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First Edition: August 5, 2010

Today's health policy headlines examine the solvency of Medicare and Social Security; the momentum of legislation in Congress to provide states with Medicaid assistance; and the impact of Missouri's ballot challenge to health reform.

5 Aug 2010

CIGNA second-quarter consolidated revenues increase to $5.4 billion

CIGNA Corporation today reported shareholders' net income of $294 million, or $1.06 per share, for the second quarter of 2010 compared with shareholders' net income of $435 million, or $1.58 per share, for the same period last year. Shareholders' net income included a loss of $0.37 per share in the second quarter of 2010 and income of $0.40 per share for the same period last year from results of the GMIB business, primarily related to interest rate movements.

5 Aug 2010

Widespread sexual violence, human rights abuses in DRC linked with physical, mental health outcomes

A recent survey of men and women in specific territories of Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo found sexual violence and human rights violations were prevalent and were associated with physical and mental health outcomes, according to an article in the August 4 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on violence and human rights.

5 Aug 2010

State of Missouri votes to pass Health Care Freedom Act

Last night, the state of Missouri voted to pass Proposition C, also known as the "Health Care Freedom Act," barring governments from requiring people to have health insurance. The measure conflicts with a key provision of the new federal health care law that requires people to have health insurance or pay fines by 2014. The proposition is modeled after the American Legislative Exchange Council's Freedom of Choice in Health Care Act, which has now been introduced or announced in 42 states.

5 Aug 2010

AIM signs agreement for non-brokered private placement of common shares

AIM Health Group Inc., a fully integrated health care company, announced today that it had entered into an agreement for a non-brokered private placement of 2,857,144 common shares at $0.25 per share for total proceeds of $714,286.

5 Aug 2010

CNA commends CMA for new report on health-care transformation

A new Canadian Medical Association report on health-care transformation was met with a mix of optimism and concern by the Canadian Nurses Association.

5 Aug 2010

USP advances new labeling requirements to prevent errors in administration of injectable medications

To reduce the likelihood of patient death and disability resulting from errors in the administration of injectable medications in hospitals and other healthcare settings, the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention is advancing new labeling requirements that will standardize the information permitted on the highly visible area of these vials to only cautionary statements intended to prevent imminent life-threatening situations.

5 Aug 2010

Anthem launches new integrated approach to health, disability and absence management

Anthem Life Insurance Company is pleased to introduce Productivity Solutions– an innovative program that integrates health care programs with short-term disability programs for employer groups with 51 or more employees. Productivity Solutions leverages all of the integration points across health, absence and disability management programs to help improve employee health and productivity, as well as the organization's bottom-line.

5 Aug 2010

Primary care practices recognized with Priority Health Quality Awards

Priority Health, one of the nation's top health plans, is pleased to recognize 138 primary care practices across the state of Michigan with the Priority Health Quality Awards. The Priority Health Quality Awards were established in 2003 to recognize excellence in health care. Quality Awards are presented in two categories: Exceptional Patient Care and Outstanding Health Care Value. Among the honorees are 38 practices winning awards in both categories.

5 Aug 2010

MHPA responds to GAO report on Medicaid managed care rates

Today, Medicaid Health Plans of America responded to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not been consistently reviewing states' compliance with actuarial soundness requirements (developed in accordance with actuarial principles, appropriate for the population and services, and certified by actuaries) in setting Medicaid managed care rates.

5 Aug 2010

Project for improving nurses' assessment skills to detect and alleviate delirium symptoms

In the future, nurses may more accurately detect and alleviate symptoms of delirium in persons with dementia, thanks to a five-year, $2.7-million grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research.The project, led by Donna Fick, professor of nursing, Penn State, seeks to improve nurses' assessment skills and reduce the use of drugs to treat delirium and dementia.

5 Aug 2010

Diabetes Self-Management Training helps to prevent complications in pre diabetes patients

Citing research that demonstrates the cost savings and health benefits of providing Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to patients with pre-diabetes, the American Association of Diabetes Educators today called on private insurers and Medicare to include education as a covered benefit for this population.

5 Aug 2010

Americans stop seeking medical care for recent illness, survey reveals

With unemployment rates remaining at an all-time high, one in five Americans chose not to seek medical care for a recent illness or injury, with four out of 10 citing cost as the primary factor, according to a Deloitte Center for Health Solutions survey of more than 4,000 adults in the United States.

