Health Care News and Research

RSS

Wellness and prevention mostly absent in health reform bills

"Despite Americans' poor lifestyle choices and the chronic problems they spawn, the health-care reform proposals being considered in Congress contain relatively little to promote wellness," The Tennessean reports.

24 Oct 2009

J.D. Power and Associates certification for Aetna

Aetna (NYSE: AET) has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates for providing “An Outstanding Customer Service Experience” through its concierge customer service call center. Following a rigorous audit and random survey of Aetna customers, J.D. Power and Associates certified the Aetna call center in High Point, NC, under the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Call Center Certification ProgramSM.

24 Oct 2009

avVaa World Health Care Products to launch third Direct TV Media Test

avVaa World Health Care Products Inc. (Pink Sheets: AVVH), a global biotechnology company, manufacturer and distributor of nationally branded therapeutic, natural skin and health care products, announced their third Direct TV Media Test is scheduled to launch on Thursday October 29.

24 Oct 2009

Dr. Anthony Falcon: We're facing a catastrophic situation on the border

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jessica Marcy talks with Dr. Antonio Falcon, a physician in the border town of Rio Grande City, Texas. He explained his concern "about several health threats facing border communities, including tuberculosis, diabetes, obesity and the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu."

24 Oct 2009

Experienced criminals find new opportunities in medical fraud

Gangsters are getting into the medical fraud business, CNN reports. "Experienced in running drug, prostitution and gambling rings, crime groups of various ethnicities and nationalities are learning it's safer and potentially more profitable to file fraudulent claims with the federal Medicare program and state-run Medicaid plans."

24 Oct 2009

Melinda Gates shares thoughts on U.S. global health efforts

During a recent interview with The Hill's "Blog Briefing Room," Melinda Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, praised former President George W. Bush for the enactment of PEPFAR and commended the Obama administration's commitment to global health issues and for "being very open minded [and] saying we don't have to go back and reinvent the wheel."

24 Oct 2009

NCD to discuss employment, health care and seclusion issues affecting the disabled

The National Council on Disability (NCD) will hear presentations and discuss employment, health care, and restraint and seclusion issues affecting people with disabilities during its quarterly meeting at the Holiday Inn Express, 920 Broadway, Nashville, TN, which begins at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 26, 2009, and concludes at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2009.

24 Oct 2009

Efforts to measure support for the public option continue

Associated Press: Democratic leaders in Congress scrambled Friday to round up votes for allowing the government to sell health insurance in competition with private industry as they struggled to finalize a health care bill that meets President Barack Obama's goals." Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spent Friday "calling and talking with wavering Democrats to test support for different versions of the plan."

24 Oct 2009

Congress reauthorizes Ryan White Care Act - funding for HIV/AIDS

The New York Times: "The House on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed legislation allocating billions of dollars in federal money for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. By a vote of 408-9, the House reauthorized the Ryan White Care Act, first enacted in 1990 and named for the Indiana teenager who died of AIDS. The Senate has already passed the bill by unanimous consent."

24 Oct 2009

HHS funds $17M for fight against costly and dangerous health care-associated infections

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the award of $17 million to fund projects to fight costly and dangerous health care-associated infections, or HAIs.

24 Oct 2009

Chasm between insurers and reform supporters grows

Although "[h]ealth insurers insist they're still committed to getting a health care overhaul bill passed this year," many people in Washington are "wondering if — or when — the industry will change its mind and try to kill it," The Associated Press reports.

24 Oct 2009

Campaign to end pediatric HIV/AIDS launched in Africa

At the launch of the Campaign to End Pediatric HIV/AIDS (CEPA) on Thursday, advocate Graca Machel urged African leaders to redirect state spending to prevent and treat HIV infections among women and children, Agence France-Presse reports.

24 Oct 2009

As House lawmakers near vote, controversies linger

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her top lieutenants said Thursday that they are close to corralling the 218 votes they need to move forward with comprehensive legislation that would include a version of the public option prized by liberals as a fundamental pillar of reform," the Washington Post reports (Montgomery and Murray, 10/23).

24 Oct 2009

A look at the past and present costs and history of American health care

A couple stories Friday examine just how Americans ended up with a system where employers pick up the tab for health insurance and which groups will end up paying more for health reform.

24 Oct 2009

HHS asked to repeal a rule on notifying consumers when there is a breach of medical records

Consumer Watchdog today called on the Health and Human Services Department to repeal a rule that allows health care providers and insurers to decide whether consumers must be notified when the security of their electronic confidential health information has been breached.

23 Oct 2009

Ontario Health Coalition names recipients of the Dan Benedict, Ethel Meade and Volunteer Awards

Each year the Ontario Health Coalition gives awards to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the protection of public health care.

23 Oct 2009

EnteroMedics reports financial results for 2009 third quarter

EnteroMedics Inc., the developer of medical devices using neuroblocking technology to treat obesity and other gastrointestinal disorders, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

23 Oct 2009

European Commission approves Merck and Schering-Plough merger

Merck & Co., Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation today announced that they have received clearance from the European Commission (EC) under the EC Merger Regulation for their proposed merger.

23 Oct 2009

Recent health policy studies and analyses

The Urban Institute: Age Rating Under Comprehensive Health Care Reform: Implications for Coverage, Costs, and Household Financial Burdens - The authors of this study brief compare the "financial implications of the premium rating policy," as outlined in the House Tri-Committee proposal (H.R. 3200), across households of different ages, incomes, and sizes.

23 Oct 2009

Vaccine Vial Monitors to monitor potential heat damage of H1N1 vaccines donated to WHO

Temptime Corporation announced today that it will donate its Vaccine Vial Monitors (VVMs) to the World Health Organization (WHO) to monitor potential heat damage of H1N1 vaccines to be distributed by WHO to developing countries most in need.

23 Oct 2009