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Bloomberg Businessweek explores growing trend in pharma to license, donate HIV drugs

"Pharmaceutical companies, once blasted as uncaring or downright greedy for charging thousands of dollars for a year's worth of AIDS medicines … in poor countries, lately have been slashing prices and licensing their drugs for free or nominal cost to nonprofits or local manufacturers in the developing world," Bloomberg BusinessWeek writes in an analysis piece that examines how this trend, combined with a growing capability among aid agencies to distribute drugs, has the potential to increase access to HIV/AIDS drugs worldwide.

7 Aug 2010

Clinical trials in Asia, Africa confirm safety, effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine

Two studies published online Thursday in the Lancet show that the rotavirus vaccine is safe and effective at preventing much of the gastrointestinal illness in developing countries, where rotavirus kills more than 400,000 children under age 5 annually, Reuters reports. Based on the findings in Asia and Africa, the studies' authors "urged the governments of developing nations to make the vaccines a priority," the news service writes.

7 Aug 2010

Elekta receives Surescripts certification for MOSAIQ oncology information system

With health care providers' desire to increase accuracy, lower costs and increase efficiency, e-prescription use in the United States is exploding. Surescripts reports that by the end of 2009, approximately 18 percent of eligible prescriptions were prescribed electronically compared with just 6.6 percent at the end of 2008. And, the number of prescriptions routed electronically jumped from 68 million in 2008 to 191 million in 2009.

From Elekta 7 Aug 2010

KFH/HP report combined total operating revenue of $11.0 billion for second-quarter 2010

Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and their respective subsidiaries reported today a combined total operating revenue of $11.0 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, compared to $10.5 billion in the same period in 2009. Operating income was $313 million in the second quarter of 2010, compared to $411 million in the same quarter last year.

7 Aug 2010

More ERs examine how to incorporate palliative care, change 'culture of care'

The Wall Street Journal Health Blog reports on increased discussions about palliative care following a recent New Yorker piece by M.D.-journalist Atul Gawande and a new piece in Slate that examines end-of-life care and the emergency room.

7 Aug 2010

Will health savings trickle from your paycheck to social security?

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz writes: "If employers save money on health insurance because of the new health law, will they give their workers a raise? Absolutely, says a new report by the trustees of Social Security.

7 Aug 2010

Robertson Global Health Solutions reports completion of name change and reverse stock split

Robertson Global Health Solutions Corporation announced today that it has formally completed its name change along with a 1 for 15 reverse stock split resulting in 11,543,346 shares of common stock currently issued and outstanding with 20,000,000 shares, par value $0.001, authorized. The Company also has 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock authorized, par value $0.001, with no preferred shares outstanding.

7 Aug 2010

Forum sets goal for achieving widespread adoption, meaningful use of EHRs by 2014

The following joint statement, by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Principal Deputy Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, was issued today at a forum, "Accelerating Electronic Health Records Adoption and Meaningful Use."

7 Aug 2010

Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing stable Medicaid, Medicare funding

As the extension of emergency Medicaid relief moves from the Senate to the House of Representatives, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living's nationwide Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing adequate, stable Medicaid and Medicare funding for long term and rehabilitative care for America's seniors and disabled citizens continues to draw significant support from legislators and coverage from local media.

7 Aug 2010

Tufts University faculty debunks common dental myths

Brushing, flossing, and twice-yearly dental check-ups are standard for oral health care, but there are more health benefits to taking care of your pearly whites than most of us know. In a review article, a faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) debunks common dental myths and outlines how diet and nutrition affects oral health in children, teenagers, expectant mothers, adults and elders.

7 Aug 2010

Health reform law update: State lawsuits, implementation efforts attract attention

Today, 20 states and the National Federation of Independent Business are planning "to file their response to the government's attempt to dismiss their lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The Justice Department in June asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the U.S. District Court in Pensacola lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over some of the lawsuit's claims. ... A key issue raised by their lawsuit is whether the federal government can require individuals to purchase health care insurance and fine those who don't" (Kay, 8/6).

7 Aug 2010

Boston Globe examines rise of polio in Tajikistan, other pockets of world

"Polio has reappeared in a corner of the world that had not seen cases in years - Tajikistan, the former Soviet republic - a chilling setback in the two-decade campaign to purge a dreaded cause of childhood paralysis from the planet," the Boston Globe reports in a story that examines the reemergence of polio in other areas of the world.

