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Lawmakers draw lines, offer views on Medicare

Senate Democrats argue that the best way to find savings in Medicare is to build on the program changes that were included in the health law. Meanwhile, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., says he is open to Medicare changes that would leave the traditional program intact as an option for seniors in the future.

17 Jun 2011

Pawlenty aims verbal barb at Romney

On Thursday, GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty called rival Mitt Romney a "co-conspirator" in the federal health overhaul. He also repeated his call for repealing the measure, and maintained that, when he was governor, he handled health reform "the right way."

17 Jun 2011

UK should continue to provide aid to India, parliamentary report says

Despite enormous economic gains over the past 25 years, Britain should continue to provide aid to India until 2015 to ensure the country meets the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a cross-party report published by the House of Commons international development committee on Tuesday, the Guardian reports.

17 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 17, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about how health entitlement programs are faring in the ongoing deficit-reduction negotiations.

17 Jun 2011

U.S. government's GAVI pledge took 'trade-offs' in global health portfolio

"Investments in vaccines are one of the best and most cost-effective life-saving investments for the world's children, which is why we've made tough choices and trade-offs within our current global health portfolio to make this commitment"

17 Jun 2011

Sarkozy calls for G20 agriculture ministers to establish farm database

"French President Nicolas Sarkozy urged G20 agriculture ministers to agree at talks in Paris next week on a farm database that would gather and store market-sensitive information such as food stocks," Reuters reports.

17 Jun 2011

U.S. food aid policies must be streamlined to prevent a food security crisis

Feed the Future programs "will indeed address hunger at its core, offering farmers the tools and opportunity they need to feed their families. ... But on the other side of town we've deepened our investments in policies that increase food insecurity.

17 Jun 2011

Health care in the U.S. must focus primarily on disease prevention: Surgeon General

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin said Monday that health care in the United States must shift its primary focus to disease prevention rather than the treatment of illness.

17 Jun 2011

Physician payment, home health out-of-pocket costs grab headlines

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's latest report casts the challenges surrounding Medicare physician payment as an "opportunity" to hasten needed reform. Additionally, an analysis by Avalere Health measures the impact of a proposal for home health co-payments.

17 Jun 2011

Joint venture to manufacture and distribute tenofovir gel in Africa

CONRAD and the South African Government's Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) on Tuesday announced a license agreement that grants TIA the rights to manufacture and distribute tenofovir gel in Africa, according to a CONRAD statement.

17 Jun 2011

ECCHC, Kool Smiles open new dental office in East Chicago

East Chicago residents will soon have something new to smile about. Kool Smiles, a leading dental health provider dedicated to expanding access to quality dental care for children and families in underserved communities, is opening a new office in East Chicago in partnership with the East Chicago Community Health Center.

17 Jun 2011

Federal health law implementation drives state policy debates

Examples of implementation activity at the state level stem from preparations underway for health insurance exchanges.

17 Jun 2011

U.S. to provide additional $7.5M in humanitarian aid for Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia

The U.S. will provide an additional $7.5 million in humanitarian assistance for refugees and internally displaced persons in Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia, according to a statement from the State Department on Wednesday, RTTNews reports.

17 Jun 2011

Wall Street Journal examines business schools' focus on health care

The Wall Street Journal examines how some top business schools are tailoring their programs to students who are interested in the health care industry, "which promises to grow as populations age and those in developing countries demand access to the latest treatments."

17 Jun 2011

GOP governors continue push for Medicaid flexibility as part of debt-cutting deal

These Republican officials argue that as federal funding for Medicaid has expanded, so has federal control. Their argument to include the measure in debt-ceiling legislation is raising concern among some Medicaid advocates.

17 Jun 2011

Enterologics to acquire BioBalance from NYHC

Enterologics, Inc. announced today that it is acquiring all the shares of The BioBalance Corporation and its subsidiary BioBalance LLC from New York Health Care, Inc.

17 Jun 2011

Civil unrest creates serious health implications in South Sudan

BMJ reports on the health affects of civil unrest in South Sudan, which will become the world's newest country on July 9.

17 Jun 2011

Budget talks continue; options to reduce entitlement program spending gain traction

A report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission bolstered some of the options to squeeze billions in savings from Medicare — options currently under consideration in the budget negotiations being led by Vice President Joe Biden. In addition, the Wall Street Journal reports the Medicaid is facing significant cuts in the emerging budget deal.

17 Jun 2011

Loyola employee donates kidney to complete stranger, saves her own life

When Dorothy Jambrosek, 47, decided to donate a kidney to a stranger, she didn't realize that her goodwill would save her own life. After undergoing a series of tests required to give a kidney, doctors discovered that Jambrosek had precancerous lesions in her breast that could become cancerous.

17 Jun 2011

Lawmakers clash over franked mail that criticized House GOP plan for Medicare

Some Democratic House members who have had constituent mailings held up because of proposed GOP revisions to soften the message are accusing the Republican majority of censoring their mail. GOP leaders counter that the Dems are abusing their franked mail privileges to send out political attacks on the Ryan plan to revamp Medicare.

17 Jun 2011