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Most Federal scientists accused of conflicts of interest avoid criminal investigations

Only two of the 44 NIH scientists found to have violated ethics rules on outside consulting agreements with health care companies face investigations for possible criminal activity, and they remain employed by the federal government, the AP/Arizona Daily Star reports (Beamish, AP/Arizona Daily Star, 9/13).

14 Sep 2006

Medicare Part B premiums to rise 5.6% next year

The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B in 2007 will increase to $93.50 from $88.50, CMS Administrator Mark McClellan announced on Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

14 Sep 2006

New campaign to educate about peripheral arterial disease

More than 8 million men and women - one in 20 adults - have peripheral arterial disease (P.A.D), a largely unrecognized condition which puts them at risk for heart attack and stroke.

13 Sep 2006

Lower urinary tract symptoms and related help-seeking behavior in South Asian men living in the UK

South Asian men have more urinary problems than white men, but are only half as likely to seek help, according to a study of just under 8,000 men published in the September issue of the urology journal BJU International.

13 Sep 2006

Prospect for passage of final health care IT bill uncertain

Negotiations to reconcile House and Senate versions of legislation that would promote the implementation of health care information technology have not progressed, and prospects for passage of a final bill prior to the midterm elections are uncertain, according to congressional aides, CongressDaily reports (Lee, CongressDaily, 9/12).

13 Sep 2006

Life expectancy in the U.S. - differences

U.S residents in eight groups based on geography, income and race have significant differences in life expectancy, according to a study published on Monday in the journal PloS Medicine, USA Today reports (Sternberg, USA Today, 9/12).

13 Sep 2006

Department of Justice joins Whistleblower lawsuit alleging overcharging by drug company Dey

The Department of Justice on Monday joined a whistleblower lawsuit filed against California-based Dey, a generic medication division of Germany-based Merck KGaA, over allegations that the company inflated prices reported to federal health insurance programs, the Boston Globe reports.

13 Sep 2006

Four largest Massachusetts insurers plan double-digit premium increases for 2007

The four largest health insurers in Massachusetts -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Tufts Health Plan and Fallon Community Health Plan -- in 2007 are expected for most of their insurance options to raise premiums by at least 10% for the seventh consecutive year, the Boston Globe reports.

13 Sep 2006

Breast and ovarian cancers linked by heredity - women need to know their risks

During September, Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) urges women to learn more about familial breast-ovarian cancer syndrome.

12 Sep 2006

Drug ads and their influence on patients and doctors

Television ads for prescription drugs are everywhere, enticing people to ask their doctors for this drug or that one, but the effect this type of ad has on American healthcare may be more complicated than simply inducing patients to choose one brand or the other, according to a team of researchers.

12 Sep 2006

United Auto Workers ends health benefit discussions with Chrysler

DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group and the United Auto Workers on Friday ended discussions on health care, "shutting the auto maker out of cost concessions the union has given General Motors and Ford Motor companies in the past year," the Wall Street Journal reports (Stoll/Boudette, Wall Street Journal, 9/9).

11 Sep 2006

Federal Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit challenging Illinois rule requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception

U.S. District Judge Jeanne Scott on Wednesday ruled against a motion to dismiss a lawsuit that aims to block an Illinois rule that requires pharmacies to dispense prescriptions for emergency contraception -- which can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse -- saying the plaintiffs have a legitimate claim that the rule infringes on their religious rights.

11 Sep 2006

Johns Hopkins ACG team releases pharmacy-based predictive model

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have developed Johns Hopkins ACG Rx-PM - new predictive modeling software based on retail pharmacy claims information.

11 Sep 2006

AMA lobbies Congress to block planned Medicare physician payment cut before recess

Most U.S. residents are not aware of a Bush administration proposal to cut Medicare reimbursements for physician services by 5.1% for 2007, but when informed, a majority say they are concerned that the cuts could restrict access, according to a survey released on Thursday by the American Medical Association, the Raleigh News & Observer reports.

11 Sep 2006

More companies opening in-house clinics for employees to help reduce health costs

A "combination of both definable and intangible savings are driving more companies to open medical clinics to cope with ever-rising health care costs," the AP/Houston Chronicle reports.

11 Sep 2006

'Plenty of time' to pass final health care IT Bill, Rep. Deal says

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Chair Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) on Thursday said Congress has "plenty of time" prior to midterm elections to pass legislation that would promote the implementation of health care information technology, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 9/7).

11 Sep 2006

N.Y. Gubernatorial candidates discuss health care plans

New York governor candidates last week discussed their plans for health care.

11 Sep 2006

Worldwide, an estimated three million cases of pesticide poisoning occur every year

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) marked Word Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September to focus attention and call for global action.

11 Sep 2006

Congressional black caucus to promote plans to expand health coverage

Members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Wednesday during the group's annual legislative conference announced plans to promote expanding health care coverage and boosting the minimum wage in the 110th Congress, moves that CBC Chair Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) said would contribute to the "alleviation of poverty" in the U.S., CongressDaily reports.

7 Sep 2006

Reps. Price, Baldwin urge passage of bill that would encourage State health coverage expansion proposals

Reps. Tom Price (R-Ga.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) on Wednesday at a joint event by the Brookings Institution and Heritage Foundation encouraged lawmakers to back a bill (HR 5864) that would "allow states to act as laboratories where lawmakers could test methods to reduce the number of uninsured Americans," CQ HealthBeat reports.

7 Sep 2006

Health Care News and Research

Most Federal scientists accused of conflicts of interest avoid criminal investigations

Medicare Part B premiums to rise 5.6% next year

New campaign to educate about peripheral arterial disease

Lower urinary tract symptoms and related help-seeking behavior in South Asian men living in the UK

Prospect for passage of final health care IT bill uncertain

Life expectancy in the U.S. - differences

Department of Justice joins Whistleblower lawsuit alleging overcharging by drug company Dey

Four largest Massachusetts insurers plan double-digit premium increases for 2007

Breast and ovarian cancers linked by heredity - women need to know their risks

Drug ads and their influence on patients and doctors

United Auto Workers ends health benefit discussions with Chrysler

Federal Judge refuses to dismiss lawsuit challenging Illinois rule requiring pharmacists to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception

Johns Hopkins ACG team releases pharmacy-based predictive model

AMA lobbies Congress to block planned Medicare physician payment cut before recess

More companies opening in-house clinics for employees to help reduce health costs

'Plenty of time' to pass final health care IT Bill, Rep. Deal says

N.Y. Gubernatorial candidates discuss health care plans

Worldwide, an estimated three million cases of pesticide poisoning occur every year

Congressional black caucus to promote plans to expand health coverage

Reps. Price, Baldwin urge passage of bill that would encourage State health coverage expansion proposals

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