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Senate rejects mass importation of medicine from Canada

In the midst of President Obama's push for health care reform, the Senate rejected a plan to allow American pharmacies and drug wholesalers to import federally approved drugs from abroad. That vote has proved to be a headache for customer service staff at companies like Canadameds.com (http://www.Canadameds.com), which sells low-cost prescription drugs directly to American consumers.

24 Dec 2009

Brain training may enhance specific ability, but no scientific proof exists for overall mental fitness

Many brain training products claim to be able to keep us mentally fit. Some products even claim that brain training can prevent dementia in old age. But there is no scientific proof that games or other brain exercises can have this effect.

24 Dec 2009

Schumer's hunting trip with Nelson; Reid gets a hero's welcome

Politico reports on a hunting trip that Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., took in Nebraska about six weeks ago. Schumer "bagged three pheasants. And six weeks later, he bagged Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), serving as key negotiator as Nelson held the fate of landmark health care legislation in the balance.

24 Dec 2009

False Claims Act allegations: Visiting Physicians Association to pay $9.5M

Visiting Physicians Association, which is based in Farmington Hills, Mich., will pay the United States and the state of Michigan $9.5 million to settle allegations that the association violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, TRICARE and the Michigan Medicaid program, the Justice Department announced today. Visiting Physicians Association is a Michigan professional corporation which has provided home health services at various times in Michigan, Ohio, Georgia and Wisconsin.

24 Dec 2009

White House does not expect conference bill before State of the Union speech

Although a deal was struck Tuesday to get a vote on the Senate health bill before Christmas, White House officials said Wednesday that they don't expect a conference bill to pass both houses before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in late January or early February, Politico reports. Democratic congressional leaders had earlier said they planned to reconcile the differences in the House and Senate measures and send Obama a bill before the speech.

24 Dec 2009

Obama defends health bill in Oval Office interview

In an Oval Office interview with The Washington Post, President Barack Obama "rejected criticism that he has compromised too much to secure health-care reform or turned over too much authority to congressional leaders in pursuing his broad legislative agenda."

24 Dec 2009

More H1N1 vaccines available in U.S., many Americans don't want it

While an increasing number of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines are available in the U.S., "more than half of American adults say they still don't want it, and one-third of parents say they don't want their children to get it either, according to two surveys," the Washington Post reports. "As of this week, 111 million doses of vaccine against the pandemic strain of H1N1 flu have been released to states and cities.

24 Dec 2009

States slash budgets including cuts in health programs

The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reports on budget cuts in Louisiana: "Obligated to close a $247.9 million gap in the current-year state budget, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced cuts across all agencies Tuesday, including $108.1 million in health dollars and $84 million from higher education. ... Slack tax revenue during the recession is leaving state coffers short of anticipated spending money for this year.

24 Dec 2009

Opinions: Doctors in developing nations; foreign aid

In a New York Times opinion piece that focuses on health reform in the U.S., Shannon Brownlee, a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation and David Goodman, a professor at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, discuss an amendment that teaching hospitals in the U.S. hope will make it into final health care legislation. The amendement would add 15,000 residency slots to the 100,000 residencies supported by the federal government.

24 Dec 2009

Lawmakers, public take aim at deal struck for Sen. Nelson

News outlets report on deals struck with individual senators, in particular Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., in an effort to win support for health care legislation.

24 Dec 2009

Intervention strategy brings positive changes in type 2 diabetic patients

South Dakota State University research showed an intervention strategy based on the Native American spiritual concept of the Medicine Wheel brought positive changes for diabetics.

24 Dec 2009

VOA News examines obstetric fistula in Africa

VOA News examines obstetric fistula in Africa and looks at health officials' efforts to prevent and treat the condition.

24 Dec 2009

IRIN series examines health, development issues in Kenya

In a special series, IRIN examines health and development in Kenya. "The vast arid lands of northern Kenya are generally drier, less fertile, poorer and rank lower in most humanitarian and development league tables than the rest of the country. ... Preventable and treatable diseases are often neither prevented nor treated for want of adequate healthcare. Attracting qualified doctors and nurses to the hinterland is a major challenge.

24 Dec 2009

AARP calls on Senators to vote in favor of health care reform bill

While Washington, D.C. couldn't seem further away to most Idaho families this holiday season, rising health care costs are an issue that's hitting much closer to home. As Idaho's health care woes grow increasingly worse, AARP is calling on Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch to vote in favor of the Senate health care reform bill expected to come up for a vote Christmas Eve, and is sending the Senators a "Christmas List" of Idaho's health care crisis.

24 Dec 2009

HHS announces additional grant programs to support health IT workforce

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today the availability of two additional grant programs to support the training and development of the skilled workforce required to support broad adoption and use of health information technology (health IT).

24 Dec 2009

Republicans bitter about deals, resigned about likely overhaul passage

After a series of last minute deals paved the way for Senate Democrats to move forward with health overhaul legislation, Republicans lashed out, but also acknowledged that their options for fighting the legislation at this late date are limited.

24 Dec 2009

LA hospital illustrates dilemma of expensive end of life care

End-of-life care has become a target for critics who allege many hospitals and physicians order unnecessary and expensive procedures, but it often involves difficult and complex decision-making. The New York Times reports on one hospital with large end-of-life care bills:

24 Dec 2009

Lawmakers brace for conference as House Liberals vow not to give in on key issues

The Los Angeles Times reports that Democrats are looking ahead — and at each other — before beginning the "potentially difficult" process of reconciling the Senate and House versions of health care reform.

23 Dec 2009

Nursing shortage awaits baby boomers

CNNMoney reports: "Baby boomers are getting older and will require more care than ever, taxing an already strained nursing system. America has had a nursing shortage for years, said Peter Buerhaus, workforce analyst at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing in Nashville, Tenn. But by 2025, the country will be facing a shortfall of 260,000 RNs, he said."

23 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Sometimes there is a fine ethical line between legislative maneuvering and bribery. At other times, that line is crossed by a speeding, honking tractor-trailer, with outlines of shapely women on mud flaps bouncing as it rumbles past (Michael Gerson, 12/23).

23 Dec 2009