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First Edition: March 25, 2011

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, John Goodman writes: "As governors across the land struggle with fiscal pressures and pepper the federal government with requests to scale back Medicaid - many people are losing sight of the fact that health care reform requires a huge expansion of Medicaid".

25 Mar 2011

New study finds 74.8% increase in hospital emergency visits due to Ecstasy use

A new national study indicates that the number of hospital emergency visits involving the illicit drug Ecstasy increased from 10,220 in 2004 to 17,865 visits in 2008 - a 74.8 percent increase.

25 Mar 2011

Health law waivers the target of new lawsuit

Crossroads Global Policy Strategies, a political organization founded by former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove, has filed suit in an effort to force the Obama administration to reveal its reasons for granting these waivers.

25 Mar 2011

Looking forward: Detailing the health law's next policy steps

In addition to timelines, explainers and answers, media outlets have detailed various developments, ranging from New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner's interest in seeking a health law waiver for New York City to GOP-backed transparency proposals.

25 Mar 2011

Contention continues a year later

News outlets remark on the continuing ferocity of the health overhaul debate — even a year later — as its advocates and detractors continue efforts to advance or block the measure's implementation.

25 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 24, 2011

In today's headlines, more reports about how supporters and opponents of the health law are staking out positions and taking action to advance their causes. Meanwhile, a South Dakota abortion law becomes a flashpoint.

24 Mar 2011

Aradigm fourth quarter revenue is $144,000 for 2010

Aradigm Corporation today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

24 Mar 2011

House small business panel takes on health law waivers

During the committee hearing, GOP panel members "demanded to know" about the process used by federal officials to approve more than 1,000 waivers for companies, labor unions and states.

24 Mar 2011

Kentucky, Minn., Florida, Texas facing tough Medicaid, budget decisions

Governor Steve Beshear of Kentucky has given lawmakers less than two weeks to approve his plan to come up with $165 million for Medicaid or he'll cut payments. The first-term Democrat, who took office in January 2008, faces a local variation on a problem vexing governors across the U.S.: when Kentucky lawmakers approved an $18 billion biennial budget last year, they overestimated federal Medicaid funding.

24 Mar 2011

American Heart Association: 81.8% of obese women underestimate their weight

Overweight and obese mothers and their children think they weigh less than their actual weight, according to research reported at the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism/Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention 2011 Scientific Sessions.

24 Mar 2011

Health law opponents appeal recent Medicare ruling on opting out

News outlets detail a recent Medicare ruling as well as a status report on Medicare drug discounts.

23 Mar 2011

Health costs: Fla., Minn. lawmakers spar on cuts; Washington State pressed to fund more medical devices for patients

When Sen. Joe Negron released a proposal Monday to cut at least $1 billion from health- and human-services programs, it was a first step in what likely will be a contentious budget process. The proposal immediately drew criticism for deep cuts to hospital funding, mental-health services and the Medically Needy program. And Tuesday, Negron's House counterpart will release a budget proposal that will differ on key issues.

23 Mar 2011

Cellerant commences CLT-008 Phase I/II trial in patients with leukemia

Cellerant Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company developing novel hematopoietic stem cell-based cellular and antibody therapies for blood disorders and cancer, announced the initiation of a Phase I/II clinical trial of CLT-008 in patients receiving intensive post-remission chemotherapy for high-risk leukemia or myelodysplasia.

23 Mar 2011

Roundup: HHS Secretary's ability to waive Medicaid requirements; Kansas seeks more funding for disability programs

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has broad legal authority to waive Medicaid maintenance-of-effort requirements, according to a memo from the Congressional Research Service to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.

23 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 22, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about California's health insurance rates and looming insolvency for the U.S. Disability Fund.

22 Mar 2011

Experts to showcase nursing education, practical innovations at Las Vegas national conference

Motivating and educating nurses to help them excel in their daily practice is the focus of this year's National Conference for Nurse Practitioners: The Conference for Primary and Acute Care Clinicians, May 11-14, 2011, at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, NV.

22 Mar 2011

ACE supports HHS' National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care

The Accreditation for Cardiovascular Excellence, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure high-quality patient care and promote patient safety in facilities where invasive cardiac and endovascular procedures are performed, supports the National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care issued today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

22 Mar 2011

U.S. Health And Human Services Secretary celebrates Patient Safety program achievements

An effort to improve quality and make Ohio the safest state in the nation for health care has garnered national attention.

22 Mar 2011

Roundup: Kan., Calif. budget cuts; Texas NICU costs; Katrina trial; Medco CalPERS contract 'dumped'

This list of programs cut in the California state budget includes a 10 percent reduction in what the state pays for Medi-Cal patients at all long-term care facilities $172.3 million and a 10 percent reduction in what the state pays to physicians who see people on Medi-Cal.

21 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Celebrating health law anniversary (or not); Tricare's 'modest' fee increase; Funding Planned Parenthood

Since President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law a year ago this month, we've heard endless partisan bickering about repeal efforts, legal challenges and fairness. But we've heard little about how the law is already helping secure the future of all Americans (Donna E. Shalala, 3/19).

21 Mar 2011