Health Care News and Research

RSS

Recent releases in Global Health

"What is still needed [to fight malaria] is the only tool that has ever truly conquered any infectious disease: an effective and affordable vaccine. And here, the global malaria community has been too complacent," a Lancet editorial asserts in an article highlighting achievements and drawbacks in attempting to provide universal access to malaria prevention and treatment.

24 Apr 2010

PMI releases 6-year malaria strategy

The U.S. government Thursday released a six-year strategy to address malaria globally, Reuters reports (Fox, 4/22). The plan was issued through the President's Malaria Initiative (PMI) in conjunction with World Malaria Day, April 25, and is a "core component of President [Barack] Obama's Global Health Initiative," according to a USAID press release (4/22).

24 Apr 2010

Reuters: Wellpoint targets breast cancer patients for rescission

That tens of thousands of Americans lost their health insurance shortly after being diagnosed with life-threatening, expensive medical conditions has been well documented by law enforcement agencies, state regulators and a congressional committee. ... And a congressional committee last year said WellPoint was one of the worst offenders.

24 Apr 2010

Health IT policy group calls for patient safety oversight program

Modern Healthcare: The federal Health Information Technology Policy Committee is calling for the development of a national program that would monitor patient safety problems in health care IT systems. "The first among the work group's recommendations was a proposal to create 'a national transparent oversight process and information system,' similar to a patient-safety organization, that could receive reports from various sources about patient-safety issues linked to the use of healthcare IT systems."

24 Apr 2010

Broadspire, Medcor partner to provide direct immediate post-injury treatment for employees

Broadspire, a Crawford Company and leading third party administrator of workers compensation claims, liability claims and medical management services, and Medcor, a leading injury triage provider, are partnering to implement services to more effectively direct immediate post-injury treatment for employees.

24 Apr 2010

Federal officials confirm a shift in Medicaid drug rebates

Kaiser Health News staff writer Christopher Weaver writes: "The federal agency that oversees Medicaid confirmed Thursday that some money states receive as rebates from drugmakers will now be redirected to the federal government to help pay for the new health overhaul" (Weaver, 4/22).

24 Apr 2010

News outlets examine H1N1's impact on U.S. vaccine development plans, Mexico's handling of outbreak

"A year after the emergence of swine flu [H1N1], U.S. health authorities and laboratories say the pandemic illustrated the need for new vaccine production techniques that are faster and more reliable," Agence France-Presse writes in an article that examines the challenges associated with current vaccine development practices and plans for future development.

24 Apr 2010

Military health care costs on the rise

USA Today: Rising costs of military health care are leading the Pentagon and lawmakers to consider the first rate increase of out of pocket health care spending in fifteen years for members of TRICARE, the military health program. "The rapid rise has been driven by a surge in mental health and physical problems for troops who have deployed to war multiple times and by a flood of career military retirees fleeing less-generous civilian health programs," said Rear Adm. Christine Hunter, deputy director of TRICARE.

24 Apr 2010

Today's Opinions: Government power grab on health; A doctor's interface with computers; A focus on wellness

Following the passage of Democratic health-care reform legislation, President Obama assured the country that it was a 'middle-of-the-road, centrist approach' instead of an intrusive, government power grab. But the government seems incapable of resisting the nannying impulse that undermines this claim (Michael Gerson, 4/23).

24 Apr 2010

Georgia investigators increasingly use computer data to catch Medicaid fraud

Georgia investigators "are collecting millions more dollars each year as they catch more Medicaid fraud and mistakes" and they are increasingly relying on computer data analysis as a helpful tool. These cases often uncover unscrupulous medical providers who develop schemes such as overbilling to defraud the state Medicaid program.

24 Apr 2010

CMS actuary: Health reform will cover more people, cost more than originally projected

"In the first comprehensive look by neutral experts" of the health law, The Associated Press reports that "More Americans will be covered, but costs are also going up. Economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department concluded in a report issued Thursday that the health care remake will achieve Obama's aim of expanding health insurance — adding 34 million to the coverage rolls.

24 Apr 2010

New user's guide to help consumers navigate details of new health care reform law

In the wake of President Obama signing health care reform into law, AARP Bulletin today released a new user's guide to help consumers navigate the details of the new law and how it will impact them both now and further down the road when it is fully implemented. This special section features must-know details, including changes to Medicare, employer insurance, taxes, and small businesses -- all boiled down to the basics of what YOU need to know.

23 Apr 2010

CBO: 4 million to face fines for not having health insurance in 2016

About four million people "could be fined for failing to buy health insurance when the health overhaul law is fully in force in 2016, the Congressional Budget Office forecast on Thursday," Reuters reports, adding: "Most individuals must buy health insurance under the landmark legislation passed by Congress last month, or face fines that will be phased in."

23 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on the new health laws coverage estimates, costs and impact on the health care system.

23 Apr 2010

Real-people videos and expert advice to address childhood obesity

More than anything, bad habits are to blame for the childhood obesity epidemic. For Alejandra and her parents, food was an expression of love. But overeating and other unhealthy habits led this 11-year-old Hispanic girl to become an overweight kid.

23 Apr 2010

Cancer Care Ontario honours five Ontarians with Human Touch Awards

Five Ontarians whose kindness, compassion and professionalism has made life better for cancer survivors will be honoured at Cancer Care Ontario's fourth annual Human Touch Awards in Toronto April 22nd.

23 Apr 2010

City of Manchester, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield enhance Compass SmartShopper Program

Citing strong interest and engagement from city employees as well as requests from school district members, the city of Manchester and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire announced today enhancements to the innovative Compass SmartShopper Program as well as the addition of Manchester school district employees to the project.

23 Apr 2010

North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation awards $25,000 grants to 9 nonprofits

The North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation announced that it has awarded $25,000 grants to nine nonprofits this year, around the state to support activities that establish or expand programs that further science, education and health in local communities.

23 Apr 2010

Pelosi responds to reports of WellPoint dropping coverage for breast cancer patients

"WellPoint's practice of dropping anyone's coverage when they get sick – whether a woman with breast cancer or any other patient – is exactly the kind of insurance company abuse our new health care law prohibits.

23 Apr 2010

Report on Canadian spending trends in prescribed and non-prescribed drugs

Total drug spending in Canada is estimated to have reached $30.0 billion in 2009, about $1.5 billion more than in 2008, according to a new report released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This represents an estimated increase of 5.1%, the lowest annual growth rate observed in more than a decade.

23 Apr 2010

Health Care News and Research

Recent releases in Global Health

PMI releases 6-year malaria strategy

Reuters: Wellpoint targets breast cancer patients for rescission

Health IT policy group calls for patient safety oversight program

Broadspire, Medcor partner to provide direct immediate post-injury treatment for employees

Federal officials confirm a shift in Medicaid drug rebates

News outlets examine H1N1's impact on U.S. vaccine development plans, Mexico's handling of outbreak

Military health care costs on the rise

Today's Opinions: Government power grab on health; A doctor's interface with computers; A focus on wellness

Georgia investigators increasingly use computer data to catch Medicaid fraud

CMS actuary: Health reform will cover more people, cost more than originally projected

New user's guide to help consumers navigate details of new health care reform law

CBO: 4 million to face fines for not having health insurance in 2016

First Edition: April 23, 2010

Real-people videos and expert advice to address childhood obesity

Cancer Care Ontario honours five Ontarians with Human Touch Awards

City of Manchester, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield enhance Compass SmartShopper Program

North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation awards $25,000 grants to 9 nonprofits

Pelosi responds to reports of WellPoint dropping coverage for breast cancer patients

Report on Canadian spending trends in prescribed and non-prescribed 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