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Governors worry about major Medicaid expansion

The GOP fears the burden of a health care overhaul on states, Roll Call reports: "Senate Republicans joined with GOP governors on Thursday and harshly criticized Finance Chairman Max Baucus' (D-Mont.) health care plan, charging the bill would expand Medicaid while forcing a massive unfunded mandate on cash-strapped states. Republicans have criticized the bill for using the Medicaid system, which is partially funded by states and partially by the federal government, as a way to ensure greater health care coverage for Americans" (Stanton, 9/17).

21 Sep 2009

RAM Technologies' health care suite helps health plans to reduce expenses

Today's economic conditions coupled with the anticipated impacts of health insurance reform are forcing health plans to find ways to reduce expenses. RAM Technologies, Inc., a leading developer of software applications for health care payers, enables health plans to reduce expenses with the cost saving features of their health care administrative solution suite HEALTHsuite(R) and eHealthsuite(TM).

21 Sep 2009

Sound off: some lawmakers talking up Baucus Bill, Grassley 'resents' President's remarks

Some lawmakers are touting the Baucus bill's potential and bickering among themselves and the White House about how reform plans are taking shape.

21 Sep 2009

Kenya to launch measles vaccine campaign

The Kenya Ministry of Public Health on Saturday will launch a $1.8 million measles vaccination campaign targeting "1.3 million children who have not been vaccinated against the disease since July 2006," Business Daily Africa reports.

21 Sep 2009

Obama blankets airwaves to push for health reform

President Barack Obama's blitz across the Sunday talk shows to advocate for health overhaul legislation dominates news coverage today.

21 Sep 2009

Health policy experts urge Congress to abandon ideological differences on overhaul

Kaiser Health News reports that a group of "leading economists, analysts and health care administrators" are urging lawmakers to set aside ideological differences and take "action to create broad based changes in the nation's health care system."

21 Sep 2009

Despite signs of economic growth, world's poorest 'still not out of the woods,' U.N. Secretary-General says

During a news conference Thursday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the need to focus on the poorest people in the world even as "economists in developed nations are cautiously pointing to the first signs of renewed economic growth," the New York Times reports (MacFarquhar, 9/17).

21 Sep 2009

IPS examines maternal mortality in Mozambique

Inter Press Service examines efforts to curb maternal mortality in Mozambique. The article profiles the work of English medical doctor Peg Cumberland and her team, who have trained "around 400 local people in remote health care" since she came to the country more than 13 years ago.

21 Sep 2009

White house offers $25 million for medical malpractice projects

The Obama administration announced $25 million in new grants for pilot programs to explore alternatives to the medical malpractice system.

21 Sep 2009

A new study links 45,000 deaths a year to lack of insurance

Researchers find that 45,000 deaths a year can be linked to the lack of health insurance. But, some question the study's merits. CBS News reports that the study was conducted by a team "that tracked more than 9,000 people for up to 13 years, comparing the health of those with insurance to those without. After factoring in education and income, smoking, drinking and obesity, researchers found that the uninsured had about a 40 percent higher risk of death, linking 45,000 American deaths a year to lack of insurance. In 1993 it was 25 percent" (Axelrod, 9/17).

21 Sep 2009

Nine countries pledge H1N1 vaccine donations to developing countries

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21 Sep 2009

Drug sellers, benefit managers poise for court-ordered price cuts

"A forthcoming rollback of benchmark drug prices -- a court-approved move meant to benefit consumers -- should have little effect on the bottom line for pharmacy-benefit managers or their clients, as companies have taken protective steps," the Wall Street Journal reports. Pharmacies, however, worry the 4 percent reduction in benchmark prices could result in Medicaid reductions. Benefit managers initially opposed the cut, but say they have adjusted contracts to make up for it.

21 Sep 2009

Chronic asthma can be controlled with better breathing techniques

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21 Sep 2009

Simple eye movement exam can differentiate between a stroke and less serious conditions

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21 Sep 2009

Center for Hip Pain and Preservation focuses on improved understanding of hip abnormalities

Recent improved understanding of hip abnormalities, combined with advances in diagnostic imaging techniques and minimally invasive surgical treatments are giving many patients new hope for relieving chronic, misdiagnosed hip pain.

21 Sep 2009

Doctors discuss defensive medicine and primary care pay

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21 Sep 2009

Conference to focus on the impact of healthcare proposals on diagnostic testing

Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) announced today that Kevin Krenitsky, MD, President of Enzo Clinical Labs, will present at the 27th Annual Lab Institute ’09, sponsored by Washington G2 Reports, on September 23, 2009 in Arlington, Virginia.

19 Sep 2009

Speech on health care opportunities

The Unrealized Opportunity in Health Care,” a speech by Harvard Professor David Cutler. He was senior health care advisor to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and a member of President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers.

19 Sep 2009

Health experts to discuss innovative breakthroughs to solve health issues in poor communities

New ideas, systems and technologies are emerging to solve numerous health challenges facing the world’s poorest communities. Some of the foremost experts on global health will discuss these and the prospects for health breakthroughs in the developing world at a media briefing at the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Symposium at 2:30 pm on Monday, September 21.

19 Sep 2009

Survey reveals that patients face problems with mail order pharmacies

Many patients go without their prescribed medicine due to the slow or ineffective service of mail order pharmacies, according to a survey of just over 400 patients conducted by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The findings both raise troubling questions about the impact mail-order programs have on patients and contradict two purported benefits of mail order: increased convenience and lower costs.

19 Sep 2009