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ACP finds diagnostic imaging for low back pain does not improve patients health

The American College of Physicians has found strong evidence that routine imaging for low back pain with X-ray or advanced imaging methods such as CT scan or MRI does not improve the health of patients.

2 Feb 2011

FAO monthly food price index expected to remain high

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) monthly food price index for January is expected to be at a similar level to the record highs measured in December's index, Abdolreza Abbassian, an economist with the agency, said on Monday, Reuters reports. "FAO's expectation is that the January index would be very close or slightly below December," Abbassian said ahead of the release of FAO's monthly food index, which is due to be published on February 3.

2 Feb 2011

GOP proposal draws ire from abortion rights supporters

A Republican bill seeking to permanently cut off federal funding for abortions has angered women's groups who say it alters the definition of rape, permitting coverage for the procedure only in cases in which the rape is considered "forcible" (Somashekhar, 1/31).

2 Feb 2011

Raytheon, Baptist sign agreement to deliver SMART training for health care systems

Raytheon Professional Services LLC, a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, and Baptist Health have signed an agreement to deliver Synergistic Medical and Resource Team training to health care systems.

2 Feb 2011

What happens next: The decision's immediate impact

Even as it becomes increasingly clear that challenges to the health law are on a straight course for the Supreme Court, yesterday's lower court decision has muddied the waters around the overhaul — in terms of congressional action, political posturing and state-level implementation activities.

2 Feb 2011

Study: Obese women may avoid mammograms because of pain

Obese women may avoid mammograms because of pain and women under 60 may avoid the test because they are too busy, according to a study by Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research published online in the Journal of Women's Health. Funded by the National Cancer Institute, the study was one of the largest to examine why insured women fail to complete mammograms.

2 Feb 2011

$Researchers find breast cancer therapy contributes to early-in-life hip fractures in women$

Researchers find breast cancer therapy contributes to early-in-life hip fractures in women

A hip fracture is not common in a 54-year-old woman, unless she is a 54-year-old breast cancer survivor, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. Researchers found that a combination of early menopause due to breast cancer treatment and common drugs used to treat breast cancer, could be weakening the bones of breast cancer survivors once they hit middle age, leading to hip fractures.

2 Feb 2011

Strategies to improve care include targeting hospital spending, reducing hospital infections

News outlets examine new studies that detail how some hospital-based efforts may lead to improved care.

2 Feb 2011

Roundup: Medicaid worries in Texas, Ill., Pa.; California insurance exchanges; Kansas controversy on health law

The current state House and Senate budget proposals include a 10 percent cut in the rate that the state will pay Medicaid providers. Some health care lobbying groups say that when you add in the loss of the enhanced federal Medicaid match paid for by stimulus dollars that have now dried up, you get a 33 percent reduction overall.

2 Feb 2011

Federal judge in Florida rules health law unconstitutional

With this decision, U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson issued the first opinion to strike down the entire health overhaul as various legal challenges to the sweeping measure continue to wind their way to the Supreme Court.

2 Feb 2011

NY Times: New take on concierge medicine

When Jennifer Contreras went to see her new physician, she had hardly arrived in the waiting room before she was called in — by the doctor herself. Ms. Contreras is a patient at One Medical Group, a new model for primary care that aims to set a nationwide example.

2 Feb 2011

In-depth analysis of health law decision

News outlet examine how constitutional issues, most notably the Commerce Clause, are central to the health law and its journey to the nation's highest court. Meanwhile, the Associated Press offers insights into Judge Vinson's own experiences with the health system.

2 Feb 2011

Study finds link between oral health care and heart disease

During American Heart Month in February, United Concordia Dental, one of the nation's largest dental insurers, wants to remind adults that taking care of their teeth and gums is an important part of promoting heart health.

2 Feb 2011

Senate GOP leaders advance efforts to force health law repeal vote

Politico: "Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell told Republicans Tuesday that he plans to force a vote on repealing the health care reform law this week. The plan is to tack the amendment onto the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill this afternoon, a Republican aide told POLITICO. McConnell told Republicans of the plan in their weekly policy lunch" (Haberkorn, 2/1).

2 Feb 2011

Some insurers join forces for health law lobbying efforts

Top executives from UnitedHealth Group Inc. and WellPoint Inc. are meeting almost monthly with their counterparts from Aetna Inc., Cigna Corp. and Humana Inc. in an informal lobbying alliance aimed at blunting parts of the health-care law, say people with knowledge of the sessions.

2 Feb 2011

Vanderbilt researchers announce multi-national collaboration on Alzheimer's disease genetics

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and across the globe, announced today a multi-national collaboration to discover and map all genes relating to Alzheimer's disease through the formation of the International Genomics of Alzheimer's Project.

1 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 1, 2011

Today's health policy news focuses on analysis of Monday's ruling in which a federal court judge in Florida struck down the health law.

1 Feb 2011

Public services supporting California's low-income, disabled elderly is fragile, says study

The network of public services that supports California's low-income, disabled elderly is fragile, affecting the ability of these vulnerable residents to live independent lives in their own homes, according to a new study from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

1 Feb 2011

Prime Healthcare Services alleges extortion campaign by SEIU

Prime Healthcare Services (PHS), the largest for-profit hospital system in California and the only for-profit system among Thomson Reuters' Top 10 Health Systems in 2009, announced today that it has been the victim of an extortion campaign by the Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU) over the past year.

1 Feb 2011