Health Care News and Research

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First Edition: June 23, 2010

Today's health policy headlines focus on President Obama's Tuesday meeting with health insurance executives and the administration's new version of the "Patient's Bill of Rights."

23 Jun 2010

US lags in health system performance

Despite having the most expensive health care system, the United States ranks last overall compared to six other industrialized countries-Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom-on measures of health system performance in five areas: quality, efficiency, access to care, equity and the ability to lead long, healthy, productive lives, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report.

23 Jun 2010

Only doctors familiar with local health services should provide out of hours primary care: Experts

Only doctors familiar with local health services should provide out of hours primary care, argue two experts, following the death of a patient given an overdose of diamorphine by an out of hours doctor.

23 Jun 2010

UnitedHealthcare, Centura Health announce official launch of Connected Care in Colorado

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, and Centura Health, Colorado's largest health care provider, announced the official launch of Connected Care, giving patients in four rural Colorado communities expanded access to physicians and specialists using advanced telehealth technology.

23 Jun 2010

Recent objections would eliminate use of routine breast cancer screening mammograms: Authors

The firestorm that followed the November 2009 release of guidelines that would have reduced use of screening mammograms in women aged 40 to 49 highlights challenges for implementing the findings of comparative effectiveness research, according to a new analysis. Meeting such challenges - which may become more common due to increased funding for CER - requires better communication to the public and stakeholders about evidence and its connection to health care quality and efficiency.

23 Jun 2010

Researchers treat acute kidney injury using cells genetically reprogrammed to produce protein

A protein whose primary role is in the embryonic development of kidneys may play a future role in treating kidney failure. Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have successfully treated acute kidney injury in laboratory experiments using cells that were genetically reprogrammed to produce the protein. The research suggests there could be a potential future treatment using such cells delivered intravenously instead of surgically.

23 Jun 2010

Obama to meet Tuesday with insurance executives

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey provides this update: "President Obama will meet Tuesday morning with insurance company executives and state insurance commissioners to urge them to stave off 'unjustified premium increases' during implementation of the new health care law.

23 Jun 2010

Insurers will receive Presidential warning while administration to release regulations to protect consumers

President Obama will warn health insurance executives at a White House meeting Tuesday against trying to increase premium rates before the new law takes effect, The New York Times reports. "The White House is concerned that health insurers will blame the new law for increases in premiums that are intended to maximize profits rather than covering claims."

23 Jun 2010

PBMs: Post Office plan to end Saturday shipments could boost drug prices

Pharmacy-benefits management companies, including CVS Caremark and Medco, are worried that a U.S. Postal Service plan to end Saturday delivery could raise mail-order drug prices, Bloomberg Businessweek reports. "The pharmacy-benefits management companies, which shipped more than 150 million drug orders last year, joined retailer Crate and Barrel and publishers of small newspapers to challenge the Postal Service and its plan to cut service to save about $3 billion a year." The Post Office is trying to combat a projected $7 billion deficit this year (Keane, 6/21).

23 Jun 2010

World Bank provides over $63M for multi-country lab network in East Africa region

East African Business Week/allAfrica.com reports on the recent decision by the World Bank to back the creation of "a unique regional network of 25 public health laboratories" in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda with $63.66 million in support.

23 Jun 2010

Obama to grant federal workers time off to care for same-sex partner's kids

"President Obama will soon expand the rights of gay workers by allowing them to take family and medical leave to care for sick or newborn children of same-sex partners, administration officials said Monday," according to The New York Times. "The policy will be set forth in a ruling to be issued Wednesday by the Labor Department's wage and hour division, the officials said.

23 Jun 2010

European drugmakers lead in making medicines available to developing world, Index says

European drug companies came out ahead of their U.S. counterparts in making medicines available to people in developing countries, but their lead is beginning to shrink, according to the Access to Medicines Index, released on Monday, Reuters reports (Kelland, 6/21).

23 Jun 2010

Mass. weighs overhaul's effects; Conn. first state to add adults to Medicaid under new health law

"In most states, the passage of the sprawling federal health care overhaul legislation means the poorest will have a better shot at affording health insurance. But in Massachusetts, the law might have the opposite effect. Senator John. F. Kerry, state leaders, and health care advocates met yesterday to discuss a new report that highlights the major differences between the federal and state health care models. The focus of the event quickly turned to the hurdles of implementation and the need to protect the gains Massachusetts has made since 2006. ... The report reveals that ... some Massachusetts residents might end up facing higher premiums" (Lee, 6/22).

