Health and Human Services News and Research

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U.S. gives go-ahead on publication of H5N1 research; Dutch regulators continue to debate

The U.S. government on Friday formally accepted a recommendation from the National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) "to publish two controversial studies of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, moving the pair of papers another step closer to publication," ScienceInsider reports.

24 Apr 2012

New report presents FDA's focus on global cooperation for product safety

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. today released the agency's "Global Engagement Report," detailing the many activities and strategies FDA is using to transform from a domestic to a global public health agency. The report describes the steps the agency is taking to ensure that imported food, drugs, medical devices, and other regulated products meet the same rigorous standards for safety and quality as those manufactured domestically.

24 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Myths about women voters; Stopping fake drugs; Medicaid innovation not easy; The war over women

Women vote based on "women's issues," such as abortion rights and contraception. A recent poll of voters in swing states showed that women's top priorities are health care, gas prices, unemployment and the deficit -- in that order -- with "government policies toward contraception" coming in last

24 Apr 2012

Robot-assisted surgery more common and successful in treating prostate cancer

Robot-assisted surgery is now both more common and far more successful than radical "open" surgery to treat prostate cancer in the United States, according to a new Henry Ford Hospital study published in the current issue of the medical journal European Urology.

24 Apr 2012

Wis. Planned Parenthoods stops non-surgical abortions; Iowa could ban public funds for abortion in cases of rape, incest

Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin has stopped giving non-surgical abortions after a new law took effect that requires women to have three doctor visits before getting a drug-induced abortion. In Iowa, Planned Parenthood of the Heartland is criticizing the state budget that would disallow public Medicaid funding for abortions in cases of rape or incest.

24 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 23, 2012

Today's headlines feature advance information about what the trustees who oversee Medicare and Social Security will say about the financial well-being of these massive programs when they release their annual report later today.

23 Apr 2012

FDA strengthens and modernizes postmarket drug safety program

A strengthened and modernized postmarket drug safety program has resulted in a substantial improvement in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's oversight of drugs once they reach the American public, according to a new report released today by the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

23 Apr 2012

Study shows how MRSA epidemics may emerge and spread at molecular level

National Institutes of Health (NIH) scientists and their colleagues in China have described a rapidly emerging Staphylococcus aureus gene, called sasX, which plays a pivotal role in establishing methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) epidemics in most of Asia.

23 Apr 2012

Consumer-directed health plans surge, get boost from health law

The concept is also central to Republican-backed market-based reforms. Also in the news, media outlets analyze what's a stake as the Supreme Court considers challenges to the health law, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius reiterates the administration's confidence that the law will be upheld.

21 Apr 2012

State highlights: Ill. Gov. proposes $1.35B cuts to Medicaid

News outlets report on health care policy issues in California, D.C., Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota and South Carolina.

21 Apr 2012

FDA draft guidance documents address use of nanotechnology by food and cosmetics industries

Two draft guidance documents that address the use of nanotechnology by the food and cosmetics industries were issued today by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

21 Apr 2012

First Edition: June 20, 2012

Today's headlines include reports that the Veterans' Administration will increase its mental health staffing.

20 Apr 2012

Possible indicators of child abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and experts at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt are urging all individuals to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of child abuse, and to be aware that reporting suspected incidents of child abuse is the law in Tennessee and many other states.

20 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Bishops find fault with GOP budget; Pelosi on court's role in health law

In February, the Catholic Church attempted to impose its opposition to birth control on its employees, upsetting Democrats and the left. This week, the Church is criticizing Republicans, acting in the highest tradition of its social mission by speaking out against spending cuts on programs for the poor.

20 Apr 2012

U.S. Marshals seize contaminated ultrasound gel of Pharmaceutical Innovations

U.S. Marshals, acting at the request of the Food and Drug Administration, have seized Other-Sonic Generic Ultrasound Transmission Gel located at Pharmaceutical Innovations Inc. in Newark, N.J., after an FDA analysis found that product samples contained dangerous bacteria. The seizure included all lots of the gel product manufactured between June 2011 and December 2011.

19 Apr 2012

Post-SCOTUS scenario: Could health law-created jobs go away?

News coverage and Republicans are noting the number and type of jobs that have been added to the federal payroll as part of the health law.

19 Apr 2012

U.S. delegation expresses support for two vaccination campaigns while in Haiti

"A campaign to introduce new childhood vaccines to Haiti will save tens of thousands of lives over the next decade, CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden told NPR's health blog 'Shots' at the end of a two-day tour of the beleaguered country," the blog reports.

19 Apr 2012

State roundup: Mass. seeks to improve medical malpractice system; Health exchange legislation progresses in Ala.

Seven Massachusetts hospitals plan to offer patients harmed by medical errors a prompt apology and financial settlements before they resort to lawsuits, part of a major new initiative to improve the state's cumbersome medical malpractice system. A coalition of physician, hospital, and patient groups planned to release details Wednesday of the initiative, called "Road Map to Reform,"' which they predict will increase reporting of medical mistakes and cut down on lengthy litigation that drives up health care costs and fuels distrust between caregivers and patients.

19 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 18, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the latest Capitol Hill developments related to the budget.

18 Apr 2012

Streamlining federal restrictions on low-risk clinical comparative effectiveness research

In an opinion article published in this week's theme edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association focusing on comparative effectiveness research, a team of Johns Hopkins University bioethicists argues forcefully for streamlining federal restrictions on at least some low-risk clinical comparative effectiveness research, instead of easing them - as is now proposed - solely for low-risk social and behavior research involving surveys, interviews and focus groups.

18 Apr 2012

Health and Human Services News and Research

U.S. gives go-ahead on publication of H5N1 research; Dutch regulators continue to debate

New report presents FDA's focus on global cooperation for product safety

Viewpoints: Myths about women voters; Stopping fake drugs; Medicaid innovation not easy; The war over women

Robot-assisted surgery more common and successful in treating prostate cancer

Wis. Planned Parenthoods stops non-surgical abortions; Iowa could ban public funds for abortion in cases of rape, incest

First Edition: April 23, 2012

FDA strengthens and modernizes postmarket drug safety program

Study shows how MRSA epidemics may emerge and spread at molecular level

Consumer-directed health plans surge, get boost from health law

State highlights: Ill. Gov. proposes $1.35B cuts to Medicaid

FDA draft guidance documents address use of nanotechnology by food and cosmetics industries

First Edition: June 20, 2012

Possible indicators of child abuse

Viewpoints: Bishops find fault with GOP budget; Pelosi on court's role in health law

U.S. Marshals seize contaminated ultrasound gel of Pharmaceutical Innovations

Post-SCOTUS scenario: Could health law-created jobs go away?

U.S. delegation expresses support for two vaccination campaigns while in Haiti

State roundup: Mass. seeks to improve medical malpractice system; Health exchange legislation progresses in Ala.

First Edition: April 18, 2012

Streamlining federal restrictions on low-risk clinical comparative effectiveness research

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