Health and Human Services News and Research

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Sebelius tries to soothe state worries about health reform

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is trying to soothe the fiscal and administrative concerns of officials in states who have considerable power in implementing the nation's attempt at health reform, The Wall Street Journal reports. "The law puts heavy demands on Ms. Sebelius — it has more than 1,000 references to actions that the 'secretary shall' take. But much of the responsibility for actually implementing the changes falls to states, so the Obama administration's top health official has been working to guide them."

3 Aug 2010

Ketamine reduces depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder: Study

A single intravenous dose of the anesthetic agent ketamine appears to reduce symptoms of depression within 40 minutes among those with bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Aug 2010

Repligen receives three additional grants to develop HDAC inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases

Repligen Corporation today announced that the Company has received three additional grants to support its research program to develop HDAC inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases. Repligen has received $436,000 in research funding to support the ongoing development of histone deacetylase inhibitors for Friedreich's ataxia.

2 Aug 2010

Keane Optimum 3.1 receives Preliminary ARRA IFR Stage 1 certification

Keane, Inc., a U.S.-based IT services and healthcare information technology firm, today announced Keane OptimumTM 3.1 has been inspected by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology and is certified EHR technology, IFR Stage 1 as part of the organization's Preliminary American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 certification program.

2 Aug 2010

K-V Pharmaceutical receives NYSE non-compliance notification

K-V Pharmaceutical Company announced today that the Company received notification from the New York Stock Exchange on July 27, 2010 of non-compliance regarding the Company's quantitative continued listing standards. The NYSE informed the Company that its Class A Common Stock equity issue has fallen below criteria for the average closing price of a NYSE security of not less than $1.00 over a consecutive 30-trading day period.

2 Aug 2010

Pseudo-reforms of health insurance industry will bar strong regulation of health insurers: Consumer Watchdog

Consumer Watchdog has called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to withdraw weak pseudo-reforms of the health insurance industry that would bar strong regulation of health insurers. Schwarzenegger sent his proposals this month to lawmakers who are seeking stronger state regulation modeled on the successful market reforms of auto and homeowner insurance under Proposition 103, demanding that they substitute his legislation for their bills.

31 Jul 2010

HHS anounces availability of $1M in grants per state and calls for public input on health insurance Exchanges

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced two key steps in the process of partnering with states and other stakeholders to begin establishing health insurance Exchanges. HHS announced the availability of up to $1 million in grants per state to help states begin work to establish Exchanges and published a request for comment calling for public input as HHS develops standards for the Exchanges.

31 Jul 2010

Rep. Chris Smith applauded for introducing legislation to enact government-wide abortion funding ban

D.C. Family Research Council Action today praised U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) for introducing bipartisan legislation to codify federal abortion funding restrictions that have been greatly undermined this year. With passage of a health care law that will fund and subsidize abortion, and with efforts by pro-abortion senators to open up military bases to abortion, Rep. Smith is introducing legislation to enact a government-wide abortion funding ban.

31 Jul 2010

Idaho Technology signs licensing agreement with E. I. du Pont de Nemours

Idaho Technology, Inc. has signed a licensing agreement with E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company acting through its DuPont Qualicon Business covering reagents or methods using SYBR® Green I technology and post-PCR melting curve analysis.

31 Jul 2010

Blumenthal defends hew health IT rules to Utah leaders

David Blumenthal, the national coordinator for health information technology for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "defended the administration's new plans against critics who say the watered-down rules miss an opportunity to lower costs and improve patient care," The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

31 Jul 2010

Abortion rights supporters, children's groups, GOP pushing back on various health law provisions

"Elective abortions will be prohibited and people with pre-existing conditions will be able to get comprehensive benefits without paying any more than healthy people, under new federal regulations for high-risk health insurance pools released ... by the Obama administration," according to Kaiser Health News.

31 Jul 2010

McKesson first-quarter revenues increase to $27.5 billion

McKesson Corporation today reported that revenues for the first quarter ended June 30, 2010 were $27.5 billion compared to $26.7 billion a year ago. First-quarter earnings per diluted share was $1.10 compared to $1.06 per diluted share a year ago.

