Health and Human Services News and Research

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Federal judge rules morning-after pill must be available over the counter for all ages

A federal judge has ruled that the United States government must make the most common morning-after pill available over the counter for all ages, instead of requiring a prescription for girls 16 and under (Belluck, 4/5).

6 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 5, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how President Barack Obama's budget proposal -- to be released next week -- will handle Medicare and Medicaid.

5 Apr 2013

N.C. governor proposes managed care move for state's Medicaid program

North Carolina Gov. Pay McCrory is proposing to privatize Medicaid to save money in the $13 billion program while stakeholders in Texas, Florida and California also consider changes to their Medicaid plans.

5 Apr 2013

Feds issue rules for 'navigators' who will help consumers buy health insurance

As the Obama administration published rules for "navigators," who will be hired in every state to help consumers shop in new insurance marketplaces, news outlets examine how states are setting up those marketplaces and the impact on consumers.

5 Apr 2013

Burden of care for many immigrants untouched by health law's Medicaid expansion

Also in the news, media outlets offer news and analysis regarding Medicaid expansion plans and debates in Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri.

5 Apr 2013

Ohio State University to host national summit to promote health and wellness of students

The Ohio State University is hosting the inaugural Building Healthy Academic Communities National Summit on April 22-23 in an effort to improve health and wellness outcomes among the 31.2 million students, faculty and staff in US higher education.

4 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Obama's brain initiative is 'modest but welcome start;' Disability insurance facing 'immediate crisis'

President Obama officially announced his new brain research initiative on Tuesday, with a pledge to put $100 million in his 2014 budget to support work at three federal agencies.

4 Apr 2013

Study shows relationship between cocaine-induced brain deficits in prefrontal cortex and cocaine-seeking

Could drug addiction treatment of the future be as simple as an on/off switch in the brain? A study in rats has found that stimulating a key part of the brain reduces compulsive cocaine-seeking and suggests the possibility of changing addictive behavior generally.

4 Apr 2013

Targeting cholesterol metabolism in eye may prevent age-related macular degeneration, says study

Targeting cholesterol metabolism in the eye might help prevent a severe form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the most common causes of blindness in older Americans, according to indications in a study in mice, which was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

3 Apr 2013

New Jersey bans minors under age of 17 years old from using indoor tanning salons

New Jersey sent a strong message to young people that indoor tanning salons can be dangerous to their health. New Jersey has passed a law that bans minors under the age of 17 years old from using indoor tanning devices.

3 Apr 2013

NIH awards funding to two recipients of Autism Centers of Excellence program

The National Institutes of Health has awarded $5.3 million in initial one-year funding to the latest two recipients of the Autism Centers of Excellence program. With these awards, announced on World Autism Awareness Day, these and nine other ACE centers around the country are now being funded for up to five years.

3 Apr 2013

Feds boost rather than cut payments to Medicare Advantage plans

The insurance industry won a major lobbying victory Monday after the Obama administration backtracked on an earlier plan to cut Medicare Advantage payments to insurers by 2.2 percent in 2014 and instead decided to give them a 3.3 percent increase.

3 Apr 2013

Administration delays health law provision for small business insurance market

The Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP, would have provided a variety of insurance options for small firms. When the law takes effect next year in states with federally run exchanges, these businesses will be able to offer workers a single plan instead.

3 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 2, 2013

Kaiser Health News consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers readers' questions about the new marketplaces where consumers can buy 2014 health policies as part of the federal health law. (Andrews, 4/2).

2 Apr 2013

UAB School of Nursing awarded HRSA grant to improve quality of care for underserved

The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing has received a three-year, $1.4-million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration to develop and implement an innovative interprofessional collaborative health-care practice model that improves quality of care and outcomes for underserved patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions.

2 Apr 2013

Concerns raised about effect of Medicare's readmission penalty on hospitals

The New York Times explores the new policy that penalizes hospitals if they have too many patients return within 30 days.

2 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: 'Big risks' of buying private insurance with Medicaid dollars; One month of sequestration

The Obama administration and Republican officials in several states are exploring ways to redirect federal money intended to expand Medicaid, the main public insurance program for the poor, and use it instead to buy private health insurance for Medicaid recipients.

2 Apr 2013

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals receives preliminary comment letter from FDA on peramivir

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it received a preliminary comment letter from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration that outlines a pathway by which BioCryst could file a New Drug Application seeking regulatory approval of intravenous (i.v.) peramivir.

1 Apr 2013

Senators urge HHS to step up efforts to curb Medicare overpayments

The lawmakers pointed to a report showing a $70 million loss caused by overpayments on medical equipment, The Hill reports.

30 Mar 2013

Invokana tablets receive FDA approval to treat adults with type 2 diabetes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Invokana (canaglifozin) tablets, used with diet and exercise, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

30 Mar 2013

Health and Human Services News and Research

Federal judge rules morning-after pill must be available over the counter for all ages

First Edition: April 5, 2013

N.C. governor proposes managed care move for state's Medicaid program

Feds issue rules for 'navigators' who will help consumers buy health insurance

Burden of care for many immigrants untouched by health law's Medicaid expansion

Ohio State University to host national summit to promote health and wellness of students

Viewpoints: Obama's brain initiative is 'modest but welcome start;' Disability insurance facing 'immediate crisis'

Study shows relationship between cocaine-induced brain deficits in prefrontal cortex and cocaine-seeking

Targeting cholesterol metabolism in eye may prevent age-related macular degeneration, says study

New Jersey bans minors under age of 17 years old from using indoor tanning salons

NIH awards funding to two recipients of Autism Centers of Excellence program

Feds boost rather than cut payments to Medicare Advantage plans

Administration delays health law provision for small business insurance market

First Edition: April 2, 2013

UAB School of Nursing awarded HRSA grant to improve quality of care for underserved

Concerns raised about effect of Medicare's readmission penalty on hospitals

Viewpoints: 'Big risks' of buying private insurance with Medicaid dollars; One month of sequestration

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals receives preliminary comment letter from FDA on peramivir

Senators urge HHS to step up efforts to curb Medicare overpayments

Invokana tablets receive FDA approval to treat adults with type 2 diabetes

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