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Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

The Associated Press: "A new analysis of government data finds that premiums will go up an average of 10 percent among the top plans that have signed up some 70 percent of seniors. That's according to Avalere Health, a private research firm that crunched the numbers. Marketing for next year's drug plans gets under way Oct. 1, and seniors will see some of the biggest changes since the Medicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. More than 17 million are enrolled in private drug plans offered through Medicare."

24 Sep 2010

Competition on access: A role for government in health care markets

In this Kaiser Health News column, Austin Frakt and Rexford Santerre write: "In late August, The Wall Street Journal reported that government-owned hospitals are 'drowning in debt' due to high health care costs, high rates of uninsured patients and cuts in public payments. Some government facilities are closing while others are being sold to private-sector firms.

24 Sep 2010

Critics say school lunch bill could damage food stamp program

The New York Times: "In her campaign to reduce childhood obesity and improve school nutrition, Michelle Obama has become entangled in a fight with White House allies, including liberal Democrats and advocates for the poor." The bill, which the House is expected to consider in the next few days, "would come up with some of the money by cutting future food stamp benefits. When the Senate passed the bill in early August, Mrs. Obama said she was thrilled. But anti-hunger groups were not.

24 Sep 2010

Democratic pollster: White House needs to go 'back to basics' to sell health law

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jenny Gold spoke with Peter Hart, a Democratic pollster and chairman of Peter D. Hart Research Associates, who said he doesn't expect a sea change in public opinion in coming weeks and that Democrats might want to avoid discussing the health care law in their campaigns (Gold, 9/23).

24 Sep 2010

Research Roundup: Medical homes; Drug samples and prescribing; The health law and disparities; Women's health; CBO projections

Institute of Medicine: Women's Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise -"Substantial progress has been made since the expansion of investment in women's health research. Research findings have changed the practice of medicine and public-health recommendations in several prominent contexts, including changes in standards of care for women. There have also been decreases in mortality in women from breast cancer, heart disease, and cervical cancer. In other contexts, however, there has been less progress..."

24 Sep 2010

Political Cartoon: 'A nation divided'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh perspective on health policy developments with "A Nation Divided" by John Rose.

24 Sep 2010

Health law's 8 new changes – and 7 caveats

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey writes: "If you've tuned out the health care law you might want to tune back in. A set of new consumer protections goes into effect today, the six-month anniversary of the law. Here's a guide to some of the changes - and some of the caveats. Keep in mind that how they affect you will depend on what kind of insurance you have" (Carey, 9/23).

24 Sep 2010

First Edition: September 24, 2010

In today's news, more reports regarding the health reform provisions that took effect yesterday and more details on the GOP's "Pledge To America."

24 Sep 2010

NSBRI project to develop LTM/iRevive system for astronauts’ medical care

On an exploration mission, an astronaut has an accident and appears to have serious injuries as the spacecraft speeds to its destination. The ensuing scene is hectic as the other crew members try to get a grasp on the situation and provide appropriate treatment. Efficient use of time and resources may be the difference between life and death.

24 Sep 2010

Objective of WHO and health partners in Pakistan is to reduce avoidable death and illness

In a massive health relief effort underway in the flood-affected parts of Pakistan, nearly six million people have been treated for health conditions since the floods began in late July; but there are urgent needs to prevent further health crises or food insecurity caused by large-scale damage to crops and agricultural land.

24 Sep 2010

NHC shows disappointment over PCORI Board member appoitnments

As organizations that are committed to promoting accurate and appropriate evidence-based policies and practices to improve the quality of health care services in the United States, we are disappointed that the appointment today of 19 members to the Board of Governors for the new Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) includes only one Board member that directly represents patients.

24 Sep 2010

Patient's health interests are the most important factor to consider in ethical decision making

The majority of pharmacists across the profession who were involved in a UK study reported the patient's health interests as the most important factor to consider in ethical decision making. They also indicated that regulation seems to play a very important part in moral decision making.

24 Sep 2010

Eastmont Community Center launches new adolescent immunization awareness initiative

Eastmont Community Center responded today to alarmingly low whooping cough and meningococcal meningitis immunization rates among Latino adolescents by launching a new adolescent immunization awareness initiative. The grassroots campaign aims to educate local Latino families about free or low-cost vaccines available to help protect children against these and other infectious diseases.

24 Sep 2010

Team to identify safety risks with care in homes

Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing professor, Dr. Diane Doran, was awarded more than $1 million for research that will help protect the safety of over 900,000 Canadians who receive health care services in their homes every day.

24 Sep 2010

UNC's bariatric surgery center receives BSCN accreditation

The program has been accredited as a Level 1b facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This designation means that UNC Hospitals has met the essential criteria that ensure it is fully capable of supporting a bariatric surgery care program and that its institutional performance meets the requirements outlined by the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program.

24 Sep 2010

Legislation to help speed research for cystic fibrosis and other rare diseases

Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act" (I-ACT), in a victory for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its advocates and 120 other health advocacy organizations.

24 Sep 2010

Aetna releases statement on 6-month anniversary of Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Aetna today released the following statement from Chairman and CEO Ronald A. Williams regarding the six-month anniversary of the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

24 Sep 2010

Aortic stent graft market in Latin America to expand to over $150M by 2015

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, Latin American physicians will increasingly adopt abdominal and thoracic endovascular aortic repair in place of surgical repair through 2015 as awareness of the benefits of endovascular techniques grows and physician training improves.

24 Sep 2010

How the health law changes could affect you

In this Kaiser Health News video, columnist Michelle Andrews and KFF's Jackie Judd discuss a number of the health law's key provisions that kick in today (9/23). Read the transcript.

24 Sep 2010

Disenrollment from hospice increases costs of care for cancer patients

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that the costs of care for patients with cancer who disenrolled from hospice were nearly five times higher than for patients who remained with hospice. Patients who disenroll from hospice are far more likely to use emergency department care and be hospitalized. The results are published in the October 1 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

24 Sep 2010