Health Care News and Research

RSS

GAVI chair calls for greater reductions in vaccine prices for developing countries

On Monday, the same day the GAVI Alliance helped oversee the roll out of a routine pneumococcal vaccine in Kenya, GAVI chairman Dagfinn Hoybraten highlighted the need for greater reductions in vaccine prices in developing countries during an interview with Reuters, the news service reports. The piece examines the funding mechanism in place to finance the pneumococcal vaccines, known as Advance Market Commitment (AMC), as well as the budget shortfall facing the group (Kelland, 2/14).

16 Feb 2011

Study: Expedited medical device reviews account for majority of recalls

The analysis, which was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, connected the Food and Drug Administration's most urgent medical device recalls with high-risk devices that were subject to "speedy" review.

16 Feb 2011

Medicare pay cut for docs already drawing fire

Critics said the method used in the budget blueprint would cause serious problems. But some news reports indicate the inclusion of this Medicare "doc fix" would help build support within the physician community for the president's health care agenda.

16 Feb 2011

CR still under consideration as House GOP vehicle to defund health law

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said this plan is still under discussion. Meanwhile, as the House considers this Continuing Resolution, which would provide current year funding for the federal government, it will do so under new rules for debate.

16 Feb 2011

Obama's 2012 budget proposal requests boost for GHI funding, slight core budget increases for State, USAID

President Barack Obama "released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2012 on Monday," the New York Times reports. The president's "fiscal 2012 budget allocates $47 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, which reflects only a 1 percent increase over 2010 levels for the core budget," National Journal writes.

16 Feb 2011

Obama budget draws GOP criticism for not taking on entitlements

Although reports indicate President Barack Obama's proposed budget would reduce the deficit by more than $1 trillion over 10 years, it did not offer major changes to Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security — which total about 40 percent of federal spending.

16 Feb 2011

Graham plans health law opt-out legislation for states

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Monday he would introduce legislation in the Senate to "free states" from the overhaul's mandates, including provisions requiring individuals and businesses to buy health coverage as well as the law's Medicaid expansions.

16 Feb 2011

Budget pushes health law implementation, provides some limited — but not easy — increases

However, news outlets report that funding gains within the Department of Health and Human Services come at a steep price.

16 Feb 2011

GOP point of interest: Selling insurance across state lines

Republicans have introduced legislation to allow consumers to buy health insurance beyond their state borders. Meanwhile, Stateline explores how the health law might impact the job security of brokers.

16 Feb 2011

Benchmark signs definitive agreement to form $890 million partnership with Health Care REIT

Benchmark Senior Living, the leading provider of senior living services in the Northeast, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to form an $890 million partnership with Health Care REIT, Inc., an S&P 500 company that invests across the full spectrum of senior housing and health care real estate.

16 Feb 2011

Medicaid's home health challenges

It's common sense: It is generally better to help the disabled or elderly stay in their homes and communities than to put them in institutionalized care. At home, they have a higher quality of life and a social support system.

16 Feb 2011

Roundup: States grapple with high health costs, Medicaid squeeze

Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill would give his administration sweeping powers to reshape state health programs covering more than 1 million state residents. Under the bill, the administration's rewrite of the Medicaid program would be reviewed only by the Legislature's budget committee, which has a broader margin of control for majority Republican lawmakers than any other legislative committee.

16 Feb 2011

UMB achieves 35% increase in health spending accounts

UMB Healthcare Services, a division of UMB Financial Corporation, announced today that it has achieved a 35 percent increase in the number of its health spending accounts.

15 Feb 2011

Efficacy of zinc in common cold - Review of clinical trials

A new study has added to the existing literature that debates the role of zinc in combating the common cold. It suggests that the supplement might modestly reduce cold duration and severity or maybe even prevent it. The report was published as a Cochrane Review.

15 Feb 2011

Cholesterol woes across Australia

A new study shows that Victorians and Tasmanians have the worst average cholesterol levels in Australia. The study looked at almost 200,000 patient records over 5 and half years and showed that Tasmanians’ average cholesterol level was the nation’s highest, at 5.41mmol/L (millimoles per litre), with Victorians’ average level at 5.23mmol/L.

15 Feb 2011

UC Davis and Sutter first to share electronic health records in the region

Steven Hedrick, deputy director of rehabilitative programs at the California Department of Corrections, was relaxing at home recently when a sharp pain rippled through his lower abdomen. The ache was so severe that he drove to the nearest treatment center Sutter Urgent Care, Yuba City. Physicians there quickly evaluated Steven, obtained a CT scan and diagnosed him with kidney stones. Hedrick was prescribed pain medication and counseled to check in with his primary care physician at UC Davis as soon as possible.

15 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 15, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the health portion of the President's budget blueprint along with the politics that accompany it.

15 Feb 2011

CRN Magazine recognizes Meru Networks as one of the top 100 2010 Health Care Vendors

Meru Networks, the leader in virtualized 802.11n enterprise wireless networking, today announced that it has been recognized by Everything Channel's CRN Magazine as one of the top 100 2010 Health Care Vendors.

15 Feb 2011

CWRU's REC helps doctors to adopt electronic health records

Nearly $8 million of federal stimulus funds provided through the Ohio Health Information Partnership is already starting to help hundreds of doctors in northeast Ohio switch to electronic health records. Now, with a greater sense of urgency, the word is going out to providers who might not yet be aware that valuable advice is easily available to them.

15 Feb 2011

President to unveil $3.7 billion budget blueprint; challenge is to show fiscal discipline while funding health law's implementation

President Barack Obama's budget plan includes a two-year Medicare "doc-fix" that uses heavy cuts in other health providers' Medicare reimbursements to stave-off a scheduled 25 percent reduction in Medicare physician reimbursements. Meanwhile, news outlets also report the plan "avoids" tackling entitlement spending.

15 Feb 2011