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Newly identified gene enabling bacterial resistance to most antibiotics found in South Asia, U.K., study finds

A study published online Wednesday in Lancet Infectious Diseases identifies a gene that enables bacteria to resist most antibiotics and calls for better global surveillance of multi-drug resistant bacteria, the Associated Press reports (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

NAMI calls for $20 billion relief fund to cover mental health needs resulting from oil spill

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has called on Kenneth Feinberg, the independent claims administrator for the $20 billion relief fund created by BP Oil Company, to cover mental health needs resulting from the company's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

12 Aug 2010

Some Mass. residents fight individual mandate for health insurance, N.J. delays implementation of law requiring outpatient mental-health treatment

A former hospital executive has accused Naples-based Health Management Associates of offering money, free rent and private jet trips to entice doctors to refer Medicare patients to the company's hospitals. ... In a whistleblower lawsuit unsealed Aug. 2 by a federal judge, former hospital CEO J. Michael Mastej also accused his former employer of filing fraudulent claims on services HMA's facilities provided the ill-gotten Medicare patients.

12 Aug 2010

Alliance Surgical Distributors aligns surgeons, promotes orthopedic implant negotiation to reduce healthcare cost

Alliance Surgical Distributors has seen a surge not only in interest to form surgeon owned distributorships but also in groups completing set-up. Current distributorships under Alliance include Inland Spine and Orthopedics, Mesa Surgical, Vista Orthopedics, Rocky Mountain Trauma, Alpine Surgical Technologies, Alpine Implant Alliance, JAB Spinal Systems, North Idaho Surgical Cooperative, Restorix Technologies, with many other groups under development.

12 Aug 2010

HIV patients want docs to pay attention to other health conditions exacerbated by HIV

HIV/AIDS patients need their doctors to pay more attention to their other health conditions that can be exacerbated by HIV or its treatments, especially now that people are living longer with HIV. That is according to a international study of 2,000 patients that two Chicago-area health providers were instrumental in carrying out.

12 Aug 2010

Pulse Therapeutics receives fund to develop novel magnetics technique to destroy blood clots

BioGenerator, a non-profit, seed-stage economic development funding group, today announced that it has led a round of early-stage financing for Pulse Therapeutics, Inc., a St. Louis company headquartered at the Center for Emerging Technologies. Pulse Therapeutics develops innovative magnetism-based technology to safely destroy blood clots related to ischemic stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Other investors who participated in the round were Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), Washington University's Olin School of Business Skandalaris Student Venture Fund, and Integrated Magnetics, of Culver City, California. The funds will be used for further pre-clinical development.

12 Aug 2010

Hospital staph infection rate drops as national prevention effort steps up

The rate of drug-resistant staph hospital-acquired infections has dropped as the U.S. has stepped up prevention efforts to fight the deadly condition, The Associated Press reports. "The decline was seen in a federal study of methicillin-resistant staph, or MRSA. The bug often causes only a boil or skin infection. But researchers in the study focused on invasive cases that can become deadly, invading the bloodstream, flesh, lungs and bones. Researchers found that in nine metro areas, cases of MRSA (MUR'-suh) fell about 16 percent between 2005 and 2008.

12 Aug 2010

What doctors say and what patients hear may be entirely different things

A study of 89 patients at one U.S. hospital has found that "doctors and patients are often not on the same page when discussing diagnoses and treatment," Reuters reports. "In interviews with the patients on the day of their discharge, researchers found that only 18 percent even knew the name of the main physician in charge of their hospital care.

12 Aug 2010

Report: Top insurance execs pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year

The Los Angeles Times: "The top executives at the nation's five largest for-profit health insurance companies pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year — while their businesses prepared to hit ratepayers with double-digit premium increases, according to a new analysis conducted by healthcare activists. The leaders of Cigna Corp., Humana Inc., UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint Inc. each in effect received raises in 2009, the report concluded, based on an analysis of company reports filed with the Security and Exchange Commission.

12 Aug 2010

Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

Politico: "Republicans are continuing to telegraph their opposition to health care reform by filing another petition that would force the House to vote on repealing the legislation. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) filed a discharge petition Tuesday that would get rid of the Democrats' health care reform and replace it with a Republican alternative. His push follows Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) petition to simply repeal the reform without replacing it with new legislation" (Aujla, 8/10).

