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Exposure to tobacco smoke nearly doubles risk of hearing loss among adolescents

NYU School of Medicine researchers report in a new study that exposure to tobacco smoke nearly doubles the risk of hearing loss among adolescents. The study is published in the July, 2011, issue of Archives of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery.

19 Jul 2011

U.S. FDA approves 2011-2012 influenza vaccine formulation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that it has approved the influenza vaccine formulation for the 2011-2012 vaccine that will be used by the six manufacturers licensed to produce and distribute influenza vaccine for the United States.

19 Jul 2011

Rome Statement for an HIV Cure calls for accelerated research

Members of the Advisory Board for a Global Scientific Strategy "Towards an HIV Cure" today launched the Rome Statement for an HIV Cure calling for an acceleration of HIV cure research. The announcement was made at the 6th IAS Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention (IAS 2011) currently being held in Rome

18 Jul 2011

Bedsharing in toddlerhood does not negatively affect children's behavior and cognition

A study led by Lauren Hale, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, concludes that there do not appear to be any negative associations between bedsharing in toddlerhood and children's behavior and cognition at age 5.

18 Jul 2011

IPAB continues to draw repeal talk

Health exchanges, accountable care organizations, high-risk pools and waivers are among health law hot topics also attracting headlines.

18 Jul 2011

States grapple with reduced federal Medicaid match

Stateline looks at the effect to states of the loss of extra federal matching funds for Medicaid. In addition, other news outlets explore the difficulty of finding physicians who accept Medicaid patients, a financial analysis of cuts in Medicaid funding being considered as part of the debt talks in Washington and the fight in Florida over moving enrollees to a managed care style plan.

18 Jul 2011

Drummond Group provides complete EMR certification for Varian's ARIA software for radiation oncology

Varian Medical Systems today announced its ARIA® software for electronic medical records (EMR) and clinical practice management in radiation oncology has been certified for clinics that can now use it to qualify for federal funding under the U.S. HITECH Act.

18 Jul 2011

FDA warns consumers not to drink raw milk from Tucker Adkins Dairy

The FDA is working with officials in North Carolina and South Carolina to investigate an outbreak of campylobacteriosis in three people who consumed raw milk from Tucker Adkins Dairy in York, S.C. The three confirmed cases and another five probable cases are from three different households and each case reports that prior to becoming ill they consumed raw milk that was obtained from Tucker Adkins Dairy on June 14, 2011.

18 Jul 2011

Governors to focus on health exchanges' big picture

During the National Governors Association meeting on Saturday, "broad-stroke policy decisions" will be discussed — in terms of what states need to know to set up an exchange in the face of tight budgets. Meanwhile, a new AARP report concludes that consumers will have an easier time in these marketplaces if they don't have too many options.

16 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Debt dilemma; IPAB intense defense; Minnesota middle-ground

Let's talk for a minute about what Republican leaders are rejecting. President Obama has made it clear that he's willing to sign on to a deficit-reduction deal that consists overwhelmingly of spending cuts, and includes draconian cuts in key social programs, up to and including a rise in the age of Medicare eligibility. These are extraordinary concessions.

16 Jul 2011

The focus on bringing down IPAB

On Capitol Hill this week, the health law's independent payment advisory panel drew criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was on hand to absorb some of the attacks and answer some of the questions.

15 Jul 2011

Longer looks: Penalties for doctors who keep patients waiting

When she makes a doctor's appointment, Cherie Kerr makes it clear that she better not be kept waiting long. She said she usually tries to schedule the first appointment of the day, or the first one after lunch. But if the doctor is going to be late, she insists the staff give her a call -- lest the office be billed for her time in the waiting room.

15 Jul 2011

State roundup: Model insurance brings 'modest' savings

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' alternative quality contract, which Governor Deval Patrick has held up as a potential model for controlling health care costs, produced "modest" savings in its first year while yielding improved quality of care in some areas, according to a new study in this week's New England Journal of Medicine.

15 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Teaching hospital cuts; Medicare & debt deal politics; end-of-life care

Teaching hospitals educate the next generation of physicians—who are clearly essential for our future. But the importance of academic medical centers and teaching hospitals goes far beyond delivering care.

15 Jul 2011

USPTO awards patent for Convergen LifeSciences' CNVN202 to treat lung cancer

Convergen LifeSciences, Inc. announced today that another United States Patent 7,977,468 has been awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office jointly to The University of Texas System Board of Regents and The Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

14 Jul 2011

Sebelius takes to the Hill to defend IPAB

During a Capitol Hill hearing, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius criticized the House-passed budget plan and its Medicare provisions and also defended the potential effectiveness and constitutionality of the health law's Independent Payment Advisory Board.

14 Jul 2011

Transvaginal placement of surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse may pose greater risk, warns FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued an updated safety communication warning health care providers and patients that surgical placement of mesh through the vagina to repair pelvic organ prolapse may expose patients to greater risk than other surgical options.

14 Jul 2011

HMS receives Maine contract to perform hospital, long term care financial reviews

HMS, a wholly owned subsidiary of HMS Holdings Corp., today announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to perform hospital and long term care credit balance reviews and cost of care recoveries on behalf of the state's MaineCare program.

14 Jul 2011

Chimerix initiates CMX001 Phase 2 study for prevention of adenovirus disease following HSCT

Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today announced that patient dosing has begun in the AdV HALT Trial (A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-site Phase 2 Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Preemptive Treatment with CMX001 for the Prevention of Adenovirus Disease Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation [HSCT]).

14 Jul 2011

FDA issues draft guidance to promote development of targeted medicines, diagnostics

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a new draft guidance to facilitate the development and review of companion diagnostics – tests used to help health care professionals determine whether a patient with a particular disease or condition should receive a particular drug therapy or how much of the drug to give.

13 Jul 2011

Health and Human Services News and Research

Exposure to tobacco smoke nearly doubles risk of hearing loss among adolescents

U.S. FDA approves 2011-2012 influenza vaccine formulation

Rome Statement for an HIV Cure calls for accelerated research

Bedsharing in toddlerhood does not negatively affect children's behavior and cognition

IPAB continues to draw repeal talk

States grapple with reduced federal Medicaid match

Drummond Group provides complete EMR certification for Varian's ARIA software for radiation oncology

FDA warns consumers not to drink raw milk from Tucker Adkins Dairy

Governors to focus on health exchanges' big picture

Viewpoints: Debt dilemma; IPAB intense defense; Minnesota middle-ground

The focus on bringing down IPAB

Longer looks: Penalties for doctors who keep patients waiting

State roundup: Model insurance brings 'modest' savings

Viewpoints: Teaching hospital cuts; Medicare & debt deal politics; end-of-life care

USPTO awards patent for Convergen LifeSciences' CNVN202 to treat lung cancer

Sebelius takes to the Hill to defend IPAB

Transvaginal placement of surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse may pose greater risk, warns FDA

HMS receives Maine contract to perform hospital, long term care financial reviews

Chimerix initiates CMX001 Phase 2 study for prevention of adenovirus disease following HSCT

FDA issues draft guidance to promote development of targeted medicines, diagnostics

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