Health and Human Services News and Research

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Federal officials use health law to cite two insurers for excessive premium increases

The insurance companies will be able to charge the higher amount, but they will be required to disclose on websites that reviewers found the rates to be unreasonable and explain why they are still imposing them.

18 Apr 2012

IMRT facilitates radiation dose escalation without compromising long-term morbidity for prostate cancer

In an analysis of three different types of radiation therapy used to treat localized prostate cancer, compared with conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) was associated with fewer diagnoses of gastrointestinal adverse effects, hip fractures, and receipt of additional cancer treatments but more erectile dysfunction, while proton therapy was associated with more gastrointestinal adverse effects than IMRT.

18 Apr 2012

A guide to catch and treat hypertension early in children

High blood pressure in children and adolescents is a growing health problem that is often overlooked by physicians, according to a University of Michigan Health System article published in American Family Physician that offers doctors a guide to catching and treating hypertension early.

18 Apr 2012

IMRT better than CRT for treatment of localized prostate cancer

A treatment for localized prostate cancer known as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) is better than conventional conformal radiation therapy (CRT) for reducing certain side effects and preventing cancer recurrence, according to a study published in the April 18, 2012 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

18 Apr 2012

Large childhood immunization campaign begins in Haiti, with support from U.S., other international partners

Haiti, the U.S. and other international partners on Monday launched "a nationwide vaccination campaign in the Caribbean country that seeks to curb or prevent infectious diseases, health officials said," the Associated Press/Fox News reports.

18 Apr 2012

More than one third of patients with invasive cancer are undertreated for their pain

More than one third of patients with invasive cancer are undertreated for their pain, with minorities twice as likely to not receive analgesics, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

17 Apr 2012

Sebelius appeals to civil rights groups for health law support

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asked civil rights activists to help defend the health law. Meanwhile, other news outlets report on specific aspects of the law, including how contractors have been preparing for its implementation, and the latest on accountable care organizations.

16 Apr 2012

Scientists identify which T. gondii strains are linked with severe illness in U.S. infants

Scientists have identified which strains of the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, the cause of toxoplasmosis, are most strongly associated with premature births and severe birth defects in the United States.

16 Apr 2012

Abortion-restricting bills proceed in Ariz. and Iowa as new Miss. law targets only abortion clinic

A pair of bills passed the Arizona Senate Thursday to prohibit public money for family-planning from going to organizations that give abortions and to allow some businesses to avoid paying for contraception for employees. Ariz. Gov. Jan Brewer also signed a bill banning most late-term abortions.

16 Apr 2012

Roundup: No new policies from cross-border insurance law; Dental Medicaid abuse in Texas?

Proponents said these out-of-state policies, stripped of Georgia's mandates, would have lower premiums – and allow more people to afford individual health insurance coverage. ... But a year later, nothing has happened. No insurer here has started selling a non-Georgia health plan.

12 Apr 2012

Tenet enters into settlement with HHS and CMS

Tenet Healthcare Corporation announced that it has entered into an agreement as part of an industry-wide settlement with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of HHS, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that is expected to result in approximate net cash proceeds to Tenet of $84 million, of which $77 million is expected to relate to continuing operations.

12 Apr 2012

Romney says he'll dismantle health law day 1 at the White House -- will that help him win over the right?

On the Democratic side, Vice President Joe Biden takes on Romney, while news outlets offer fact checks and reports of health policy sparring on the congressional campaign trail.

12 Apr 2012

Parsing the impact of the high court's health law arguments

A new Washington Post/ABC poll uncovered skepticism among Americans about whether the health law decision expected from the Supreme Court justices in June will be rooted "on the basis of the law." The poll also found that public support for the overhaul hit an all-time low, with the mandate being a bigger sticking point than ever. Meanwhile, according to The Associated Press, some of these views may be the result of "misconceptions" that resulted from the oral arguments.

12 Apr 2012

Tenet to pay $43M to settle Medicare overbilling claims

The settlement ends an investigation into allegations the Dallas-based hospital operator overbilled Medicare for treating patients at certain inpatient rehabilitation centers.

12 Apr 2012

HHS proposes to push back ICD-10 -- a billing system unpopular with docs

The Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would push back for one year the compliance deadline for doctors to convert to the ICD-10 revision of diagnostic and procedural codes.

12 Apr 2012

Pelvic floor muscle training effective for adult women with urinary incontinence

A type of exercise called pelvic floor muscle training is effective for treating adult women with urinary incontinence (the involuntary loss of urine) without risk of side effects, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The report also found that drug-based treatments can be effective, but the degree of benefit is low and side effects are common.

11 Apr 2012

U.S. children would need to eliminate an average of 64 excess calories per day to prevent obesity

In order for the nation to achieve goals set by the federal government for reducing obesity rates by 2020, children in the United States would need to eliminate an average of 64 excess calories per day, researchers calculated in a study published today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

10 Apr 2012

Medicaid: Ariz. gets federal OK to expand kids coverage; Docs want to share Minn. insurer rebates; Medi-Cal faces adult day-care injunction

States around the nation are grappling with Medicaid issues ranging from expanding coverage and making deals with new managed care providers to sharing insurer rebates, forging budget cuts, waiting on court action and admitting large data breaches.

10 Apr 2012

Three ESRD products chosen for FDA's Innovation Pathway program

Three products for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) have been chosen to participate in the FDA's Innovation Pathway, an evolving system designed to help medical devices reach patients in a safe, timely and collaborative manner.

10 Apr 2012

Aristolochic acid exposure leads to kidney failure and UUC

Aristolochic acid (AA), a component of a plant used in herbal remedies since ancient times, leads to kidney failure and upper urinary tract cancer (UUC) in individuals exposed to the toxin.

10 Apr 2012

Health and Human Services News and Research

Federal officials use health law to cite two insurers for excessive premium increases

IMRT facilitates radiation dose escalation without compromising long-term morbidity for prostate cancer

A guide to catch and treat hypertension early in children

IMRT better than CRT for treatment of localized prostate cancer

Large childhood immunization campaign begins in Haiti, with support from U.S., other international partners

More than one third of patients with invasive cancer are undertreated for their pain

Sebelius appeals to civil rights groups for health law support

Scientists identify which T. gondii strains are linked with severe illness in U.S. infants

Abortion-restricting bills proceed in Ariz. and Iowa as new Miss. law targets only abortion clinic

Roundup: No new policies from cross-border insurance law; Dental Medicaid abuse in Texas?

Tenet enters into settlement with HHS and CMS

Romney says he'll dismantle health law day 1 at the White House -- will that help him win over the right?

Parsing the impact of the high court's health law arguments

Tenet to pay $43M to settle Medicare overbilling claims

HHS proposes to push back ICD-10 -- a billing system unpopular with docs

Pelvic floor muscle training effective for adult women with urinary incontinence

U.S. children would need to eliminate an average of 64 excess calories per day to prevent obesity

Medicaid: Ariz. gets federal OK to expand kids coverage; Docs want to share Minn. insurer rebates; Medi-Cal faces adult day-care injunction

Three ESRD products chosen for FDA's Innovation Pathway program

Aristolochic acid exposure leads to kidney failure and UUC

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