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Researchers induce memory of safety in brain of rats

Researchers have found a way to pharmacologically induce a memory of safety in the brain of rats, mimicking the effect of training. The finding suggests possibilities for new treatments for individuals suffering from anxiety disorders.

4 Jun 2010

DaVita receives subpoena from Department of Health and Human Services OIG

DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), announced today that on May 28, 2010, it received a subpoena from the Dallas office of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG). The subpoena relates to a civil investigation that was previously disclosed by the company during its earnings call on April 27, 2010, and in its quarterly report on form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010.

4 Jun 2010

SAMHSA establishes Regional Office in Region VI in Dallas, Texas

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, like others in the health care arena, has learned that integrating services, providing joint training and technical assistance, and collaborating across service sectors hold the most promise for effectively meeting health care needs for all Americans. These linkages are best achieved through relationship building activities - something that is difficult to accomplish from afar.

4 Jun 2010

MAXIMUS President to present on challenges that impact efficiency of Medicaid and CHIP

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that Bruce Caswell, President and General Manager of MAXIMUS Health Services, will present at the upcoming Fifth National Medicaid Congress in Washington, D.C.

4 Jun 2010

New ECRI Institute Patient Safety Blog launched to share relevant information on patient safety topics

ECRI Institute, an independent, nonprofit organization that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, announces the launch of its new Patient Safety Blog. The blog is ECRI Institute's newest communications tool and a way to share timely, relevant information on patient safety topics that are important to the healthcare community.

4 Jun 2010

Federal jury convicts Houston-area physician, residents over multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme

Houston-area physician Dr. Howard Grant and Houston residents Clinton Lee and Obisike Nwankwo were convicted late Wednesday by a federal jury in connection with their roles in a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).

4 Jun 2010

State roundup: Health law could be critical for Miss.'s poor; Colorado passes end-of-life care laws, Penn. details plan for high risk pool

The health care overhaul, which "provides hundreds of billions of dollars to help states expand medical insurance for the poor," could prove critical for Mississippi, which "has the highest poverty rate in the nation and some of the sickest people, with the country's highest rate of heart disease and the second-highest rate of diabetes.

4 Jun 2010

Sebelius to highlight geographic differences in Medicare hospital payments

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visits Rochester's Mayo Clinic Thursday morning. ... The visit comes after a recent report that Minnesota will receive money earmarked for states which provide low-cost, high-value health care. But just how much money Minnesota will receive is far from certain. Sebelius is expected to get a first-hand look at the clinic's technology for tracking health care information.

4 Jun 2010

Health overhaul politics churn as regulators move forward

Los Angeles Times: "Congress is shattering its longstanding reputation for being a gridlocked, lethargic, 'do-nothing' institution, instead compiling a record of landmark policy changes in healthcare, financial industry regulation, economic policy and more. But at the same time, Congress is suffering sky-high levels of public disapproval, signaling a big problem for Democrats as they head into the closing months of the midterm election campaign" (Hook, 6/2).

4 Jun 2010

Over 90% of psychiatric patients treated in community hospitals are cared for in specialty units: Study

Over 90 percent of psychiatric patients who received treatment in community hospitals were cared for in hospital-based psychiatric specialty units, according to a study sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and published today in Psychiatric Services.

3 Jun 2010

Two-day workshop on sickle cell trait

Scientists from across the nation will gather June 3-4 to discuss what is known about sickle cell trait and the potential health implications related to this genetic blood condition. "Framing the Research Agenda for Sickle Cell Trait" will examine the ethical, legal, social, and public health impacts of the blood condition.

3 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 3, 2010

Today's headlines reflect news regarding health reform and the budget deficit as well as a new ad campaign by the AMA to press Senators to approve a freeze on scheduled Medicare payment cuts.

3 Jun 2010

Tips on how to make right capital purchases with scarce technology dollars re-released

Faced with rising technology costs and numerous clinical department demands, hospital leaders nationwide are being forced to make tough choices with scarce capital technology dollars. The capital budgeting process can get political—and even downright ugly.

