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House GOP members unveil draft 'doc fix' plan

The plan would repeal the contentious SGR formula for reimbursing doctors, but does not include a way to pay for that. Also in the House, a Democrat and a Republican introduce a bill to create national exercise guidelines.

30 May 2013

Tafinlar, Mekinist get FDA approval to treat patients with advanced melanoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved two new drugs, Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib), for patients with advanced (metastatic) or unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

30 May 2013

Sebelius' actions under microscope as she rolls out health law

News outlets report how Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has become a "lightning rod" for criticism as the administration's central player responsible for implementing the high-stakes law.

29 May 2013

FDA approves iTrace for Blood Centers to assist in enhancing blood safety

iTrace for Blood Centers, (Version 1.0.924.0), the first application to use Radio Frequency Identification technology in blood establishments to assist in enhancing blood safety by preventing the release of unsuitable blood components, was cleared today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

29 May 2013

HHS sees cost savings in the cloud

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department is looking for cost savings in the cloud as it weathers painful budget cuts.

29 May 2013

First Edition: May 28, 2013

Today's headlines include stories about the strategies of some businesses -- small and large -- to blunt the health law's impact.

28 May 2013

Obamacare partisan fights affecting public opinion, Capitol Hill, health coverage for poor

News outlets report that as the health law comes closer to full implementation in 2014, the political parties are far apart and likely to stay there, which could affect who gets coverage and how.

28 May 2013

Improved communication could help with end of life decision making, suggests BIDMC research

In any given year, 400,000 Americans suffering from end-stage kidney disease will undergo dialysis, and as many as 20 to 25 percent of those dialysis patients will die, a statistic comparable to many types of cancer.

28 May 2013

Children who miss well-child visits have twice the risk of hospitalization

Young children who missed more than half of recommended well-child visits had up to twice the risk of hospitalization compared to children who attended most of their visits, according to a study published today in the American Journal of Managed Care. The study included more than 20,000 children enrolled at Group Health Cooperative.

27 May 2013

New report reveals that parents can influence the health and well-being of children

A new report indicates that more than one in five parents of teens aged 12 to 17 (22.3 percent) think what they say has little influence on whether or not their child uses illicit substances, tobacco, or alcohol.

27 May 2013

State highlights: La. grand jury to examine $200M Medicaid contract

More than half of the states that applied to participate in a controversial CMS pilot for dual-eligible beneficiaries have either dropped out or delayed implementation of their programs, according to health policy experts. Among the 26 states that applied to participate in the CMS Financial Alignment Initiative, which stems from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, six have dropped out or opted for different "customized" plans and nine have delayed their start dates (Daly, 5/23).

27 May 2013

FDA recommends health care providers not to administer steroid injections from Main Street

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Tennessee Board of Pharmacy to investigate reports of seven adverse events associated with steroid injections compounded by Main Street Family Pharmacy, LLC (Main Street) of Newbern, Tenn.

26 May 2013

Maintaining heart healthy lifestyle can also protect CKD patients from kidney failure, premature death

Maintaining a heart healthy lifestyle may also help protect chronic kidney disease patients from developing kidney failure and dying prematurely, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings suggest that patients with kidney disease should be encouraged to improve their heart health.

24 May 2013

Viewpoints: Sen. Alexander sees reflections of Oliver North in Sebelius' quest to raise funds; vaccine scare's legacy

Major news outlets in recent days have reported that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is raising money from the private sector -- including from health care executives -- for use by a private entity that is helping to implement ObamaCare. ... Is Ms. Sebelius raising funds for a private entity and then coordinating with that entity to do something Congress has refused to authorize, or for which it has refused to appropriate funds?

24 May 2013

HHS report finds uptick in doctors' use of electronic health records

Also in the news, the Pentagon is in search of a new system for veterans' health care while San Francisco is "leading the way" in new health data applications.

24 May 2013

New campaign aims to increase awareness of HIPAA rights, benefits among HIV-positive Black MSM

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights is proud to launch the Information Is Powerful Medicine campaign.

24 May 2013

CCSC, HHS honor hospitals, health care facilities for preventing HAIs

The Critical Care Societies Collaborative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announces recipients in the 2013 National Awards Program to Recognize Achievements in Eliminating Health Care-Associated Infections.

24 May 2013

FDA approves Tina-quant HbA1cDx assay for diagnosis of diabetes

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it is allowing marketing of the COBAS INTEGRA 800 Tina-quant HbA1cDx assay (Tina-quant HbA1cDx assay) for the diagnosis of diabetes by health care professionals.

24 May 2013

New data highlights urgent crisis posed on US healthcare system by DFUs and VLUs

Organogenesis Inc., a commercial leader in the field of regenerative medicine, presented new data generated in collaboration with a team of expert economists from Analysis Group (a leading health economics consultancy) demonstrating the significant healthcare resource and economic burden that diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers place upon the US healthcare system.

23 May 2013

First Edition: May 23, 2013

Today's headlines include various status updates about state activity regarding the health law's online insurance marketplaces.

23 May 2013

Health and Human Services News and Research

House GOP members unveil draft 'doc fix' plan

Tafinlar, Mekinist get FDA approval to treat patients with advanced melanoma

Sebelius' actions under microscope as she rolls out health law

FDA approves iTrace for Blood Centers to assist in enhancing blood safety

HHS sees cost savings in the cloud

First Edition: May 28, 2013

Obamacare partisan fights affecting public opinion, Capitol Hill, health coverage for poor

Improved communication could help with end of life decision making, suggests BIDMC research

Children who miss well-child visits have twice the risk of hospitalization

New report reveals that parents can influence the health and well-being of children

State highlights: La. grand jury to examine $200M Medicaid contract

FDA recommends health care providers not to administer steroid injections from Main Street

Maintaining heart healthy lifestyle can also protect CKD patients from kidney failure, premature death

Viewpoints: Sen. Alexander sees reflections of Oliver North in Sebelius' quest to raise funds; vaccine scare's legacy

HHS report finds uptick in doctors' use of electronic health records

New campaign aims to increase awareness of HIPAA rights, benefits among HIV-positive Black MSM

CCSC, HHS honor hospitals, health care facilities for preventing HAIs

FDA approves Tina-quant HbA1cDx assay for diagnosis of diabetes

New data highlights urgent crisis posed on US healthcare system by DFUs and VLUs

First Edition: May 23, 2013

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