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States worry they may not receive expected Medicaid money, prepare contigency plans

The Boston Globe: "Governor Deval Patrick signed a $27.6 billion spending plan yesterday for the budget year that begins today, slashing funding for services across state government, including public education, dental care for the poor, and developmental services for toddlers.

2 Jul 2010

Healthy diet can reduce age-related eye problems

While 20/20 vision is a symbol of visual acuity, between now and the year 2020, more and more people will experience some extent of vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other sight-robbing diseases.

2 Jul 2010

Governors urge Congress to extend emergency Medicaid funds

At a press conference in Washington Wednesday, "10 governors said they had already cut millions from their budgets since the recession hit at the end of 2007, and that if the funds were not approved in coming weeks they would have to slash funding for services like hospice care or preschool programs," Reuters reports.

2 Jul 2010

AHF members urge Congress to honor AIDS funding commitment

Five AIDS treatment clients and medical care providers from Uganda are visiting Washington, DC for a series of over 50 meetings this week on Capitol Hill with Senate and Congressional leaders to lobby Congress to honor the US' landmark commitment to PEPFAR (the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), the successful US global AIDS program.

2 Jul 2010

Almost Family receives civil subpoena for documents and notice of investigation from SEC

Almost Family, Inc., a leading regional provider of home health nursing services, announced today that on June 30, 2010 it received a civil subpoena for documents and notice of investigation from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

1 Jul 2010

AstraZeneca announces new support program for patients on ARIMIDEX

AstraZeneca today announced a new patient support program for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early breast cancer who are prescribed ARIMIDEX. The program is designed to provide eligible patients with instant discounts, potentially saving the patient up to $300.

1 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 1, 2010

Today's health policy headlines highlight news about the launch of a government health insurance web site and the start of the high-risk health insurance pools mandated in the health reform law.

1 Jul 2010

Authoritative parenting style associated with frequency of family meals and healthy diet in adolescents

Investigators from the University of Minnesota have found a direct association between parenting style and the frequency of meals eaten together as a family and that an authoritative parenting style was associated with more frequent family meals. Their data further indicated that family meals have a positive influence on adolescents to eat a healthy diet. The results of the study are published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

1 Jul 2010

Lensless cell phone microscope

Cell phones are accumulating a Swiss Army Knife-esqe assortment of capabilities; substituting as cameras, providing internet access, and soon operating as medical labs if Aydogan Ozcan's plans come to fruition. This month's cover article of the journal Lab on a Chip features the latest creation by the Ozcan group, a functioning prototype of a cell phone microscope.

1 Jul 2010

HHS Secretary to introduce www.HealthCare.gov consumer empowerment tool

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will introduce www.HealthCare.gov, a powerful new tool for consumers. The Secretary and Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer for HHS, will roll out the new site, called for in the Affordable Care Act, demonstrate some of its important features and answer questions from the media.

1 Jul 2010

Commonly used type of bone marrow stem cell may help treat sepsis, new study suggests

A new study from researchers in Ottawa and Toronto suggests that a commonly used type of bone marrow stem cell may be able to help treat sepsis, a deadly condition that can occur when an infection spreads throughout the body. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, shows that these cells can triple survival rates in an experimental model of sepsis.

1 Jul 2010

Mass. reports on people who buy insurance only when sick; Wash. board considers aiding consumers get 'Plan B' referrals; ACLU sues R.I. over electronic records

The Boston Globe: "The number of people who appear to be gaming the state's health insurance system by purchasing coverage only when they are sick quadrupled from 2006 to 2008, according to a long-awaited report released yesterday from the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. The result is that insured residents of Massachusetts wind up paying more for health care, according to the report. … The report was released as state lawmakers consider proposals to make it harder for consumers to jump in and then dump their health insurance coverage" (Lazar, 6/30).

1 Jul 2010

Eisai to commercialize lorcaserin for obesity and weight management in U.S.

