Health Care News and Research

RSS

New report provides state-by-state analyses of substance abuse, mental illness patterns

A new report providing state-by-state analyses of substance abuse and mental illness patterns reveals that despite wide variations among the states in the types and levels of behavioral health problems they experience -- every state suffers from these problems. For example, among those aged 12 and older, Iowa had less than one third the current illicit drug use rate of Rhode Island (4.1 percent vs. 13.3 percent) - yet Iowa's population aged 12 and older was among the group of states with the nation's highest levels of people participating in binge drinking in the past month (27.2 percent).

14 Jun 2010

Study finds survival disparities among patients with colorectal cancer

Disparities in cancer stage and treatment are the main reasons why Medicaid-insured and uninsured rectal cancer patients are twice as likely to die within five years as privately insured patients. That is the conclusion of a new study published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. Because poorer survival among rectal cancer patients without private insurance is largely attributable to later cancer stage at diagnosis and inadequate treatment, disparities may be lessened through health care reform.

14 Jun 2010

Internal Medicine board sanctions doctors for cheating on certification tests; APA to issue conflict-of-interest guidelines

The American Board of Internal Medicine has sanctioned 139 doctors for cheating on exams it uses for board certifications, CQ HealthBeat reports. "The board also sued a test prep firm, as well as a handful of doctors viewed as the worst offenders, in federal court." The board alleges that the company encouraged doctors to memorize questions on the board exams and then to e-mail them to the test prep firm after (Norman, 6/10).

14 Jun 2010

HHS announces grants to support States' efforts to implement, evaluate patient safety approaches

The Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality today announced grants to support efforts by States and health systems to implement and evaluate patient safety approaches and medical liability reforms. The demonstration and planning grants are part of the patient safety and medical liability initiative that President Obama announced during a September 9, 2009 address to a joint session of Congress.

14 Jun 2010

NIH researchers' findings about malaria parasites in bloodstream could lead to development of new drugs

NIH researchers have "identified two previously unknown steps in the spread of the malaria parasite in the bloodstream" and found a way to interfere with one stage of the process, which could lead to the development of new malaria drugs, United Press International reports (6/10). The study was published online in Current Biology, according to an NIH press release (6/10).

14 Jun 2010

State round-up: Tenn. lawmakers fail to pass bill to opt out of health care law; Mass. officials continue to study hospital sale

Tennessee lawmakers adjourned the 106th General Assembly early Thursday after failing to pass a bill to opt out of the new federal health care law. ... Both chambers passed the budget -- the only piece of legislation they are constitutionally required to adopt -- last week, but spent the last few days wrangling over issues like the federal health care overhaul.

14 Jun 2010

President Obama calls on Congress to avert 21% cut in payments to physicians

President Obama called on Congress today to avert a 21 percent cut in payments to physicians who treat Medicare patients in his weekly radio address. He also reiterated his commitment to permanent reform of the Medicare physician payment formula.

14 Jun 2010

U.S. judge approves $712.5 million settlement for 9/11 responders' health problems

"Thousands of first responders, firefighters and construction workers sickened by toxic rubble at Ground Zero could share in a settlement of up to $712.5 million announced Thursday, three months after a federal judge said a previous deal did not pay victims enough. U.S. District Court Judge Alvin Hellerstein gave preliminary approval to the settlement of a 7-year-old lawsuit against the city by nearly 10,000 people who suffered illnesses from exposure to dust and debris at the World Trade Center site after the Sept. 11 attacks."

14 Jun 2010

Florida GOP gov. candidate surges despite questions about involvement in Medicare fraud case

Opponents of Florida GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott are questioning Scott's involvement in a health care fraud case when he was the CEO for Columbia/HCA hospital.

14 Jun 2010

Cancer survivors forego medical care because of financial concerns

A new analysis has found that two million cancer survivors did not get needed medical services in the previous year because of concerns about cost. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study raises the concern that the long-term health and well-being of cancer survivors could suffer because patients have financial worries about their care.

14 Jun 2010

3M Health Care launches new foam adhesive dressings for acute and chronic wounds

3M Health Care today announced the introduction of a full line of new, innovative Tegaderm™ High Performance Foam Adhesive Dressings. In clinical and laboratory tests, these new adhesive foam wound dressings outperform other leading foam adhesive dressings in managing the full range of low- to high-moisture conditions that can be present in chronic and acute wounds.

