Health and Human Services News and Research

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Washington State Medical Association weighs in on legislation in Olympia

More than 140 physicians met with legislators to voice their opinions on several bills that could significantly impact patient access to care and patient safety. The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), which held its annual Legislative Day this week, is working hard on legislation to preserve programs that are on the cutting block, and promote legislation that would benefit patients.

30 Jan 2012

Study: Electronic health records can improve care, outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes

Use of electronic health records shows promise for improving care and outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes, but still has considerable room for improvement, according to a new study in the journal Health Services Research.

30 Jan 2012

Caffeine intake among women of child-bearing age influences estrogen levels

Asian women who consumed an average of 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day-the equivalent of roughly two cups of coffee-had elevated estrogen levels when compared to women who consumed less, according to a study of reproductive age women by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

27 Jan 2012

Two NIH clinical trials to evaluate treatments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

The National Institutes of Health has launched two multi-site clinical trials to evaluate treatments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. One will compare continuous chest compressions (CCC) combined with pause- free rescue breathing to standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), which includes a combination of chest compressions and pauses for rescue breathing.

27 Jan 2012

The health law's moving parts: Essential benefits, innovation and consumer-friendly plan information

News outlets report on a variety of health law implementation news, ranging from how a new center is testing ways to improve care and cut costs, to efforts to salvage consumer information requirements for health plans and to define essential benefits.

27 Jan 2012

drchrono closes $2.8 million round of funding

drchrono, the company that is transforming the focus of healthcare from the enterprise to the provider, today announced it has closed a $2.8 million round of funding led by Yuri Milner and featuring new investors that share a legacy of innovation and business transformation.

27 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Health care is MIA in the State of the Union; Gingrich's earnings for health views

President Obama's largest legislative accomplishment to date was the passage of the health care reform law, which has been going into effect in stages, with regulations currently being written for the most substantial changes due to take effect in 2014. So it is odd the President mentioned health care only briefly, and in passing, in his State of the Union address last night.

27 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 26, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include reports about House GOP plans to offer a 'replace' bill after the Supreme Court rules on the health law.

26 Jan 2012

Sebelius takes to airwaves on 'The Daily Show'

During her appearance, host Jon Stewart pressed her on the Obama administration's decision to let states define the health law's "essential benefits."

25 Jan 2012

Lansoprazole increases risk of sore throats, respiratory problems in children with asthma

Adding the acid reflux drug lansoprazole to a standard inhaled steroid treatment for asthma does not improve asthma control in children who have no symptom of acid reflux, according to a new study funded in part by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health. Lansoprazole therapy slightly increased the risk of sore throats and other respiratory problems in children, however.

25 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Obama and liberal Catholics; Growing 'charity care'; Cutting costs on physician referrals

A Health and Human Services mandate that forces every employer to provide employees with health coverage that not only covers birth control and sterilization, but makes them free ... has drawn fire from the Catholic bishops. Less predictable - and far more interesting - has been the heat from the Catholic left, including many who have in the past given the president vital cover. In a post for the left-leaning National Catholic Reporter, Michael Sean Winter minces few words. Under the headline "J'ACCUSE," he rightly takes the president to the woodshed for the politics of the decision.

25 Jan 2012

Aquilent awarded new IT contracts by the HHS

Aquilent, the recognized leading provider of Web-based solutions shaping the next generation of technology for the federal government, today announced it has been awarded more than a dozen new contracts within the past several months supporting numerous operating divisions and programs within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

24 Jan 2012

Voluntary action by two research teams to halt work on H5N1 lauded

A Georgetown University Medical Center professor says the voluntary action taken by two research teams to temporarily halt work involving the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 is "laudable."

24 Jan 2012

Medicaid: North Carolina's good news, bad news; Georgia considering managed care

There are cost savings associated with a nationally-recognized health care initiative for the state designed to manage better outcomes for Medicaid consumers. The networks help 1.2 million patients with treatments for chronic and special conditions, ensure they aren't overprescribed drugs and encourage them to go to a primary-care doctor

24 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Opposing views of HHS' contraception rule; Health care costs and the liberal agenda

The administration's rule leaves the decision in the hands of patients, where it belongs, while respecting the rights of religions. It holds true to the original and wise idea that access to preventive medicine is a good idea for the nation's physical and financial well-being.

24 Jan 2012

3 of 4 Americans live in states still flummoxed by how to deliver the health law's promise of affordable care

News outlets report on a variety of health law implementation issues, including an Associated Press report detailing how the overhaul is lagging in the states. Other reports examine questions about ACOs, essential benefits and other specific provisions.

23 Jan 2012

Birth control pill coverage for church-affiliated institutions sparks outrage

The Obama administration announced Friday that many church-affiliated institutions will have to cover free birth control for employees. This has sparked debate and invited criticism.

23 Jan 2012

Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues to hold public meeting in San Francisco

The Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues will hold a public meeting February 2-3 in San Francisco, CA.

21 Jan 2012

Health law supporters brace for future attacks, wonder whether overhaul will be part of the SOTU address

Those who consider the health law one of President Barack Obama's leading domestic achievements look to see whether he will include it in his Tuesday night speech. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius predicts continued criticism and "misinformation" about the health law while House Republicans celebrated the one-year anniversary of their vote to repeal it.

21 Jan 2012

FDA allows marketing of Stratify JCV Antibody ELISA test for PML

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allowed marketing of the first test to help determine the risk for a rare brain infection called progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in people using the drug Tysabri (natalizumab) to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) or Crohn's disease.

21 Jan 2012

Health and Human Services News and Research

Washington State Medical Association weighs in on legislation in Olympia

Study: Electronic health records can improve care, outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes

Caffeine intake among women of child-bearing age influences estrogen levels

Two NIH clinical trials to evaluate treatments for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

The health law's moving parts: Essential benefits, innovation and consumer-friendly plan information

drchrono closes $2.8 million round of funding

Viewpoints: Health care is MIA in the State of the Union; Gingrich's earnings for health views

First Edition: January 26, 2012

Sebelius takes to airwaves on 'The Daily Show'

Lansoprazole increases risk of sore throats, respiratory problems in children with asthma

Viewpoints: Obama and liberal Catholics; Growing 'charity care'; Cutting costs on physician referrals

Aquilent awarded new IT contracts by the HHS

Voluntary action by two research teams to halt work on H5N1 lauded

Medicaid: North Carolina's good news, bad news; Georgia considering managed care

Viewpoints: Opposing views of HHS' contraception rule; Health care costs and the liberal agenda

3 of 4 Americans live in states still flummoxed by how to deliver the health law's promise of affordable care

Birth control pill coverage for church-affiliated institutions sparks outrage

Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues to hold public meeting in San Francisco

Health law supporters brace for future attacks, wonder whether overhaul will be part of the SOTU address

FDA allows marketing of Stratify JCV Antibody ELISA test for PML

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