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State roundup: Gov't workers face benefit changes; worry over social service cuts

For many states, 2011 is the most trying budget year of a fiscal crisis now in its fourth year. Revenues generally remain lower than what they used to be; widespread joblessness is putting unprecedented strains on safety-net programs like Medicaid; and all this is happening as federal stimulus money runs out.

18 Feb 2011

In battle against health law, hard-liners advise GOP lawmakers not to 'fix it'

A Republican strategy firm urged GOP lawmakers to stand firm against the measure, and to only take action if affected industries "endorse full repeal."

18 Feb 2011

Massachusetts Gov. to unveil plan to curb health costs via payment reforms

Gov. Deval Patrick's legislation is designed to reduce health care costs by paying doctors and hospitals in lump sums for overall patient care rather than on a procedure-by-procedure basis. In addition, bonuses would be linked to patient outcomes.

18 Feb 2011

Opinions: U.S. foreign aid; Lay health workers

"The international affairs budget does more than just keep our nation safe - it bolsters our economy by creating jobs here and developing markets for U.S. goods and services overseas. It makes sense: effective development brings stability, economic development and a demand for goods and services," according to a Politico opinion piece by Reps. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) and Leonard Lance (R-N.J.).

18 Feb 2011

Signs of P.A.D. indicate increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, death

Approximately nine million Americans over the age of 50 are living with a disease that affects their legs and raises their risk of having a heart attack. Unfortunately, many with the disease do not even know they have it. February is Heart Month, and the Vascular Disease Foundation and its P.A.D. Coalition are urging Americans to listen to their legs and be alert to the signs of peripheral arterial disease, or P.A.D.

18 Feb 2011

Senate 'Gang of Six' develops deficit reduction framework

A bipartisan group of senators is considering legislation that would trigger new taxes and budget cuts if Congress fails to meet a set of mandatory spending targets and other fiscal goals aimed at reducing federal deficits. The plan would break the task of deficit reduction into four pieces: a tax code overhaul; discretionary spending cuts; changes to Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlements; and changes to Social Security, aides said.

17 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Arizona's waiver; next gen's 'different' Medicare?; individual mandate's constitutionality

There may be no federal obstacles to cutting 250,000 people out of AHCCCS, part of Gov. Jan Brewer's budget proposal. But there are compelling reasons to avoid such a drastic step if at all possible. And it's possible.

17 Feb 2011

Health law, budget plans examined, defended during Capitol Hill hearings

Across the Hill, oversight hearings were held to review specific provisions of the new health law and related waivers. In addition, administration officials took questions about some specifics within the president's budget blueprint. And the House Judiciary Committee approved a medical malpractice reform bill.

17 Feb 2011

Study: Ventilator-associated pneumonia infections drop by 70% in Michigan hospitals

Cases of ventilator-associated pneumonia — the most lethal and among the most common of all hospital-associated infections — dropped by more than 70 percent in Michigan hospitals where medical staff used a simple checklist designed by Johns Hopkins researchers. Such pneumonias kill an estimated 36,000 Americans each year.

17 Feb 2011

Astellas' Protopic receives Health Canada approval for prevention of eczema flares

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. has announced that it has received approval from Health Canada for a new indication for its topical eczema therapy, Protopic® (tacrolimus ointment 0.03% and 0.1%). The new indication means that tacrolimus ointment can be prescribed for maintenance therapy to prevent flares and prolong flare free intervals in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (commonly called eczema).

17 Feb 2011

Poll: Most Americans don't want to defund health law

Even as respondents continued to express opposition to the health reform law, a CBS News poll found that the majority of Americans disapprove of congressional Republicans' efforts to starve the health overhaul of the funds needed to implement it.

17 Feb 2011

Massachusetts receives $35.6 million HHS grant to develop online health care exchanges

The University of Massachusetts Medical School, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Massachusetts Connector Authority have received a $35.6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop an online "health care exchange," a resource through which consumers and small business owners can efficiently shop for health insurance plans.

17 Feb 2011

Ascom, Meru provide 802.11n wireless phone to healthcare industry

Meru Networks, the leader in virtualized 802.11n enterprise wireless networking, today announced that Ascom endorses Meru's AP300 Series with "deployment-proven" support for the Ascom i62, the latest generation of voice over Wi-Fi handsets.

17 Feb 2011

More than 170 executives visit members of Congress to advocate for senior-friendly public policies

More than 170 executives from the senior living industry today visited with members of Congress to advocate for policies that will advance quality of life for America's seniors. The Assisted Living Federation of America facilitated the meetings and hosted a briefing about critical matters before Congress that could impact the future of senior living.

17 Feb 2011

Research!America applauds President Obama for prioritizing R&D in FY2012 budget proposal

Research!America's board chair, former Congressman John Edward Porter, and president, Mary Woolley, thanked President Obama for prioritizing medical, health and scientific research in his FY2012 budget proposal.

17 Feb 2011

IQWiG publishes results of search update for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on CHD

On 7 February 2011, the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care published the results of a search update for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on coronary heart disease.

17 Feb 2011

CHIS releases latest data on health and well-being of state's residents

The California Health Interview Survey, the nation's largest state health survey and a primary source of information on California's diverse population, released its latest data today on more than 100 topics affecting the health and well-being of the state's residents.

17 Feb 2011

HHS to announce health exchange 'early innovator' grants to 7 states

The grants, which are to be used to set up the framework for the health law's state insurance exchanges, will reportedly go to Kansas, Maryland, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin and a consortium led by Massachusetts.

17 Feb 2011

Experts say signs and treatment of bacterial infection often misunderstood

According to the Canadian Foundation for Infectious Diseases, antibiotics are the second most frequently prescribed class of drugs - second only to pain relievers. Yet most people don't know the difference between a true bacterial infection, like chronic bronchitis that can be treated with antibiotics — and viruses like the common cold, which cannot.

17 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: NY Times on high-risk pools; GOP on Medicaid 'flexibility;' health workers' rights

As part of the new health care reform, the federal government and 27 state governments are establishing temporary high-risk pools to offer coverage for people with pre-existing conditions until the law takes full effect in 2014.

17 Feb 2011

Health Care News and Research

State roundup: Gov't workers face benefit changes; worry over social service cuts

In battle against health law, hard-liners advise GOP lawmakers not to 'fix it'

Massachusetts Gov. to unveil plan to curb health costs via payment reforms

Opinions: U.S. foreign aid; Lay health workers

Signs of P.A.D. indicate increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, death

Senate 'Gang of Six' develops deficit reduction framework

Viewpoints: Arizona's waiver; next gen's 'different' Medicare?; individual mandate's constitutionality

Health law, budget plans examined, defended during Capitol Hill hearings

Study: Ventilator-associated pneumonia infections drop by 70% in Michigan hospitals

Astellas' Protopic receives Health Canada approval for prevention of eczema flares

Poll: Most Americans don't want to defund health law

Massachusetts receives $35.6 million HHS grant to develop online health care exchanges

Ascom, Meru provide 802.11n wireless phone to healthcare industry

More than 170 executives visit members of Congress to advocate for senior-friendly public policies

Research!America applauds President Obama for prioritizing R&D in FY2012 budget proposal

IQWiG publishes results of search update for evidence-based clinical practice guidelines on CHD

CHIS releases latest data on health and well-being of state's residents

HHS to announce health exchange 'early innovator' grants to 7 states

Experts say signs and treatment of bacterial infection often misunderstood

Viewpoints: NY Times on high-risk pools; GOP on Medicaid 'flexibility;' health workers' rights

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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