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USA today examines why aid for Haiti goes unspent

Ten months after the magnitude-7 earthquake that killed 230,000 people and destroyed at least 60% of Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince, some relief agencies have not spent the bulk of the donations they raised after the disaster.

2 Dec 2010

Va. federal judge rejects Liberty University's challenge to health reform law

The Washington Post: "A federal judge in Virginia ruled Tuesday that the new health-care overhaul law is constitutional, dismissing a lawsuit filed by Liberty University in Lynchburg that had challenged the statute." The lawsuit argued that Congress does not have the authority to require employers to offer health insurance and "was also filed on behalf of two individuals who object to the law's requirements that all individuals purchase insurance by 2014 or face a fine."

2 Dec 2010

Report analyzes global health funding trends, predicts lower funding growth

A report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) finds that the recent global economic downturn "hasn't quelled generous government and private donors from giving record amounts to improve global health," but the analysis also revealed "that growth in funding is beginning to taper off, cut by more than half between 2008 and 2010," the Seattle Times' "The Business of Giving" blog reports (Heim, 11/30).

2 Dec 2010

Republicans fight over energy and commerce gavel as they sharpen congressional agenda

Republicans are fighting over the gavel to head the Energy and Commerce committee as their agenda's outline becomes sharper in anticipation of the new session of Congress.

2 Dec 2010

States struggle with significant financial budget strains, especially in Medicaid; Others position for innovative coverage efforts

Bloomberg: "U.S. states expect 'significant challenges' balancing budgets in the next two years, after closing $230 billion in gaps since 2009, as U.S. stimulus aid drops and tax receipts recover from the recession, a study said. While state spending is set to rise for the current fiscal year compared with 2010, after two straight annual declines, governments will face renewed pressure in 2012, according to the study released today by the National Governors Association. The budget period begins in July in 46 states.

2 Dec 2010

Medical groups weigh in on health reform, pay freeze

News outlets report on how new treatment models impact care, as well as political developments and positions among medical organizations.

2 Dec 2010

State officials weigh in on health overhaul challenge

Legal Newsline: "In recent weeks, more than a dozen amicus briefs have been filed in the multi-state lawsuit against President Barack Obama's federal health care package. … A total of 20 states are suing the federal government to stop implementation of Obama's health care law. ... Others, including Kansas, are talking about joining the fight."

2 Dec 2010

U.N. says PMTCT of HIV is achievable; efforts must target millions currently 'falling through the cracks'

A generation of babies could be born free of AIDS if the international community stepped up efforts to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and social protection, the United Nations said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

2 Dec 2010

Food safety bill passes in Senate

Reuters: "The Senate passed the largest overhaul of the U.S. food safety system in decades on Tuesday, a response to massive recalls such as last summer's recall of half a billion eggs in a salmonella outbreak. The Senate voted 73-25 to pass the bill. The House of Representatives backed a different version in July 2009.

2 Dec 2010

U.N. launches largest ever annual aid appeal, asking for $7.4B in 2011

In its annual appeal, the U.N. on Tuesday asked governments and private donors for a record $7.4 billion next year to provide 50 million people worldwide with food, clothing and other urgent humanitarian aid, the Associated Press/Washington Post reports.

2 Dec 2010

U.S. retirees need hundreds of thousands to pay for medical expenses, report finds

Some medical costs have fallen this year thanks to new health care reform laws, but U.S. retirees will still need hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to cover their lifetime medical expenses.

1 Dec 2010

Study identifies new genes responsible for early menarche

University of Minnesota School of Public Health researcher Ellen Demerath, Ph.D., is among an international group of researchers that has identified 30 new genes responsible for determining the age of sexual maturation in women. Many of these genes are also known to influence body fatness, obesity, and energy metabolism. Prior to the multi-institutional study, only four genes had been identified as contributing to the process.

1 Dec 2010

World AIDS day opinions

In a Washington Post opinion piece, former President George W. Bush reflects on his administration's commitment to fight HIV/AIDS around the world. "In all of these efforts, my concern was results.

1 Dec 2010

Donors donate record amounts for global health despite the worst economic crisis

The worst global economic crisis in decades has not stopped public and private donors from giving record amounts of money to health assistance for developing countries, according to a new report by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.

1 Dec 2010

IMIA, GHIP announce strategic alliance to strengthen health information and communication systems

The International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and the Global Health Informatics Partnership (GHIP) have announced a strategic alliance to strengthen health information and communication (HICT) systems, create learning modules appropriate for a wide variety of workers in public health and clinical roles, and facilitate infrastructures and policies that support sustained investment in HICT and informatics at the global level.

1 Dec 2010

IBD patients with hospital-acquired infections experience increased risk of inpatient mortality

Death and length of stay are increased among hospitalized inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who develop hospital-acquired infections, according to a study in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

1 Dec 2010

Surgeon-Physician Marriages face more challenges in balancing personal and professional lives

Surgeons married to physicians face more challenges in balancing their personal and professional lives than do surgeons whose partners work in a non-physician field or stay at home, according to new research findings focused on surgeon marriages published in the November issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

1 Dec 2010

Physicians prescribe less pain medications for individuals evading the police

If you should find yourself running from the police, watch your step. If you fall and break an ankle, chances are you'll receive less pain medication when they take you to the ER for treatment.

1 Dec 2010

Blue Cross launches new payment model with Allina, Essentia, Fairview, and HealthEast

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota today announced it has launched a new "shared incentive" payment model with four of Minnesota's largest care systems — designed to make health care more affordable and to improve the health status and quality of care delivered to its members.

1 Dec 2010

SPARTAC study examines ways to limit immune system damage in HIV infection

For most people in high-income countries HIV is considered a chronic illness which can be managed with medication. But the virus still causes extensive damage to the immune system, and treatment with antiretrovirals is a lifelong commitment. Once started, usually within three to five years following infection, the course of treatment needs to be strictly followed and taken for life.

1 Dec 2010

Health Care News and Research

USA today examines why aid for Haiti goes unspent

Va. federal judge rejects Liberty University's challenge to health reform law

Report analyzes global health funding trends, predicts lower funding growth

Republicans fight over energy and commerce gavel as they sharpen congressional agenda

States struggle with significant financial budget strains, especially in Medicaid; Others position for innovative coverage efforts

Medical groups weigh in on health reform, pay freeze

State officials weigh in on health overhaul challenge

U.N. says PMTCT of HIV is achievable; efforts must target millions currently 'falling through the cracks'

Food safety bill passes in Senate

U.N. launches largest ever annual aid appeal, asking for $7.4B in 2011

U.S. retirees need hundreds of thousands to pay for medical expenses, report finds

Study identifies new genes responsible for early menarche

World AIDS day opinions

Donors donate record amounts for global health despite the worst economic crisis

IMIA, GHIP announce strategic alliance to strengthen health information and communication systems

IBD patients with hospital-acquired infections experience increased risk of inpatient mortality

Surgeon-Physician Marriages face more challenges in balancing personal and professional lives

Physicians prescribe less pain medications for individuals evading the police

Blue Cross launches new payment model with Allina, Essentia, Fairview, and HealthEast

SPARTAC study examines ways to limit immune system damage in HIV infection

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

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