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NCCN Guidelines and impact of escalating health care costs highlighted at NCCN Annual Conference

The escalating costs of cancer care combined with variations in concordance with evidence-based practice guidelines is putting the United States on a collision course for an impending collapse of its current health care system according to roundtable panelists at the NCCN 15th Annual Conference.

15 Mar 2010

Blog watch: What do the polls say?

Kaiser Health News' Kate Steadman surveys the blogosphere to see how recent polls on health reform are playing. Her finding: "There's little consensus among bloggers about trends in public opinion toward the health care overhaul bills" (Steadman, 3/11).

15 Mar 2010

Cancer care system in Canada does not meet the needs of young cancer patients

Canada's cancer care system is not meeting the unique needs of young cancer patients. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors often 'fall through the cracks' of a system that focuses on cancer in children or adults, but does not provide specialized care for this in-between group. To understand why and develop solutions, an international group of young survivors and cancer specialists will come together in Toronto.

15 Mar 2010

Children with cleft lip or cleft palate more likely to receive age-appropriate health care when provided by team

Children with a cleft lip or cleft palate are more likely to receive recommended age-appropriate health care when that care is provided by an interdisciplinary team rather than an individual provider. In a study encompassing three states, Arkansas, Iowa and New York, 24% of participants were not receiving team care.

15 Mar 2010

African leaders, donors endorse 'ambitious' agriculture development plan

At a meeting this week in Nigeria to address African agriculture production, "African leaders and donor agencies have endorsed an ambitious plan to generate employment, income and food security in Africa by developing agribusiness and agro-industries," Punch reports.

15 Mar 2010

U.N. not fully funded to meet needs in Haiti, says humanitarian chief; Media examines care for country's elderly

After announcing a revised appeal of $1.4 billion in February to finance emergency relief as well as recovery and reconstruction, the U.N. "is struggling to provide support for equake-ravaged Haiti," according to humanitarian chief John Holmes, Reuters reports.

15 Mar 2010

U.S. State Department releases annual human rights review

The U.S. State Department on Thursday released its annual review on the state of human rights around the world, the Associated Press reports. The 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which includes an assessment of 194 countries, "described abuses in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe," according to the news service (Klug, 3/11).

15 Mar 2010

Biggest Medicare drug plans raise prices 10 percent on average

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby reports on findings regarding Medicare drug plan costs: "The 10 insurers with the largest numbers of Medicare drug plan customers raised premiums an average of 10 percent this year, an analysis released Friday by consulting firm Avalere Health shows" (Appleby, 3/12).

15 Mar 2010

Montana Gov. seeks to buy state's prescription drugs from Canada; Settlement reached for ground zero workers

"Gov. Brian Schweitzer [D-Mont.] said Thursday that he is seeking federal permission to import cheaper drugs from Canada for use in state insurance programs," The Associated Press/The New York Times reports

15 Mar 2010

U.S. prescribing information for PLAVIX revised

Sanofi-aventis U.S. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced revisions to the U.S. prescribing information for PLAVIX® (clopidogrel bisulfate), which include a boxed warning. The boxed warning concerns the diminished effectiveness of PLAVIX in patients who have a genetic variation leading to reduced formation of the active metabolite.

15 Mar 2010

GOP plots political strategy to foil Democrats on heath overhaul

The Wall Street Journal reports on a Republican strategies for influencing Democratic health reform votes. "Republicans ... are ramping up their warnings to Democratic lawmakers themselves, saying a 'yes' vote puts their political careers at risk.

15 Mar 2010

AARP opposes Health Conscience bill

A living will or advance directive for end of life care may soon be worthless documents in Idaho if state legislators have their way – and that's news that has older Idahoans outraged.

15 Mar 2010

Research roundup: Evaluating health bills, attitudes about uninsured, improving emergency rooms

The Cost Of Uncompensated Care With And Without Health Reform - This report analyzes various health bills. "The cost of uncompensated care will fall from $62.1 billion in 2009 to $46.6 billion in 2019 under the Senate bill, and to $36.5 billion in 2019 with the House bill. Without reform, the cost of uncompensated care will increase to between $107 and $141 billion in 2019, depending on growth in the economy and health care costs.

15 Mar 2010

Data shows increased risk of heart attack, stroke for patients having high blood pressure

For patients with diabetes and heart disease, less isn't always more - at least when it comes to blood pressure.

15 Mar 2010

Supplementing vitamin D in people with low levels may have different effects based on patient race

Vitamin D is quickly becoming the "go-to" remedy for treating a wide range of illnesses, from osteoporosis to atherosclerosis. However, new evidence from a Wake Forest University School of Medicine study suggests that supplementing vitamin D in those with low levels may have different effects based on patient race and, in black individuals, the supplement could actually do harm.

15 Mar 2010

Parliamentarian ruling complicates Democrats' plans

The Democrats' plan for passing the health overhaul has been waylaid by the Senate parliamentarian, who ruled President Obama must first sign into law the Senate-passed health bill before the senators could consider separate legislation that would alter it on behalf of House members, The Hill reports.

15 Mar 2010

Groups take to streets, airwaves for health overhaul endgame

"With the health care debate headed toward a showdown on Capitol Hill, the battle is being joined locally at street rallies, in television ads and through phone banks. Members of Congress, particularly Democratic moderates such as Rep. Bob Etheridge, are facing stepped-up lobbying efforts as President Barack Obama makes a final push for passage of a bill aimed to change the health care system. At the same time, conservative critics are waging a last effort to derail the bill" (Christensen, 3/12).

15 Mar 2010

Health Care News and Research

NCCN Guidelines and impact of escalating health care costs highlighted at NCCN Annual Conference

Blog watch: What do the polls say?

Cancer care system in Canada does not meet the needs of young cancer patients

Children with cleft lip or cleft palate more likely to receive age-appropriate health care when provided by team

African leaders, donors endorse 'ambitious' agriculture development plan

U.N. not fully funded to meet needs in Haiti, says humanitarian chief; Media examines care for country's elderly

U.S. State Department releases annual human rights review

Biggest Medicare drug plans raise prices 10 percent on average

Montana Gov. seeks to buy state's prescription drugs from Canada; Settlement reached for ground zero workers

U.S. prescribing information for PLAVIX revised

GOP plots political strategy to foil Democrats on heath overhaul

AARP opposes Health Conscience bill

Research roundup: Evaluating health bills, attitudes about uninsured, improving emergency rooms

Data shows increased risk of heart attack, stroke for patients having high blood pressure

Supplementing vitamin D in people with low levels may have different effects based on patient race

Parliamentarian ruling complicates Democrats' plans

Groups take to streets, airwaves for health overhaul endgame

CCIH study: Canadians are forced to choose between personal health and financial future

Pelosi: A 'climactic health care vote' as early as next week

Insurance fraud booms during recession; Short-term health policies should be selected with caution

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

How microplastics and bacteria interact to drive antibiotic resistance

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