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Implementation efforts continue at the state level

In Virginia, Democratic lawmakers are pushing a proposal to establish a state-based exchange. These legislators see their plan, which is built on the argument that state action would keep the federal government from being involved, will draw support from others regardless of their feelings about the health law itself. Meanwhile, Montana's high-risk insurance pool is running out of cash.

12 Jan 2012

Food security remains high-level priority in 2012

In this post in the Department of State's "DipNote" blog, Jonathan Shrier, acting special representative for global food security, reflects on food security issues and accomplishments in 2011, writing, These efforts leave us well situated in 2012 to lead the L'Aquila Food Security Initiative (AFSI) group, which aims to strengthen mutual accountability among participating governments in meeting food security commitments.

12 Jan 2012

New NIST clinical SRM can help in accurate CMV detection and treatment

A new clinical Standard Reference Material (SRM) from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help health care professionals more accurately diagnose and treat cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common pathogen that is particularly dangerous for infants and persons with weakened immune systems.

12 Jan 2012

Advocates react to administration's draft framework to stop Alzheimer's

The organization USAgainstAlzheimer's applauded the plan's goal of eliminating the disease by 2025 but would like to speed the timeline for development of new prevention and treatment approaches.

12 Jan 2012

Raising Medicare's eligibility age would save money, but also shift costs

A new Congressional Budget Office estimate found the federal government could save $148 billion over 10 years by gradually increasing the Medicare age to 67.

12 Jan 2012

HIV/AIDS awareness workshop held in Pakistan

The International Herald Tribune's "Express Tribune" reports on a two-day HIV/AIDS awareness workshop held in Pakistan this week. Speaking on Monday at the inaugural session of the event, titled "The State of HIV in Pakistan-2011," Amir Maqbool, acting program manager of the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), stated that HIV/AIDS could not be controlled in the country without legislation and strong financial funding for prevention and control efforts, according to the newspaper.

12 Jan 2012

Medicaid cuts have patient advocates, states considering their options

Stateline reports that new federal rules that limit state options for cutting Medicaid have moved health care providers and patient advocates nearer to testing the legality of the cuts in court. In the meantime, Medicaid cuts and restructuring remain in play in dwindling state budgets as Oregon, Ohio and Kansas look for ways to save money in the state-federal health care program for the poor.

12 Jan 2012

Appeals court rules Texas can enforce abortion law while case is pending

A federal appeals court has ruled that while a controversial abortion law is decided in court, Texas can enforce a law that requires women who are seeking an abortion to be presented with a sonogram.

12 Jan 2012

Office-based medical practice can promote vaccination in adults

Promoting immunizations as a part of routine office-based medical practice is needed to improve adult vaccination rates, a highly effective way to curb the spread of diseases across communities, prevent needless illness and deaths, and lower health care costs, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

12 Jan 2012

Political cartoon: 'Appointment Scheduling'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Appointment Scheduling" by Chris Wildt.

12 Jan 2012

Trends in compulsory licensing of pharmaceuticals since Doha Declaration

In this PLoS Medicine research article, Reed Beall and Randall Kuhn of the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver provide an analysis of trends in compulsory licensing (CL) of pharmaceuticals since the Doha Declaration.

12 Jan 2012

House Dems urge GOP to go back to work on payroll tax break, 'doc fix'

The problem continues to be how to pay for the solutions. Meanwhile, Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif., a high-ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced he will not seek another congressional term. He has been a strong opponent of the administration's health overhaul.

12 Jan 2012

Geisinger announces it will not hire smokers

Also in hospital news, a Denver Hospital will pay $6.3 Million to settle overbilling allegations and officials at the University of Louisville Hospital look to Kentucky's governor for a financial plan.

12 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Slowing health care growth; Competing views of Romney

The headline is that health care spending grew at only 3.9 percent in 2010 - just .1 percent more than the rate of growth in 2009. Combine the numbers from 2009 and 2010 and we're looking at the slowest two-year rate of growth since the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) began keeping tabs on these numbers 51 years ago.

12 Jan 2012

State roundup: Ga. moves to keep docs; Ore. health plan could save $3.2B

The federal government sharply criticized New York's oversight of the developmentally disabled in a new report, saying the state agency charged with oversight lacks independence from the governor's office, failed to account for how it is spending public money and has broken several requirements of federal law.

12 Jan 2012

Investing in Frontline Health Workers effective in saving lives of mothers, children

In the Huffington Post's "Impact" blog, Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, writes about the Frontline Health Workers Coalition's call on the U.S. government to train 250,000 new frontline health workers in developing countries, stating, "At a time when every dollar counts more than ever, the new Frontline Health Workers Coalition believes this focus is the most cost-effective way to save mothers' and children's lives around the world, address global health threats, and help advance strategic U.S. interests in a secure and prosperous world."

12 Jan 2012

FDA clears Roche's Accu-Chek Nano SmartView blood glucose monitoring system

Roche announced today that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Accu-Chek Nano SmartView blood glucose monitoring system.

12 Jan 2012

The Nation examines whether Nigeria will be able to attain MDGs related to maternal, infant mortality

Nigeria's "The Nation" examines whether, with three years until the deadline for attaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the country will be able to meet the targets of reducing maternal and infant mortality by one-third as set by the U.N.

12 Jan 2012

UofL faculty and students make economic impact of $5.7M in four regions of Kentucky

During 2010-2011, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center faculty and students made an economic impact of more than $5.7 million in the four regions of Kentucky served by UofL Area Health Education Centers.

12 Jan 2012

Frontline Health Workers Coalition launches initiative to add 1M health care workers in developing countries

The Frontline Health Workers Coalition -- which consists of 16 major non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Family Care International, the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, and RESULTS -- has launched "a new initiative to add one million health care workers in developing countries," VOA News reports.

12 Jan 2012