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Discovery could aid research into motor neuron disease

Scientists have found that a key hormone allows young zebrafish to develop and replace their motor neurons - a kind of nerve cell found in the spinal cord.

24 May 2013

State programs, agreements with feds aim at better mental health care delivery

States seek to improve how they deliver mental health care: In Georgia, a revamp shows success stories; Connecticut seeks an agreement to better care for children with mental health problems; and in Texas, lawmakers back a diversion program to keep the mentally ill from jail.

22 May 2013

Medicaid: Doctors wait for pay raise; Lawsuit alleges Conn. application backlog breaks federal law

Medicaid doctors continue to wait for their pay raise -- five months after they were supposed to get it. In Connecticut, some allege a backlog of applications for the program breaks federal law, and are suing to stop it.

16 May 2013

Medicaid: Texas providers push for higher reimbursement; Ill. nursing home supporters call for restoration of funds

Medicaid programs -- reimbursement for providers in Texas, proposed cuts in Illinois and application delays in Connecticut -- make news.

15 May 2013

White House identifies key groups for health exchange enrollment

The Obama administration has identified specific groups of people it would like to focus on as it promotes enrollment in the state health insurance exchanges next year. The administration plans a localized approach to reach 2.7 million healthy people who are 18 to 35 years old and without health insurance, according to information provided by senior administration officials (Ethridge, 5/10).

14 May 2013

Community health centers get $150M to help uninsured enroll in new coverage

The funding is to hire staff, train existing staff and perform outreach and educational activities. The idea is to help consumers sign up for coverage sold through new online insurance marketplaces that are scheduled to open on Oct. 1 under the Affordable Care Act.

13 May 2013

HHS takes first steps in outreach effort to enroll consumers in health exchanges

CQ HealthBeat reports that the Department of Health and Human Services is now collecting contact information for consumers so the agency can provide updates. Meanwhile, Illinois opened a competitive grant process to award funds to community groups to help with the state's consumer education effort.

8 May 2013

Highlights: Local Kan. program seeks to prevent readmissions with food deliveries; Conn. officials want stricter limit on insurer markup

A selection of health policy stories from Kansas, Connecticut, Oregon, the District of Columbia, Texas, Florida, Minnesota and California.

20 Apr 2013

Kids mental health cuts at issue in Mass.; Colo. considers its mental illness 'hold' laws

Massachusetts officials are planning hearings about the Cambridge Health Alliance's planned cuts to pediatric services -- mainly to mental health care, while Colorado lawmakers consider their "involuntary hold" laws governing the treatment and holding of mentally ill people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

19 Apr 2013

Roundup: Minn. Democrats push pay hike for nursing home workers; Colo. official warns of possible exchange delays due to IT

A selection of health policy stories from Minnesota, Colorado, New York, Delaware, Georgia, Oregon, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Massachusetts and California.

11 Apr 2013

State Highlights: St. Jude lawsuits could change medical-device liability protection; Calif. weighs charity minimum for nonprofit hospitals

A raft of lawsuits filed Thursday against St. Jude Medical Inc. over an implanted heart device could challenge the broad liability protection that medical-device makers have enjoyed since a key Supreme Court ruling in 2008.

6 Apr 2013

North Dakota abortion clinic pledges to fight new state law

North Dakota's only clinic that offers abortion services is vowing to challenge the state's adoption of new restrictions that its backers say imperil its ability to operate.

3 Apr 2013

Online chat rooms provide beneficial forum for chronic pain sufferers

The more than 100 million Americans living with chronic pain and daily suffering often have limited outlets to talk about their conditions with others who can understand and offer comfort. Online chatrooms may provide a beneficial forum where chronic pain sufferers can openly and safely communicate, as discussed in an article in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

19 Mar 2013

Feds to kick off campaign to reach uninsured in July

Politico reports that the Obama administration will begin a pitch to enroll the uninsured beginning in July.

7 Mar 2013

Mental health news: Ore. lawmakers make children's funding push; Conn. panel makes recommendations

Lawmakers and officials from Oregon, Connecticut and around the nation deal with treating and paying for how they treat the mentally ill.

7 Mar 2013

Women's low adherence to daily-dose products in HIV prevention trial suggest different approach needed, researchers say

"Results of a major HIV prevention trial suggest that daily use of a product -- whether a vaginal gel or an oral tablet -- does not appear to be the right approach for preventing HIV in young, unmarried African women," a press release from the Microbicide Trials Network reports.

6 Mar 2013

States take up mental health care, stricter gun control as shooting fallout continues

Fallout from recent mass killings involving the mentally ill have states scrambling to figure out how to best treat these patients as well as considering stricter gun controls -- which, in turn, is drawing the ire of the National Rifle Association.

1 Mar 2013

State roundup: Kan. eyes rural residencies to solve doc shortage; More hats in Mass. Gov. race

Rural hospitals could provide critical help addressing the state's expected doctor shortage, according to Dr. Douglas Girod, the new executive vice chancellor of the University of Kansas Medical Center.

27 Feb 2013

Roundup: Conn. governor's budget proposal would shed thousands from Medicaid; Insurance rates to rise 2.7% in Mass.; Calif. group wants tighter doc narcotic control

Gov. Dannel Malloy said he would close Connecticut's $1.2 billion budget gap with a mix of spending cuts, including to hospitals and programs for the poor, and new revenues, including the extension of some business taxes that were scheduled to expire.

10 Feb 2013

Weekend reading: Mental health discrimination; A doctor faces hard questions; Long-term outlook for health care jobs

"When I had cancer, I got cards and flowers," Karen Kangas' sign reads. "When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, I got no cards and a pink slip." A picture of Kangas holding the sign hangs in the state Capitol complex, part of an exhibit called "Discrimination: A Roadblock to Recovery."

9 Feb 2013