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Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., limits spouses' health insurance

The Washington Post: Employees at Catholic Charities were told Monday that the social services organization is changing its health coverage to avoid offering benefits to same-sex partners of its workers. ... Starting Tuesday, Catholic Charities will not offer benefits to spouses of new employees or to spouses of current employees who are not already enrolled in the plan. A letter describing the change in health benefits was e-mailed to employees Monday, two days before same-sex marriage will become legal in the District."

2 Mar 2010

Cleveland HeartLab completes $3.0M fundraising round

Cleveland HeartLab LLC (CHL) today announced that it has completed a $3.0-million fundraising round. The company’s new shareholders include local business leaders, and Glengary LLC, Second Generation Ltd. and Zapis Capital Group LLC.

2 Mar 2010

Researchers face variety of barriers to addressing obesity in children

The US is facing many challenges in controlling the childhood obesity epidemic. Despite recent efforts and some progress, one third of US children are still overweight or obese. Yet research has shown that the road to obesity begins early in life, and it is more common and difficult to address for low-income children.

2 Mar 2010

Concerns about unnecessary scans and radiation risk prompt reviews by doctors

Business Week reports on a study that finds 1 in 4 MRI and CT scans are inappropriately recommended by doctors. The study appears in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. The researchers analyzed 459 scans at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

2 Mar 2010

N.H. lawmakers consider rate-setting commission for hospitals

A proposed cost-control commission would attempt to spread hospital costs more evenly across New Hampshire's population and protect the uninsured from high charges, but the state's hospitals are unhappy about the plan, The Concord Monitor reports. "The 4,700-word bill would create a three-person commission, appointed by the governor, to set rates for procedures in every New Hampshire hospital.

2 Mar 2010

Activists and lobbyists ramp up efforts in possible final health care push

"In the absence of clear next steps, outside groups have stepped in to beat the drum, keeping time while the leadership meets behind closed doors to write the next movement. ... Progressive advocacy groups like Health Care for America Now and Families USA are organizing supporters and protests across the country, reminding Americans and lawmakers why inaction is unacceptable."

2 Mar 2010

Seeking undecided Dems, Obama's latest health proposal will focus on cost

The New York Times: "President Obama this week will begin a climactic push to rally restive Congressional Democrats to pass major health care legislation by hammering the argument that the costs of failure will be higher insurance premiums and lost coverage for individuals and businesses. ... he will contrast Democrats' proposals for expanding coverage and for regulating insurance company practices with what he sees as the shortcomings of the Republicans' incremental plans."

2 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 2, 2010

Today's headlines highlight the latest on the White House's health reform strategy and a new lawsuit against California's largest for-profit health insurer.

2 Mar 2010

California's dirty air costs more than $193M in hospital-based medical care, finds RAND study

California's dirty air caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005 to 2007 as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia that are triggered by elevated pollution levels, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

2 Mar 2010

Axolotl and Rochester RHIO: 50 New York area eldercare agencies join HIE

Axolotl Corp., the nationwide leader in health information exchange (HIE) solutions and services and Rochester RHIO, the regional health information organization connecting medical providers across nine counties in New York today announced that fifty area eldercare agencies are joining the health information exchange. For the first time anywhere, health care providers are now able to view medical and social supports that human service agencies provide senior patients, alongside their clinical information.

2 Mar 2010

AstraZeneca drafts five principles for companies engaged in social media

AstraZeneca today asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to adopt guidance that will enable AstraZeneca and others to fully engage in real-time, social media conversations that responsibly provide accurate, balanced information on medicines from a known, identifiable and reliable source.

2 Mar 2010

CMAJ: Canada is well back of electronic records pack

Canada is lagging behind many countries in the use of electronic health records and it is critical that the country's medical and political leaders set targets for universal adoption, states an editorial in CMAJ

2 Mar 2010

Physicians Foundation responds to new Medicare physician payment cuts of 21%

The Physicians Foundation, a national healthcare organization that represents the interests of physicians, responded today to new Medicare physician payment cuts of 21 percent, which became effective today after Congress failed to take action on a month long stay.

2 Mar 2010

UPMC, Google Health, CMU and dbMotion develop novel PHR technology

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) today announced the development of personal health record (PHR) technology that may soon give patients the ability to add critical health information to the electronic health records maintained by hospitals and physicians. UPMC completed the proof-of-concept project in collaboration with Google Health, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and technology partner dbMotion.

2 Mar 2010

Two-week U.N. meeting on gender equality kicks off Monday

Ahead of the two-week U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which kicks off Monday in New York, Inter Press Service features a Q&A with Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), who highlights some of the goals of the meeting. As part of CSW, world leaders are expected to discuss gender equality in the context of the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action, the 1994 Program of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

2 Mar 2010

GenWay Biotech's simple blood sample cancer assessment test

San Diego-based GenWay Biotech, Inc. today announced the availability of the You Test You- Cancer Assessment that allows patients to test for various types of cancer without having to visit their doctor's office, through a simple blood sample. With a 10-day turnaround time and a cost of $149, You Test You- is a convenient and low cost way to periodically test for indication of cancer.

2 Mar 2010

Some U.S. troops stay in Haiti; Aid officials prepare for rainy season

Kenneth Merten, the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, said on Thursday that American troops would stay in the country to aid in its recovery, Agence France-Presse reports. "There are about 6,500 soldiers in Haiti at the moment. There were some 20,000 for the emergency effort launched in the wake of January 12," Merten said. "What is planned for the moment is more and more staff from USAID on the ground and fewer and fewer troops. Gradually, they'll leave. In my opinion, we will need some American troops to stay here for the foreseeable future" (2/25).

2 Mar 2010

News outlets examine development of low-cost diagnostic tool, infectious disease surveillance

CNN examines the work of a Harvard University chemistry professor to "shrink a medical laboratory onto a piece of paper that's the size of a fingerprint and costs about a penny." According to George Whitesides, who created a prototype of the inexpensive paper "chip," the technology could be used to diagnose such diseases as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis in developing countries.

2 Mar 2010

States continue to wrestle with Medicaid spending, budget issues; Utah legislation would criminalize illegal abortion

Cincinnati Business Courier: Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has signed a bill that will extend the state's mini-COBRA program from 12 to 15 months for small-business employees, according to a report in Columbus Business First (3/1).

2 Mar 2010

Pennsylvania to use nearly $10M in federal grant funds to improve quality of health care for children

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced Pennsylvania will use nearly $10 million in federal grant funds to improve the quality of health care for children while reducing the cost of services through the use of pediatric electronic health records.

2 Mar 2010