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Gates Foundation task force visits flooded Indian state

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently sent an eight member task force, led by the foundation's country head Ashok Alexander, to the Indian state of Bihar, which has experienced significant flooding in many districts, PTI/Hindu reports (8/30). "With major rivers in spate, there is no let up in the overall flood situation in Bihar where 1.5 million people continue to reel under the deluge in 11 north Bihar districts," according to PTI (8/30).

1 Sep 2009

Gates Foundation appoints new HIV program head

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation recently announced that Stefano Bertozzi will head up its HIV programs starting August 31, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports (8/27).

1 Sep 2009

Democrats appeal for health legislation to honor Kennedy

Democrats "evoked memories" of Sen. Edward Kennedy to urge health care reform, as many acknowledged that his absence leaves a leadership gap.

1 Sep 2009

H1N1 cases on decline in Southern Hemisphere, WHO says

The number of H1N1 (swine) flu cases are steadily declining in the Southern Hemisphere as the region's flu season comes to an end, the WHO said Friday, the Associated Press reports (Engeler, 8/29).

1 Sep 2009

Also in Global Health news: Flu, cholera in PNG; improving life awards; HIV/AIDS in Rwanda; men and maternal/child health; MDR-TB in India

"Twin outbreaks of a flu-like illness and dysentery in a remote region of Papua New Guinea have killed 47 people and infected another 2,000 villagers, a senior medical official said Monday," Agence France-Presse reports. According to provincial health adviser Doctor Theo Likei, the WHO has collected and is testing samples of the virus from the "stricken villages" (8/31). Additionally, the country is experiencing a cholera outbreak - "the first time the disease has officially been confirmed in the country," the BBC reports (Mercer, 8/31).

1 Sep 2009

Hospital executives worry about reform uncertainties

Federal authorities are conducting a thorough investigation of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Care Center in Connecticut. Hartford Business Journal Online reports: "The failure of an oxygenator — medical equipment often used in cardiac surgery in conjunction with a heart-lung machine — triggered a complaint by the state of Connecticut to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [Services] (CMS), said Roseanne Pawelec, an agency spokeswoman.

1 Sep 2009

Hospital executives worry about reform uncertainties

Hospital executives worry about uncertainties in reform. The Washington Post reports: "Anxiety is running high among hospital executives as they ponder the ever-changing proposals on Capitol Hill. Wary of changes to payment formulas and fiercely protective of their franchise, industry groups are spending millions to lobby Congress.

1 Sep 2009

Explainers and fact checks on health reform bills

Several news organizations published explainers on health reform.

1 Sep 2009

Burger chain invests in health care insurance, sees gains

A burger chain pays more for employees' health care insurance and, in turn, has reaped significant gains. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Four years ago, executives of Burgerville, a regional restaurant chain, agreed to pay at least 90% of health-care premiums for hourly employees who work at least 20 hours a week."

1 Sep 2009

Obama returns from vacation facing tough health overhaul odds, but has some strengths

"President Obama still has stronger prospects for achieving his health policy goals than surface impressions of the Congressional recess indicate," the New York Times reports.

1 Sep 2009

Drug stores consider how reform efforts may affect drug stores

If reform passes, CVS expects profits to remain steady while benefit managers worry about other drug stores' plans to go around them and negotiate directly on price.

1 Sep 2009

Lawmakers sound off on health care reform

Lawmakers from around the United States are sounding off on health care legislation ahead of their return to Washington.

1 Sep 2009

Mistrust in health care system could impact patients' health and health care costs

Mistrust among patients, providers and insurers could harm patients' health and raise overall health care costs, reports a new study.

1 Sep 2009

Federal official chooses Wiley newsletter to discuss his plans for strengthening addiction treatment in community corrections

A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D. the top federal official on addiction treatment, chose Wiley newsletter Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly for his first interview after being sworn in as deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Published in the Aug. 31 issue, the interview reveals the bold directions McLellan plans to head in, including a new focus on probation and parole, in partnership with Gil Kerlikowske, ONDCP director.

1 Sep 2009

CT and PET scans carry a very real risk of radiation exposure

Thomas Dehn, M.D., FACR, executive vice president and chief medical officer of National Imaging Associates, a Magellan Health Services (Nasdaq: MGLN) company, today issued the following statement about the New England Journal of Medicine study published on Aug. 27 regarding patient exposure to ionizing radiation in imaging procedures.

1 Sep 2009

Senior citizens in Nevada to be affected by the recent House bill

A new American Health Care Association analysis of the pending House health reform bill, combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion over 10 years, finds seniors in Nevada requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face total funding cuts of $186 million over that same time period. Nationally, the study finds, seniors' Medicare cuts will total $44 billion over 10 years, prompting Nevada’s long term care community to warn that seniors' care needs are endangered by the House bill, as are the jobs of almost 200 caregivers in Nevada alone.

31 Aug 2009

Celticare Health Plan of Massachusetts to cover legal immigrants from October

CeltiCare today announced that the Commonwealth has accepted its proposal to manage healthcare services for Aliens with Special Status (AWSS). This population has been enrolled in the Commonwealth Care insurance program (Commonwealth Care) run by the Massachusetts Health Connector.

31 Aug 2009

Home births performed by registered midwives are safe and natural

Having your baby at home is as safe as birth in the hospital, according to a new study published in the September Canadian Medical Association Journal. In Ontario, as in BC where the study was conducted, Registered Midwives are the only heath care professionals who attend home births.

31 Aug 2009

D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Identification Kit can be used for detecting H1N1 virus

Diagnostic HYBRIDS announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has cleared an additional claim for the company's D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Identification Kit, which confirms that the assay can detect the 2009 influenza A (H1N1)v virus.

31 Aug 2009

Health care reform will kill competition in most states: BestHealthcareRates.com

Management at BestHealthcareRates.com is astonished with the government’s claims that the health care reform that they are working hard to bring about will actually encourage competition. It is much more likely that it will kill competition in most states as the giant arrives in town and takes a portion of everybody’s business.

31 Aug 2009