Health and Human Services News and Research

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First Edition: March 11, 2010

Today's headlines offer details of President Obama's continued full-court press on health reform with an appearance in Missouri. Meanwhile, work to move the bill toward a vote continues on Capitol Hill.

11 Mar 2010

NIH panel recommends delivery options for women: VBAC or cesarean

An independent panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health confronted a troubling fact that pregnant women currently have limited access to clinicians and facilities able and willing to offer a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery because of so-called VBAC bans.

11 Mar 2010

Investigators develop new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data

Investigators have developed a new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data derived from complex mixtures of immune cells. This approach, when combined with well-established techniques, readily identifies changes in small samples of human whole blood, and has the potential to distinguish between health and disease states.

11 Mar 2010

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Harvey Rosenfield, author of California's landmark insurance regulation Proposition 103—recognized as the most successful insurance regulation in the country—was joined today by people struggling to pay for health insurance in calling on President Obama and Congress to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates as part of the final round of votes on reform. Consumers must have a breather from yearly premium hikes like the 39% increase planned by Anthem Blue Cross, said Consumer Watchdog, which Rosenfield founded.

11 Mar 2010

Sebelius: Insurer's opposition to health measure works against them

The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke earlier today at the America's Health Insurance Plans' national policy forum in Washington, D.C. and "warned health insurers Wednesday that opposing President Obama's health-care agenda and letting premium hikes continue would eventually hurt the health-care industry. ... Sebelius cautioned in stark terms that, if insurers opposed Democrats' health-care legislation, premiums hikes would continue and more small businesses would drop health coverage for their employees" (Yoest, 3/10).

11 Mar 2010

California rescission settlement benefits few consumers

The Associated Press reports on a new California state assembly report that found fewer than 200 people out of the more than 6,000 affected have taken advantage of benefits won by a settlement between state regulators and health insurers that dropped sick policyholders.

10 Mar 2010

Few CE studies compare medications with nonpharmacologic interventions, and examine safety or cost-effectiveness

An analysis of comparative effectiveness studies finds that few compare medications with nonpharmacologic interventions, and few examine safety or cost-effectiveness, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA.

10 Mar 2010

Strong, local leadership is the key for success of health departments and activities

The surge of funds for bioterrorism preparedness over the past decade does not appear to be improving local public health resources in general, according to research from Purdue University.

10 Mar 2010

Medicare False Claims Act allegations: Rush University Medical Center to pay over $1.5M

Rush University Medical Center has agreed to pay $1,547,200 plus interest to resolve allegations that the facility violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today. Rush is alleged to have submitted false claims to Medicare during the period 2000 through 2007 by entering into certain leasing arrangements for office space with two individual physicians and three physician practice groups that violated the Stark Law.

10 Mar 2010

States struggle with strapped budgets, cuts to health programs

The Dallas Morning News: "Lawmakers have been thinking ahead to a massive shortfall, topping $10 billion, that's probably coming when they write the next budget in 2011. But state officials told them Monday that they'll have to fix a hole in the current budget, too.

10 Mar 2010

March of Dimes to receive 2010 Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award

March of Dimes will receive Research!America's 2010 Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award. The award recognizes March of Dimes' decades of successful advocacy for maternal and child health research and services.

10 Mar 2010

Senate test vote today on bill to extend COBRA subsidy, doc fix and state Medicaid funding

The Senate is poised to consider a measure today that would include extending subsidies for COBRA benefits and unemployment insurance, prevent the Medicare payment cut for doctors and provide additional funding to state Medicaid programs.

9 Mar 2010

Gaps in lupus research and understanding have profound effect on people living with disease

On March 16, 2010, an anticipated 1,000 advocates will band together for lupus in person and virtually by phone, email, and through social media networks, to share their personal stories with Members of Congress during the Lupus Foundation of America’s Twelfth Annual Advocacy Day.

9 Mar 2010

AMGA applauds Representative Pomeroy for assuring fairness in EMR incentive payment under ARRA

The American Medical Group Association applauds Representative Earl Pomeroy (D-ND, At-Large) for his efforts to assure fairness in payment of electronic medical record (EMR) incentive payments under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

9 Mar 2010

HHS Secretary calls for health insurance companies to publicly justify proposed premium increases

In a letter to the CEOs of UnitedHealth Group Inc., WellPoint Inc., Aetna Inc., Health Care Service Corporation and CIGNA HealthCare Inc., U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius called on the executives to publicly justify proposed health insurance premium increases. Sebelius’ letter comes after a meeting last week with these executives at the White House.

9 Mar 2010

Consumer Watchdog calls for national freeze on health insurance rates and rate regulation

Consumer Watchdog called on President Obama to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates before health reform takes effect to protect consumers from premium hikes like the 39% increase recently announced by Anthem Blue Cross in California. The rate freeze is one of five tools Consumer Watchdog urged the president to include as part of his proposed fixes to the Senate health care bill.

9 Mar 2010

IEEE, AMA to host conference: Overcoming challenges in individualized healthcare, technological innovations

IEEE, the world's largest technical professional association, and the American Medical Association, are joining together to host the First Conference on Medical Technology and Individualized Healthcare.

9 Mar 2010

States trying to keep health care systems afloat

States are having to make budgetary decisions about their health care systems as federal legislation and funding continue to be tied up in Congress.

9 Mar 2010

Sebelius reiterates call for insurer transparency

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Monday "called on managed-care companies to publicly justify rate increases." Meanwhile, President Obama "cited a recent Wall Street conference call as evidence that the industry is willing and able to price out some customers." Sebelius' action came on the heels of last week's White House meeting with the executives of a number of major health insurance companies.

9 Mar 2010

Fact check: Do 15,000 people lose insurance every day?

CNN's Political Ticker blog fact checks a statement made by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday. Sebelius said that "15,000 people a day lose their insurance."

8 Mar 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

First Edition: March 11, 2010

NIH panel recommends delivery options for women: VBAC or cesarean

Investigators develop new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Sebelius: Insurer's opposition to health measure works against them

California rescission settlement benefits few consumers

Few CE studies compare medications with nonpharmacologic interventions, and examine safety or cost-effectiveness

Strong, local leadership is the key for success of health departments and activities

Medicare False Claims Act allegations: Rush University Medical Center to pay over $1.5M

States struggle with strapped budgets, cuts to health programs

March of Dimes to receive 2010 Paul G. Rogers Distinguished Organization Advocacy Award

Senate test vote today on bill to extend COBRA subsidy, doc fix and state Medicaid funding

Gaps in lupus research and understanding have profound effect on people living with disease

AMGA applauds Representative Pomeroy for assuring fairness in EMR incentive payment under ARRA

HHS Secretary calls for health insurance companies to publicly justify proposed premium increases

Consumer Watchdog calls for national freeze on health insurance rates and rate regulation

IEEE, AMA to host conference: Overcoming challenges in individualized healthcare, technological innovations

States trying to keep health care systems afloat

Sebelius reiterates call for insurer transparency

Fact check: Do 15,000 people lose insurance every day?

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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