3 Jun 2010

Regulators miss deadline on medical loss ratios: Other implementation developments continue to emerge

Insurance regulators have missed an early deadline to set specific rules meant to ensure that insurers devote 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars to medical care, the so-called "medical loss ratio."

3 Jun 2010

California examines 'never events' at hospitals; La. seeks funding for primary care clinics; Texas trims children's health program

San Francisco Chronicle: "Drill bits, screws, sponges, clamps, needles, catheters, electrodes. These are some of the things accidentally left inside patients after surgery at California hospitals.

3 Jun 2010

Biomoda, Obio sign MOU to establish CLIA-certified clinical laboratory in Ohio

Cancer diagnostics company Biomoda, Inc. and Obio, a corporation formed to pursue public and private funding for cancer research in Ohio, signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a CLIA-certified Biomoda clinical laboratory in Ohio to support ongoing research and development on Biomoda's porphyrin-based assay for the detection of early-stage cancer.

2 Jun 2010

Azithromycin as effective as penicillin for early-stage syphilis: Study

In a clinical trial involving HIV-negative volunteers with early-stage syphilis, researchers have found that antibiotic pills (azithromycin) are as effective as penicillin injections in curing early-stage syphilis. The study was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

2 Jun 2010

Race matching among donors and recipients has no effect on survival rates: Study

Transplant surgeons at Johns Hopkins who have reviewed the medical records of more than 20,000 heart transplant patients say that it is not simply racial differences, but rather flaws in the health care system, along with type of insurance and education levels, in addition to biological factors, that are likely the causes of disproportionately worse outcomes after heart transplantation in African Americans.

1 Jun 2010

Researchers identify pattern of gene expression in kidney transplant recipients who don't need anti-rejection drugs

Researchers have identified a distinct pattern of gene expression in the largest reported group of kidney transplant recipients who have not rejected the transplant kidneys even though they stopped taking anti-rejection drugs. This finding may help identify other transplant recipients who could safely reduce or end use of immunosuppressive therapy. In 2008, more than 80,000 people in the United States were living with a kidney transplant.

31 May 2010

HHS awards $15M to create new center for health information and privacy at University of Illinois

Slowly but steadily the U.S. health care community is moving into the digital age: shifting their medical records from paper to electronic information systems. This movement raises serious concerns about security and privacy of patients' medical information. In an attempt to put these concerns to rest, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded $15 million to create a new center for health information and privacy.

29 May 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Researchers induce memory of safety in brain of rats

DaVita receives subpoena from Department of Health and Human Services OIG

SAMHSA establishes Regional Office in Region VI in Dallas, Texas

MAXIMUS President to present on challenges that impact efficiency of Medicaid and CHIP

New ECRI Institute Patient Safety Blog launched to share relevant information on patient safety topics

Federal jury convicts Houston-area physician, residents over multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme

State roundup: Health law could be critical for Miss.'s poor; Colorado passes end-of-life care laws, Penn. details plan for high risk pool

Sebelius to highlight geographic differences in Medicare hospital payments

Health overhaul politics churn as regulators move forward

Over 90% of psychiatric patients treated in community hospitals are cared for in specialty units: Study

Two-day workshop on sickle cell trait

First Edition: June 3, 2010

Tips on how to make right capital purchases with scarce technology dollars re-released

Regulators miss deadline on medical loss ratios: Other implementation developments continue to emerge

California examines 'never events' at hospitals; La. seeks funding for primary care clinics; Texas trims children's health program

Biomoda, Obio sign MOU to establish CLIA-certified clinical laboratory in Ohio

Azithromycin as effective as penicillin for early-stage syphilis: Study

Race matching among donors and recipients has no effect on survival rates: Study

Researchers identify pattern of gene expression in kidney transplant recipients who don't need anti-rejection drugs

HHS awards $15M to create new center for health information and privacy at University of Illinois

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How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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