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FDA proposes new Innovation Pathway program for pioneering medical devices

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed the Innovation Pathway, a priority review program for new, breakthrough medical devices and announced the first submission: a brain-controlled, upper-extremity prosthetic that will serve as a pilot for the program. The FDA also announced plans to seek further public comment before the Pathway can be used more broadly.

9 Feb 2011

Specific gene variation may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease: New study

A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has found evidence suggesting that a variation of a specific gene may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's, the disease which accounts for over 90% of Alzheimer's cases. This innovative study has combined genetics and brain imaging to determine who may be at risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease long before symptoms appear.

9 Feb 2011

Sebelius signals readiness to tweak long-term care insurance program

The goal will be to ensure the program's fiscal sustainability into the future — a frequent criticism from GOP critics who hope to repeal the program.

9 Feb 2011

Obama will send Congress 'tough choices' budget, White House budget director says

"President Barack Obama will send Congress a 'tough choices' budget next week that would cut some of his own programs in the environment, community development and services for the poor to rein in the deficit," Jacob Lew, the White House budget director, wrote recently in a New York Times opinion piece, Bloomberg reports.

9 Feb 2011

Rational use of heath care dollars for tonsillectomy

Without fanfare, hundreds of thousands of children surrender their tonsils to a surgeon's scalpel each year, usually to alleviate recurring infections and obstructive sleep problems. Most of the time, the snipped tonsils are sent to a pathologist, who looks for evidence of more serious medical problems, like unsuspected cancer.

9 Feb 2011

U.N. officials call for renewed effort to stop female genital mutilation/cutting

U.N. officials on Sunday called for countries to renew their commitment to end female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), a practice which endangers the lives of women and girls, Inter Press Service reports (Deen, 2/7).

9 Feb 2011

FAO issues alerts on flood damage in Southern Africa, drought in China

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Monday issued an alert warning that "floods and heavy rains have significantly damaged whole areas of agricultural land across southern Africa and that the livelihood and food security of farmers and their families are at risk," the Associated Press reports (2/7).

9 Feb 2011

GOP Govs seek flexibility in insurance exchanges

In a sharply worded letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the governors ask for six specific changes that would give states more control over the health law's exchange markets.

9 Feb 2011

Politics swirl around health law provisions

With the 2012 elections in sight, some Democrats are searching for ways to roll back the individual mandate while others have hired a strategist to defend the overhaul. And the GOP's first real spending bill doesn't seem to put force behind their pledge to defund the health law.

9 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Prof. Tribe on health law constitutionality; Repeal/replace rhetoric; Texas abortion law

The predictions of a partisan 5-4 split rest on a misunderstanding of the court and the Constitution. The constitutionality of the health care law is not one of those novel, one-off issues, like the outcome of the 2000 presidential election, that have at times created the impression of Supreme Court justices as political actors rather than legal analysts.

9 Feb 2011

Essential benefits, child-only policies among health overhaul issues gaining attention

News outlets report on developments related to the implementation of these health law provisions.

9 Feb 2011

Governors face painful budget choices

Health care programs are among those being slashed with many news organizations focusing on Florida Gov. Rick Scott's plans for Medicaid.

8 Feb 2011

Roundup: Fraying safety nets; Calif. mental health clinics; Texas obesity costs rising

Medicaid is one of the fastest growing parts of the state budget. To tackle rising health care costs, Gov. Deval Patrick's administration plans to stop paying hospitals with high rates of re-admissions when low-income patients return within 30 days.

8 Feb 2011

Cleveland Regional receives NCSA grant to assist hospital's stroke program

The N.C. Stroke Association announced today that it has made a $15,000 grant to Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby, N.C., to assist in the development of the hospital's stroke program on its route to achieve Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center certification.

8 Feb 2011

Sun exposure reduces risk of multiple sclerosis: Study

A new Australian study has found that increased sun exposure and higher vitamin D levels may help to protect against the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS).

8 Feb 2011

Australian research reveals more than 70% of hospital patients are malnourished

Many elderly Australians are either admitted to hospital suffering malnutrition, or become malnourished while in hospital, which increases hospital length of stay and health care costs.

8 Feb 2011

AJN: Nurses and physicians lack knowledge about human trafficking

A report, published in the February issue of the American Journal of Nursing, underscores nurse and physicians' lack of knowledge about the indicators of human trafficking when they encounter a patient who is a victim of trafficking.

8 Feb 2011

Study finds heartburn as a common condition in Iceland

Heartburn is a signature symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is a cluster of symptoms and signs associated with regurgitation of stomach acid up to the pharynx and mouth. Patient-based studies of GERD have shown high prevalence and chronicity, particularly in Western societies. GERD is associated with significant health-care utilization and diminished quality of life.

8 Feb 2011

UBA opens 2011 Benefit Opinions Survey

United Benefit Advisors, LLC (UBA), one of the nation's leading employee benefits advisory organizations, today announced the opening of the 2011 UBA Benefit Opinions Survey, which delineates employers' opinions in five key areas: Health Plan Strategies, Benefits Philosophy and Opinion, Health Plan Management, Personal Health Management and Employee Communications.

8 Feb 2011

Health care reform study offers comprehensive review of new federal law impact on Florida

A new report released today by the Collins Center for Public Policy looks beyond the pitched battles over health care reform and instead offers a comprehensive review of the new federal law and its potential impact on Florida.

8 Feb 2011

Health Care News and Research

FDA proposes new Innovation Pathway program for pioneering medical devices

Specific gene variation may play a role in late-onset Alzheimer's disease: New study

Sebelius signals readiness to tweak long-term care insurance program

Obama will send Congress 'tough choices' budget, White House budget director says

Rational use of heath care dollars for tonsillectomy

U.N. officials call for renewed effort to stop female genital mutilation/cutting

FAO issues alerts on flood damage in Southern Africa, drought in China

GOP Govs seek flexibility in insurance exchanges

Politics swirl around health law provisions

Viewpoints: Prof. Tribe on health law constitutionality; Repeal/replace rhetoric; Texas abortion law

Essential benefits, child-only policies among health overhaul issues gaining attention

Governors face painful budget choices

Roundup: Fraying safety nets; Calif. mental health clinics; Texas obesity costs rising

Cleveland Regional receives NCSA grant to assist hospital's stroke program

Sun exposure reduces risk of multiple sclerosis: Study

Australian research reveals more than 70% of hospital patients are malnourished

AJN: Nurses and physicians lack knowledge about human trafficking

Study finds heartburn as a common condition in Iceland

UBA opens 2011 Benefit Opinions Survey

Health care reform study offers comprehensive review of new federal law impact on Florida

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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