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First Edition: August 1, 2011

In today's headlines, the early details regarding how the politics and policies involved of the debt-ceiling deal are taking shape.

1 Aug 2011

Fischer retains TransMedia to launch Israel's most popular sunscreen in the U.S.

Fischer Pharmaceutical Ltd., a multi-national company specializing in R&D and manufacture of a wide variety of skin and health care products, has retained TransMedia Group to introduce Israel's most popular sunscreen, Dr. Fischer ULTRASOL, in the United States.

1 Aug 2011

'NOT ME' diabetes initiative in Columbus and around Ohio

The City of Columbus is joining communities across the country to say "NOT ME" to diabetes, offering city workers access to programs proven to prevent and control type 2 diabetes.

1 Aug 2011

Nursing homes attack Medicare's payment cuts

"Medicare says it will cut payments to nursing homes to correct for an unintended windfall this year, and the industry is warning that quality will be compromised. Officials announced the 11 percent cut Friday, along with other changes meant to tamp down on physical therapy costs".

1 Aug 2011

Gundersen Lutheran staff develop comprehensive CT radiation dose reduction program

In an effort to reduce the radiation dose delivered by computed tomography (CT) scans, staff at a community-based hospital developed a comprehensive CT radiation dose reduction program which has allowed them to reduce the radiation dose delivered by CT scans at their facility, according to an article in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

1 Aug 2011

Debt deal on table includes possible Medicare cuts

"Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on CNN's State of the Union said lawmakers were looking at $3 trillion in spending cuts. 'We're very close,' McConnell said".

1 Aug 2011

Default scenarios include questions about fate of Medicare, Medicaid, government workers

With the debt-ceiling fight unlikely to be resolved this weekend, news outlets are covering the possible fallout for the health care system.

1 Aug 2011

Opinion pieces address drought, famine in Horn of Africa

"Why can't we end famine in Somalia?": "What is needed right now is for the international community to act immediately to save the millions who are starving," Maryan Qasim, a doctor and an adviser in the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, writes, concluding, A long-term development strategy to ensure that when the famine finally comes to an end, it really does come to an end, is equally important.

30 Jul 2011

Ghana declares eradication of Guinea worm

Ghana on Thursday declared the eradication of Guinea worm in the country, after a 23-year fight against the disease, the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports.

30 Jul 2011

Demonstrators in Swaziland express concern over possible antiretroviral shortages

More than 3,000 demonstrators gathered across Swaziland on Thursday for a second day of protests over the king's handling of an economic crisis that they say is causing a shortage of medical supplies, including antiretroviral therapy, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports (7/28).

30 Jul 2011

Clinton praises innovators for their work to help mothers and children

Speaking at the Saving Lives at Birth Development Exchange at the State Department on Thursday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "praised innovators from around the globe for their work to protect the health and lives of mothers and children at birth, particularly in rural areas of the developing world," IPP Digital reports.

30 Jul 2011

Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care expresses alarm about CMS' newly-published Final Rule

Saying the nation's Skilled Nursing Facility sector has contributed significantly to advancing health care reform and deficit reduction in the face of severe state Medicaid funding pressures and other major budgetary challenges, the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care today expressed alarm about the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' newly-published Final Rule ["Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2012"], and said it will dangerously destabilize the nation's second largest health facility employer, place patients and their care at deep risk, and put tens of thousands of health jobs in immediate jeopardy.

30 Jul 2011

Harvard releases global health case studies

The Global Health Delivery Project and Harvard Business Publishing on Thursday "released 21 teaching case studies examining the principles of health care delivery in resource-poor settings," according to a press release from the Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard University.

30 Jul 2011

PA departments warn public regarding use of glass-bottled milk from Brunton Dairy in Aliquippa

The Pennsylvania departments of Health and Agriculture and the Allegheny County Health Department are advising the public of the possible health risks associated with products, specifically glass-bottled milk, from Brunton Dairy in Aliquippa, Beaver County.

30 Jul 2011

U.S. investment in polio eradication must be protected

"Spying is a messy business that necessarily involves deceit, and U.S. intelligence operatives need latitude to do their work. In this case, however, the planners and approvers of the CIA vaccine operation didn't appropriately calculate the possible consequences of their actions on an agenda that is as important to the world as fighting al-Qaeda," a Bloomberg editorial states.

30 Jul 2011

U.N. says crisis in southern Somalia will worsen through 2011

The "crisis in southern Somalia is expected to continue to worsen through 2011, with all areas of the south slipping into famine," according to a report for countries sending aid to the region that was published by the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Reuters reports.

30 Jul 2011

Economist examines cholera, possible solutions to mitigate disease

The Economist in its current issue examines cholera, including the disease's history, current outbreaks, and research into vaccines and sanitation.

30 Jul 2011

NASADAD receives SAMHSA's Mental Health and Substance Abuse Block grants

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today awarded a $1.1 million grant to the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) to provide support for states as they navigate the challenges and opportunities presented in the changing health and human services environment.

30 Jul 2011

Gates Foundation partners with soccer team for polio eradication, vaccine awareness campaign

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Thursday announced a three-year partnership with the soccer team FC Barcelona aimed at promoting polio eradication and highlighting the importance of vaccines, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's "Seattle Big Blog" reports.

30 Jul 2011

Political, economic tensions in Malawi threaten new HIV/AIDS strategy

In a guest post on the GlobalPost's "Global Pulse" blog, Janet Fleischman, a senior associate at the CSIS Global Health Policy Center, describes the Malawian government's "plans to launch a 'test and treat' program in which all HIV-infected pregnant women will immediately be put on antiretroviral treatment drugs for life."

30 Jul 2011