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AARP urges U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961

The U.S. House of Representatives' historic vote on health care reform was a decisive step to fix our broken health care system - but for millions of Americans struggling with soaring health care costs the Senate must take the next step, and pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961). Over 3 million Illinoisans stand to particularly benefit from key provisions in the bill.

12 Nov 2009

Hoyer: House could be in session until late December

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) today said "he is prepared to extend the House healthcare schedule into late December in order to pass healthcare reform," The Hill reports. "Two weeks ago, Hoyer said that the House could work as late as Nov. 24 in order to pass healthcare reform. Now he says that the House could be in session as late as Dec. 22 to vote on a final bill should it emerge from conference" (Fabian, 11/11)

11 Nov 2009

Report predicts Africa's tobacco use will double within 12 years without intervention

"Africa faces a surge in cancer deaths unless action is taken in the next decade to stem rising smoking levels in a continent where anti-tobacco laws remain rare, U.S. scientists said Wednesday," Reuters reports (Kelland, 11/11).

11 Nov 2009

Health debate breaks uneasy peace on abortion policy

Politico: "After months of dodging high-profile confrontations over abortion, Democrats — including President Barack Obama — find themselves faced with a stark set of alternatives: Support a bill that imposes limits on access to abortion or demand one that might, however indirectly, fund the procedure with taxpayer money. It's the kind of decision point the White House and Democratic leaders have consistently attempted to avoid.

11 Nov 2009

CHF commends the passage of health reform bill; disapproves move to eliminate CHIP

Children's Health Fund (CHF), a national organization that advocates for and provides clinical care to disadvantaged and medically underserved children, today issued a Report Card that graded the child health provisions in the Congressional Health Reform bill that was passed in the House of Representatives on November 7.

11 Nov 2009

Health care sector leaves small environmental footprint

The Associated Press reports that the first estimate of health care's carbon footprint has found that the industry "emits less than its share of the gases that promote global warming, compared to its size in the economy."

11 Nov 2009

Young adults don't welcome health insurance mandate

Young people who don't view health insurance as a priority are wary of health-overhaul legislation now in Congress that would require them to buy it or face a penalty. For instance, "Poor and bludgeoned by debt accrued over four years of college - but otherwise healthy - medical insurance just isn't in the cards for aspiring-artist Joanna Zobjeck," the Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern reports.

11 Nov 2009

Disability plan could be another roadblock to health reform bill

The Washington Times reports that an "insurance plan championed by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy that would help elderly or disabled people avoid nursing homes ironically adds yet another sticking point to the comprehensive health care reform plans" in Congress.

11 Nov 2009

CVS settles with NY over expired product sales; NC gets high-risk pool payment help

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that CVS, the drug story chain, has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle charges that it sold products years after their expiration dates, Reuters reports. The out-dated products, sold at 142 different stores, included "over-the-counter drugs, baby formula, eggs and milk," and in some cases items were sold more than two years after expiring (Stempel, 11/10).

11 Nov 2009

Food prices 'stubbornly high' in developing countries, report says

Food prices in developing nations continue to be "stubbornly high ... despite a strong cereal harvest this year, and 31 countries need emergency aid," the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its "Crop Prospects and Food Situation" report released Tuesday ahead of next week's Rome World Summit on Food Security, Agence France-Presse reports.

11 Nov 2009

Clinton rallies Senators to pass health reform, timeline becomes key

The New York Times: "Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Tuesday that he expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas." Others said that timeline is unlikely as the Senate waits for a score on the bill by the Congressional Budget Office. Aides told The Times that much uncertainty remains but that Reid "was aiming to vote on bringing the bill to the floor before the Senate leaves for Thanksgiving" (Herszenhorn, 11/10).

11 Nov 2009

Cost control issues take center stage in health care reform

Cost issues continue to receive attention as bipartisan support emerges on the Hill for a commission to control health care costs. Kaiser Health News reports:

11 Nov 2009

Health overhaul proposals test limits of Democrats' unity

Politico reports that votes on a health care bill are subjecting some Democrats to fierce attacks - from other Democrats. "For some of 39 House Democrats who opposed the bill, there are protests outside their offices and promises of retribution.

11 Nov 2009

Health insurance industry profits examined

The characterization of the health insurance industry as high-profit is "a little mystifying" and "rather silly" given that their profit margins are thin compared to other industries, according to analysts interviewed by ABC News.

11 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: RUTF; global hunger; preventing natural disasters; El Salvador floods

"Rich nations should do more to help vulnerable countries prepare for natural disasters if they want their stretched humanitarian funds to go further during the economic downturn, a report said Tuesday," Reuters/New York Times reports

11 Nov 2009

TripleTree announces Ingenix' acquisition of CareMedic

TripleTree is pleased to announce that its client, CareMedic, an industry leader in revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions, will be acquired by Ingenix, a leading health information, technology and consulting company, in a cash transaction.

11 Nov 2009

PRI's risk management conference focuses on public policy and future trends in medical malpractice

Physicians’ Reciprocal Insurers (PRI), the second largest medical malpractice insurer in New York state, today announced that it will host its Ninth Annual Risk Management Conference on Tuesday, November 17 at the Helmsley Hotel in New York City.

11 Nov 2009

Report on the U.S. Government's drive for comparative effectiveness research

MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of GlobalData's new report "The US Government's Financial Support to Push Comparative Effectiveness Research," to their collection of Healthcare market reports.

11 Nov 2009

Global Health partners with Eira Hospital to start obesity treatment operations in Finland

In collaboration with Eira Hospital in Helsinki, Global Health Partner (STO:GHP) has started up obesity treatment operations and the first bariatric surgery procedure has now been performed. Finland has the highest obesity prevalence in the Nordic countries. However, the number of bariatric surgery procedures has so far been very low. “We see Finland as a very exciting market with great potential and are happy to be doing this in collaboration with the well-reputed Eira Hospital,” says Per Båtelson, Global Health Partner’s CEO.

11 Nov 2009

WebMD Health inks agreement with Drugs.com

WebMD Health Corp., the leading source of health information, announced today that it has entered into an alliance with Drugs.com to exclusively integrate Drugs.com's advertising inventory and online traffic into the WebMD Health Network. Drugs.com provides free, accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products.

11 Nov 2009