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Child casualties rise significantly in Somalia, WHO says

The WHO on Tuesday said children under age 5 make up almost half of those injured in a recent upsurge of violence in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, AlertNet reports.

2 Jun 2011

House votes down symbolic effort to raise debt ceiling

The House overwhelmingly refused to raise the nation's borrowing ability Tuesday — a largely symbolic vote designed to bolster Republican arguments that a successful measure must include deep spending cuts and sweeping policy revisions.

2 Jun 2011

Experts from 16 national osteoporosis societies to meet in Dubai for IOF event

Online registration and abstract submission is now open for the largest bone meeting of 2011 to be held in the Middle-East and Africa region.

2 Jun 2011

Google launches Dengue Trends tool to track outbreaks

"Google has launched Dengue Trends, a tool that aims to detect dengue fever outbreaks around the world using the same methodology behind Google Flu Trends," PC Magazine reports.

2 Jun 2011

Eight major health systems join HVHC to demonstrate improved care at lower costs

In December, Mayo Clinic, Denver Health, Intermountain Healthcare, Dartmouth-Hitchcock, Cleveland Clinic, and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice announced the formation of the High Value Healthcare Collaborative to improve health care, lower costs, and move best practices out to the national provider community. Today, they announced that eight major health systems will join the Collaborative.

2 Jun 2011

Sanofi, DNDi announce three-year research collaboration for neglected tropical diseases

The pharmaceutical company Sanofi and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) on Monday announced a three-year research collaboration to develop drugs for nine neglected tropical diseases, RTTNews reports.

2 Jun 2011

Small increases in temperature, rainfall amount can predict cholera outbreaks, study says

Small increases in temperature and rainfall amount may be able to predict cholera outbreaks in some areas, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Agence France-Presse reports.

2 Jun 2011

IMS Model to guide providers and patients toward adherence

Physicians can help their patients follow prescribed treatments and achieve healthier results - particularly in chronic disease management - by using a three-pronged strategy developed by a team of researchers from the University of California, Riverside, Texas State University-San Marcos, and La Sierra University in Riverside, Calif.

2 Jun 2011

Procedural questions could slow health law challenges

Some of the health care lawsuits once considered contenders to reach the Supreme Court have run into procedural questions that could delay a ruling on whether the law's requirement to buy insurance is constitutional.

2 Jun 2011

Researchers molecularly characterize MRSA isolates from fire station environmental surfaces

MRSA transmission may be occurring in fire stations, according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of APIC - the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology.

2 Jun 2011

Medicare payment proposal for medical imaging triggers opposition

The top Republican and Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Health panel are pushing back against proposals to curb medical imaging tests paid by Medicare, arguing that they could restrict access to "life-saving medical tools."

2 Jun 2011

New Blue Access Mobile offers actionable and personalized health information

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has announced new, enhanced features that expand the mobile experience through Blue Access Mobile. Members can now sign up for text messaging services to receive health and wellness alerts, claims payment alerts, weekly diet tips, and reminders to take medication.

2 Jun 2011

Lawmakers continue Medicare plan posturing

While some Republican lawmakers defend their votes in support of Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan's budget blueprint that includes a revamp of Medicare, some Democrats make clear their intent to protect the program.

2 Jun 2011

Texas special legislative session on budget will deal with Medicaid; Calif. shifting Medicaid to managed care

Gov. Rick Perry was expected to begin weighing a Republican presidential bid this week but instead found himself enmeshed again in the battle over the state budget. Political watchers here will scrutinize the governor's special-session agenda for clues to his national intentions. So far, besides the budget, it includes a long-term overhaul of Medicaid and redrawing congressional districts.

2 Jun 2011

State roundup: Colo. Gov. Vetoes cost sharing bill for children's health plan

Gov. John Hickenlooper issued his first veto Tuesday, nixing a measure that would have required certain parents whose children are enrolled in a state health care plan to pay higher premiums.

2 Jun 2011

Viewpoints: More on Medicare's 'hard choices'; elderly and anti-psychotics; Calif. insurance rate hikes

Unless we make hard decisions now, in less than a decade every dollar of federal revenue will go to covering the costs of Medicare, Social Security and interest payments on our debt. ... I admire Congressman Paul Ryan's honest attempt to save Medicare.

2 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 1, 2011

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports: "Trying to spur enrollment in a key new benefit of the 2010 health law, the Obama administration announced today it is slashing premiums for new high-risk insurance plans and no longer requiring applicants to submit a rejection letter from private insurers".

1 Jun 2011

Many consumers opt for high-deductible coverage despite risks

Last year, Tina Holwin Hodges' healthy family switched to a high-deductible health insurance plan and were able to save $100 a month on their monthly premiums, which seemed like a bargain. Then her daughter Cailee spent three days in the hospital with a viral infection, her daughter Heather went in for a cardiac workup, her husband had hand surgery after being out of work for a year, and she injured her back and couldn't work for three months.

1 Jun 2011

McMaster, Abbott create new education chair to focus on rheumatology

Abbott, a global, broad-based health care company, and the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University today announced the creation of an endowed chair to focus on teaching the next generation of rheumatologists for the growing number of Canadians living with arthritis.

1 Jun 2011

Dems, GOP continue heavyweight fight over Medicare proposals

Democrats and Republicans are looking for their next messaging steps on proposals to slow the growth of Medicare costs in the wake of a congressional election and talks to tackle to mounting debt.

1 Jun 2011