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ACC endorses Emmi Solutions and online patient engagement programs to improve patient communication

When patients hear the words “heart failure” they often remember little of the discussion that follows. Stress, emotions, health literacy and even the patient’s condition itself can create a barrier for good communication between patients and their doctors. Studies show patients forget as much as 80% of their discussion with their doctor by the time they reach the parking garage.

11 Mar 2010

Save Flexible Spending Plans, WageWorks issue statement on FSA restrictions

President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress are currently planning to require restrictions on the use of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) – most significantly in the form of a $2,500 cap on FSA contributions and new limits on the use of the benefit to cover the cost of over-the-counter medications – to take effect next year.

11 Mar 2010

New policy document examines options to integrate care for dual eligible beneficiaries

The SCAN Foundation released a policy options document by the Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. (CHCS) summarizing four options to integrate care for dual eligibles, the nearly 9 million seniors and adults with disabilities who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

11 Mar 2010

2010 AAOS conference highlights ways to prevent orthopaedic traumas in children

Over the years, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motocross motorcycles have gained popularity and marketed as toys to consumers. These high-velocity machines can weigh between 300 and 600 pounds, and run on average between 25 and 60 miles per hour, while some even reach maximum speeds of 75 miles per hour.

11 Mar 2010

RetireSafe: Seniors should call on Congress to stand up for better hospital care and lower hospital costs

Today RetireSafe, representing 400,000 senior citizen supporters across America, urged seniors nationwide to call on Congress to save high-quality physician hospitals from the restrictive health care reform language now pending in Congress. House and Senate "reform" efforts would ration high-quality physician hospital care to Medicare patients, as a "cost savings."

11 Mar 2010

New changes made to the Dose Conversion Guidelines on Fentanyl Transdermal Systems

The manufacturers of Fentanyl Transdermal Systems, in collaboration with Health Canada, would like to inform Canadians of important new changes made to the Dose Conversion Guidelines in the Product Monograph. These guidelines are used to help determine what dosage of Fentanyl Transdermal Systems is appropriate for each individual patient.

11 Mar 2010

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Harvey Rosenfield, author of California's landmark insurance regulation Proposition 103—recognized as the most successful insurance regulation in the country—was joined today by people struggling to pay for health insurance in calling on President Obama and Congress to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates as part of the final round of votes on reform. Consumers must have a breather from yearly premium hikes like the 39% increase planned by Anthem Blue Cross, said Consumer Watchdog, which Rosenfield founded.

11 Mar 2010

Pharmacy franchises sue Cardinal Health

Medicine Shoppe and Medicap pharmacists in seven states sued Cardinal Health in federal court Tuesday, alleging the health care products distributor failed to make good on promises it made when it asked them to switch to a new franchise agreement.

11 Mar 2010

BCBSWNY, BSNENY to deploy American Well's Online Care platform in upstate New York

BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York (BCBSWNY), BlueShield of Northeastern New York (BSNENY) and American Well™ Inc. today announced an agreement to deploy American Well's Online Care platform and services in upstate New York to eligible members and employers beginning this summer.

11 Mar 2010

Key stakeholder groups convene to address noncommunicable diseases at Global Forum

The first Global Forum of the Noncommunicable Disease Network (NCDnet) marks the first time WHO has convened key stakeholder groups to address the large-scale and increasing global health and development burden posed by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

11 Mar 2010

Congress works on tariff-lowering legislation for Haiti as Preval meets with U.S. leaders in Washington

The Senate Finance Committee's chair, Max Baucus (D-Mont.), and top Republican, Charles Grassley (Iowa), are working with colleagues in the House on legislation that would lower tariffs in an effort to help Haiti's apparel industry and help the country recover from the major January earthquake, CQ Politics reports.

11 Mar 2010

ARHC launches seven-state radio ad campaign calling on Democrats to listen to people's opposition to ObamaCare

Americans for Responsible Health Care launched a seven-state radio ad campaign today calling on Democrat Members of Congress to listen to the American people's opposition to ObamaCare, and to vote against the government takeover of the nation's health care.

