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UK watchdog agency to lose power to reject new drugs

The British government is expected to strip the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, of its ability to reject new drugs.

3 Nov 2010

Decisions on health law's fate start today as GOP seems poised for gains

Expected Republican wins in Congress and in statehouses throughout the country Tuesday would likely slow down implementation of the law and make the debate even more contentious but not outright stop the law.

3 Nov 2010

Seniors play powerful role in today's elections

The Christian Science Monitor: "Seniors and baby boomers are more engaged in the election and more excited about voting than any preelection polling has found since 1994, according to the Pew Research Center. While it was considered to be youth that ushered in the Obama revolution, it is the older generation that is wielding more power now.

3 Nov 2010

Guardian's Katine project coverage concludes

The Guardian concluded its three-year Katine project in north-eastern Uganda, which "tracked the implementation of a development project focusing on five aspects of deprivation: health, education, water and sanitation, livelihoods and governance," the newspaper writes.

3 Nov 2010

Health IT: Apps; Competitive contracts; Electronic medical records

The Wall Street Journal: "Indian technology companies are eyeing a coming wave of U.S. spending to digitize health care records. But sensitivity over outsourcing and resistance by American hospitals to sending medical information overseas could thwart efforts to win big contracts." Next year, the U.S. government will dispense billions to "health-care providers who adopt electronic medical records." Doctors are also facing "a federal mandate to upgrade software as the U.S. switches to a new system of insurance billing codes."

3 Nov 2010

Medicare Roundup: Courts widen coverage of skilled care; experts give enrollment advice

Two federal courts have ruled that the Obama administration is using overly strict standards to determine whether older Americans are entitled to Medicare coverage of skilled nursing home care and home health care.

3 Nov 2010

Today's Op-Eds: Birth control coverage, 'free' medical care, profitable nursing homes

For every extra benefit Congress has required health insurers to provide, there is an extra cost. Ultimately, we all will pay the cost of these "free" services in the form of lower wages, higher taxes or higher health insurance premiums.

3 Nov 2010

Debt panel on hold until election cycle ends

The New York Times: President Barack Obama's bipartisan debt-reduction commission is in a holding pattern until after the volatile elections. They'll begin private meetings just afterwards, leaving only three weeks to complete their work. "

2 Nov 2010

Pain Therapeutics awarded $2,000,000 U.S. government research grant

Pain Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded over $2,000,000 in research grants by the U.S. government. These grants are planned to support the Company's on-going biomedical research for nervous system disorders and oncology. Pain Therapeutics expects to receive funding from these research grants now through the end of 2011.

2 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 2, 2010

Today's headlines highlights news stories that include speculation about what will become of the health reform law after the election.

2 Nov 2010

VA begins distributing disability benefits to Vietnam Veterans exposed to Agent Orange

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun distributing disability benefits to Vietnam Veterans who qualify for compensation under recently liberalized rules for Agent Orange exposure.

2 Nov 2010

Liver-related mortality ranks #4 for people between ages of 45 and 64

Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rank mortality related to chronic liver disease and cirrhosis as the 12th most common cause of death in adults in the U.S. Using a modified definition that includes diseases such as viral hepatitis, liver cancer and obesity-related fatty liver disease, Mayo Clinic-led researchers have found that liver-related mortality is as high as fourth for some age groups, and eighth overall.

2 Nov 2010

Elekta presents solutions for ultimate precision in cancer care at ASTRO Meeting

Elekta presented solutions for ultimate precision in cancer care at an Investor Meeting in conjunction with the 52nd annual American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Meeting, in San Diego. Elekta also discussed the market drivers in established and emerging markets, and explained its strategy for sustainable profitable growth.

From Elekta 2 Nov 2010

Micronutrient Initiative receives $75 million to expand innovative nutrition programming

Minister of International Cooperation, Beverley Oda, has announced $75 million in new funding for the work of the Micronutrient Initiative to expand innovative nutrition programming and strengthen African health systems. The investment will be spread over five years and is expected to benefit 4 million pregnant women and 14 million children under the age of five - particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

2 Nov 2010

GW School of Nursing receives full accreditation from CCNE

The George Washington University School of Nursing has received full accreditation for its bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

2 Nov 2010

Fitness level, not size or weight, may be more important determinant of women's risk of death

Obesity alone may no longer be linked to a high risk of death in women, according to research published in the Nov. 2010 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Researchers now suggest cardiovascular fitness level, not just a woman's size, may actually be the key predictor of health level and overall risk for death.

2 Nov 2010

Health law challenges: Birth control, grandfathering, state's exchanges

The Associated Press: Among the complications posed by the health law is the fight over "social mores" that will could be triggered by the possibility that free contraception will be made available to women as a result of its provisions. A panel of experts set up by the Institute of Medicine will meet in November to determine what types of contraception should be considered "preventive care" under provisions barring insurers from charging copays for such services.

2 Nov 2010

House win would give GOP the ways, means to roll back health law

A GOP takeover of the House would give Republicans the ability to attack the new law in new ways. If Rep. Joe Barton becomes chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee next year, the Texas Republican vows to make life miserable for Democratic defenders of the health care overhaul law.

2 Nov 2010

Minn. will accept federal assistance, Tenn. tackles burgeoning drug abuse problem

Politico: "Minnesota will accept federal assistance under the Democrats' health reform law after all, despite Gov. Tim Pawlenty's executive order barring voluntary participation in federal health care programs. The state's Management and Budget Office was one of 700 new organizations that signed up for the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program, a $5 billion program that helps pay for the insurance costs of retirees between the ages of 55 and 64.

2 Nov 2010

Medicare cuts become hot topic in mid-term election campaigns

Advertisements are focusing on Medicare cuts and using them as a rallying point to influence the election. The message, delivered by a series of nervous-looking older Americans, is uniform: Democratic Congressional candidates voted for billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare and let their constituents down.

2 Nov 2010