23 Jun 2010

Opinions: Canada's role in global health; Drug licensing agreements promote drug access; Funding for USAID, state; Haiti

After outlining the work of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Michel Kazatchkine, the organization's executive director, highlights the role Canada can play in determining "whether the world can overcome AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria" in a Toronto Star opinion piece, noting the upcoming G8 and G20 summits, as well as the Millennium Development Goal meeting later this year.

23 Jun 2010

U.S. Senate report highlights lack of progress in Haitian rebuilding effort

A lack of leadership, donor disagreements and overarching disorganization has led Haiti to make little progress in its rebuilding effort since the January 12 earthquake, according to a U.S. Senate report expected to be released on Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.

23 Jun 2010

Media examine GHI, U.S. HIV/AIDS funding

PBS' NewsHour's "The Rundown" blog examines the recent naming of eight countries to receive additional technical and management resources under President Barack Obama's Global Health Initiative (GHI).

23 Jun 2010

Politics surround Berwick, no hearings scheduled for CMS nominee

"Hospital executives who have worked with Dr. Berwick describe him as a visionary, inspiring leader. But a battle has erupted over his nomination, suggesting that Dr. Berwick faces a long uphill struggle to win Senate confirmation. Republicans are using the nomination to revive their arguments against the new health care law, which they see as a potent issue in this fall's elections, and Dr. Berwick has given them plenty of ammunition. In two decades as a professor of health policy and as a prolific writer, he has spoken of the need to ration health care and cap spending and has confessed to a love affair with the British health care system."

23 Jun 2010

Certification rule opens door for health IT vendors, but other regs lag

A final regulation for a temporary program to certify organizations to sell health IT systems will be published Thursday in the Federal Register, NextGov reports. "Certification is important because it gives health care providers the confidence that products will function properly, meet meaningful use criteria and improve quality of care, the article states.

23 Jun 2010

Obama warns health insurers against using reform to boost premium rates, unveils new patient bill of rights

Today, during an address in the East Room of the White House following a meeting with executives of leading health insurance companies and state insurance commissioners, "President Barack Obama warned insurance firms … not to use his healthcare overhaul as an opportunity to enact big rate increases and said the federal government would work with states to monitor them."

23 Jun 2010

Mayo Clinic, University of Illinois announce strategic alliance for technology-based health care

Mayo Clinic and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are announcing a strategic alliance designed to promote a broad spectrum of collaborative research, development of new technologies and clinical tools, and design and implementation of novel education programs. Both parties recently signed an agreement establishing the formal relationship.

23 Jun 2010

Health Care News and Research

First Edition: June 23, 2010

US lags in health system performance

Only doctors familiar with local health services should provide out of hours primary care: Experts

UnitedHealthcare, Centura Health announce official launch of Connected Care in Colorado

Recent objections would eliminate use of routine breast cancer screening mammograms: Authors

Researchers treat acute kidney injury using cells genetically reprogrammed to produce protein

Obama to meet Tuesday with insurance executives

Insurers will receive Presidential warning while administration to release regulations to protect consumers

PBMs: Post Office plan to end Saturday shipments could boost drug prices

World Bank provides over $63M for multi-country lab network in East Africa region

Obama to grant federal workers time off to care for same-sex partner's kids

European drugmakers lead in making medicines available to developing world, Index says

Mass. weighs overhaul's effects; Conn. first state to add adults to Medicaid under new health law

Opinions: Canada's role in global health; Drug licensing agreements promote drug access; Funding for USAID, state; Haiti

U.S. Senate report highlights lack of progress in Haitian rebuilding effort

Media examine GHI, U.S. HIV/AIDS funding

Politics surround Berwick, no hearings scheduled for CMS nominee

Certification rule opens door for health IT vendors, but other regs lag

Obama warns health insurers against using reform to boost premium rates, unveils new patient bill of rights

Mayo Clinic, University of Illinois announce strategic alliance for technology-based health care

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