14 Jun 2010

Obama, GOP spar on Medicare 'doc fix'

"President Barack Obama Saturday accused Senate Republicans of standing in the way of important legislation that would block deep pay cuts for doctors who care for Medicare patients. Mr. Obama said the majority of the U.S. Congress is ready and willing to prevent a pay cut of 21%. But he used his weekly radio and Internet address to express concern that some Republicans are seeking to block a vote on the issue. If they do, doctors could see the cut in their Medicare payments this week, the president said" (Randall, 6/12).

14 Jun 2010

Opinions: Haitian housing; U.S. foreign aid

"The only thing that seems to be moving relentlessly ahead in Haiti is the weather, with punishing heat and near-daily thunderstorms settling in for the summer - and the hurricane season that just begun," according to a New York Times editorial highlighting some of the problems with the Haitian reconstruction effort.

14 Jun 2010

TIME series examines global health

As part of a special package about global health, TIME magazine visits what is known as "the most malarial town on earth" - Apac, Uganda - and examines global malaria control and efforts to eradicate the disease.

14 Jun 2010

Trauma patients without insurance more likely to die of injuries than privately insured patients: Study

Trauma patients without insurance are more likely to die of their injuries from auto accidents and gunshot wounds than privately insured patients with similar injuries, according to findings of an analysis of 193,804 patients from 649 facilities conducted by University Buffalo emergency medicine physicians.

14 Jun 2010

Capitol Hill briefing addresses neglected tropical diseases

At a Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) briefing, held in conjunction with the Congressional Malaria and NTD Caucus in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, "U.S. researchers, pharmaceutical companies and government officials [said] they are making progress in an effort to curb [NTDs], but that they need more money and outside help," VOA News.

14 Jun 2010

ACIP's new immunization guidelines for upcoming year

Summer is all about barbeques and lazy days at the pool. It's also a good time to start thinking about preparing for flu season, and the vaccinations you or your child may need for the upcoming year, says Carrie Maffeo, a professor of pharmacy at Butler University, who specializes in immunizations.

14 Jun 2010

States worry about whether Congress will extend extra Medicaid funding

"The Massachusetts delegation sent letters yesterday to House and Senate leaders urging them to support an extension of Medicaid funding that officials in Massachusetts and other states say is vital to prevent drastic cuts in services and increases in layoffs." Newly elected Republican Sen. Scott Brown did not sign the letter because the proposal would add to the federal deficit. But the 11 Democrats in the delegation were adamant that the extension be approved.

14 Jun 2010

New hip exposes conflicts of interests for doctors

A baseball umpire's broken hip has shed light on doctors' conflicts of interest in recommending certain devices over others and the growth, despite efforts to rein it in, of such practices, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

14 Jun 2010

Customs Organization to sign declaration against counterfeit drugs

The World Customs Organization will sign a declaration to fight the $200-billion-a-year counterfeit drug industry, Reuters reports.

14 Jun 2010

Health Care News and Research

New report provides state-by-state analyses of substance abuse, mental illness patterns

Study finds survival disparities among patients with colorectal cancer

Internal Medicine board sanctions doctors for cheating on certification tests; APA to issue conflict-of-interest guidelines

HHS announces grants to support States' efforts to implement, evaluate patient safety approaches

NIH researchers' findings about malaria parasites in bloodstream could lead to development of new drugs

State round-up: Tenn. lawmakers fail to pass bill to opt out of health care law; Mass. officials continue to study hospital sale

President Obama calls on Congress to avert 21% cut in payments to physicians

U.S. judge approves $712.5 million settlement for 9/11 responders' health problems

Florida GOP gov. candidate surges despite questions about involvement in Medicare fraud case

Cancer survivors forego medical care because of financial concerns

3M Health Care launches new foam adhesive dressings for acute and chronic wounds

Obama, GOP spar on Medicare 'doc fix'

Opinions: Haitian housing; U.S. foreign aid

TIME series examines global health

Trauma patients without insurance more likely to die of injuries than privately insured patients: Study

Capitol Hill briefing addresses neglected tropical diseases

ACIP's new immunization guidelines for upcoming year

States worry about whether Congress will extend extra Medicaid funding

New hip exposes conflicts of interests for doctors

Customs Organization to sign declaration against counterfeit drugs

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Applications Engineer

Latest News