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First edition of HIE Ready Buyers' Guide to facilitate health information exchange released

The UC Davis Health System's Institute for Population Health Improvement today released the first edition of its "HIE Ready Buyers' Guide" to facilitate health information exchange, especially in California.

3 Nov 2012

NIH grant increases support of SDSU program that prepares students for doctoral and science careers

Funded by a $2.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development supports 30 students studying in the fields of biomedical and behavioral sciences.

2 Nov 2012

Roundup: Texas will keep Planned Parenthood Women's Health Program for now; Kids' autism covered in Wash. Medicaid; UnitedHealth selling S.C. Medicaid biz

Planned Parenthood will continue to receive funds from a joint Texas and federal program providing health care to low-income women, despite the state's promise to exclude its clinics by Nov. 1 because they are affiliated with abortion providers.

2 Nov 2012

Rep. Issa tussles with treasury dept. over health law subpeona

Treasury officials rejected the subpoena threat from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

30 Oct 2012

Notable Medicare lawsuit settlement could aid patients needing skilled nursing care, other types of therapy

News outlets explain how a recent Medicare settlement could have an important impact on people who need physical, occupational and other therapies for certain disabilities and chronic conditions.

30 Oct 2012

HHS fraud squad digging into allegations of EHR overbilling

The fraud squad of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has mailed out a 54-question survey that digs into widespread allegations of Medicare overbilling committed with electronic health records (EHRs).

29 Oct 2012

Federal appeals court won't hear Planned Parenthood appeal of Texas defunding

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the state would move immediately to stop providing any funding for Planned Parenthood and other clinics that provide abortions.

29 Oct 2012

Researchers identify genes linked to serous endometrial cancer

Researchers have identified several genes that are linked to one of the most lethal forms of uterine cancer, serous endometrial cancer.

29 Oct 2012

Obama emphasizes women's health issues

President Barack Obama is differentiating his positions from those of GOP challenger Mitt Romney, saying a Romney win could result in the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He is also assailing efforts to "redefine rape," attempting to link Romney to comments made by Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock.

29 Oct 2012

Pfizer receives FDA approval for Synribo to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Synribo (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) to treat adults with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a blood and bone marrow disease.

29 Oct 2012

Republicans threaten to subpoena Obama administration over $23M health law PR campaign

House Ways and Means Committee members are seeking details on efforts to promote programs in the 2010 health law.

26 Oct 2012

Medicare, abortion grab attention in some House, Senate races

News outlets offer another round of coverage on the Wisconsin Senate race and a tight New York House race, while candidates' views on abortion are spotlighted in Indiana and Missouri.

25 Oct 2012

Obama, Romney bring health policy resumes to the presidential race

But swing state voters continue to be skeptical of the two candidates' positions and plans. The Los Angeles Times reports how Ohio voters are critical of President Barack Obama's healthcare law because they see their healthcare costs continuing to rise and also skeptical that a man as rich as Mitt Romney could understand their needs.

25 Oct 2012

NIH conference to assess GDM screening and diagnostic approaches

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy (especially during the third trimester of pregnancy). It is defined as carbohydrate intolerance, which is the inability of the body to adequately process carbohydrates (sugars and starches) into energy for the body, that develops or is first recognized during pregnancy.

25 Oct 2012

Rep. Issa subpoenas HHS records on Medicare Advantage program

Republicans have suggested that a demonstration project providing more funding to the program is helping to cover up the cuts from the health law. The administration provided 1,300 pages of documents to Issa last week.

24 Oct 2012

Meningitis outbreak linked to pharmaceutical compounding has long history

News outlets report that the FDA released a list of customers - including some major hospitals - of the New England Compounding Center. But the FDA later "found technical problems" and withdrew the list, promising to repost it as soon as the data are corrected.

24 Oct 2012

Developments regarding ways to connect elderly or disabled people with care

Kaiser Health News reports on how one program helps people on Medicaid move out of institutional settings and return to the community while The New York Times reports on an agreement that might make it easier for people with chronic conditions and disabilities to qualify for Medicare coverage of home health care, skilled nursing home-stays and outpatient therapy.

24 Oct 2012

U.S. Marshals seize dietary supplements and unapproved drugs from Confidence

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals recently seized dietary supplements and unapproved drugs from Confidence, Inc., of Port Washington, N.Y.

24 Oct 2012

Transplant wait-list deaths not just due to organ availability: Study

Most liver transplant candidates who died or were removed from the transplant list actually received one or more liver donation offers, according to a recent UCSF study.

23 Oct 2012

Issa seeks documents on Medicare Advantage pilot project, Hatch asks questions about federal health exchanges

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., will subpoena internal documents from the Department of Health and Human Services related to Medicare Advantage pilot projects. Meanwhile, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, continues to question HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the federal operation of health exchanges.

23 Oct 2012