Health and Human Services News and Research

RSS

Detroit-area residents plead guilty in connection with health care fraud schemes

Detroit-area residents Baskaran Thangarasan, Sandeep Aggarwal and Wayne Smith pleaded guilty this week for their roles in connection with several Detroit-area health care fraud schemes, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Terrence I. Berg, Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office and Daniel Levinson, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

14 Dec 2009

Scientists evaluate current research on soy infant formula

Members of the media are invited to attend a press availability period at noon on Friday, December 18, 2009 that will follow a scientific meeting evaluating the safety of soy infant formula. An independent panel of 14 scientists will evaluate the most current research on soy infant formula to determine whether exposure to soy infant formula is a risk to human development.

14 Dec 2009

Several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function, uncovers new study

A new study involving data from more than 20,000 individuals has uncovered several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function. The research, an analysis that combined the results of several smaller studies, provides insight into the mechanisms involved in reaching full lung capacity.

14 Dec 2009

National Vaccine Plan aims to protect Americans from vaccine-preventable illnesses

While vaccines help prevent many diseases in the United States, we lack immunization protection against several serious illnesses, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine that identifies priority areas for updating the National Vaccine Plan.

14 Dec 2009

Survey provides comprehensive look at prevalence of common mental disorders

Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The survey also provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of common mental disorders.

14 Dec 2009

Prescription drug and healthcare expenditures increase for U.S. adults

In 2006 the average cost for a prescription drug purchase for Americans age 18 to 44 was double the inflation-adjusted average for 1996, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

11 Dec 2009

HHS: Current research efforts and developments in influenza vaccine technologies

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will host a three-hour educational program for the media to learn more about ongoing government research efforts to develop and apply new technologies in the making of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines.

11 Dec 2009

NIH launches a $37 million program to reduce obesity

The National Institutes of Health is launching a $37 million program that will use findings from basic research on human behavior to develop more effective interventions to reduce obesity.

11 Dec 2009

Department of Homeland Security opens new CTAC center to strengthen food safety system in the U.S.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today commended the Department of Homeland Security for opening a center devoted to ensuring the safety of foods imported to the United States.

10 Dec 2009

Three innovative HHS ideas to protect and improve people’s health

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today three innovative HHS ideas that have been developed as a result of a more open and accessible federal decision making process in collaboration between the public, private sector and the federal government.

10 Dec 2009

White House announces $600 million for community health centers, medical records

The White House announced Wednesday it would spend $600 million to build and enhance community health centers and medical records.

9 Dec 2009

CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank awarded contract to supply blood units for the NCBI

CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank is proud to announce that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank a three-year, multi-million dollar contract to expand the supply of cord blood units for the National Cord Blood Inventory (NCBI).

9 Dec 2009

AUL Action opposes health care bill

The U.S. Senate voted today to table the Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment, which would have maintained existing law by prohibiting both federal funding of abortion and government-mandated abortion coverage. Without the explicit ban on abortion funding, Americans United for Life Action will now oppose the final health care bill.

9 Dec 2009

Young adults engaging in casual sex face no harmful psychological outcomes, but physical risks remain

University of Minnesota Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) researchers have found that young adults engaging in casual sexual encounters do not appear to be at increased risk for harmful psychological outcomes as compared to sexually active young adults in more committed relationships.

9 Dec 2009

Health IT: W.Va. savings forecast; federal official foresees private-sector dominance

West Virginia could save $1.1 billion in health spending by government agencies, private insurers and consumers, if the health system would switch to electronic records and do a better job centralizing patient care, according to a new report by the West Virginia Health Care Authority, a governmental group, The Associated Press/New York Times reports.

8 Dec 2009

BARDA cancels PharmAthene's RFP for Recombinant Protective Antigen Anthrax Vaccine

PharmAthene, Inc. a biodefense company specializing in the development and commercialization of medical countermeasures against chemical and biological threats, announced today that the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has canceled its request for proposal (RFP) for Recombinant Protective Antigen Anthrax Vaccine for the Strategic National Stockpile (RFP BARDA 08-15).

8 Dec 2009

LCA-GA praises Senators' support in establishing comprehensive program for lung cancer

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance-Georgia (LCA-GA) acknowledged Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) for their leadership and support in establishing the first ever multi-agency, comprehensive program targeted at lung cancer.

8 Dec 2009

H1N1 virus produces pulmonary damage similar to earlier flu pandemics

In fatal cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza, the virus can damage cells throughout the respiratory airway, much like the viruses that caused the 1918 and 1957 influenza pandemics, report researchers from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

8 Dec 2009

BD Diagnostics receives FDA clearance on Amplified DNA Assays

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), announced today it has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to utilize its BD ProbeTec(TM) Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) Qx and BD ProbeTec(TM) Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) Qx Amplified DNA Assays with samples collected during women's routine liquid-based Pap testing for cervical cancer screening.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 8 Dec 2009

U.S. bishops recommend the Senate to support Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment

The U.S. bishops have voiced support for the Nelson-Hatch-Casey Amendment to the Senate health reform bill and have asked voters to back it.

8 Dec 2009

Health and Human Services News and Research

Detroit-area residents plead guilty in connection with health care fraud schemes

Scientists evaluate current research on soy infant formula

Several DNA sequences linked to impaired pulmonary function, uncovers new study

National Vaccine Plan aims to protect Americans from vaccine-preventable illnesses

Survey provides comprehensive look at prevalence of common mental disorders

Prescription drug and healthcare expenditures increase for U.S. adults

HHS: Current research efforts and developments in influenza vaccine technologies

NIH launches a $37 million program to reduce obesity

Department of Homeland Security opens new CTAC center to strengthen food safety system in the U.S.

Three innovative HHS ideas to protect and improve people’s health

White House announces $600 million for community health centers, medical records

CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank awarded contract to supply blood units for the NCBI

AUL Action opposes health care bill

Young adults engaging in casual sex face no harmful psychological outcomes, but physical risks remain

Health IT: W.Va. savings forecast; federal official foresees private-sector dominance

BARDA cancels PharmAthene's RFP for Recombinant Protective Antigen Anthrax Vaccine

LCA-GA praises Senators' support in establishing comprehensive program for lung cancer

H1N1 virus produces pulmonary damage similar to earlier flu pandemics

BD Diagnostics receives FDA clearance on Amplified DNA Assays

U.S. bishops recommend the Senate to support Nelson-Hatch-Casey amendment

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

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Latest News