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Save the Children releases annual global mother's index

Afghanistan is "the worst place to be a mother, with women having a life expectancy of 45 years - the world's lowest - and one of every 11 women dying in childbirth," according to Save the Children's annual State of the World's Mothers report, the Associated Press/Seattle Times reports.

4 May 2011

Health IT can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce environmental savings

An analysis by Kaiser Permanente shows that use of health information technology can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce other important environmental savings.

4 May 2011

U.N. Commission releases recommendations aimed at improving accountability on women's and children's health

The U.N. Commission on Information and Accountability for Women's and Children's Health on Monday concluded a meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and announced a new set of recommendations aimed at improving the accountability of women's and children's health programs in the developing world, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports.

4 May 2011

FTC, FDA take action on unproven STD drug products

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission today announced a joint effort to remove products from the market that make unproven claims to treat, cure, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases.

4 May 2011

Opinions: U.S. development aid, commitment to women; R&D partnerships and development

Once again, Save the Children's State of the World's Mothers report has ranked Afghanistan, where one in 11 women die of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth, the worst place in the world to be a mother, which "is not surprising," Ret. Army Col. John Agoglia, who served as director of the Counterinsurgency Training Center-Afghanistan in Kabul from 2008-2010, writes in a Politico opinion piece.

4 May 2011

Low salt intake may increase risk of cardiovascular events

In a study conducted to examine the health outcomes related to salt intake, as gauged by the amount of sodium excreted in the urine, lower sodium excretion was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular death, while higher sodium excretion did not correspond with increased risk of hypertension or cardiovascular disease complications, according to a study in the May 4 issue of JAMA.

4 May 2011

Community Health raises its bid for Tenet

The story continues as Community Health makes its "best and final offer."

4 May 2011

New rule could impact Medicaid provider payment cuts

The regulation is likely to trigger "stiff resistance" from governors and some members of Congress who fear it will undermine the ability of states to control Medicaid spending.

4 May 2011

Herbal remedies commonly used in infants without efficacy & safety guarantees: Study

According to a new U.S. government study parents commonly give infants teas or herbal supplements said to soothe “fussiness” even though there's no good evidence that the products work. The market is flooded with these teas and botanical products with ingredients like chamomile, ginger and fennel that are marketed for easing infants' tummy troubles, fussiness and sleep problems. However there is no evidence that these are effective and safe.

4 May 2011

Roundup: Mass. officials wrestle with municipal health care issues

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says he and legislative leaders are in fundamental agreement over what should be included in a municipal health care bill, even while there remains disagreement on the specifics. The House approved a measure last week that would largely strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights over health care benefits. The Senate is expected to act in the coming weeks.

4 May 2011

'Big cleanout' no cure for hoarding

Kaiser Health News's Peggy Girshman writes: "If basic cable is any indication we have a fascination with hoarding. 'We all love a good train wreck' says Mark Odom, clinical consultant to the Orange County (Calif.) Task Force on Hoarding.

4 May 2011

Viewpoints: Dem representatives on health spending; Star Tribune praises IPAB; NY Times on stem cells

When the debate over the fiscal 2012 budget began, the country — or, more accurately, the media — was focused on Rep. Paul Ryan's proposal. Introduced on behalf of the Republican House majority, our colleague's plan puts the interests of wealthy corporations first by slashing Medicare and Medicaid and spending trillions on a new corporate tax cut. Indeed, cutting is all it seems to do. ... That's not a jobs plan — that's an economic death sentence.

4 May 2011

First Edition: April 3, 2011

Today's headlines include reports on the GOP's ongoing efforts to defund the health law as well as the impact a new rule might have on Medicaid provider payments.

3 May 2011

Experts say best teacher for a young mother is her baby

The best teacher for a young mother is her baby, contend experts who train social workers to interact with first-time moms.

3 May 2011

Patients with LEP less likely to receive home health care referral

Among children whose parents and other primary caregivers have limited English proficiency, there is an associated increased length of hospital stay and decreased number of home health care referrals for pediatric inpatients with infections requiring long-term antibiotics, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 May 2011

GOP lawmakers draw comparisons between Medicare plan, FEHBP

GOP Lawmakers Tout Medicare Reform By Stretching A Comparison To The Health Benefits They Receive During the congressional recess, Rep. Ryan and other Republican lawmakers have been selling their proposal to restructure Medicare with what appears to be a poll-tested phrase: It will be similar to a system "just like" what members of Congress have.

3 May 2011

New study: Text-heavy labels can reduce acetaminophen overdose

While well known for relieving everyday aches and pains, few realize that when misused, acetaminophen can lead to acute liver failure and even death, often due to accidental overdose by an uninformed consumer. A new small study looked at what's missing in consumer education about acetaminophen and how to overcome those gaps.

3 May 2011

Romney discusses his state's overhaul at Republican event

Speaking at a "tea party" forum on Friday evening, former governor Mitt Romney, now a GOP presidential hopeful, offered "tepid" defenses of his state's health law and said that the Mass. overhaul was an "experiment" and some parts of it "didn't work."

3 May 2011

Sparks continue to fly around GOP Medicare plan

News outlets offer varying takes on how voters and fellow Republicans are reacting to the GOP plan to transform Medicare.

3 May 2011

Medicare unveils rules for hospital quality bonuses

The shift in payment strategy will reward hospitals for the quality, rather than the quantity, of care they provide. The change was set in motion by the health law.

3 May 2011