5 Aug 2010

TCA Cellular Therapy enrolls first patient for adult stem cell clinical trial

TCA Cellular Therapy, LLC has enrolled its first patient to participate in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first adult stem cell clinical trial to treat spinal cord injuries. Enrollee and Marine Veteran, Matt Cole was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2005 insurgent attack in Iraq.

5 Aug 2010

Researchers map malaria parasite P vivax; Nearly 3B people at risk of infection in 2009

A new evidence-based map estimates that in 2009 2.85 billion people lived "at risk of infection" with the malaria parasite Plasmodium vivax, BMJ News reports. As described in a study, published Tuesday in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, P vivax "is more widespread and potentially represents a greater burden on human health in some parts of the world than P falciparum, the species usually associated with the greatest mortality and morbidity," BMJ News writes (Moszynski, 8/3).

5 Aug 2010

Nature News examines how scientists, farmers are working to meet the growing demand for artemisinin

"From bust to boom to bust again: artemisinin, the key ingredient of front-line antimalarial drugs, is entering the third chapter of its turbulent history," Nature News writes in an article that examines the challenges scientists and farmers are facing as they attempt to keep up with the growing demand for the compound just as a "$343-million initiative starts to battle malaria through hugely subsidized medicines."

5 Aug 2010

President Obama, Sec. of State discuss U.S. commitment to development, fighting disease in Africa with young African leaders

During a gathering of over 100 young African business and civil leaders at the White House on Tuesday, President Barack Obama "urged [them] to help spur economic development and fight corruption, disease and extremism on the continent," MSNBC's "First Read" blog reports.

5 Aug 2010

Kaiser Permanente funds 700 grants targeting critical health issues in communities

Kaiser Permanente, one of the country's largest not-for-profit health care organizations, funded 700 grants nationwide totaling approximately $13 million in the second quarter of 2010. The grants this quarter focused on expanding access to healthy food, reducing childhood obesity, and increasing care for the underinsured.

5 Aug 2010

Penn. effort fades to override cuts to family planning; Ill. faces budget cuts to health care; Mich. focuses on high cost of chronic disease

The Philadelphia Inquirer: "As two Democratic state lawmakers initiated a campaign to override the governor's veto of $7.5 million for family-planning health centers, six Republican state senators who previously voted to restore the funding reversed course, most likely ending any hopes of restoring the money. Democrats would need at least four Republican votes for an override in the Senate, which now appears unlikely.

5 Aug 2010

Senate Democrats hang hopes for state Medicaid money on Maine Republican votes

On Wednesday morning, the Senate took up a state aid package, which includes Medicaid assistance. What follows are summaries of the news coverage in advance of a vote scheduled to begin at 10:40 a.m.

5 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

First Edition: August 5, 2010

CIGNA second-quarter consolidated revenues increase to $5.4 billion

Widespread sexual violence, human rights abuses in DRC linked with physical, mental health outcomes

State of Missouri votes to pass Health Care Freedom Act

AIM signs agreement for non-brokered private placement of common shares

CNA commends CMA for new report on health-care transformation

USP advances new labeling requirements to prevent errors in administration of injectable medications

Anthem launches new integrated approach to health, disability and absence management

Primary care practices recognized with Priority Health Quality Awards

MHPA responds to GAO report on Medicaid managed care rates

Project for improving nurses' assessment skills to detect and alleviate delirium symptoms

Diabetes Self-Management Training helps to prevent complications in pre diabetes patients

Americans stop seeking medical care for recent illness, survey reveals

TCA Cellular Therapy enrolls first patient for adult stem cell clinical trial

Researchers map malaria parasite P vivax; Nearly 3B people at risk of infection in 2009

Nature News examines how scientists, farmers are working to meet the growing demand for artemisinin

President Obama, Sec. of State discuss U.S. commitment to development, fighting disease in Africa with young African leaders

Kaiser Permanente funds 700 grants targeting critical health issues in communities

Penn. effort fades to override cuts to family planning; Ill. faces budget cuts to health care; Mich. focuses on high cost of chronic disease

Senate Democrats hang hopes for state Medicaid money on Maine Republican votes

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