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Today's OpEds: Opposing views on hospital medical errors; lesson for Andy Harris; Dems and abortion

If a 747 jetliner crashed every day, killing all 500 people aboard, there would be a national uproar over aviation safety and an all-out mobilization to fix the problem. In the nation's hospitals, though, about the same number of people die on average every day from medical "adverse events," many of them preventable errors such as infections or incorrect medications.

19 Nov 2010

AARP urges Idaho to put families, children & elderly ahead of special interests when tackling budget woes

On the heels of grim news from Idaho's Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee regarding a $340 million shortfall that could mean deep cuts to critical programs and services, AARP is urging state lawmakers to refocus the looming debate to protect the education and health needs of Idaho's families, children and elderly. The Association is calling for lawmakers to get creative when it comes to possible sources of needed revenue to stave off possible cuts.

19 Nov 2010

Report examines how health care reform affects personal costs, coverage, quality of service

Although most people's knowledge of the new health care law is limited, their opinion on how it will affect their health care depends on what type of private health insurance plan they currently have and their political affiliation, according to a recent report issued today by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute.

19 Nov 2010

MedStart Summer Enrichment Program helps students better understand medical conditions: Studies

Two new studies have shown that a unique program in East Harlem that helps middle school students learn practical health skills and gain a better understanding of medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, resulted in increased interest in college attendance and medical careers among the students who attended the program.

19 Nov 2010

SAMHSA: 4.8% U.S. adults suffer from serious mental illness

According to new results from a national survey, 19.9 percent of American adults in the United States (45.1 million) have experienced mental illness over the past year. The survey conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that 11 million adults (4.8 percent) in the U.S. suffered serious mental illness in the past year a diagnosable mental disorder has substantially interfered with, or limited one or more major life activities.

19 Nov 2010

UNICEF report identifies factors helping, hindering efforts to drive down FGM/C in five African countries

A report released on Thursday by UNICEF highlights the recent progress made in reducing the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) despite ongoing social pressures to continue the practice in five African countries, Deutsche Presse-Agentur/M&C reports (11/18).

19 Nov 2010

Prescription abandonment can undermine medical treatment, increase healthcare costs

Failure to have a prescription filled can undermine medical treatment, result in increased health care costs and potentially have devastating results for the patient.

19 Nov 2010

Study finds average health insurance deductible grows to $1,200 as employer costs grow too

In 2005, deductibles were only $770, but in 2010, the average deductible for PPOs, the most common employer-provider health plan, hit a whopping $1,200, according to a Mercer survey of 2,836 employers with 10 or more employees.

19 Nov 2010

Mass. regulators and nursing homes fight inappropriate medicating; officials deal with Hawaii doctor shortage

State regulators and the Massachusetts nursing home industry are launching a campaign today to reduce the inappropriate use of antipsychotic medications for residents with dementia.

19 Nov 2010

Study: Hospitals use clout to jack up prices

A new study claims some hospitals command far greater prices from commercial insurers than their nearby competitors, suggesting they have the clout to demand higher rates.

19 Nov 2010

Medicare committee recommends expensive drug for some prostate-cancer patients

A new treatment for prostate cancer called Provenge won a vote of confidence from a Medicare coverage advisory committee Wednesday, suggesting the federal program is likely to pay for the $93,000-per-patient medicine.

19 Nov 2010

Fla. Republicans want flexibility; facing shortfall, Idaho looks to volunteers; Mass. dental audit reveals millions in wasted funds

Florida Republican leaders made a clear statement during a special legislative session Tuesday: They want to overhaul the Medicaid program and don't want the federal government tying their hands. But that might ignore Washington realities. Congress this year required states to increase the number of people eligible for Medicaid in the future — the opposite of giving Florida more flexibility to run the program.

19 Nov 2010

Kansas Attorney General-elect announces plans to fight health law in court

Challenges to the federal health law grow but a group of bipartisan lawmakers ask a judge in Florida to let them express support for the measure in that important case.

19 Nov 2010

IPS explores what efforts to reduce U.S. federal deficit could mean for global health funding

Inter Press Service explores some advocates' concerns over how the new emphasis in Washington on reducing government spending could affect U.S. funding for global health programs, including HIV/AIDS.

19 Nov 2010

KHN column -- the Texas Medicaid scenario: Why it's never going to happen

When I first heard about this controversy, I noted one simple fact that deserves greater play: This is not going to happen. Withdrawing from Medicaid would be political suicide.

19 Nov 2010

Sec. of State Clinton begins discussing QDDR draft with U.S. lawmakers

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton began rolling out her long-awaited revamp of U.S. diplomatic strategy on Wednesday, meeting lawmakers to discuss the 'Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review' (QDDR) that is expected to be formally announced later this year, Reuters reports.

19 Nov 2010

Cardinal Health announces plan to acquire Kinray

Cardinal Health today announced plans to acquire Kinray, Inc., a leading pharmaceutical distributor serving the New York metropolitan area, for $1.3 billion in an all-cash transaction that will significantly expand its ability to serve retail independent pharmacies in the northeastern United States.

19 Nov 2010

Health Care News and Research

Today's OpEds: Opposing views on hospital medical errors; lesson for Andy Harris; Dems and abortion

AARP urges Idaho to put families, children & elderly ahead of special interests when tackling budget woes

Report examines how health care reform affects personal costs, coverage, quality of service

MedStart Summer Enrichment Program helps students better understand medical conditions: Studies

SAMHSA: 4.8% U.S. adults suffer from serious mental illness

UNICEF report identifies factors helping, hindering efforts to drive down FGM/C in five African countries

Prescription abandonment can undermine medical treatment, increase healthcare costs

Study finds average health insurance deductible grows to $1,200 as employer costs grow too

Mass. regulators and nursing homes fight inappropriate medicating; officials deal with Hawaii doctor shortage

Study: Hospitals use clout to jack up prices

Medicare committee recommends expensive drug for some prostate-cancer patients

Fla. Republicans want flexibility; facing shortfall, Idaho looks to volunteers; Mass. dental audit reveals millions in wasted funds

Kansas Attorney General-elect announces plans to fight health law in court

IPS explores what efforts to reduce U.S. federal deficit could mean for global health funding

KHN column -- the Texas Medicaid scenario: Why it's never going to happen

Sec. of State Clinton begins discussing QDDR draft with U.S. lawmakers

Cardinal Health announces plan to acquire Kinray

Berwick's first hearing marked by strong defense of health law, GOP 'relative gentleness'

Sekisui enters asset purchase agreement to acquire Genzyme's Diagnostic products

Bipartisan task force recommends Medicare and Medicaid overhaul

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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