Health and Human Services News and Research

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Medicare payment issues raise questions, concerns

Medicare payment issues including rising costs, caps on physical therapy and other outpatient services for some patients are in the news.

8 Mar 2010

Scientists identify EoE-associated region in human chromosome

Scientists have identified a region of a human chromosome that is associated with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a recently recognized allergic disease. People with EoE frequently have difficulty eating or may be allergic to one or more foods. This study further suggests that a suspected so-called master allergy gene may play a role in the development of this rare but debilitating disorder.

8 Mar 2010

Community prevention and wellness initiatives: HHS announces availability of $10M ARRA funds

National organizations will have a key role in building a healthier nation as part of the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a funding opportunity for national public or private non-profit organizations to apply for $10 million in cooperative agreements to help communities decrease smoking and obesity, increase physical activity and improve nutrition.

6 Mar 2010

Legislation requires hospitals to disclose prices in Wisconsin

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "The frustration of finding out what hospitals and doctors charge for common services -- from routine office visits to diagnostic tests and surgical procedures -- could soon get a lot easier in Wisconsin. The state Senate and Assembly have passed legislation that will require hospitals to disclose average prices for the 75 most common inpatient services and 75 most common outpatient services based on their contracts with commercial health plans.

6 Mar 2010

In White House meeting, Sebelius urges insurers to release all details on rate hikes

Insurance companies should disclose more information about how they spend money to justify their rate hikes, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a group of insurance executives during a White House meeting Thursday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

6 Mar 2010

Democratic division on abortion language in health overhaul jeopardizes chances for passage

"Democratic leaders in Congress are embarking on a delicate strategy to win over abortion opponents, a gambit that could determine whether the legislation becomes law." The Washington Post reports.

5 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 5, 2010

After a week of stepped-up health reform activity, today's headlines highlight that the White House is intensifying its final push by setting a deadline for congressional action. Meanwhile, though, the Democratic party continues to face rifts within its own caucus. Abortion coverage issues again posing challenges to securing Democratic votes.

5 Mar 2010

America's Prostate Cancer Organizations release shared perspective on screening and treatment

America's Prostate Cancer Organizations today released the full text of written testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Committee will be holding a hearing on "Prostate Cancer: New Questions About Screening and Treatment" on March 4, 2010.

5 Mar 2010

ADA President outlines ways to improve oral health care access for underserved populations

American Dental Association President Dr. Ronald Tankersley testified today before an Institute of Medicine Committee on Oral Health Access to Services, outlining the ADA's efforts to address ways to improve access for underserved populations.

5 Mar 2010

Researchers develop new model to guide health care financing, resource allocation decisions in the U.S.

A new model that can be used to guide health care financing and resource allocation decisions in the U.S. has been developed by an international group of researchers led by a team from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

5 Mar 2010

Health care freedom: Virginia first state to pass legislation

Today Virginia became the first state in the nation to enact legislation to protect their citizens from being forced to purchase health insurance or participate in any health care system against their will. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has identified 37 other states that have similar bills pending or have announced that they will introduce this legislation. Already, at least one house of the legislatures in Idaho, Missouri, and Tennessee have also passed such legislation.

5 Mar 2010

UnitedHealth Group statement: Expand access to quality care for all Americans

We sought to make clear our longstanding commitment to expanding access to quality care for all Americans, and also to discuss the many factors that are driving up the cost of care for millions of people across the United States. To achieve true and sustainable reform, it is essential to first bring costs under control.

5 Mar 2010

Sebelius meets with insurance execs, challenges them to be transparent

Reuters: During a meeting today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius pressed the CEOs of some of the nation's largest health insurers about increases in insurance premiums. "The meeting added more uncertainty for an industry that has already become Democrats' top target in their bid to overhaul the nation's healthcare system, and shares of health insurers continued to fall in late-morning trading."

5 Mar 2010

Sebelius takes on health insurers

The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones: When health insurance executives meet with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at the White House Thursday to discuss premiums, they will "face a regulator who is well-versed in the complexities of the industry." Sebelius, whose resume includes a stretch as a state insurance commissioner, "is taking aim at rising premium rates as she joins President Barack Obama's push for an overhaul of the nation's health-coverage laws.

5 Mar 2010

Toxicologists, environmental health scientists to discuss on safeguarding public health at SOT meeting

The government's leading toxicologists and environmental health scientists will share their latest scientific accomplishments, offer continuing education courses, discuss funding and training opportunities, receive input on future research priorities, and more, at the Society of Toxicology annual meeting.

5 Mar 2010

Argos Therapeutics' AGS-004 immunotherapy for HIV demonstrates clinical and commercial potential

Argos Therapeutics today announced the publication of a manuscript in the February edition of Clinical Immunology, detailing positive immune response, safety and manufacturing data for its AGS-004 immunotherapy for HIV. AGS-004 is a product of the Company’s Arcelis™ technology, and is a personalized, RNA-loaded dendritic cell-based immunotherapy that is perfectly matched to each patient’s unique HIV viral burden. The manuscript details a clinical study in which AGS-004 was evaluated in type-1 HIV-infected adults who were being treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART).

5 Mar 2010

Sesame Workshop and AmeriChoice to develop bilingual education outreach program

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, and AmeriChoice, the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company that provides health benefits for state and public programs, are partnering to develop a bilingual education outreach program aimed at helping low-income families make food choices that are affordable, nutritional and set the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.

4 Mar 2010

New book on role of CBOs and NGOs in global public health

Igniting the Power of Community: The Role of CBOs and NGOs in Global Public Health is a new book edited by Paul Gaist, PhD, MPH, adjunct professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, which explores the pursuits and potential of community-based organizations (CBOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to transform global public health.

4 Mar 2010

Kansas lawmakers debate legality of health insurance mandate amendment

Kansas Health Institute: "Republicans and Democrats were sharply divided Tuesday over a proposed constitutional amendment that sponsors said would let federal officials know Kansans don't want to be told by the government that they must buy health insurance. On a 12-9, party-line vote, the House Health and Human Services Committee voted to recommend House Concurrent Resolution 5032 favorable for passage.

4 Mar 2010

Daschle: Incremental health reforms won't work

Kaiser Health News editors and reporters talked Monday with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle about health reform's current dynamics, strategies, key issues and chances of passage.

4 Mar 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Medicare payment issues raise questions, concerns

Scientists identify EoE-associated region in human chromosome

Community prevention and wellness initiatives: HHS announces availability of $10M ARRA funds

Legislation requires hospitals to disclose prices in Wisconsin

In White House meeting, Sebelius urges insurers to release all details on rate hikes

Democratic division on abortion language in health overhaul jeopardizes chances for passage

First Edition: March 5, 2010

America's Prostate Cancer Organizations release shared perspective on screening and treatment

ADA President outlines ways to improve oral health care access for underserved populations

Researchers develop new model to guide health care financing, resource allocation decisions in the U.S.

Health care freedom: Virginia first state to pass legislation

UnitedHealth Group statement: Expand access to quality care for all Americans

Sebelius meets with insurance execs, challenges them to be transparent

Sebelius takes on health insurers

Toxicologists, environmental health scientists to discuss on safeguarding public health at SOT meeting

Argos Therapeutics' AGS-004 immunotherapy for HIV demonstrates clinical and commercial potential

Sesame Workshop and AmeriChoice to develop bilingual education outreach program

New book on role of CBOs and NGOs in global public health

Kansas lawmakers debate legality of health insurance mandate amendment

Daschle: Incremental health reforms won't work

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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