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Trend rising for deaths of children in cars and trucks

Sadly, March 8th marked the first child vehicular tragedy of the year when a mother came out of work only to realize she left her 6 month year old in the car. This preventable, yet horrific accident occurs more often than one would think.

15 Mar 2011

Type 2 diabetes drug less likely to cause weight gain, raise cholesterol levels

An inexpensive type 2 diabetes drug that has been around for more than 15 years works just as well and has fewer side effects than a half-dozen other, mostly newer and more expensive classes of medication used to control the chronic disease, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

15 Mar 2011

Five medical centers receive CDC grant to help reduce healthcare-associated infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is awarding $10 million for new research to five academic medical centers as part of its Prevention Epicenter grant program, which supports efforts to develop and test innovative approaches to reducing infections in health care settings.

15 Mar 2011

Scientists show how E. coli strain causes infection in individuals

Scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, have shown how the O157:H7 strain of Escherichia coli causes infection and thrives by manipulating the host immune response.

15 Mar 2011

Waivers continue to be flashpoints in health overhaul's implementation

More than 1,040 waiver requests have been approved so far by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding so-called "mini-med" plans. But the perplexing question appears to be how HHS will handle the requests in 2012 and 2013, before a major provision of the health law takes effect. In addition, anticipation continues to mount in regard to the upcoming release of ACO regs.

14 Mar 2011

Maricom opens third office in Lutherville

Maricom Systems, Inc. continues its expansion and growth as it announced today the opening of the company's third office in Lutherville, Maryland. The new location will support the company's Business Development and Healthcare IT sectors. Maricom's other locations are in Woodlawn, the corporate headquarters, and Annapolis Junction, the Office of Classified Programs.

14 Mar 2011

Main Line Health implements eClinicalWorks comprehensive EHR solution

eClinicalWorks®, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that Main Line Health, a non-profit health system serving the greater Philadelphia region, is implementing eClinicalWorks comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) solution, and also making assistance available to its affiliated physicians who desire to use the eClinicalWorks EHR.

14 Mar 2011

Transcept initiates enrollment in TO-2061 Phase 2 study for treatment resistant obsessive compulsive disorder

Transcept Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the first patient has been enrolled in a Phase 2 clinical study to evaluate TO-2061 as an adjunctive treatment for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) in patients who have responded inadequately to currently approved treatments. OCD affects 1 to 2 percent of the United States adult population and can significantly impair the lives of patients and their families.

14 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 14, 2011

In today's headlines, news about the major issues that continue to rise to the surface in the health overhaul debate.

14 Mar 2011

Roundup: Poll finds satisfaction with Mass. health coverage; Kan. Gov. seeks Medicaid block grant

The first survey of consumers who receive subsidized health insurance through the state's Health Connector shows most give it high marks, according to results released yesterday by the Connector Authority. Eighty-six percent of those surveyed said they were pleased with the range of services covered and the quality of care available, and 82 percent had similar feelings about their choice of doctors.

11 Mar 2011

Without fix, docs face 30% Medicare pay cut in 2012

This new figure, updated yesterday by Medicare officials from the previous 28.3 percent "cliff," means the president's plan to keep physician payments flat for the next two years will exceed — by as much as a billion dollars — the funding requested in his 2012 budget proposal.

11 Mar 2011

HHS unveils proposed waiver regs for states

The guidance is designed to help implement the health law's waiver provision for state innovation, which would allow some states flexibility as long as they meet key conditions related to coverage, benefits and cost.

11 Mar 2011

Sebelius issues warning about impact of GOP tactics on Medicare

Her warning, which came in a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., charges that the House temporary spending measure would force the Department of Health and Human Services to stop making Medicare Payments.

11 Mar 2011

SAMHSA study finds 51.5% drug-related hospital visits by older patients

Adults aged 50 and older comprise 51.5 percent of all emergency department visits each year related to adverse reactions to medications, according to a study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

11 Mar 2011

Experts ponder questions regarding law's 'essential benefits' package

When it comes to health insurance, deciding what is an essential benefit — and what isn't — is a political and medical minefield, with far-reaching consequences.

11 Mar 2011

Infant formulas with fluoridated water increase risk of discolored teeth: HHS

All infant formulas, either concentrated or ready-to-feed, already contain some fluoride and, when routinely mixed with fluoridated water, increase the risk of dental fluorosis, according to Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in a video commentary published on Medscape.com, March 8, 2011.

11 Mar 2011

State roundup: Concerns about pay for Mass. health executives, board members

Health insurers Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan said yesterday that their board members will meet later this month to discuss whether to bow to state Attorney General Martha Coakley's wishes and stop taking five-figure annual payments.

11 Mar 2011

NCI report: Number of US cancer survivors increases to 11.7 million during 2007

The number of cancer survivors in the United States increased to 11.7 million in 2007, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. There were 3 million cancer survivors in 1971 and 9.8 million in 2001.

10 Mar 2011

Idera reports $6.0 million net loss for fourth quarter 2010

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2010.

10 Mar 2011

California leaders completes much-anticipated State Plan for Alzheimer's disease

Anticipating a catastrophic increase in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, California leaders have completed the much-anticipated California State Plan for Alzheimer's disease, a disease estimated to double among Californians by the year 2030.

10 Mar 2011