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Small pox virus destruction pushed back to 2014

The last existing vials of smallpox virus in the U.S. and Russia and due for destruction, have won at least another three years in existence. This is suggesting other countries concur with the U.S. about their value, one leading health official said. The experts and delegates at the annual meeting of the World Health Organization agreed on Tuesday to wait until 2014 to decide on a firm deadline for the final destruction of the lethal virus.

24 May 2011

ECRI Institute PSO highlights patient safety issue involving cardiac monitoring errors in special E-lert

In a recently released Patient Safety E-lert, the ECRI Institute Patient Safety Organization (PSO) highlights a patient safety issue involving cardiac monitoring of incorrect patients. The issue was brought to ECRI Institute PSO's attention in its analysis of reports submitted by participating healthcare providers.

24 May 2011

Officials and re-election campaigns face health law challenges

News outlets explore how the health overhaul has factored into the tenure of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and into specific re-election campaigns.

24 May 2011

NIAID team completes analysis of most proteins produced by elephantiasis parasite worm

A team led by Thomas B. Nutman, M.D., of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, has completed a large-scale analysis of most of the proteins produced by Brugia malayi, one kind of parasitic worm that causes lymphatic filariasis, or elephantiasis.

24 May 2011

Vertex Incivek receives FDA approval for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Incivek treat certain adults with chronic hepatitis C infection. Incivek is used for patients who have either not received interferon-based drug therapy for their infection or who have not responded adequately to prior therapies. Incivek is approved for use with interferon therapy made up of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin.

24 May 2011

Kansas, Iowa pursue health law waivers

Meanwhile, The Hill reports that most of the denials resuting from early waiver requests went to unions. And, in other health reform implementation news, Politico Pro reports on what it describes as an "ACO dilemma."

23 May 2011

State Roundup: States' economic success often beyond their control

State leaders love to make promises about healing a sick economy. Often, though, economic success depends on factors far beyond their influence. ... When It comes to Medicaid, the restrictions largely emanate from the federal budget.

23 May 2011

From September insurers will need to justify annual premium increases of 10% plus

According to the new Obama administration rule taking effect in September, state regulators cannot reject rate increases deemed unreasonable, but it requires insurers to explain the reasons for such hikes to the public.

22 May 2011

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) legislation required a core set of recommended health care quality measures to be identified for voluntary use by State Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), which together cover almost 40 million American children and adolescents.

21 May 2011

First nucleic acid amplification test to diagnose early stages of Q fever infections receives FDA approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared the first nucleic acid amplification test to diagnose the early stages of Q fever infections in military personnel serving overseas.

21 May 2011

Edurant receives FDA approval for treatment of HIV-1 infection

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Edurant (rilpivirine) in combination with other antiretroviral drugs for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults who have never taken HIV therapy (treatment-naive).

21 May 2011

Feeding SimplyThick to premature infants may cause NEC, warns FDA

FDA is warning parents, caregivers and health care providers not to feed SimplyThick, a thickening agent for management of swallowing disorders, to infants born before 37 weeks.

21 May 2011

Conservative groups urge states, insurers to seek health law waivers

Two groups on the right are urging states and insurers to seek waivers from the Democrats' health care law including exemptions from so-called "mini-med" plans and medical-loss ratio requirements. HHS is also refusing to release the names of rejected waiver applicants.

21 May 2011

FDA approves Sutent for patients with progressive neuroendocrine cancerous tumors in pancreas

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Sutent (sunitinib) to treat patients with progressive neuroendocrine cancerous tumors located in the pancreas that cannot be removed by surgery or that have spread to other parts of the body (metastatic).

21 May 2011

HHS rule says insurers must justify double-digit rate increases

Despite opposition from insurers, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule stipulating that health insurance premium increases greater than 10 percent will trigger extra regulatory scrutiny.

20 May 2011

HHS issues finalized health insurance rate review regulation

The Health and Human Services Department finalized regulations Thursday that will require insurance companies to disclose and justify rate increases of 10 percent or more.

20 May 2011

Roundup: Private prison costs; GOP lawmakers in Wis. break with Governor on cuts to senior services

The conviction that private prisons save money helped drive more than 30 states to turn to them for housing inmates. But Arizona shows that popular wisdom might be wrong: Data there suggest that privately operated prisons can cost more to operate than state-run prisons — even though they often steer clear of the sickest, costliest inmates (Oppel, 5/18).

20 May 2011

VIDAS TOXO IgG Avidity assay to test for recent Toxoplasma gondii infection receives FDA clearance

On May 18, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the first test to help determine whether a pregnant woman or a person with swollen lymph nodes testing positive for toxoplasmosis, sometimes known as cat scratch disease, developed the infection within the past four months.

20 May 2011

MAXIMUS wins Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance contract in Wisconsin

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that its Human Services North America Division has won a renewal of its Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance contract with the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.

19 May 2011

ECRI Institute to conduct '10 Key Readiness Indicators for Exchange of Health Information' survey

Whether it is related to electronic health records, accountable care, medical homes, meaningful use, or other initiatives to improve patient safety and quality, a healthcare organization's ability to succeed—or fend off competition—depends on its ability to effectively exchange health information within the organization, with outside groups such as physician offices and payers, and with Health Information Exchanges.

19 May 2011

Health and Human Services News and Research

Small pox virus destruction pushed back to 2014

ECRI Institute PSO highlights patient safety issue involving cardiac monitoring errors in special E-lert

Officials and re-election campaigns face health law challenges

NIAID team completes analysis of most proteins produced by elephantiasis parasite worm

Vertex Incivek receives FDA approval for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Kansas, Iowa pursue health law waivers

State Roundup: States' economic success often beyond their control

From September insurers will need to justify annual premium increases of 10% plus

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

First nucleic acid amplification test to diagnose early stages of Q fever infections receives FDA approval

Edurant receives FDA approval for treatment of HIV-1 infection

Feeding SimplyThick to premature infants may cause NEC, warns FDA

Conservative groups urge states, insurers to seek health law waivers

FDA approves Sutent for patients with progressive neuroendocrine cancerous tumors in pancreas

HHS rule says insurers must justify double-digit rate increases

HHS issues finalized health insurance rate review regulation

Roundup: Private prison costs; GOP lawmakers in Wis. break with Governor on cuts to senior services

VIDAS TOXO IgG Avidity assay to test for recent Toxoplasma gondii infection receives FDA clearance

MAXIMUS wins Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance contract in Wisconsin

ECRI Institute to conduct '10 Key Readiness Indicators for Exchange of Health Information' survey

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