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Huntsman's stance on Utah health mandate questioned

During a campaign stop Friday, former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. presented Utah's health reform as a model for what other states could do. And, Huntsman pointed out, Utah did not mandate that people buy health insurance, unlike the Massachusetts model now a thorn for Mitt Romney. His assertion, however, was called into question by a story in the Huffington Post, under the headline "Huntsman vs. Huntsman," which quoted Utah health policy players who said Huntsman had wanted a mandate but didn't get it.

23 May 2011

Medicare worries may tip balance to Democrat in NY congressional race

Republicans are growing increasingly pessimistic over their prospects in a race for a western New York congressional seat the party was once thought a lock to hold. With the contest entering its final weekend, party officials acknowledge what a Siena College poll released Saturday confirmed: Republican Jane Corwin narrowly trails Democrat Kathy Hochul. The Republican has so far failed to capture a portion of GOP votes that instead might be cast toward Jack Davis.

23 May 2011

Ryan defends Medicare, Medicaid plan; Gingrich explains attack on GOP budget

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on Sunday called Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's characterization of his Medicare plan "right-wing social engineering" as "deeply inaccurate, a gross mischaracterization of the House Republican budget plan." Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if the former House Speaker undercut Republican efforts to pass the reforms, Ryan said, "Leaders are elected to lead. ... And we are leading in the House".

23 May 2011

Swimmer’s ear costs millions in healthcare each year: CDC report

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is a common infection that accounts for almost $500 million in U.S. health-care costs each year, according to a new government report. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the agency's May 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, says this condition results in 2.4 million doctor visits annually in the United States, each visit costing an average of $200.

22 May 2011

From September insurers will need to justify annual premium increases of 10% plus

According to the new Obama administration rule taking effect in September, state regulators cannot reject rate increases deemed unreasonable, but it requires insurers to explain the reasons for such hikes to the public.

22 May 2011

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) legislation required a core set of recommended health care quality measures to be identified for voluntary use by State Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), which together cover almost 40 million American children and adolescents.

21 May 2011

UB's graded exercise test for concussion could help decide hockey player's fitness to return to the ice

As the chase for the 2011 Stanley Cup heads to the finish, several players are off the ice suffering from concussion, an injury all too common in this contact sport.

21 May 2011

NIH allocated $400 million funding for pain research in 2010

An unprecedented level of federal funding for pain research, some $400 million, was allocated in 2010 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through provisions of the American Recovery and Investment Act and the Affordable Care Act to help accelerate advances in pain research, prevention and treatment.

21 May 2011

Studies: Unintended pregnancies cost taxpayers $11B a year

Two studies have found that unplanned pregnancies cost taxpayers up to $11 billion per year. The figure is sure to generate discussion on Capitol Hill as lawmakers grapple with funding for Planned Parenthood.

21 May 2011

Roundup: Kan. exchange blueprint coming soon; 'Most favored nation' ban passes in Conn.; Anti-fraud repeal in Calif.

In a few months, the Kansas Insurance Department is expected to release a blueprint for how a health insurance exchange might work. "We still have a lot of work to do but, so far, the process has been going really, really well," said Linda Sheppard, head of the insurance department's accident and health accident and health division.

21 May 2011

Electrical experiment helps paralyzed man stand, walk

An electrode experiment has helped a paralyzed man stand and walk for short periods, which has some calling it a major breakthrough in treating paralysis. In other news, Ford is developing health-monitoring technology for cars.

21 May 2011

16 Countries announce new commitments to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality

Today 16 countries announced new commitments to dramatically reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, as part of the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health.

21 May 2011

5 Faculty members at Stanford medical school disciplined

Five faculty members at Stanford University's School of Medicine have been disciplined for giving paid promotional speeches for drug companies, a direct violation of school policy.

21 May 2011

CDC issues guidelines on dealing with the walking dead

Hoping to draw attention to other disaster preparedness, a normally stoic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines this week on how to cope with an invasion of the brain-munching walking dead.

21 May 2011

Editorial boards, columnists have lots to say about Gingrich and Medicare

Newt Gingrich was right — the first time. The former House speaker and current presidential candidate has retreated under a barrage of criticism, but he had two things to say on NBC's "Meet The Press" that were correct even if politically ill-advised.

21 May 2011

FAO launches anti-locust program to protect food security for 20M people in Central Asia, the Caucasus

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said Thursday it would help 10 countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus to preserve 25 million hectares of cultivated farmland from a "locust crisis" that is threatening food security for 20 million people, Agence France-Presse reports.

21 May 2011

Medicine, osteopathy, physical therapy and chiropractic colleges collaborate to study safety in spinal manipulation

A recent team grant by the Canadian Institute for Health Research is providing an innovative approach to researching patient safety for those who provide and receive spinal-manipulative therapy. The $2-million grant over five years brings together health researchers from across Canada and will involve input from four regulatory colleges in Alberta.

21 May 2011

APS honors recipients of Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards

The American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org, today honored the recipients of its fifth annual Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards recognizing the nation's outstanding pain care centers.

21 May 2011

Some cancer patients go without drugs because of high cost

New targeted pills can have dramatic effects on cancer, not only driving the disease into remission but also freeing patients from hours of uncomfortable and boring chemotherapy treatments. Up to 10 percent of patients, however, are not filling their prescriptions for the pills--and cost appears to be a factor, according to a new report.

21 May 2011

Breast cancer survivors, advocates stress importance of Every Woman Counts program

Responding to Governor Brown's announced revised budget, breast cancer survivors and advocates from across the state stressed the importance of early detection.

21 May 2011

Health Care News and Research

Huntsman's stance on Utah health mandate questioned

Medicare worries may tip balance to Democrat in NY congressional race

Ryan defends Medicare, Medicaid plan; Gingrich explains attack on GOP budget

Swimmer’s ear costs millions in healthcare each year: CDC report

From September insurers will need to justify annual premium increases of 10% plus

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

UB's graded exercise test for concussion could help decide hockey player's fitness to return to the ice

NIH allocated $400 million funding for pain research in 2010

Studies: Unintended pregnancies cost taxpayers $11B a year

Roundup: Kan. exchange blueprint coming soon; 'Most favored nation' ban passes in Conn.; Anti-fraud repeal in Calif.

Electrical experiment helps paralyzed man stand, walk

16 Countries announce new commitments to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality

5 Faculty members at Stanford medical school disciplined

CDC issues guidelines on dealing with the walking dead

Editorial boards, columnists have lots to say about Gingrich and Medicare

FAO launches anti-locust program to protect food security for 20M people in Central Asia, the Caucasus

Medicine, osteopathy, physical therapy and chiropractic colleges collaborate to study safety in spinal manipulation

APS honors recipients of Clinical Centers of Excellence in Pain Management Awards

Some cancer patients go without drugs because of high cost

Breast cancer survivors, advocates stress importance of Every Woman Counts program

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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