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President Obama's insurance for children - shouldn't we at least talk about it?"

Democrats are moving quickly to socialize American health care with the SCHIP expansion. Michael Tanner of the CATO Institute whined, "Shouldn't we at least talk about it?"

16 Mar 2009

Obama advisers suggest President might not oppose taxing some employer-sponsored health benefits

The Obama administration is "signaling to Congress" that President Obama "could support taxing some employee health benefits" to help offset the cost of health care reform, a move supported by "several influential lawmakers and many economists" but "opposed by union leaders and some businesses," the New York Times reports (Calmes/Pear, New York Times, 3/15).

16 Mar 2009

Lexington Herald-Leader examines funding issues in Kentucky HIV/AIDS clinic

The Lexington Herald-Leader on Thursday examined funding issues faced by the Bluegrass Care Clinic, a Kentucky-based HIV/AIDS clinic that has seen a twofold increase in the number of patients over the last eight years, despite receiving no federal funding increases.

16 Mar 2009

FDA approves new version of St. Jude Medical internet-based remote care system for implanted medical devices

St. Jude Medical, Inc. has announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the newest version of the Merlin.net Patient Care Network (PCN), a secure, Internet-based remote care system for patients with implanted medical devices.

16 Mar 2009

Health insurance status associated with frequency of eye care visits

Individuals with no or inconsistent health care coverage appear less likely to regularly seek eye care, even if they are visually impaired, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.

10 Mar 2009

Freezing kidney cancer - interventional cryoablation

Freezing kidney tumors - using a safe minimally invasive interventional radiology treatment that kills the cancer 100 percent effectively without surgery - should be the gold standard or first treatment option for all individuals with tumors that are 4 centimeters in size or smaller.

10 Mar 2009

Extra medicare charges for the rich a slippery slope, expert says

A growing trend toward higher Medicare premiums for the richest Americans could ultimately creep into the retirement income of less-wealthy seniors, a University of Illinois expert on federal health insurance warns.

10 Mar 2009

More companies offering 'telehealth' consultations

Various "telehealth" services -- allowing consumers access to health care via telephone, Internet or other telecommunications devices -- have cropped up in recent months, the Wall Street Journal reports.

5 Mar 2009

Many U.S. residents younger than age 65 lacked health insurance at some point during past two years, report finds

One-third of U.S. residents younger than age 65 lacked health insurance at some point during the past two years, according to a report released on Wednesday by Families USA, Reuters reports. The report examined data from surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

5 Mar 2009

Obama hosts health care summit at White House

A White House health care summit hosted on Thursday by President Obama will enable attendees to discuss reform proposals for the U.S. health care system, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports (Alonso-Zaldivar, AP/Philadelphia Inquirer, 3/5).

5 Mar 2009

Heart attack outcomes worse for blacks than whites due in part to individual characteristics

Black heart attack patients have worse outcomes than their white counterparts in large part because of preexisting chronic health conditions and socioeconomic factors, according to a study published in the March issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, Reuters Health reports.

4 Mar 2009

Contra Costa County considering health services cuts for undocumented immigrants, inmates

This month, the Contra Costa County, Calif., Board of Supervisors will consider a plan to prohibit undocumented adult immigrants from receiving nonurgent, county-funded care, the Contra Costa Times reports.

4 Mar 2009

Some physicians asking patients to sign 'gag orders'

Some physicians have begun to ask patients "to agree to what amounts to a gag order that bars them from posting negative comments" on Web sites where patients can rate their doctors anonymously because of concerns about the fairness of such reviews, the AP/Contra Costa Times reports.

4 Mar 2009

Obama administration officials defend health care, other provisions in FY 2010 budget proposal

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag and Department of the Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Tuesday during a House Budget Committee hearing defended health care and other provisions included in the $3.6 trillion fiscal year 2010 budget proposed by President Obama last week, the Washington Post reports (Montgomery, Washington Post, 3/4).

4 Mar 2009

Rhode Island Governor drops Medicaid consultant plans

Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R) has canceled plans to hire a private consulting firm to lead the state's massive Medicaid overhaul under the so-called "global Medicaid waiver," and instead will use a team of state employees to provide oversight, the Providence Journal reports (Peoples, Providence Journal, 3/3).

4 Mar 2009

Boston Scientific launches Taxus Liberte drug-eluting stent in Japan

Boston Scientific Corporation has announced the launch of its TAXUS Liberte Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System in Japan.

3 Mar 2009

Regular screening for colorectal cancer remains effective in preventing and detecting disease early

As the nation marks National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March, the American Cancer Society is encouraging Americans to get lifesaving screening tests that have been proven to reduce the risk of the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women.

2 Mar 2009

Having health insurance essential for people's health and well-being

The evidence shows more clearly than ever that having health insurance is essential for people's health and well-being, and safety-net services are not enough to prevent avoidable illness, worse health outcomes, and premature death, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

24 Feb 2009

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening persist

Colorectal cancer screening among patients with Medicare coverage is increasing, but a persistent gap remains between whites - who are screened most frequently - and all other racial and ethnic groups, according to a new study by researchers at UC Davis and the University of Washington.

20 Feb 2009

Traffic-related air pollution linked to repeated hospital encounters for asthma

Air pollution caused by traffic near the home affects asthma severity in children, resulting in repeated hospital encounters according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology , the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

17 Feb 2009

Health Insurance News and Research

President Obama's insurance for children - shouldn't we at least talk about it?"

Obama advisers suggest President might not oppose taxing some employer-sponsored health benefits

Lexington Herald-Leader examines funding issues in Kentucky HIV/AIDS clinic

FDA approves new version of St. Jude Medical internet-based remote care system for implanted medical devices

Health insurance status associated with frequency of eye care visits

Freezing kidney cancer - interventional cryoablation

Extra medicare charges for the rich a slippery slope, expert says

More companies offering 'telehealth' consultations

Many U.S. residents younger than age 65 lacked health insurance at some point during past two years, report finds

Obama hosts health care summit at White House

Heart attack outcomes worse for blacks than whites due in part to individual characteristics

Contra Costa County considering health services cuts for undocumented immigrants, inmates

Some physicians asking patients to sign 'gag orders'

Obama administration officials defend health care, other provisions in FY 2010 budget proposal

Rhode Island Governor drops Medicaid consultant plans

Boston Scientific launches Taxus Liberte drug-eluting stent in Japan

Regular screening for colorectal cancer remains effective in preventing and detecting disease early

Having health insurance essential for people's health and well-being

Racial disparities in colorectal cancer screening persist

Traffic-related air pollution linked to repeated hospital encounters for asthma

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Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Changing the landscape of R&D to build clinical success from the ground up

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