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Dem leaders acknowledge Senate support for Berwick falls short

But the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services chief says he remains entirely focused on the job at hand.

10 Mar 2011

PQC: Americans express rising concern about hospital acquired infections

Despite significant advances made during the last several years, most Americans view the care delivered in America today as merely adequate - with 20 percent rating care as poor compared to only 8 percent who rated care as excellent. Americans expressed rising concern about hospital acquired infections, sepsis and other preventable conditions, according to new research released today by the Partnership for Quality Care.

10 Mar 2011

GOP pollster offers vision for undoing the health law

Pollster Bill McInturff said a campaign strategy that capitalizes on Americans' tepid support for the overhaul and their ongoing worries about it could be "politically crippling" for Democrats. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee chairman points to a potential chink in Mitt Romney's armor.

10 Mar 2011

Lipitz Center offers free technical assistance to medical practices for chronic care

The Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is offering free technical assistance to help primary care practices and health care organizations, including accountable care organizations, improve the quality and outcomes of health care for older adults with chronic illnesses.

10 Mar 2011

AAFP, AAP, ACP and AOA release new guidelines for effective PCMH recognition programs

Four organizations representing more than 350,000 primary care physicians today released joint "Guidelines for Patient-Centered Medical Home Recognition and Accreditation Programs."

10 Mar 2011

California leaders completes much-anticipated State Plan for Alzheimer's disease

Anticipating a catastrophic increase in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, California leaders have completed the much-anticipated California State Plan for Alzheimer's disease, a disease estimated to double among Californians by the year 2030.

10 Mar 2011

White House appeals Florida ruling overturning health law

The administration acted quickly in order to prevent a part of the judge's recent "clarification" that would have shut down implementation of the law for now. Meanwhile, in another health law challenge, Mass. Attorney General Martha Coakley and a number of hospital associations filed separate amicus briefs in support of the federal government.

10 Mar 2011

Reid backs House version of 1099 repeal

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., went on record saying he liked the House's pay-for provision — which has drawn opposition from many Democrats — better than the Senate's approach.

10 Mar 2011

Need for new definition of 'normal' blood pressure

As many as 100 million Americans may currently be misclassified as having abnormal blood pressure, according to Dr. Brent Taylor from the Veterans Affairs Health Care System in Minneapolis and the University of Minnesota and his colleagues. Their findings show that these people are not actually more likely to die prematurely than those with 'normal' blood pressure, i.e. below 120/80.

10 Mar 2011

Opinions: Investing in science, technology; Indian public-private partnership for NTDs; U.S. global food security investments; Clinton's statements on PEPFAR; U.S. foreign aid; primary care

"Now is the time to support science and technology - especially in difficult economic times. It is the right thing to do, and it makes good economic sense," Alex Dehgan, science and technology adviser to the USAID administrator, and Kaitlin Christenson, coalition director for the Global Health Technologies Coalition, write in an opinion piece appearing on The Hill's "Congress Blog."

10 Mar 2011

State budget cuts take toll on mental health services

An analysis by the National Alliance on Mental Illness concluded that 32 states and Washington, D.C., have reduced funding for mental health programs.

10 Mar 2011

Senate continues to be embroiled in spending bill battles

March 18 is the deadline for work to be completed on spending for the current year, otherwise a government shutdown will take place. A Bloomberg poll found many Americans would oppose a shutdown, but also oppose deep cuts in programs such as Medicare and medical research. All the while, politics related to funding for the health law and Planned Parenthood are still heating up.

10 Mar 2011

Feds gives Maine a break from insurance premium rules

Maine was granted leeway — the first such waiver given by the federal government — with the health law provision known as the medical-loss ratio because of concerns it would destabilize the state's insurance market.

10 Mar 2011

PPD introduces new online portal to enhance patient connectivity, improve retention in clinical trials

PPD, Inc. today announced it has launched an innovative online portal linking clinical trial participants with biopharmaceutical companies, physicians and health care resources to enhance patient connectivity and improve retention in clinical trials.

10 Mar 2011

Illicit drug users may face increased risk of microbial infections

Illicit drug users are at increased risk of being exposed to microbial pathogens and are more susceptible to serious infections say physicians writing in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

10 Mar 2011

Medicaid and the health overhaul's goals

Media outlets report on how the health overhaul interacts with Medicaid and whether it will ultimately have a positive or negative impact on states.

9 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Are waivers weakening health law?; Ill. 'Dangerous Docs'; Arizona transplants

It is irresponsible for the feds to dole out hundreds of millions without the assurance of insurance, payment and system reform, as well as universal coverage. That's the problem with Republican proposals to use a "block grant" approach in giving Medicaid dollars to the states to do with as they will. The president should use his precious time to encourage the law's implementation as soon as possible in areas of the country that are already on this road -- like our own Upper Midwest -- not to coddle his political enemies.

9 Mar 2011

New Australian drug approvals subject to budget cuts

According to Health Minister Nicola Roxon’s statement to pharmaceutical company bosses, new medicines will no longer be subsidised unless budget savings can be found.

9 Mar 2011

Roundup: Legislatures pressured on health cuts, malpractice laws; Mass. Blue Cross board salaries; pension costs

This week, the Assembly and Senate will debate the final package of budget reductions. Among the $6 billion in health-related cuts is the elimination of the Maddy Fund, a $55 million attempt to reimburse emergency departments for indigent care.

9 Mar 2011

Human Genome Sciences receives FDA approval for Benlysta to treat lupus

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Benlysta to treat patients with active, autoantibody-positive lupus who are receiving standard therapy, including corticosteroids, antimalarials, immunosuppressives, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

9 Mar 2011