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Three scientists receive 2010 Discoverers Award for developing new class of HIV drug

Three scientists who led the 11-year quest to develop a groundbreaking HIV drug today received the 2010 Discoverers Award -- the highest honor given to scientists by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. The honorees are Tony Wood, Ph.D., Elna van der Ryst, M.D., Ph.D. and Manos Perros, Ph.D.

19 Mar 2010

Health IT Now! Coalition panel discussion: Develop affordable access to broadband and healthcare

The Health IT Now! Coalition hosted a panel discussion today with the Federal Communications Commission and a panel of experts to discuss the FCC's National Broadband Plan and its proposals to develop affordable access to broadband and healthcare.

18 Mar 2010

Competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment: Myths and realities

Medicare has been touting the merits of the "competitive" bidding program for durable, or home medical equipment and services (HME) to convince Congress that the program is good for seniors. Unfortunately, proponents have conveyed misleading information and cherry-picked facts that exaggerate the benefits and ignore the severe shortcomings of the program.

18 Mar 2010

Alpharma to pay $42.5M for settling alleged Kadian kickback scheme

Alpharma Inc. has agreed to pay $42.5 million to the federal government and certain states to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that exposed an alleged kickback scheme by the pharmaceutical company to boost its sales of Kadian, a prescription painkiller.

18 Mar 2010

Evaluating all Medicare plan options can reduce healthcare costs

Nearly 8 million former workers have disabilities so severe that they rely on Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, and an estimated 3.3 million more will apply for disability benefits this year. For these people and others suffering from serious conditions and disabilities, taking the right steps quickly to manage costs is essential for their financial and health well-being, according to Allsup, a nationwide provider of Social Security disability representation and Medicare plan selection services.

18 Mar 2010

Low vitamin D levels in African American children connected with high asthma rates

Researchers at Children's National Medical Center have discovered that African American children with asthma in metropolitan Washington, DC, are significantly more likely to have low levels of vitamin D than healthy African American children.

18 Mar 2010

Physicians push back on healthcare overhaul

Docs for Patient Care (D4PC), the nation's leading voice of doctors opposing Obamacare and offering better healthcare reform, has produced an ad on the DrudgeReport.com linking to educational videos developed by the organization.

18 Mar 2010

New campaign invites people share their journeys through Ontario's health care system

Ontario's doctors are giving a voice to patients across the province with their latest public awareness campaign. The campaign features real people sharing their journeys through Ontario's health care system and highlights the unique relationship between patients and their doctors.

18 Mar 2010

Tips to avoid exercise-related injuries in baby boomers

The March issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource covers what's behind boomeritis. Baby boomers, now in their 50s and 60s, are fitter and more athletic longer into their lives, compared with their parents' generation.

18 Mar 2010

AAPS survey: Doctors should not take 'Stimulus' money to computerize their offices

The key to enforcing healthcare reform was already passed in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, also known as the Stimulus Bill. This contains $17 billion to encourage physicians and hospitals to adopt electronic health records.

18 Mar 2010

Device manages care online for chronic disease patients

The Cleveland Plain Dealer: A pilot project at the Cleveland Clinic that monitored 250 patients with chronic diseases showed patients were able to increase the number of days between visits. The study used a medical device that shared daily patient data online with doctors and nurses and found that patients better managed their care using the system.

18 Mar 2010

New specialty service at Montefiore Medical Center helps patients with drug allergies

A Westchester patient takes aspirin for pain, but develops rashes and hives. A Bronx patient with a gastrointestinal problem caused by bacteria is prescribed penicillin, then passes out. A Bronx woman is given a contrast dye for an internal diagnostic exam, then her skin peels off.

18 Mar 2010

Taking dietary supplements for adrenal fatigue may do more harm than good

Taking vitamins or supplements to treat "adrenal fatigue" may do more harm than good, says Todd Nippoldt, M.D., a Mayo Clinic expert in hormone disorders affecting the adrenal glands.

18 Mar 2010

Cut looms for Medicare payments to doctors

Marketwatch/The Seattle Times reports on the looming 21 percent cut to physicians' Medicare payments. "The cut was to take effect March 1 until Congress delayed it by 30 days. The Senate then voted last Wednesday to postpone the cut an additional six months as part of a larger bill that extends unemployment benefits. The measure now moves to the House."

17 Mar 2010

Advance provision of emergency contraception does not decrease pregnancy rates

Providing emergency contraception to women in advance of need does not reduce pregnancy rates, despite increased use and faster use after unprotected sexual intercourse. These are the findings according to a new review published in The Cochrane Library.

17 Mar 2010

Pimple Clinic program donates acne products to low-income families

The Pimple Clinic, a safe, effective non-prescription line of acne products developed by the dermatologist who founded Skinstore.com, is being provided to low-income teens that otherwise cannot afford acne treatments.

17 Mar 2010

Pathway Genomics' personal Genetic Health Report now available

Pathway Genomics Inc., a U.S. based genetic testing company, announced the immediate availability of its personal Genetic Health Report. This customized and innovative personal genetic health report contains information on more than 70 health conditions, including pharmacogenetics (prescription medication response), propensity for complex disease, and carrier status (pre-pregnancy health).

17 Mar 2010

Consumers are becoming more price-sensitive toward brand-name drugs

The results of a new Pharma Insight study released today by Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of scientific information and analytics to the pharmaceutical and biotech fields, is not exactly what the doctor ordered. The company's annual analysis of the U.S. pharma market suggests that the economy has led to increased patient participation in decisions about prescription drugs.

17 Mar 2010

Medical home program: A new approach to optimize pediatric care

For parents of children with multiple medical problems, keeping up with countless doctor's appointments, ongoing tests and a variety of medications can be overwhelming, especially for those in challenging socioeconomic situations.

17 Mar 2010

OVD issue highlights prevalence of eye problems in general population

In the latest issue of Optometry & Vision Development (OVD), Dr. Dominick Maino, editor of OVD, notes that: "In 2010 there are 9 million people with lazy eye and 18 million individuals with eye-turns

17 Mar 2010