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Study links readmissions with nurse overtime

Fewer patients returned to the hospital soon after leaving when hospitals reduced nurse overtime, according to a newly released study. The research, published in the journal Health Services Research, analyzed records for roughly 1,900 patients at four hospitals during the first half of 2008.

27 Apr 2011

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

A unit of American International Group, the New York-based insurance giant, agreed to pay restitution and a fine totaling $760,000 for selling faulty health insurance products in Massachusetts, under a settlement reached with state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

27 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Shortsighted fight against fund to prevent disease; strengthening regulators' control of premium increases

House Republicans are so bent on blocking any and all aspects of health care reform that they have passed a bill that would eliminate a farsighted program — the Prevention and Public Health Fund — intended to help states and communities prevent diseases. Eliminating the fund would save roughly $16 billion over the course of a decade. … The loss to states and local communities would be considerable.

27 Apr 2011

Black people more likely to exhaust financial resources for cancer therapy than whites: Study

In a new study published online in the journal Cancer, it was said that when faced with life-threatening cancer, minority patients like blacks may be more likely to drain their bank accounts to extend life than whites.

26 Apr 2011

Humana declares quarterly cash dividend, anticipates first quarter diluted EPS of $1.86

Humana Inc. announced today that it has realigned its business segments to more closely reflect the company's evolving business model. Effective immediately, the company will be managing and reporting its operating results using the following segments: Retail, Employer Group, and Health and Well-Being Services.

26 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 26, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the political ads and positions being inspired by the Ryan budget plan.

26 Apr 2011

Pediatricians plan April 27 rally to protect children's health care access

On Wednesday, April 27, physician residents at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital plan to "Stand For Kids: Protect Children's Healthcare" in a rally to urge members of Congress to protect vulnerable children's access to health care as a congressional budget bill evolves.

26 Apr 2011

Collins, Orszag criticize Ryan plan; Santorum rues Medicare prescription benefit vote

As former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum contemplates a bid for the GOP presidential nomination, he expresses regret over his vote for the unfunded Medicare prescription drug bill. Sen. Collins says she'll oppose Ryan plan, while Peter Orszag says it would increase overall health care costs.

26 Apr 2011

AU health ministers highlight concerns over climate change's impact on health at CAMH5

African health ministers last week discussed their concerns about the health implications of climate change during the fifth African Union Conference of Ministers of Health in Windhoek, Namibia, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports. The conference, which focused on climate change, ended on Friday.

26 Apr 2011

Airwaves in GOP House districts become battleground in Medicare debate

Democratic- and Republican-leaning groups are funding ad campaigns on deficit reduction and health care in the districts of 25 House Republicans.

26 Apr 2011

WHO Africa regional director issues message for World Malaria Day

In a message marking Monday's World Malaria Day, Luis Gomes Sambo, WHO's regional director for Africa, noted that this year signifies the end of the U.N. decade to roll back malaria and "offers an opportunity for renewed commitment" to fight the disease, the Angola Press reports.

26 Apr 2011

COGCare chooses UPMC Health Plan as exclusive insurance provider

UPMC Health Plan has been chosen as the exclusive provider of a health care benefits program for COGCare, an insurance cooperative representing 40 Councils of Government that include over 400 municipalities, county governments and other local governmental agencies in western Pennsylvania.

26 Apr 2011

Survey: Pharmacists top OTC product picks in more than 77 total categories

The 2010 Pharmacy Today Over-the-Counter Product Survey, conducted by the American Pharmacists Association, reveals pharmacists believe that 81% of consumers purchase the over-the-counter product that was recommended by their pharmacist, 92% of pharmacists walk a patient to the OTC section to assist with a product selection and the average patient consult takes only three minutes of the patient's time.

26 Apr 2011

World Malaria Day opinion pieces

Andrew Mitchell, Britain's secretary of state for international development, discusses the U.K.'s approach to combating malaria around the world in a post on the Guardian's "Poverty Matters Blog."

26 Apr 2011

High non-overtime RN staffing can reduce patient readmission rates

Higher non-overtime staffing levels of registered nurses lower the probability of patient readmissions to the hospital, a new study finds. However, higher levels of RN overtime increase the likelihood of unplanned visits to emergency departments after discharge.

26 Apr 2011

In the statehouses: Localities vs. unions in Mass.; supporters to rally for SustiNet in Conn.

Massachusetts House lawmakers kick off a busy week on Beacon Hill Monday with full chamber negotiations over the state budget. ... The biggest point of contention in the budget is the DeLeo-backed provision giving cities and towns the ability to alter employee health plans without union approval. At least 50 Democrats have reportedly signed on to an amendment that would soften that provision.

26 Apr 2011

Delegation of retired world leaders traveling to North Korea to address food shortages, other issues

Former President Jimmy Carter will lead a four-member delegation of retired world leaders on a trip to North Korea this week to discuss "how to ease sanctions on Pyongyang that have exacerbated a serious food crisis" and other issues, Agence France-Presse reports.

26 Apr 2011

BCBSMA develops goals to support four Massachusetts community areas

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a locally-based, community-focused health plan, today announced its goals for advancing the company's four community focus areas - developed to support those living and working in Massachusetts.

26 Apr 2011

State roundup: Fla. hospitals divided public/private oversight; generous health benefits for Calif. elected officials

Hundreds of part-time elected officials throughout the Bay Area received full-time health care benefits in 2010 at taxpayer expense, with individual policies sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars, according to government compensation data acquired by Bay Area News Group and published on its websites Sunday.

26 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Sebelius on medical mistakes; Stockman on solving deficit; Fox on Medicare's political history

A recent study found that as many as one out of three hospital patients is harmed by his or her care. And the Institute of Medicine estimates that as many as 100,000 Americans die each year from preventable medical errors in hospitals. That's about the number of annual deaths caused by auto accidents, AIDS, and breast cancer combined.

26 Apr 2011

Health Care News and Research

Study links readmissions with nurse overtime

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

Viewpoints: Shortsighted fight against fund to prevent disease; strengthening regulators' control of premium increases

Black people more likely to exhaust financial resources for cancer therapy than whites: Study

Humana declares quarterly cash dividend, anticipates first quarter diluted EPS of $1.86

First Edition: April 26, 2011

Pediatricians plan April 27 rally to protect children's health care access

Collins, Orszag criticize Ryan plan; Santorum rues Medicare prescription benefit vote

AU health ministers highlight concerns over climate change's impact on health at CAMH5

Airwaves in GOP House districts become battleground in Medicare debate

WHO Africa regional director issues message for World Malaria Day

COGCare chooses UPMC Health Plan as exclusive insurance provider

Survey: Pharmacists top OTC product picks in more than 77 total categories

World Malaria Day opinion pieces

High non-overtime RN staffing can reduce patient readmission rates

In the statehouses: Localities vs. unions in Mass.; supporters to rally for SustiNet in Conn.

Delegation of retired world leaders traveling to North Korea to address food shortages, other issues

BCBSMA develops goals to support four Massachusetts community areas

State roundup: Fla. hospitals divided public/private oversight; generous health benefits for Calif. elected officials

Viewpoints: Sebelius on medical mistakes; Stockman on solving deficit; Fox on Medicare's political history

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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