11 Mar 2010

WHO's updated malaria guidelines include rapid diagnosis, new ACT

The WHO on Tuesday released new guidelines for the treatment of malaria, which recommend "parasitological testing before treatment begins" and add "a new artemisinin based combination treatment [ACT] to the list of prescribed drugs," BMJ News reports.

11 Mar 2010

Poor, minority adults with chronic kidney disease face increase risk of developing ESRD

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts a large number of younger minority adults receiving medical care in settings that serve the uninsured and underinsured (settings collectively known as the healthcare safety net). Poor, minority adults with moderate to severe CKD are also two to four times more likely to progress to kidney failure than non-Hispanic whites.

11 Mar 2010

Obama makers final public push for health reform as Democrats consider timeline

President Obama is delivering his "closing argument" for health care reform in St. Louis today as Democratic leaders strategize on moving the bill through the House and Senate.

11 Mar 2010

Comparative research lags far behind approval-driven evaluations

A new study has found that few drug evaluations compare treatments in ways that help doctors make better decisions, Reuters reports.

11 Mar 2010

British government, HIV/AIDS advocates warn decreased aid budgets could lead to reversals in HIV/AIDS treatment progress

Recent gains in the global fight against HIV/AIDS could be reversed as the "global economic downturn pinches poor countries' budgets and donors show signs of backing away from their promise to provide universal access to AIDS treatment," the British government together with Medecins Sans Frontieres warned Tuesday, Reuters AlertNet reports.

11 Mar 2010

Sebelius: Insurer's opposition to health measure works against them

The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke earlier today at the America's Health Insurance Plans' national policy forum in Washington, D.C. and "warned health insurers Wednesday that opposing President Obama's health-care agenda and letting premium hikes continue would eventually hurt the health-care industry. ... Sebelius cautioned in stark terms that, if insurers opposed Democrats' health-care legislation, premiums hikes would continue and more small businesses would drop health coverage for their employees" (Yoest, 3/10).

11 Mar 2010

President announces plans to crack down on health care fraud

The Boston Globe: "President Barack Obama said Tuesday he'll bring in high-tech bounty hunters to help root out health care fraud, grabbing a populist idea with bipartisan backing in his final push to overhaul the system. ... Obama's anti-fraud announcement was aimed directly at the political middle."

11 Mar 2010

Non-profit operations plugging health care gap in Chicago

Medill Reports presents a story on community health centers in Chicago that try to fill access-to-care gaps for people too sick to get health care coverage or too poor to afford other care.

11 Mar 2010

Health Care News and Research

ACC endorses Emmi Solutions and online patient engagement programs to improve patient communication

Save Flexible Spending Plans, WageWorks issue statement on FSA restrictions

New policy document examines options to integrate care for dual eligible beneficiaries

2010 AAOS conference highlights ways to prevent orthopaedic traumas in children

RetireSafe: Seniors should call on Congress to stand up for better hospital care and lower hospital costs

New changes made to the Dose Conversion Guidelines on Fentanyl Transdermal Systems

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Pharmacy franchises sue Cardinal Health

BCBSWNY, BSNENY to deploy American Well's Online Care platform in upstate New York

Key stakeholder groups convene to address noncommunicable diseases at Global Forum

Congress works on tariff-lowering legislation for Haiti as Preval meets with U.S. leaders in Washington

ARHC launches seven-state radio ad campaign calling on Democrats to listen to people's opposition to ObamaCare

WHO's updated malaria guidelines include rapid diagnosis, new ACT

Poor, minority adults with chronic kidney disease face increase risk of developing ESRD

Obama makers final public push for health reform as Democrats consider timeline

Comparative research lags far behind approval-driven evaluations

British government, HIV/AIDS advocates warn decreased aid budgets could lead to reversals in HIV/AIDS treatment progress

Sebelius: Insurer's opposition to health measure works against them

President announces plans to crack down on health care fraud

Non-profit operations plugging health care gap in Chicago

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

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