7 Aug 2010

Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver better health results: Study

Preliminary data from a study of private insurance and Medicare claims commissioned by the American Association of Diabetes Educators reveal that ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver results in terms of better health and reduced private insurance and Medicare claims.

7 Aug 2010

Aetna offers financial incentives to physicians who adopt electronic health record technology

Aetna Chief Medical Officer, Lonny Reisman, M.D., will attend the Health Industry Forum and present the insurer's plan to advance electronic health records adoption and meaningful use to help drive improvements in health care quality, cost and accessibility. To support this work, Aetna will, through its provider contracting process, offer financial incentives to physicians who achieve specific quality of care goals and who make investments in technology for implementation of an electronic health record.

7 Aug 2010

Upbeat Medicare solvency report quickly finds doubters

The new health law will buttress Medicare for a dozen more years than previously expected, according a report issued Thursday by the program's trustees, The Washington Post reports. But, "[t]he relatively bright picture of Medicare's future triggered immediate debate over whether the forecast by the trustees, all members of President Obama's Cabinet, is realistic.

7 Aug 2010

Senate gives final passage to state aid bill, House summoned for Tuesday vote

Senators voted Thursday to give $26 billion in aid to states and schools, $16 billion of which will be directed to Medicaid programs around the nation as the House prepares to return during its recess to cast votes on the legislation.

7 Aug 2010

AMA says most doctors at some point face malpractice lawsuits

MedPage Today/ABC News: According to a new survey by the American Medical Association, more than 60 percent of doctors older than 55 have been sued for medical malpractice. "Although most of those claims are dropped or dismissed, the new survey from the AMA shows that most physicians will be sued for malpractice at some point in their careers.

7 Aug 2010

Private firms take up torch of health IT push

Health insurance companies, doctors' professional associations and provider organizations are taking efforts to move hospitals and physicians towards 'meaningful use' of information technology into their own hands, The Hill reports.

7 Aug 2010

Obama Administration awards $159.1 million in grants for nurses, geriatric care workers

"The grants, which include new and continuing funding, build on multimillion dollar investments called for under the new health-care overhaul law in order to address a growing shortage of primary care workers." A 2008 report by the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply said schools would need to produce 30,000 nurses annually to offset the shortfall and the looming mass retirement of nurses, 45 percent of whom are 50 or older" (Aizenman, 8/5).

7 Aug 2010

Walgreens launches Pharmacy Chat for 24/7 online access

With 20 percent of Walgreens 7,500-plus pharmacies open 24 hours daily, Walgreens patients nationwide rely on the round-the-clock convenience and accessibility of Walgreens pharmacy. Now, Walgreens is making its trusted pharmacy staff even more accessible - available any time online - with Walgreens Pharmacy Chat. Pharmacy Chat is a live, one-on-one, online chat with a pharmacy staff member available 24/7

7 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

Bloomberg Businessweek explores growing trend in pharma to license, donate HIV drugs

Clinical trials in Asia, Africa confirm safety, effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine

Elekta receives Surescripts certification for MOSAIQ oncology information system

KFH/HP report combined total operating revenue of $11.0 billion for second-quarter 2010

More ERs examine how to incorporate palliative care, change 'culture of care'

Will health savings trickle from your paycheck to social security?

Robertson Global Health Solutions reports completion of name change and reverse stock split

Forum sets goal for achieving widespread adoption, meaningful use of EHRs by 2014

Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing stable Medicaid, Medicare funding

Tufts University faculty debunks common dental myths

Health reform law update: State lawsuits, implementation efforts attract attention

Boston Globe examines rise of polio in Tajikistan, other pockets of world

Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver better health results: Study

Aetna offers financial incentives to physicians who adopt electronic health record technology

Upbeat Medicare solvency report quickly finds doubters

Senate gives final passage to state aid bill, House summoned for Tuesday vote

AMA says most doctors at some point face malpractice lawsuits

Private firms take up torch of health IT push

Obama Administration awards $159.1 million in grants for nurses, geriatric care workers

Walgreens launches Pharmacy Chat for 24/7 online access

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