Health Care News and Research

RSS

Lawmakers, public take aim at deal struck for Sen. Nelson

News outlets report on deals struck with individual senators, in particular Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., in an effort to win support for health care legislation.

24 Dec 2009

Intervention strategy brings positive changes in type 2 diabetic patients

South Dakota State University research showed an intervention strategy based on the Native American spiritual concept of the Medicine Wheel brought positive changes for diabetics.

24 Dec 2009

VOA News examines obstetric fistula in Africa

VOA News examines obstetric fistula in Africa and looks at health officials' efforts to prevent and treat the condition.

24 Dec 2009

IRIN series examines health, development issues in Kenya

In a special series, IRIN examines health and development in Kenya. "The vast arid lands of northern Kenya are generally drier, less fertile, poorer and rank lower in most humanitarian and development league tables than the rest of the country. ... Preventable and treatable diseases are often neither prevented nor treated for want of adequate healthcare. Attracting qualified doctors and nurses to the hinterland is a major challenge.

24 Dec 2009

AARP calls on Senators to vote in favor of health care reform bill

While Washington, D.C. couldn't seem further away to most Idaho families this holiday season, rising health care costs are an issue that's hitting much closer to home. As Idaho's health care woes grow increasingly worse, AARP is calling on Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch to vote in favor of the Senate health care reform bill expected to come up for a vote Christmas Eve, and is sending the Senators a "Christmas List" of Idaho's health care crisis.

24 Dec 2009

HHS announces additional grant programs to support health IT workforce

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today the availability of two additional grant programs to support the training and development of the skilled workforce required to support broad adoption and use of health information technology (health IT).

24 Dec 2009

Republicans bitter about deals, resigned about likely overhaul passage

After a series of last minute deals paved the way for Senate Democrats to move forward with health overhaul legislation, Republicans lashed out, but also acknowledged that their options for fighting the legislation at this late date are limited.

24 Dec 2009

Lawmakers brace for conference as House Liberals vow not to give in on key issues

The Los Angeles Times reports that Democrats are looking ahead — and at each other — before beginning the "potentially difficult" process of reconciling the Senate and House versions of health care reform.

23 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Sometimes there is a fine ethical line between legislative maneuvering and bribery. At other times, that line is crossed by a speeding, honking tractor-trailer, with outlines of shapely women on mud flaps bouncing as it rumbles past (Michael Gerson, 12/23).

23 Dec 2009

Industries brace for health overhaul as Senate nears deal

Many companies and their lobbyists now believe the overhaul is inevitable and are hoping to ease changes that will affect their businesses.

23 Dec 2009

GlobalPost examines antibiotic resistance in China

GlobalPost examines antibiotic resistance and overprescribing in China. The country "has high rates of antibiotic resistance and a health care system that provides strong financial incentives for over-prescribing antibiotics.

23 Dec 2009

Health overhaul will keep insurers from dropping people after they become too expensive

The Los Angeles Times reports on some of the provisions in the health care bills will affect individuals because they will regulate how insurers treat people with chronic diseases.

23 Dec 2009

Costs of health overhaul may be felt before benefits accrue

The Associated Press reports: "The costs of health care reform being pushed through Congress by Democrats will be felt long before the benefits. Proposed taxes and fees on upper-income earners, insurers, even tanning parlors, take effect quickly.

23 Dec 2009

CBO questions democratic claims on Medicare savings

Roll Call: "Senate Republicans refused Wednesday to throw in the towel in their rhetorical war with Democrats over health care reform, accusing the majority of using accounting gimmicks to hide their use of Medicare Trust Fund money to pay for new programs in the overhaul,"

23 Dec 2009

Food Safety News releases 2009 “Naughty” list, “Nice” list to follow

Food Safety News, the web-based newspaper that covers all things food safety, has published the first half of its 2009 Food Safety Naughty and Nice list. The website, which has had more than 75,000 unique visitors since its September, 2009 launch, compiled the list from stories it covered as well as input from the food safety community. The release of the finger-wagging “Naughty” list will be followed by a kudos-to “Nice” list, just in time for Santa’s sleigh.

23 Dec 2009

Volcano lauds revised guidelines for treating severe coronary artery disease patients

Volcano Corporation, a leader in the development, manufacturing and sales of products for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease, reacted positively to the new guidelines for treating coronary disease and heart attacks using percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), a procedure that treats narrowed blood vessels.

23 Dec 2009

SNM urges Congress to implement long-term solution for medical reimbursement rates

SNM is pleased that the U.S. Congress has passed a fix to freeze the conversion factor at the 2009 rate for physicians, which will ensure that millions of patients continue to receive medical coverage for critical diagnostic imaging tests and therapeutics.

23 Dec 2009

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical joins NPC

The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) today announced that Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. has joined the health policy research organization as a member.

23 Dec 2009

H.R. 3590 will drive up private health insurance costs, state NAHU and CAHU

California and national leaders of the Association of Health Underwriters do not support current provisions in "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009."

23 Dec 2009

URAC announces its new Consumer Education Initiative

URAC, the nation's leading health care accreditation and education organization, today announced its new Consumer Education Initiative, which teaches consumers about health insurance and identifies ways they can make more informed decisions about their health care.

23 Dec 2009