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Enrollment dramas ripple through the states

As the health overhaul's first open enrollment period drew to a close, states experienced triumphs as well as tribulations -- whether they were running their own websites or using the federal exchange.

2 Apr 2014

Marketplace website goes offline briefly this morning

The site was down for maintenance after federal officials said that it had 2 million visits over the weekend.

1 Apr 2014

Americans' experience with health law depends on where they live

Some states that embraced the law, like Oregon, have had difficulty enrolling residents because of glitch-ridden online marketplaces, while others like New Hampshire have seen unexpectedly strong enrollments despite prevailing critical views.

31 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 31, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations offer assessments of the administration's campaign to get people signed up for health care and a look at the issues going forward after today's deadline for most enrollments.

31 Mar 2014

Research roundup: Distance from a transplant center; Medicaid prenatal care; metastasis of email; profiting from Medicare Advantage

Centralization of specialized health care services such as organ transplantation and bariatric surgery is advocated to improve quality, increase efficiency, and reduce cost.

29 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Nothing 'magical' about 6 million enrollees; the high cost of hep C medicine

Big news this afternoon on the Affordable Care Act: The ACA exchange signups have reached the 6 million mark. With a few more days to go before the open sign-up period closes (well, sort of) it looks like the original 7 million estimate -- which the Congressional Budget Office had revised downward after the botched October roll-out of the federal exchange -- is going to be pretty close to the mark.

29 Mar 2014

Roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud settlement; Texas abortion law upheld; Va. mental health tragedy details

A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan and Massachusetts.

29 Mar 2014

States work to clarify enrollment rules, untangle technical problems as open enrollment period moves toward its close

News outlets also report that states are still conducting outreach efforts and offering the latest tallies of people who are signing up as well as information about subsidies.

29 Mar 2014

Study explores effect of child obesity intervention programs on blood pressure

One of the serious health consequences of obesity is elevated blood pressure (BP), a particular problem in children because research has found that high BP in children usually follows them into adulthood, carrying with it a wide range of possible negative consequences.

29 Mar 2014

Health law commentary: A series of delays; Senators' ideas for a fix; GOP should drop 'excuses' in Va. Medicaid debate

One by one, the myths of the Affordable Care Act have been revealed. When the curtain on open enrollment falls on March 31, the last remaining big myth of ObamaCare will be fully exposed: The individual mandate has failed. After a last-ditch effort with President Obama himself encouraging "young invincibles" to sign up before the deadline, the administration is scrambling to boost enrollment. On Tuesday, the White House announced that people who applied for coverage on the federal health-insurance exchange will have until mid-April to finish the paperwork (Abby McCloskey and Tom Miller, 3/26).

28 Mar 2014

State highlights: Parents of disabled kids blast Minnesota Gov.; N.Y. reins in tanning salon claims

A tearful mother, one of several who testified at a State Capitol press conference Wednesday to make an impassioned plea for a medical marijuana law, said that Gov. Mark Dayton had earlier suggested to her and others that they obtain the drug illegally.

28 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 28, 2014

The White House said on Thursday that more than six million people had signed up for medical insurance plans under President Obama's health care law, exceeding the administration's revised goal for enrollment by the Monday deadline.

28 Mar 2014

CDC identifies six new cases of people with Heartland virus

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with health officials in Missouri and Tennessee have identified six new cases of people sick with Heartland virus: five in Missouri and one in Tennessee. The new cases, discovered in 2012 and 2013, are described today in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

28 Mar 2014

Contraceptive commentary: Religious liberty should not be constrained; women employees are forgotten

The Affordable Care Act returned to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, as the Justices heard a major challenge to the law's birth-control mandate. Five and maybe even six Justices across ideological lines seemed discomfited by the Administration's cramped conception of religious liberty (3/25).

27 Mar 2014

Emergence of community-acquired infections due to ESBL-producing bacteria on the rise

The emergence of community-acquired infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTI), due to strains resistant to common antibiotics are on the rise, according to Rhode Island Hospital researchers. The study is published online in the journal Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control.

26 Mar 2014

TriMed Technologies' EHR version 7.9 achieves 2014 Edition Complete Ambulatory EHR Certification

TriMed Technologies, a leading provider of physician based healthcare information solutions, announced that its EHR (Electronic Health Record) version 7.9, has received 2014 Edition Complete Ambulatory EHR Certification, which designates that the software is capable of supporting healthcare providers with Stage 1 and Stage 2 Meaningful Use measures required to qualify for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

25 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Mcconnell, Wasserman Schultz, Barasso on Obamacare's 4th anniversary; defending surgeon general nominee

The promises that were made to sell Obamacare - that it wouldn't disrupt people's previous health care arrangements and that premiums would go down - are now being exposed for the cheap and deceptive sales pitch they were. It may be tempting for some to brush all this aside as standard politics.

25 Mar 2014

ISTH declares Oct.13 as World Thrombosis Day

Bringing together nations and local communities to tackle thrombosis, the quiet, underlying disorder that is the common mechanism of the world's three top cardiovascular killers – heart attack, stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE) – the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) today announced that October 13 will be designated World Thrombosis Day, with the inaugural event to be held this year.

25 Mar 2014

Viewpoints on challenge to contraceptive coverage mandate

This week, the owners of two secular, for-profit corporations will ask the Supreme Court to take a radical turn and allow them to impose their religious views on their employees - by refusing to permit them contraceptive coverage as required under the Affordable Care Act. The Supreme Court has consistently resisted claims for religious exemptions from laws that are neutral and apply broadly when the exemptions would significantly harm other people, as this one would. To approve it would flout the First Amendment, which forbids government from favoring one religion over another - or over nonbelievers (3/22).

25 Mar 2014

VaxInnate starts Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate VAX2012Q for prevention of seasonal influenza

VaxInnate Corporation today announced that enrollment has commenced in a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate VAX2012Q, a recombinant quadrivalent vaccine in development for the prevention of seasonal influenza. VaxInnate is a biotechnology firm pioneering a breakthrough technology platform for the development of novel vaccines.

20 Mar 2014

Health and Human Services News and Research

Enrollment dramas ripple through the states

Marketplace website goes offline briefly this morning

Americans' experience with health law depends on where they live

First Edition: March 31, 2014

Research roundup: Distance from a transplant center; Medicaid prenatal care; metastasis of email; profiting from Medicare Advantage

Viewpoints: Nothing 'magical' about 6 million enrollees; the high cost of hep C medicine

Roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud settlement; Texas abortion law upheld; Va. mental health tragedy details

States work to clarify enrollment rules, untangle technical problems as open enrollment period moves toward its close

Study explores effect of child obesity intervention programs on blood pressure

Health law commentary: A series of delays; Senators' ideas for a fix; GOP should drop 'excuses' in Va. Medicaid debate

State highlights: Parents of disabled kids blast Minnesota Gov.; N.Y. reins in tanning salon claims

First Edition: March 28, 2014

CDC identifies six new cases of people with Heartland virus

Contraceptive commentary: Religious liberty should not be constrained; women employees are forgotten

Emergence of community-acquired infections due to ESBL-producing bacteria on the rise

TriMed Technologies' EHR version 7.9 achieves 2014 Edition Complete Ambulatory EHR Certification

Viewpoints: Mcconnell, Wasserman Schultz, Barasso on Obamacare's 4th anniversary; defending surgeon general nominee

ISTH declares Oct.13 as World Thrombosis Day

Viewpoints on challenge to contraceptive coverage mandate

VaxInnate starts Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate VAX2012Q for prevention of seasonal influenza

Event guide: 6th Operationalize Expanded Access Programs Summit East eBook

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