Health and Human Services News and Research

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Nine state, local organizations to receive NHLBI grant for COPD education initiatives

Nine state and local organizations will receive a total of $383,000 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease education initiatives, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health, announced today.

1 Apr 2011

HHS secretary Sebelius testifies before Senate appropriations panel

During her testimony, the Health and Human Services secretary took questions on the health law and pointed out — according to Modern Healthcare — funding concerns related to rural critical access hospitals and anti-fraud and abuse efforts.

1 Apr 2011

DNA damage can lead to regulation of inflammatory responses

Researchers offer the first evidence that DNA damage can lead to the regulation of inflammatory responses, the body's reaction to injury. The proteins involved in the regulation help protect the body from infection.

1 Apr 2011

Roundup: Minn. and Fla. weigh changes in programs for disabled, poor; Iowa lawmakers consider new abortion restrictions

Due to a shockingly large deficit, Gov. Rick Scott is planning to invoke his emergency powers and make deep cuts to the rates charged by group homes and case workers who help the developmentally disabled. Scott could announce a 15 percent rate cut as early as Thursday to close the $170 million budget gap in the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, according to lawmakers who were briefed Wednesday.

1 Apr 2011

HHS unveils ACO details

During a Thursday morning press call, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick unveiled the long-awaited federal rule on accountable care organizations.

1 Apr 2011

New report examines MSIS feasibility to fulfill requirements outlined in CHIPRA

A new report, published in Perspectives in Health Information Management, by The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Department of Health Policy, examines the feasibility of using the Medicaid Statistical Information System, an existing data source, to fulfill some of the requirements outlined in section 401 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.

31 Mar 2011

Health lobbyists, advocates brace for much-anticipated accountable care organization regulations

ACOs continue to hold attention, with the administration's rule expected this week. Meanwhile, other reform news includes reports about health exchanges and a medical device tax.

31 Mar 2011

Bipartisan senate bill would set process to review future Medicare provider cuts

The measure would bar any cuts from taking place before the Health and Human Services secretary determines they are necessary. Meanwhile, in other Medicare news, ProPublica reports that federal regulators are in the process of making kidney dialysis clinic data more accessible to the public.

31 Mar 2011

Revenues grow, but states wrestle with shortfalls in Medicaid needs

A new Census Bureau report find revenues for local and state governments are growing but many states are still having difficulty funding Medicaid programs. In Conn., the governor says he has reservations about a proposal to create a new entity to oversee state health care. California and New Jersey officials are having trouble finding cuts to balance the budget. And hospital officials in Texas are urging lawmakers to not trim health care.

31 Mar 2011

HHS unveils new website on vaccine and immunization for consumers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled an innovative new website to help parents and other consumers learn about the most effective way to protect themselves and their children from infectious diseases and learn about immunization.

31 Mar 2011

Allscripts ED 7.0 receives Complete EHR certification

Allscripts announced today that Allscripts ED™ 7.0, the company's standalone Emergency Department Information System (EDIS), is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as a Complete EHR on March 2, 2011 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable hospital certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

30 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 30, 2011

Today's headlines are focused on recent developments related to the congressional budget impasse, which stem in part from partisan disagreement regarding controversial "policy" riders that impose restrictions on funding for the health law and Planned Parenthood.

30 Mar 2011

SAMHSA publishes strategic initiatives paper on nation's behavioral health care system

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration today published its strategic initiatives paper - an overview of SAMHSA's goals, priorities and action steps for accomplishing its mission of reducing the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America's communities.

30 Mar 2011

Health law policy details continue to grab attention, headlines

Health law costs, accountable care organizations, the individual mandate and even the latest in proceedings surrounding Virginia's health law challenge are all in today's news.

30 Mar 2011

IOM report recommends steps to ensure LGBT health research gaps and needs

Recent findings on the differences in heart disease among women and men and among blacks and whites show that characteristics such as gender and ethnicity matter when it comes to health research.

29 Mar 2011

Roundup: States 'scrambling' on Medicaid budget; health costs for inmates, Ex-Cons; kids' insurance

Strapped states are scrambling to address Medicaid's ballooning costs before the federal government cuts back a critical source of funding this week. Medicaid is one of state's costliest burdens. And the weak economy swelled the rolls to record numbers. Nearly 49 million people -- or almost one in six Americans -- were covered by the safety net at the end of 2009, the latest figures available.

29 Mar 2011

Differing reports on how businesses, health law are interacting

Reuters reports that Health and Human Services data show the business community is a big winner as a result of the measure's early retiree program. But The Fiscal Times notes that some "corporate giants" are at odds with the overhaul.

28 Mar 2011

Health law's retiree health plans, exchanges, waivers draw scrutiny

A congressional report found that the retiree health plan could run out of money as soon as this year, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, the health overhaul's insurance exchanges create a challenge for GOP governors just as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners will examine exchange issues among other topics at their Austin meeting.

25 Mar 2011

Polls showcase national divisions, opinions about health law

A year has passed and polls still highlight the steadiness in the public rift on the health law.

25 Mar 2011

Qualifacts CareLogic Enterprise achieves Complete EHR certification

Qualifacts Systems Inc. announced at the kickoff of its 2011 Users' Conference that CareLogic Enterprise is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as a Complete EHR on March 22, 2011, by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable Eligible Provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

25 Mar 2011