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Federal guidance aims to reduce misuse of synthetic DNA to create dangerous organisms

Federal guidance issued today aims to reduce the risk that synthetic DNA will be misused deliberately to create dangerous organisms. Screening Framework Guidance for Providers of Synthetic Double-Stranded DNA, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports national biosecurity goals and balances the promise of synthetic DNA with its potential biosecurity risks.

14 Oct 2010

10% of children have serious mental health condition, but only one-third receive treatment

One in ten children has a mental health condition that causes significant impairment and more than half of all lifetime cases begin by age 14, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) reported today, but only one-third get the help they need..

13 Oct 2010

SAMHSA awards State Incentive Grants for substance abuse prevention

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced it is awarding up to $53.4 million in new State Incentive Grants for up to five years. These grants are used by states or tribes to implement a strategic approach in communities across the state for substance abuse prevention.

13 Oct 2010

In tight budgets, states cutting back on Medicaid programs for disabled

More than 1.1 million people in Wisconsin depend on Medicaid health programs for the poor. Medicaid provides health care for one in five Wisconsin residents; the group of programs has expanded faster here over the past nine years than in any state except Arizona.

13 Oct 2010

Health care politics: Republican messages examined, how state propositions evolved

PolitiFact/St. Petersburg Times evaluated Republican claims in campaign ads about Medicare and the new health law that are "targeting older voters who may be worried their Medicare benefits will be harmed." Such ads are airing in Florida, Pennsylvania and California. "PolitiFact found each of those attacks to be Barely True. In these attacks and many others, PolitiFact found the ads have taken a small amount of truth — the Democratic incumbent's vote in favor of the health care law — and exaggerated the impact.

13 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 12, 2010

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations look at a probe of a California hospital chain, the effect that the governors' races around the country will have on the federal health law and a review of prescription purchases that shows more Americans are foregoing their medicines.

12 Oct 2010

DHHS awards Medicare fraud contract to TerraMedica

Healthcare Technology firm TerraMedica LLC announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)/Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. TerraMedica will conduct an assessment of fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicare claims utilizing a pre-payment predictive scoring system.

12 Oct 2010

Healthy lifestyle can reduce breast cancer risk in women with family history

Having a family history of breast cancer can lead some people to wonder if their risk is out of their control. However, a study of more than 85,000 postmenopausal women observed that regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking less alcohol lowers breast cancer risk for women with, and without a family history of the disease.

12 Oct 2010

HHS awards $727 million to community health centers as part of new law

The Obama administration late last week announced it is awarding $727 million to community health centers around the nation to help them build new clinics and improve the safety net, The Washington Post reports.

12 Oct 2010

Arizona struggles with severe Medicaid cuts; Medicaid fraud task force targets abuse in Iowa

Doctors and health advocates are up in arms over significant cuts to Arizona's Medicaid program to save $27 million, but the worst is yet to come: A $1 billion budget shortfall is expected next year.

12 Oct 2010

Estrogen therapy increases risk of kidney stone development in postmenopausal women

Use of estrogen therapy is associated with an increased risk of developing kidney stones in postmenopausal women, according to a report in the October 11 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

12 Oct 2010

Pelosi issues statement on HHS announcement of $727 million in grants

Speaker Pelosi issued the following statement today after Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius announced $727 million in grants to community health centers across the nation, including more than $4 million to San Francisco's South of Market Health Center and $91.5 million for California, as part of the Affordable Care Act.

11 Oct 2010

The insurance straw man

In this Kaiser Health News column, James C. Capretta of the Ethics and Public Policy Center criticizes Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for some of her tough tactics with insurance companies.

11 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 11, 2010

Today's early morning highlights include articles on new options for open season, concerns among retirees about the provisions of the federal health law and the latest campaign arguments over that new overhaul.

11 Oct 2010

CCHIT certifies Health Care Systems' eMR Version 4

Health Care Systems, Inc. (HCS) announced today that HCS eMR, Version 4, is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as an EHR Module on 9/30/2010 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable HOSPITAL certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The 2011/2012 criteria support the Stage 1 meaningful use measures required to qualify eligible providers and hospitals for funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

11 Oct 2010

Health insurance: Coverage expands for children, young adults; not necessarily for retirees

Glenn Franco, a retired community-college instructor in Michigan, tried to get his 24-year-old daughter on his health plan—and was turned away. Many large employers are telling retirees the same thing.

11 Oct 2010

BARDA awards $4.2 million contract to Menssana Research to develop breath test for radiation exposure

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority in the US Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Menssana Research Inc., a company with research facilities in the NJIT Enterprise Development Center, a contract for $4.2 million to develop a breath test for radiation exposure. If the contract is exercised with options, it could total $22.84 million.

11 Oct 2010

Minn. medical groups resist as Pawlenty shuts out Obama health plan

Minnesota medical groups have asked federal officials to review their comments and those of state officials about the health overhaul's implementation directly after Gov. Tim Pawlenty refused to send the suggestions on behalf of the state, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The groups include associations representing the state's health plans, hospitals and doctors.

11 Oct 2010

US Health and Human Services administration announces $320 million grants to strengthen healthcare workforce in America

The US Health and Human Services administration announced $320 million in new grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to strengthen the healthcare workforce in America. Florida alone will receive more than $11 million in grant funding.

11 Oct 2010

HHS awards Sanofi Pasteur 3-year, $56.94M egg supply contract for pandemic vaccine preparedness

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group, has been awarded a three-year contract for $56.94 million by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to maintain flocks to enable manufacturing pandemic influenza vaccine at full capacity on a year-round basis.

11 Oct 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Federal guidance aims to reduce misuse of synthetic DNA to create dangerous organisms

10% of children have serious mental health condition, but only one-third receive treatment

SAMHSA awards State Incentive Grants for substance abuse prevention

In tight budgets, states cutting back on Medicaid programs for disabled

Health care politics: Republican messages examined, how state propositions evolved

First Edition: October 12, 2010

DHHS awards Medicare fraud contract to TerraMedica

Healthy lifestyle can reduce breast cancer risk in women with family history

HHS awards $727 million to community health centers as part of new law

Arizona struggles with severe Medicaid cuts; Medicaid fraud task force targets abuse in Iowa

Estrogen therapy increases risk of kidney stone development in postmenopausal women

Pelosi issues statement on HHS announcement of $727 million in grants

The insurance straw man

First Edition: October 11, 2010

CCHIT certifies Health Care Systems' eMR Version 4

Health insurance: Coverage expands for children, young adults; not necessarily for retirees

BARDA awards $4.2 million contract to Menssana Research to develop breath test for radiation exposure

Minn. medical groups resist as Pawlenty shuts out Obama health plan

US Health and Human Services administration announces $320 million grants to strengthen healthcare workforce in America

HHS awards Sanofi Pasteur 3-year, $56.94M egg supply contract for pandemic vaccine preparedness

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