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66 newly-minted pharmacists to get diplomas at ETSU

When 66 newly-minted pharmacists at East Tennessee State University -- the first graduating class of the Gatton College of Pharmacy -- get their diplomas in a few weeks, it will be not only a personal triumph but also a victory of community spirit.

5 Apr 2010

Sebelius: High risk health insurance pools to begin soon

In one of the first moves the Obama administration has taken under the new health care reform law, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday sent a letter to state governors and insurance commissioners intended to gauge interest in a new insurance high-risk pool program.

5 Apr 2010

Health care reform law still generating lots of questions

News organizations continue looking into the effects of the new health care law.

5 Apr 2010

Sebelius' comments on potential role of state high risk pools in health reform: NASCHIP pleased

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today issued a letter to governors and independent insurance commissioners asking each state to express their interest in participating in the temporary high-risk pool program established by the new health insurance reform law. States were provided a number of options for participation including building upon existing state high-risk pools.

3 Apr 2010

HCM: Questions to ask

While a jury awarded Tony and Angela Key, $1.6 million following a malpractice trial in the death of their 22-year-old son, Antwoine, a basketball player for Eastern Connecticut State University who collapsed and died during a game in 2005, it is a small measure of solace when a young life is cut short, particularly when the cause - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) - could have been treated, had it been properly diagnosed.

3 Apr 2010

Implementing value-based insurance design programs in health care reform law

Value-based insurance design programs -- a concept created at the University of Michigan -- are part of the nation's new national health care plan, and U-M physician A. Mark Fendrick, M.D. is working with policy setters to implement the strategy.

3 Apr 2010

Temporary high risk health insurance pool program: HHS requests expression of states' interest in participation

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today issued a letter to governors and independent insurance commissioners asking each state to express their interest in participating in the temporary high risk pool program established by the new health insurance reform law. The temporary high risk pool program was created to help provide coverage to people who are uninsured because of pre-existing conditions. States may choose whether and how they participate in the program.

3 Apr 2010

Research Roundup: Soda taxes, health reform timeline, children's health disparities, best hospital practices

Health Affairs: Soda Taxes, Soft Drink Consumption, And Children's Body Mass Index - "Using data on state sales taxes for soda and individual-level data on children," the authors report existing taxes on soda fail to "substantially affect overall levels of soda consumption or obesity rates." However, the authors also found "statistically significant and substantively larger effects of differential soda sales taxes among children who are heavier, have lower family income, are African American, or watch a great deal of TV.

3 Apr 2010

New guidelines will make it easier to evaluate the cost of visual impairment studies

New guidelines that outline best practices for measuring the economic burden of visual impairment will make it easier for the policy, science and medical communities to draw conclusions and compare results across studies.

3 Apr 2010

The new health law is 'pro-business,' Obama says

The Christian Science Monitor: During President Barack Obama's speech in Maine Thursday, he focused some of his comments on how small businesses fare under the new health law. "'This healthcare tax is pro-jobs, it's pro-business, and it starts this year,' Mr. Obama said. ... The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that tax credits to cover healthcare premiums would save small businesses $40 billion by 2019. But it's not clear that small-business owners are buying the argument.

3 Apr 2010

Washington state gets a health overhaul head start

Washington state's "patchwork of programs, pilot projects and other efforts" reflected in the health overhaul could give it a head start on implementing the new law, The Seattle Times reports.

3 Apr 2010

Study highlights need for public education on osteoporosis risk factors and treatment

Underscoring what researchers call a serious international public health concern, results from the Global Longitudinal Study of Osteoporosis in Women (GLOW) showed that among women at an elevated level of risk for osteoporosis-associated fractures, there is a failure to perceive the implications of having important risk factors.

3 Apr 2010

Aetna HealthFund study shows sustained cost savings for Aetna members

Aetna today announced the results of a study of health care claims and utilization for members in its Aetna HealthFund® consumer-directed plans. The study of two million Aetna members shows sustained savings over time and increased member engagement in their health.

3 Apr 2010

Tea Party Democratic candidate Warren Mosler releases hybrid health care proposal

Warren Mosler, the Tea Party Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, released his hybrid health care proposal that gives Americans a powerful market based incentive to use only what they need, while slashing the true cost of health care for the U.S. economy.

3 Apr 2010

Some Dems face criticism at home for health law

Some Americans, angry with health reform, are also worried about the direction the country is headed as Democrats spend the Easter recess touting the new law.

3 Apr 2010

Kaiser Permanente ranked highest in 2010 Member Health Insurance Plan Study

Kaiser Permanente announced today that its members in four geographic regions rated the organization's health plans highest in customer satisfaction in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study.

3 Apr 2010

16 universities receive ARRA funds for training new health IT professionals

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has enlisted the talent and resources of some of the nation's leading universities, community colleges, and major research centers to advance the widespread adoption and meaningful use of health information technology (health IT).

3 Apr 2010

Prescription drug spending up in 2009

Prescription drug spending in the United States rose 5.1 percent in 2009, acording to a new report from IMS Health., a data collection company.

3 Apr 2010

Arizona approves bill to join health reform lawsuit, Colorado Democrats push back against their AG

After Arizona lawmakers give the go-ahead, the governor signed a measure into law Thursday that allows the state to join a lawsuit with other states challenging the constitutionality of the health reform overhaul passed by Congress.

3 Apr 2010

More corporations announce tax impact of health law

Verizon Communications, Inc. announced Thursday "it will record a related $970 million non-cash charge in the first quarter," The Associated Press reports. "So far at least 15 companies have disclosed about $2.8 billion in charges prompted by the health care overhaul. Verizon's charge is the second-largest after AT&T, which last week announced a $1 billion charge related to the tax bill. Verizon and other companies currently receive a government subsidy to keep prescription drug benefits for retirees.

3 Apr 2010