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Eisai Inc. will market lorcaserin for obesity and weight management in the United States following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval under the terms of a marketing and supply agreement between Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Eisai. Lorcaserin, which Arena discovered and has developed for weight management, is intended for obese patients as well as overweight patients who have at least one weight-related co-morbid condition.

1 Jul 2010

Eisai signs agreement with Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH to commercialize lorcaserin

Eisai Inc., the U.S. pharmaceutical operation of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for exclusive U.S. rights to commercialize lorcaserin, a drug candidate for potential use in the treatment of obesity, including weight loss, for patients who are obese (Body Mass Index or BMI ≥ 30) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27) with at least one weight-related co-morbid condition.

1 Jul 2010

Simbionix, USF Health receive BIRD Grant for development of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module

Simbionix Ltd., a subsidiary of Simbionix USA Corporation, the world's leading provider of medical education and simulation training products for medical professionals and the healthcare industry, and USF Health, an organization dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health, are proud to announce that together they received a BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Grant to support the development of a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module.

1 Jul 2010

ACP releases practical resource guide for internists on PPACA

A practical resource guide for internists on recently-enacted health care reform legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, was released today by the American College of Physicians. An Internist's Practical Guide to Understanding Health System Reform was developed by ACP's Division of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy, a significant player in helping to shape this year's health care reform legislation.

1 Jul 2010

California State Assembly eases doctor shortages by supporting SB 726

Citing a federal government estimate that more than 3 million Californians cannot find doctors who will provide them essential medical care, health care and social justice advocates challenge the Senate to show the same level of compassion and leadership demonstrated by yesterday's passage of SB 726 (Ashburn) on the Assembly Floor.

1 Jul 2010

CED report warns that health care reform will not succeed without cost reforms

The health-care delivery system and payment structure need significant reforms, or the health care reform law passed by Congress will prove to be an "empty promise." That is the conclusion of a new report, Health Care in California and National Health Reform, from the business-led Committee for Economic Development.

1 Jul 2010

CBO Director: Potential health law savings not enough to reduce long-term deficits

Congressional Budget Office findings that for the first time take into consideration "the new health care law, heralded by President Obama and Democrats for reducing deficits in the long run" were presented today before the president's bipartisan fiscal commission. Among the CBO conclusions is that savings that result from the overhaul "aren't enough to turn deficits around."

1 Jul 2010

Lawmakers urge swifter launch of home health care demo

"The so-called Independence at Home (IAH) program, included as part of the Democrats' new health reform law, is scheduled to take effect no later than Jan. 1, 2012, but Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) warn that waiting that long would threaten the health of one of the country's most vulnerable populations," The Hill reports.

1 Jul 2010

Health Care News and Research

States worry they may not receive expected Medicaid money, prepare contigency plans

Healthy diet can reduce age-related eye problems

Governors urge Congress to extend emergency Medicaid funds

AHF members urge Congress to honor AIDS funding commitment

Almost Family receives civil subpoena for documents and notice of investigation from SEC

AstraZeneca announces new support program for patients on ARIMIDEX

First Edition: July 1, 2010

Authoritative parenting style associated with frequency of family meals and healthy diet in adolescents

Lensless cell phone microscope

HHS Secretary to introduce www.HealthCare.gov consumer empowerment tool

Commonly used type of bone marrow stem cell may help treat sepsis, new study suggests

Mass. reports on people who buy insurance only when sick; Wash. board considers aiding consumers get 'Plan B' referrals; ACLU sues R.I. over electronic records

Eisai to commercialize lorcaserin for obesity and weight management in U.S.

Eisai signs agreement with Arena Pharmaceuticals GmbH to commercialize lorcaserin

Simbionix, USF Health receive BIRD Grant for development of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module

ACP releases practical resource guide for internists on PPACA

California State Assembly eases doctor shortages by supporting SB 726

CED report warns that health care reform will not succeed without cost reforms

CBO Director: Potential health law savings not enough to reduce long-term deficits

Lawmakers urge swifter launch of home health care demo

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