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Habilitative services face uncertain future under Affordable Care Act

Despite their inclusion as essential health benefits, habilitative services face an uncertain future under the Affordable Care Act, according to a new analysis done at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

6 Jun 2013

Law center presses for health plans to provide pregnancy coverage for dependents

The National Women's Law Center filed complaints with the Department of Health and Human Services against a number of businesses and universities that don't include pregnancy coverage for dependents in their health plans. The Center contends that this is a violation of the health law.

6 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 5, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the questions about fundraising phone calls faced by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during a Capitol Hill hearing.

5 Jun 2013

NextGen EDR version 4.3 now certified as ONC HIT Complete EHR

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, announced today that its NextGen Electronic Dental Record version 4.3 is compliant with the ONC 2014 Edition criteria and was certified as a Complete EHR by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, an ONC-ACB, in accordance with the applicable Eligible certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

5 Jun 2013

HHS unveils Medicare claims data detailing hospital price information for outpatient treatment

The average charges for 30 hospital outpatient procedures show big hospital-to-hospital variation in terms of how much the facilities bill patients for the same service.

5 Jun 2013

Duke University is awarded $2M to initiate new clinical research network on antibacterial resistance

Duke University, Durham, N.C., has been awarded $2 million to initiate a new clinical research network focused on antibacterial resistance. Total funding for the leadership group cooperative agreement award could reach up to $62 million through 2019.

4 Jun 2013

Health care professionals have opportunity to share resources through innovative online platform

Boston - Thousands of health care professionals across the country have a new opportunity to share resources, ideas and information thanks to an innovative concept in medicine - the virtual community.

4 Jun 2013

State highlights: Calif. bill would fine big employers with employees on Medi-Cal; Abortion fight set in N.Y. Senate

For years, politicians and labor unions have pilloried Wal-Mart and other large employers for paying workers so little that many qualify for government health insurance at taxpayers' expense. Now critics fear the public will get stuck with an even bigger tab as California and other states expand Medicaid as part of the federal health care law.

4 Jun 2013

Court challenges, congressional charges and questions about key health law initiatives

The success of the healthcare law "depends on reaching everyone who is uninsured, but particularly young people who may feel like they don't need insurance," said Larry Levitt, a senior vice president at the Kaiser Family Foundation. Convincing them to spend money on insurance, he said, will be a "marketing challenge" (Gorman, 6/2).

4 Jun 2013

Federal judge lifts ban on Medicare releasing individual doctor data

A federal judge has lifted the ban on Medicare releasing data on individual doctors to the public. The end on the 33-year ban -- after the publishers of The Wall Street Journal sued to end it -- could mean closer scrutiny of doctor practices in the program.

4 Jun 2013

Amgen reports encouraging results from talimogene laherparepvec phase 3 study in patients with metastatic melanoma

Amgen today announced detailed results from a pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating talimogene laherparepvec in patients with unresected stage IIIB, IIIC or IV melanoma compared to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF).

3 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 3, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations, including a number of stories detail health law implementation developments.

3 Jun 2013

Medicare forecast: Solvent until 2026, though baby boomer costs loom

The government said Friday that Medicare's giant hospital trust will not be exhausted until 2026, two years later than projected last year, ... The reasons given for the improved financial outlook for Medicare were an overall slowdown in health care spending, particularly on skilled nursing care, as well as lower projected costs for popular insurance plans available within the Medicare program.

1 Jun 2013

Miss. governor gives $1M to health law call center

Despite his opposition to the law, Gov. Bryant supports a new facility that will be located in Hattiesburg. Also, in state exchange news, websites look at the seven plans competing in Georgia and the 13 plans that have submitted proposals in Colorado.

1 Jun 2013

Next battles over Obamacare predicted to be ugliest yet

CNN reports that the White House and Republicans are preparing for an "epic battle" over the selling of Obamacare tied to the opening of online insurance marketplaces Oct. 1. Other news outlets describe how GOP lawmakers are increasingly calling for an independent probe of HHS Secretary Sebelius.

1 Jun 2013

Medicaid expansion: Maine looks at another plan; Advocates lobby N.H., Missouri lawmakers

States wrestle with the issue of expanding their Medicaid programs under the federal health law.

1 Jun 2013

First Edition: May 31, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the administration about the number of insurers that will be offering policies on the new online marketplaces.

31 May 2013

Health researchers say people who walk or bike to work likely to influence co-workers, partners

People who walk or bike to work are likely to influence their co-workers and partners to do the same, according to health researchers. "Social influences are important, specifically interpersonal influences, such as spouses and co-workers," said Melissa Bopp, assistant professor of kinesiology, Penn State.

31 May 2013

Using germ-killing soap, ointment reduces presence of MRSA in ICUs, study finds

Using germ-killing soap and ointment on all intensive-care unit patients can reduce bloodstream infections by up to 44 percent and significantly reduce the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in ICUs, according study results published in today's New England Journal of Medicine.

31 May 2013

Injectable drugs used in TPN to be imported into US, says FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that injectable drugs used in total parenteral nutrition in critical shortage will be imported into the United States and available to patients this week.

30 May 2013

Health and Human Services News and Research

Habilitative services face uncertain future under Affordable Care Act

Law center presses for health plans to provide pregnancy coverage for dependents

First Edition: June 5, 2013

NextGen EDR version 4.3 now certified as ONC HIT Complete EHR

HHS unveils Medicare claims data detailing hospital price information for outpatient treatment

Duke University is awarded $2M to initiate new clinical research network on antibacterial resistance

Health care professionals have opportunity to share resources through innovative online platform

State highlights: Calif. bill would fine big employers with employees on Medi-Cal; Abortion fight set in N.Y. Senate

Court challenges, congressional charges and questions about key health law initiatives

Federal judge lifts ban on Medicare releasing individual doctor data

Amgen reports encouraging results from talimogene laherparepvec phase 3 study in patients with metastatic melanoma

First Edition: June 3, 2013

Medicare forecast: Solvent until 2026, though baby boomer costs loom

Miss. governor gives $1M to health law call center

Next battles over Obamacare predicted to be ugliest yet

Medicaid expansion: Maine looks at another plan; Advocates lobby N.H., Missouri lawmakers

First Edition: May 31, 2013

Health researchers say people who walk or bike to work likely to influence co-workers, partners

Using germ-killing soap, ointment reduces presence of MRSA in ICUs, study finds

Injectable drugs used in TPN to be imported into US, says FDA

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