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Also in global health news: U.S. aid to Philippines, Swaziland, Guyana; Uganda Bills; Botswana HIV/AIDS

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney said the U.S. will give the country an additional $10 million worth of food aid for people affect by the recent typhoons, the Manila Bulletin reports. This brings "the total amount of its disaster relief and recovery assistance to US$30 million" (Sabater, 12/3).

3 Dec 2009

Senators prepare to debate abortion treatment in Senate bill

The Associated Press: "Senators debating health care legislation are headed for a clash over abortion, the issue that threatened to derail the bill in the House. Anticipating the showdown, hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday to call on senators to keep new abortion restrictions out of the health care bill.

3 Dec 2009

Will 'Cadillac tax' push employers to trim health insurance costs

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby examines the potential reach of the Cadillac tax.

3 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Defenders of the status quo in health care would happily let the drive for reform bog down amid a debate over President Obama's new war strategy. Democrats can't let this happen (12/3).

3 Dec 2009

Senate leaders say health bill amendment votes to start today

The Wall Street Journal reports that "after three days of debates without a vote on a single amendment ... Senate Minority Whip Richard Durbin, (D., Ill.) announced Wednesday evening that" Republicans and Democrats had "come to agreement" on how to proceed. The first two votes will occur today "on amendments aimed at requiring health plans to cover preventive services for women's health.

3 Dec 2009

NIH approves new stem cell lines for research

The National Institutes of Health announced approval of embryonic stem cell lines for federally funded research. The Washington Post reports the decision is "opening the way for millions of taxpayer dollars to be used to conduct research that was put off-limits by President George W. Bush.

3 Dec 2009

Medicare cuts in Senate health bill get support from seniors' groups

Bloomberg: Senate Democratic leaders, who are battling Republican attempts to "block Medicare spending cuts, face an even bigger headache: overcoming concern among members of their own party about the program's future funding."

3 Dec 2009

KHN column: Debating cost control

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, James Capretta explores perspectives related to cost control in health reform.

3 Dec 2009

GOP playbook highlights Senate procedural tactics

A memo circulated by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., spells out the arsenal of parliamentary maneuvers available to Republicans as they seek to stall the Senate's health debate, The New York Times reports on its Prescriptions blog. Gregg has a reputation as one of the GOP's "foremost experts on legislative war games."

3 Dec 2009

Doctors' groups break ranks to oppose Senate health overhaul

The California Medical Association - which represents more than 35,000 doctors - will announce its opposition to the Senate version of the health overhaul bill later this week, the Los Angeles Times reports. The group's leaders voted to oppose the bill last week, joining several other states, including Florida and Texas.

3 Dec 2009

At House hearing, panel seeks to clarify advice on mammograms

Members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force testified at a hearing Wednesday before the the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on health.

3 Dec 2009

Reid still seeks common ground on public option

"The public option has gone through several stages of evolution this year, but it could soon face extinction unless one of the new versions picks up political momentum," The Hill reports.

3 Dec 2009

States weigh health cuts; Mass. considers student health 'revision'

News outlets report on budget squeezes in Oklahoma and Florida and a proposed overhaul of student health insurance in Massachusetts.

3 Dec 2009

Avisio forms new subsidiary to market its virus detecting nano sensory technology

Avisio, Inc. announced today that it has formed a majority-owned subsidiary to market and commercialize Instant Detect, the company's new nano sensory technology that instantly detects biological viruses. The new company, Diagnostic Nano Applications (DNA), will be headquartered in Riverside, California.

3 Dec 2009

New health IT grants to be 'models' for the nation

The federal government will offer $235 million in grants for communities to upgrade and improve their health information technology, The Dallas Morning News reports. Only organizations that are already using health IT are eligible. Health secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "Our hope is that the communities will become models for the rest of the country" (Roberson, 12/2).

3 Dec 2009

CBO report shows hundreds of millions spent on direct marketing of drugs to consumers

The Congressional Budget Office released an "interesting report" on on how "pharmaceutical companies market prescription drugs, a subject that has received some scrutiny during the debate on ways to control health care spending," The New York Times reports.

3 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 3, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that Senate leaders may have broken their stalemate regarding the pending, Democratic-backed health reform legislation -- clearing the way today for votes on amendments.

3 Dec 2009

Majority of Canadians are concerned about access to high-quality primary care

A new poll of Canadians shows that public concern over the country's dire shortage of family doctors continues to run high.

3 Dec 2009

"Soft individual mandate" in the healthcare bills raises concern

Lockton Benefit Group is providing employers with a comprehensive, practical view on proposed health reform legislation working through Congress.

3 Dec 2009

Molina Healthcare of Utah ranked among the top fifty of “America’s Best Health Insurance Plans”

Molina Healthcare of Utah, a subsidiary of Molina Healthcare, Inc., today announced that U.S. News and World Report has ranked it among the top fifty of “America’s Best Health Insurance Plans” in the magazine’s annual report measuring the quality and performance of the nation’s Medicaid health plans.

3 Dec 2009