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Neglected tropical diseases becoming more common in Europe, study shows

"Worm infestations, food parasites, Chagas disease, sand fly-transmitted infections and other neglected tropical diseases usually found in Africa and Asia are turning up more often in Europe, according to a new study" published recently in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases by researchers from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, the New York Times reports.

3 Aug 2011

Editorials dissect debt deal, contraception, HSAs, long-term care

The long-term challenge for the federal budget is in benefit programs. Rising healthcare costs and the aging population are driving the budgets for Medicaid and Medicare through the roof, causing those programs to consume an ever-larger percentage of the budget.

3 Aug 2011

Models should guide decision-making for HIV prevention strategies

Ronald Valdesarri, HHS deputy assistant secretary for health, infectious diseases, discusses a recent "two-day workshop on 'Modeling and Evidence-Based Decision Making' sponsored by amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research and cosponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation, the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors, and the Urban Coalition for HIV/AIDS Prevention Services" in this AIDS.gov blog post.

3 Aug 2011

With clock ticking, debt-deal moves toward finish

A Senate vote on the package is set for today. The deal itself has left both liberals and conservatives unhappy but clarified both parties' priorities. For Democrats, it was protecting Medicaid and Social Security. For Republicans, preventing tax increases.

3 Aug 2011

Risperidone does not appear to reduce military-related PTSD symptoms

Patients with military-related, chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and symptoms that were not improved with use of an antidepressant medication did not experience a reduction in PTSD symptoms with use of the antipsychotic medication risperidone, according to a study in the August 3 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.

3 Aug 2011

Super committee's muscle draws interest, questions

Some lawmakers are questioning the powerful panel's ability to recommend changes to entitlement programs and the tax code. This group must present a deficit-reduction package to Congress by Nov. 23. Failure to do so would lead to across-the-board cuts to high-priority programs such as defense spending and Medicare.

3 Aug 2011

UNICEF faces $50M shortfall to aid children in flood-affected areas of Pakistan

UNICEF last week said it "faces a shortfall of more than $50 million to meet the continuing critical needs" of children in Pakistan, one year after monsoon floods submerged nearly one-fifth of the country, the U.N. News Centre reports.

3 Aug 2011

Debt deal raises concerns for states

State officials worry that federal funding for health and other programs could be squeezed by the special congressional committee that will hammer out further spending cuts.

3 Aug 2011

JVIR's impact factor increases nearly 15% during 2010

The Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology's impact factor—the measure of a journal's "impact" based on the number of article citations compared to the total number of articles published—increased nearly 15 percent in 2010.

3 Aug 2011

Health insurance exchange administrator announces HHS exit

Joel Ario, the Health and Human Services official who has been responsible for the development of the health law's insurance exchanges, is leaving his job.

3 Aug 2011

Reducing commodity costs for ARVs could mean providing treatment to millions more people

"Reducing commodity costs for antiretroviral drugs by a mere five to 10 percent can represent hundreds of millions of dollars in savings for the global community. In turn these savings translate into millions of more patients who can receive access to life-saving treatment," David de Ferranti, president of Results for Development Institute (R4D), and Kanika Bahl, managing director at R4D, write in a Huffington Post opinion piece.

3 Aug 2011

Federal judge temporarily bars Kansas from cutting funds to Planned Parenthood

For the second time in a month, a federal judge has temporarily halted a law aimed at abortion clinics. U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten issued a preliminary injunction Monday that blocks Kansas from stripping federal family-planning funds from Planned Parenthood. He ordered the state to start distributing the money to the agency.

3 Aug 2011

Women's eNews examines U.N. Women's position on abortion

U.N. agencies "are shying away from the politically volatile topic [of abortion], despite mounting evidence that restricted abortion access contributes to maternal deaths and constitutes a violation of a woman's human rights," Women's eNews reports.

3 Aug 2011

New HHS rule requires insurance coverage for contraception, other preventive services for women

The regulations, which were issued Monday by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, implement what is likely to be one of the most wide-reaching and popular provisions of the health law.

3 Aug 2011

N.Y. brothers make good money running nonprofit group to help disabled; Fla. sends Medicaid plan to feds

The New York Times details a the expensive lifestyle of two men from Brooklyn who earned nearly $1 million a year when running a Medicaid-financed nonprofit organization serving the developmentally disabled. Meanwhile, in Florida, state officials submitted their plans for converting Medicaid to a managed care program.

3 Aug 2011

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