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After noncontroversial past, Title X Family Planning now facing challenges

The Title X Family Planning program, established in 1970 with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Nixon, has been largely noncontroversial. It makes no funds available for abortion, and focuses on what Nixon characterized as the premise that "no American woman should be denied access to family planning assistance because of her economic condition."

23 Mar 2011

Tax credits may help some small businesses pay for insurance

Health insurance costs for small businesses can be a major expense but tax credits may help some business owners.

23 Mar 2011

Health law opponents appeal recent Medicare ruling on opting out

News outlets detail a recent Medicare ruling as well as a status report on Medicare drug discounts.

23 Mar 2011

Japanese, International officials continue to monitor radiation levels

Japanese officials plan to measure radiation levels in the ocean beyond the country's borders on Tuesday and Wednesday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said, CNN reports.

23 Mar 2011

World Water Day focuses on impact of rapid urban population growth on water security

Tuesday marks World Water Day 2011, which this year focuses "on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialisation and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems," the Daily Times reports.

23 Mar 2011

HHS unveils National road map to improve health care quality

Modern Healthcare: HHS Unveils Quality-Improvement Strategy.

23 Mar 2011

GOP lawmakers eye overhaul funding fights, program probes

Roll Call reports that, though Republicans have been pressuring their Democratic counterparts to slash spending in general, they haven't "taken their eyes" away from the goal of blocking spending on the health law. Meanwhile, the Hill reports on one House appropriator's plan to investigate the CLASS program.

23 Mar 2011

Clinical trial to evaluate efficacy of PRP for osteoarthritis pain treatment

For years, doctors have used platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, to promote healing after surgery. Now, Rush University Medical Center is studying whether PRP can help relieve knee pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

23 Mar 2011

Artificial disc replacement may provide better long-term results at reduced cost

When physical therapy and drugs fail to relieve back or neck pain, patients often turn to spinal fusion surgery as a last resort, but two new studies show that in certain situations, especially when several discs are involved, artificial disc replacement may give better long-term results at lower cost.

23 Mar 2011

Health costs: Fla., Minn. lawmakers spar on cuts; Washington State pressed to fund more medical devices for patients

When Sen. Joe Negron released a proposal Monday to cut at least $1 billion from health- and human-services programs, it was a first step in what likely will be a contentious budget process. The proposal immediately drew criticism for deep cuts to hospital funding, mental-health services and the Medically Needy program. And Tuesday, Negron's House counterpart will release a budget proposal that will differ on key issues.

23 Mar 2011

Mary Bridge, Seattle Children's partner to focus on pediatric cardiac surgery services

Seattle Children's Hospital and MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital today announced the formation of a new 10-year collaboration that will expand pediatric specialty services in the Puget Sound region. Initially, the new partnership will focus on providing cardiac surgery services for infants and children.

23 Mar 2011

AARDA report on American economic impact of AD released at congressional briefing

A new report by the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association examining the economic impact of autoimmune disease on Americans, their families and the United States was released today at a congressional briefing as part of AARDA's 2011 National Autoimmune Diseases Awareness Month activities.

23 Mar 2011

California insurers reduce, delay planned rate increases

For the second time this year, Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to cut its average increases for individual policy holders. WellPoint also has reduced its proposed increased and will delay co-pay and deductible increases until January 1, 2012.

23 Mar 2011

WHO releases first list of 30 priority medicines for women, children

The WHO on Monday released a list of 30 medicines that "are essential for treating common diseases of mothers and children," Ghana News Agency reports (3/21).

23 Mar 2011

Opinions: Counterfeit medicines; oral rehydration therapy in Bangladesh; increasing access to safe drinking water; attracting R&D for health issues in Latin America

"The Obama administration and Congress should continue efforts to strengthen the safety of America's drug supply and, simultaneously, coordinate a global response to the problem of counterfeit drugs," Thomas Kubic, president & CEO of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute and a former deputy assistant director at the FBI, writes in a post on The Hill's "Congress Blog," where he describes the health risks associated with such drugs.

23 Mar 2011

WSJ: U.S. Disability Fund may run out of cash

The SSDI is set to soon become the first big federal benefit program to run out of cash — and one of the main reasons is U.S. states and territories have a large say in who qualifies for the federally funded program.

23 Mar 2011

Roundup: HHS Secretary's ability to waive Medicaid requirements; Kansas seeks more funding for disability programs

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has broad legal authority to waive Medicaid maintenance-of-effort requirements, according to a memo from the Congressional Research Service to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

23 Mar 2011

New Deloitte report: Consumers spend $363 billion on health care

As health care reform marks its one-year anniversary, a new Deloitte report reveals that consumers are spending $363 billion, or 14.7 percent more, on health care than traditionally reported in official government accounts.

23 Mar 2011

UMHC cardiologist implants heart valve without open-heart surgery

Dr. Makram R. Ebeid, pediatric cardiologist and professor of pediatrics with University of Mississippi Health Care, has successfully performed a transcatheter pulmonary heart valve replacement procedure for the first time in the state, a nonsurgical alternative to open-heart surgery.

22 Mar 2011