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Premature babies more likely to survive in high-level NICUs than previously reported

Premature babies are more likely to survive when they are born in high-level neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) than in hospitals without such facilities, and this benefit is considerably larger than previously reported.

24 Jul 2012

International Antiviral Society-USA calls for treatment for all who test HIV-positive

"An international group of scientists on Sunday called for all adults who test positive for HIV to be treated with antiretroviral drugs right away rather than waiting for their immune systems to weaken," Agence France-Presse reports.

24 Jul 2012

NIDA announces recipients of 2012 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS Research

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced the recipients of the 2012 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS Research. The three scientists, Drs. David Smith, Samuel Friedman and Jeremy Luban, will each receive $500,000 per year for five years to support their research.

24 Jul 2012

Roundup: Plan for new Md. hospital advances; Outsourcing of prison health care gets scrutiny; Alaska Native medical center seen as model

Maryland officials are preparing to unveil this week a detailed plan for a $600 million regional hospital to replace the ailing Prince George's Hospital Center and establish a new health-care network throughout Prince George's County. The plans are part of a broad effort to improve health care in a county where an estimated 150,000 residents lack health insurance or have insufficient coverage and often rely on hospital emergency rooms for primary care.

24 Jul 2012

Forest Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Tudorza Pressair to treat COPD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Tudorza Pressair (aclidinium bromide) for the long-term maintenance treatment of bronchospasm (narrowing of the airways in the lung) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

24 Jul 2012

CBO's updated estimate of health law costs could be released this week

Meanwhile, news outlets report on varying aspects of the implementation of state-based health exchanges -- including the assistance provided to state officials by Michael O. Leavitt, an adviser to GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney and head of a health care consulting company.

23 Jul 2012

FDA warns against shellfish consumption from Oyster Bay Harbor

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to eat raw or partially cooked oysters and clams (shellfish) with tags listing Oyster Bay Harbor, in Nassau County, N.Y., as the harvest area, following illnesses reported in several states caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus bacteria.

21 Jul 2012

HHS report: Hospitals fall short in meeting error reporting requirements

The government report says the failure to report medical errors hampers providers' ability to identify and fix preventable problems. Meanwhile, new Medicare data shows hospitals are making little progress in reducing preventable readmissions.

21 Jul 2012

Kyprolis for multiple myeloma receives FDA approval under accelerated approval program

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Kyprolis (carfilzomib) to treat patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including treatment with Velcade (bortezomib) and an immunomodulatory therapy. A form of blood cancer that arises from plasma cells, multiple myeloma usually grows in bone marrow, the soft, spongy tissue found inside most bones.

21 Jul 2012

State roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud probes use controversial tool

When it comes to finding cost savings in the state's unwieldy Medicaid program, the Health and Human Services Commission's Office of Inspector General gets high marks. … But OIG's dollar-recovery strategy -- which includes an increased reliance on a rule that allows investigators to freeze financing for any health provider accused of overbilling -- has enraged doctors, dentists and other providers who treat Medicaid patients.

21 Jul 2012

HHS issues final rule on essential health benefits data collection

Meanwhile, new research from the Center for Studying Health System Change indicates that more small businesses may be self-insuring -- a step that will reduce their participation in the health law's insurance exchanges.

21 Jul 2012

Novartis receives FDA approval for Afinitor to treat HER2-negative breast cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Afinitor (everolimus) for use in combination with Aromasin (exemestane) to treat certain postmenopausal women with advanced hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.

21 Jul 2012

House subcommittee approves spending bill that deletes health law funding

The measure, which is part of the GOP plan to defund the health overhaul, also deletes all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

20 Jul 2012

States draw starker lines on abortion: Lawsuits and legislation continue across U.S.

State laws -- 40 of them in 15 states -- are making it harder to get an abortion in the U.S., according to a new report. Meanwhile, a House panel approves new measure to curb abortion in the District of Columbia.

20 Jul 2012

Top methods for healthcare organizations to reduce effects of data breach

A new executive briefing sponsored by Systematic Development Group brings to light the top seven methods that healthcare organizations should apply to reduce the effects of a data breach and minimize data breach insurance costs. Some hospitals may be surprised to find that although they have a data breach insurance policy in place, several of the biggest threats of a data breach may not be covered under the plan.

20 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Researchers see potential to control HIV pandemic; The 'ceaseless attacks' on women's reproductive health

We are at a moment of extraordinary optimism in the response to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A series of scientific breakthroughs ... have the potential to markedly expand the available preventive tools. There is evidence of the first cure of an HIV-infected person. And most important, the finding that early initiation of antiretroviral therapy can both improve individual patient outcomes and reduce the risk of HIV transmission to sexual partners by 96% has led many to assert what had so long seemed impossible: that control of the HIV pandemic may be achievable.

20 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 19, 2012

Today's headlines include a variety of stories exploring public opinions about the health law, the upcoming election and the Supreme Court.

19 Jul 2012

Geographic adjustments not optimal tools to tackle larger national policy goals

Changing the way that Medicare payments are adjusted to account for regional variations in the cost of providing care as recommended by a previous report from the Institute of Medicine would result in payment increases for some hospitals and practitioners and decreases for others, concludes the Phase II report from the IOM study.

19 Jul 2012

Clinical trial to evaluate maraviroc-based PrEP regimens for HIV prevention

Scientists are launching the first clinical trial to test whether drug regimens containing maraviroc, a medication currently approved to treat HIV infection, are also safe and tolerable when taken once daily by HIV-uninfected individuals at increased risk for acquiring HIV infection. The eventual goal is to see if the drug regimens can reduce the risk of infection.

19 Jul 2012

Roundup: Ore. issues new long-term care insurance claims rules; Fla. pushing ahead with prison care privatization

The Oregon Insurance Division receives about 100 complaints about long-term-care policies each year, mostly about delays or denials. But now the state's role is increasing, thanks to a law that went into effect this month. The Oregon law requires insurers to process long-term care claims within 30 days when they're not in dispute. It also allows outside review when an insurer decides a person isn't sufficiently disabled for long-term care.

19 Jul 2012

Health and Human Services News and Research

Premature babies more likely to survive in high-level NICUs than previously reported

International Antiviral Society-USA calls for treatment for all who test HIV-positive

NIDA announces recipients of 2012 Avant-Garde Award for HIV/AIDS Research

Roundup: Plan for new Md. hospital advances; Outsourcing of prison health care gets scrutiny; Alaska Native medical center seen as model

Forest Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Tudorza Pressair to treat COPD

CBO's updated estimate of health law costs could be released this week

FDA warns against shellfish consumption from Oyster Bay Harbor

HHS report: Hospitals fall short in meeting error reporting requirements

Kyprolis for multiple myeloma receives FDA approval under accelerated approval program

State roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud probes use controversial tool

HHS issues final rule on essential health benefits data collection

Novartis receives FDA approval for Afinitor to treat HER2-negative breast cancer

House subcommittee approves spending bill that deletes health law funding

States draw starker lines on abortion: Lawsuits and legislation continue across U.S.

Top methods for healthcare organizations to reduce effects of data breach

Viewpoints: Researchers see potential to control HIV pandemic; The 'ceaseless attacks' on women's reproductive health

First Edition: July 19, 2012

Geographic adjustments not optimal tools to tackle larger national policy goals

Clinical trial to evaluate maraviroc-based PrEP regimens for HIV prevention

Roundup: Ore. issues new long-term care insurance claims rules; Fla. pushing ahead with prison care privatization

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