headlines detail how the federal government has been shutdown as a result of the ongoing congressional battle over the health law. Still, even as House and Senate lawmakers were unable to overcome this issue to reach a deal to provide funding to continue government operations, Oct. 1 is still the official launch of the overhaul's online insurance marketplaces.

1 Oct 2013

Health expenditure link to cancer survival in Europe

The more an EU national government spends on health, the fewer the deaths after a cancer diagnosis in that country, according to new research to be presented to the 2013 European Cancer Congress today (Sunday) and published simultaneously in the leading cancer journal Annals of Oncology.

30 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 27, 2013

Today's headlines include the latest updates on the congressional brinksmanship related to current budget battles and efforts to defund the health law, as well as reports about President Barack Obama's campaign-style speech about the law and details on another implementation delay.

27 Sep 2013

Finding innovative ways to manage total cost of care

The American Medical Group Association is convening more than 450 participants, representing the leaders of the nation's preeminent healthcare provider organizations, at the IQL 2013 Annual Conference, September 25 - 27 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona.

26 Sep 2013

Personality traits can be correlated to health care consumption, study finds

Psychiatrists and psychologists have long understood that an individual's personality can define how he or she views the world around them, reacts to situations, and interacts with others. It now appears that personality traits can be linked to the frequency with which older adults use expensive health care services.

21 Sep 2013

Drexel University researchers create molecule that can cause AIDS virus to destroy itself

Pinning down an effective way to combat the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus, the viral precursor to AIDS, has long been challenge task for scientists and physicians, because the virus is an elusive one that mutates frequently and, as a result, quickly becomes immune to medication.

20 Sep 2013

State highlights: Miss. officials want more money for mental health, Medicaid; Okla. Gov. blocks same-sex benefits; Mass. primary care shortage

Mississippi's prison and mental health systems and Medicaid program are seeking millions of extra dollars to get through the budget year, then more money on top of that for the coming year. Agency leaders appeared Tuesday before the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to request money for fiscal year 2014, which ends June 30, and for fiscal 2015, which begins July 1 (9/17).

19 Sep 2013

Doctors, medical professionals urge UN to provide more medical support for Syrians

A group of 50 doctors and medical professionals from across the globe today [Monday 16 September] call for the UN to provide more support to medical personnel caring for Syrians in need, warning that the country’s health systems are at “breaking point”, and urging Syrian authorities to immediately lift restrictions that are preventing doctors and medicines from reaching patients.

16 Sep 2013