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Sen. Patrick Leahy to vote to end the health bill filibuster on Saturday

"Decision time is nearing on health insurance reform, and I will vote to end the filibuster on Saturday so the Senate can begin this important and historic debate. We cannot afford to let the health industry's sentries of the status quo kick the can down the road as they have done so often before. The country suffers when there is a failure to act on serious challenges that ordinary Americans face in their daily lives."

20 Nov 2009

NMA: New USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screenings could result in higher death rates

This week the nation received the 2009 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on breast cancer screenings. The National Medical Association (NMA) believes African American women, in consultation with their physician, should continue the practice of routine mammography screening at age 40 or earlier depending upon the risk factors.

20 Nov 2009

Medicare physician payment system will ensure seniors' access to quality care, says Pelosi

"Strengthening Medicare for generations to come is essential to our efforts to reforming health care for all Americans. This legislation will permanently improve the way Medicare pays physicians and in doing so, guarantee that America's seniors will continue to have access to excellent care through Medicare.

20 Nov 2009

Harry Reid unveils health care bill, which includes pro-abortion language

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid last night unveiled a health care bill which includes pro-abortion language. The bill's language mirrors the Capps Amendment from the House debate -- it allows the public option to include abortion coverage and provides federal subsidies for private plans which cover abortion.

20 Nov 2009

Increased computerization in U.S. hospitals hasn't made them cheaper or more efficient, say researchers

The increased computerization in U.S. hospitals hasn't made them cheaper or more efficient, Harvard researchers say, although it may have modestly improved the quality of care for heart attacks.

20 Nov 2009

PIPC commends CER language inclusion in health care reform bill

The Partnership to Improve Patient Care (PIPC) today applauded Senator Reid’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for including strong patient-centered comparative effectiveness research (CER) language. The CER language is based on the approach taken by Senators Baucus and Conrad in their CER bill (S. 1213), which is supported by over 100 organizations across the country, representing patients, providers, people with disabilities, and minority health organizations.

20 Nov 2009

All Americans should have guaranteed access to affordable coverage: AHIP

"The promise of health care reform is that it will provide all Americans coverage, allow them to keep their coverage if they like it, and bends the cost curve to put the system on a sustainable path. These are the standards by which any reform bill should be judged, and the Senate bill falls short of meeting them. We believe that these issues can be addressed and improved to achieve these goals, and we will continue to work with policymakers toward that end.

20 Nov 2009

New Senate version of health care reform with government funding for elective abortion introduced

Last night, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the Senate Democrats introduced a new Senate version of health care reform that includes government funding for elective abortion. The "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" authorizes the Secretary to include elective abortion in the public option and subsidize health plans in the government run exchange that cover elective abortion.

20 Nov 2009

Global initiative battles online supply of dangerous and illegal medicines

In response to an ever-increasing number of websites supplying dangerous and illegal medicines, Operation Pangea II, involving 24 countries, was coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Health Organization's International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) to highlight the dangers of buying medicines online.

20 Nov 2009

Health care reform will not impact America's pharmaceutical research industry

A recent Reuters article reported that America's pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies don't expect an industry increase as a result of broader insurance coverage proposed in health care reform.

20 Nov 2009

Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply reduce cost of drugs for patients

Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply rather than a one-month supply has long been regarded as a way to reduce the cost of drugs for patients and third-party payers. New research from the University of Chicago quantifies the savings for the first time.

20 Nov 2009

Restricting access to flexible spending accounts is a disappointment: Save Flexible Spending Plans

"It is disappointing that the Senate is determined to fund health care reform by restricting access to flexible spending accounts (FSAs), a valuable benefit relied upon by more than 35 million Americans to help hold down health care costs. Severely curtailing the use of FSAs will not only force participants to pay more in health care costs, it flies in the face of President Obama's pledge to not raise taxes on the middle class.

20 Nov 2009

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition.

20 Nov 2009

NORD letter conveys support for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

On behalf of the 150 member organizations of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) representing nearly 30 million patients and families afflicted with one of the 7,000 known rare diseases, we are writing to convey our strong support for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

20 Nov 2009

Individualized decision between woman and her provider is the best choice for mammograms

The controversy around mammography emphasizes that the best decision on screening is made by a woman and her health care provider. Balancing a woman's individual medical history, risks, and concern level about breast cancer is a decision at the individual level using guidelines as a guide and not as something fixed in concrete," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

20 Nov 2009

Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Eating Recovery Center

By demonstrating compliance with the Joint Commission's national standards for health care quality and safety, Eating Recovery Center (http://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com), a behavioral hospital providing comprehensive treatment and sustainable recovery for eating disorders, has earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval.

19 Nov 2009

Goosby says PEPFAR remains among 'highest priorities' of Obama administration, welcomes partnership with South African president Zuma

Eric Goosby, head of PEPFAR, on Wednesday reemphasized the U.S. commitment to fighting HIV/AIDS globally, the Associated Press reports. Despite concerns by international aid groups that the current economic climate might force HIV/AIDS funding to be scaled back, "Goosby said President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton have assured him his program remains among 'the highest priorities,'" the news service writes.

19 Nov 2009

Tax on cosmetic surgery opposed by AACS

As negotiators on Capitol Hill try to find ways to fund a health care overhaul, a 5% tax on cosmetic surgery has been introduced on Nov. 18 as part of the Senate's proposed health reform bill, introduced by US Senator Harry Reid (D-NV).

19 Nov 2009

UNFPA report highlights relationship between family planning, women's health and climate change

"Providing access to contraception for 215 million women, mainly in developing countries, would help to stabilize population growth and significantly reduce the effects of climate change," according to a report released Wednesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Nature News reports (Gilbert, 11/18).

19 Nov 2009

American Diabetes Association launches redesigned diabetes website

To meet the changing needs of people affected by this growing epidemic, the American Diabetes Association has launched a completely redesigned www.diabetes.org in English and Spanish. Even though diabetes is a growing epidemic, a recent survey conducted by the Association showed that Americans received a failing grade in diabetes awareness.

19 Nov 2009

Health Care News and Research

Sen. Patrick Leahy to vote to end the health bill filibuster on Saturday

NMA: New USPSTF recommendations on breast cancer screenings could result in higher death rates

Medicare physician payment system will ensure seniors' access to quality care, says Pelosi

Harry Reid unveils health care bill, which includes pro-abortion language

Increased computerization in U.S. hospitals hasn't made them cheaper or more efficient, say researchers

PIPC commends CER language inclusion in health care reform bill

All Americans should have guaranteed access to affordable coverage: AHIP

New Senate version of health care reform with government funding for elective abortion introduced

Global initiative battles online supply of dangerous and illegal medicines

Health care reform will not impact America's pharmaceutical research industry

Purchasing prescription drugs in a three-month supply reduce cost of drugs for patients

Restricting access to flexible spending accounts is a disappointment: Save Flexible Spending Plans

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

NORD letter conveys support for passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Individualized decision between woman and her provider is the best choice for mammograms

Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Eating Recovery Center

Goosby says PEPFAR remains among 'highest priorities' of Obama administration, welcomes partnership with South African president Zuma

Tax on cosmetic surgery opposed by AACS

UNFPA report highlights relationship between family planning, women's health and climate change

American Diabetes Association launches redesigned diabetes website

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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