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Gender based violence can lead to long term mental ailments in women: Study

According to new research, women who are victims of violence at the hands of men are highly likely to suffer mental disorders for the rest of their lives.

3 Aug 2011

Roundup: Atlanta hospital facing questions about extending dialysis care to immigrants; Fla. to limit HMO choices for state workers

The agreement providing dialysis for immigrants who were former Grady patients expires at the end of August, and it's unclear what will happen next. ... Grady's financial situation has deteriorated recently, and its losses this year could reach $20 million or more. Meanwhile, the hospital continues to shoulder an enormous financial burden in caring for uninsured patients, including immigrants, providing more than $200 million in indigent care annually.

3 Aug 2011

Gender-based violence associated with lifetime risk of mental illness and disability

Women who experience gender-based violence such as rape, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking have a higher lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders, dysfunction and disability, new Australian research shows.

2 Aug 2011

BARDA awards contracts for development of drugs for radiation injury to the GI tract

The first two contracts for advanced development of drugs to treat gastrointestinal (GI) tract injuries associated with acute radiation syndrome were awarded today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

2 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 2, 2011

Today's headlines reveal how some specific elements of the debt-ceiling deal might impact Medicare providers.

2 Aug 2011

Life becomes harder after settlements for on-the-job back injuries

Financial and domestic problems for workers -- particularly those who are African-American, have lower incomes, or are younger than 35 -- get progressively worse in the years after they have settled claims for painful, on-the-job back injuries, a new Saint Louis University study finds.

2 Aug 2011

Nursing homes to face Medicare pay cut

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized an 11 percent drop in nursing home payments, which will kick in next year.

2 Aug 2011

Coast Dental acquires SmileCare

Coast Dental Services, Inc., has completed the acquisition of the assets of Dental Technology, Inc. (DTI), doing business as SmileCare, and Community Dental Services, Inc., a California licensed health care service plan.

2 Aug 2011

Race and the personalized medicine debate

Federal examiners have rejected patents for genetic screening tests because the applicants did not explore their effectiveness for different races, adding to the debate about whether race has scientific validity in modern DNA-based medicine.

2 Aug 2011

New report offers solution for improving health care distribution methods

Each year millions of children and adults in the world's poorest countries die from lack of access to medicine and health care. A new report from Rice University's Jones Graduate School of Business and the George W. Bush Institute offers a solution for improving distribution methods for health care information, products and services.

2 Aug 2011

What will the health law look like in the future?

News outlets report on a range of issues related to the health law, from efforts to repeal the measure's tax on insurance policies to competing claims about its costs.

2 Aug 2011

Global Democracy Promotion Act 'would help keep ideology in check'

The Global Democracy Promotion Act, recently introduced in the House by Rep. Nita Lowey, "would bar the use of U.S. foreign aid to restrict people's liberty and says that organizations accepting U.S. assistance cannot be forced to quash perfectly legal activities in return," Planned Parenthood Federation of America Vice President Latanya Mapp Frett writes in a New York Daily News opinion piece.

2 Aug 2011

Science magazine special section examines world's population growth

The current issue of Science magazine features a special section that explores issues surrounding population growth, "many of which continue to split demographers," according to the section's introduction.

2 Aug 2011

Field trials of rapid, inexpensive and portable HIV test show success, researchers report

"The first field trial for a 'lab on a chip' accurately detected both HIV and syphilis among a Rwandan population, researchers reported Sunday" in an online report published by Nature Medicine, the Washington Post reports.

2 Aug 2011

Low-cost UC sensor can quickly detect heavy metals in humans

Work by University of Cincinnati researchers to create a sensor that provides fast feedback related to the presence and levels of heavy metals - specifically manganese - in humans is published in the August issue of the prestigious international journal, Biomedical Microdevices.

2 Aug 2011

HHS announces new guidelines for women's preventive services

The rule includes everything from distribution of birth control pills to administration of breast exams. Ultimately, women will no longer pay out of pocket for preventive services. However, Politico reports that the Department of Health and Human Services may include a "conscience clause" in the regulation.

2 Aug 2011

Antibody discovery leads researchers one step closer to universal influenza A vaccine

"The first human antibody that can knock out all influenza A viruses has been shown effective in lab mice, an exciting step forward in the hunt for a universal vaccine, researchers said Friday," Agence France-Presse reports.

2 Aug 2011

New York Times examines maternal mortality in Uganda

"Half of the 340,000 deaths of women from pregnancy-related causes each year occur in Africa, almost all in anonymity," the New York Times writes in an article profiling several cases of women who have died during childbirth in Ugandan hospitals.

2 Aug 2011

Florida stands out among states with refusal to accept federal health law funding

The New York Times reports on strict stand by Florida governor to avoid HHS money. Meanwhile, other news outlets look at funding for insurance co-ops, efforts to set up health exchanges, and reviews of insurance premium increases.

2 Aug 2011

Key Mass. hospital-doctor group still looking to fulfill pledge on reducing insurance premiums

Partners HealthCare System vowed to pay $40 million to help reduce insurance costs for small businesses, the Boston Globe reports. Also, California group announces plans for an ACO and Minnesota Public Radio examines how cost cutting efforts will affect health care.

2 Aug 2011