12 Aug 2010

Obama signs bill giving states $16 billion in enhanced Medicaid payments

President Obama signed a bill Tuesday that gives states an extra $16 billion in Medicaid funding.

12 Aug 2010

Nurses increasingly the target of violence; Texas nurse case settled

The Associated Press: "Violence against nurses and other medical professionals appears to be increasing around the country as the number of drug addicts, alcoholics and psychiatric patients showing up at emergency rooms climbs. Nurses have responded, in part, by seeking tougher criminal penalties for assaults against health care workers.

12 Aug 2010

Oral sex becomes common activity among young women: Study

University of Alberta researcher Brea Malacad says results from a study on oral sex indicate there is little doubt that oral sex is becoming a more common activity for young women. Study results show the act has become a fundamental part of what Malacad calls the "sexual revolution of the 21st century". And she concludes that researchers, sex educators and marketers of safer-sex paraphernalia need to catch up with the trend.

12 Aug 2010

States consider how best to spend extra Medicaid funds

In light of the $26 billion aid package passed by Congress Tuesday, states are considering their next steps.

12 Aug 2010

Merging hospitals irk locals in Boston, Orlando

Boston Catholics have asked Pope Benedict to intervene in the sale of Caritas Christi Health Care, a nonprofit Catholic hospital, to Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm, despite pledges that the hospital will retain its "religious identity," The Boston Globe reports.

12 Aug 2010

More Medicare Part D checks in the mail

The Department of Health and Human Services has mailed out a third round of $250 checks to help seniors who enter the Medicare Part D coverage pay gap for prescription drugs, WCAX [in Vermont] reports. "The one-time payment aims to close a gap in coverage for prescription medication. The rebates will go to about 9,000 Vermonters whose out-of-pocket expenses already total more than $940 for the year" (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

A day in the life of a 'mega' free clinic

This Kaiser Health News slideshow details a one-day free clinic held in Washington, D.C., at the city's convention center. "Mega clinics are a last-resort safety net and seek to connect patients with local community resources including other free clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and safety-net hospitals" (Marcy, 8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Critics question Berwick's ties to think-tank donors

Donald Berwick, who was recently appointed as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services without a Senate hearing, did not list donors who contributed up to $5 million to the think tank he ran before his appointment on ethics disclosure forms, the Washington Times reports.

12 Aug 2010

Health on the Hill - August 11, 2010

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey talks with KFF's Jackie Judd about the latest health-related news, including the congressional approval of a state aid package that includes $16 billion in federal Medicaid assistance (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The importance of following health reform's plan and more about 'death panels'

Within a few years, 6 million uninsured California residents will finally get medical coverage as part of the newly passed federal health care reforms. But what will they pay? And who will regulate premiums as insurers angle for customers? (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

Newly identified gene enabling bacterial resistance to most antibiotics found in South Asia, U.K., study finds

NAMI calls for $20 billion relief fund to cover mental health needs resulting from oil spill

Some Mass. residents fight individual mandate for health insurance, N.J. delays implementation of law requiring outpatient mental-health treatment

Alliance Surgical Distributors aligns surgeons, promotes orthopedic implant negotiation to reduce healthcare cost

HIV patients want docs to pay attention to other health conditions exacerbated by HIV

Pulse Therapeutics receives fund to develop novel magnetics technique to destroy blood clots

Hospital staph infection rate drops as national prevention effort steps up

What doctors say and what patients hear may be entirely different things

Report: Top insurance execs pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year

Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

Obama signs bill giving states $16 billion in enhanced Medicaid payments

Nurses increasingly the target of violence; Texas nurse case settled

Oral sex becomes common activity among young women: Study

States consider how best to spend extra Medicaid funds

Merging hospitals irk locals in Boston, Orlando

More Medicare Part D checks in the mail

A day in the life of a 'mega' free clinic

Critics question Berwick's ties to think-tank donors

Health on the Hill - August 11, 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The importance of following health reform's plan and more about 'death panels'

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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