30 Jul 2010

Amerigroup second-quarter total revenues increase 11.3% to $1.4 billion

Amerigroup Corporation today announced that net income for the second quarter of 2010 was $67.2 million, or $1.31 per diluted share, versus net income of $49.6 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009. Second quarter of 2009 results were positively impacted by a tax adjustment of $0.43 per diluted share related to litigation settled in 2008. Excluding the tax adjustment, second quarter of 2009 net income would have been $27.2 million, or $0.51 per diluted share.

30 Jul 2010

Treating back problems cost Americans more than $30 billion in 2007: AHRQ

Treating back problems, one of the most bothersome medical problems, cost Americans more than $30 billion in 2007- up from $16 billion in 1997 (in 2007 dollars), according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

30 Jul 2010

Securian Foundation awards 60 grants to civic, healthcare, education and arts organizations

The Securian Foundation awarded 60 grants during the first half of 2010 worth a total of $428,555 to Twin Cities civic, healthcare, education and arts organizations.

30 Jul 2010

Insurers Aetna, WellPoint look for their place in health reform; WellPoint profit up

Aetna President Mark Bertolini said Wednesday that his company has seen much slower sales of national insurance accounts where large employers pay Aetna to administer plans for employees, The Associated Press reports. Under the new health overhaul, Bertolini said he expected less movement in that market because of the uncertainty in the law.

30 Jul 2010

Insurers change kids coverage stance after HHS clarifies new rules

Health insurers have started to back down "on their decision to pull out of the child-only coverage market after the Obama administration addressed their concerns about the potential damage to their bottom lines," The Hill reports. "The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday clarified regulations mandating that insurance plans agree to cover sick children.

30 Jul 2010

WIREC Director testifies on the implementation of HITECH Act

Peggy Evans, PhD, CPHIT, Director of the Washington & Idaho Regional Extension Center testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee of Health, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, in Washington, DC. Dr. Evans joined David Blumenthal, MD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and several others on two panels of witnesses.

29 Jul 2010

PCMA issues statement on a provision in the U.S. Senate's small business legislation

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association President and CEO Mark Merritt issued the following statement today on a provision in the U.S. Senate's small business legislation that would require the Department of Health and Human Services to work with outside companies to target fraud, waste, and abuse in states across the country.

29 Jul 2010

Senate Subcommittee approves HHS funding bill, other health care bills readied

CongressDaily: The Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee approved a draft funding bill Tuesday for HHS, "moving a bill that would provide $170 billion in discretionary spending to related federal agencies, nearly $1 billion under the president's request." The bill gives $732 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services, $306 million more than the administration requested. "The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee gave the health agency a similar boost in funding."

29 Jul 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Sebelius tries to soothe state worries about health reform

Ketamine reduces depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder: Study

Repligen receives three additional grants to develop HDAC inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases

Keane Optimum 3.1 receives Preliminary ARRA IFR Stage 1 certification

K-V Pharmaceutical receives NYSE non-compliance notification

Pseudo-reforms of health insurance industry will bar strong regulation of health insurers: Consumer Watchdog

HHS anounces availability of $1M in grants per state and calls for public input on health insurance Exchanges

Rep. Chris Smith applauded for introducing legislation to enact government-wide abortion funding ban

Idaho Technology signs licensing agreement with E. I. du Pont de Nemours

Blumenthal defends hew health IT rules to Utah leaders

Abortion rights supporters, children's groups, GOP pushing back on various health law provisions

McKesson first-quarter revenues increase to $27.5 billion

Amerigroup second-quarter total revenues increase 11.3% to $1.4 billion

Treating back problems cost Americans more than $30 billion in 2007: AHRQ

Securian Foundation awards 60 grants to civic, healthcare, education and arts organizations

Insurers Aetna, WellPoint look for their place in health reform; WellPoint profit up

Insurers change kids coverage stance after HHS clarifies new rules

WIREC Director testifies on the implementation of HITECH Act

PCMA issues statement on a provision in the U.S. Senate's small business legislation

Senate Subcommittee approves HHS funding bill, other health care bills readied

Event guide: 6th Operationalize Expanded Access Programs Summit East eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

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