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Anemia treatment for patients with kidney disease can differ by dialysis facility type

Large, for-profit dialysis facilities appear to administer higher than necessary amounts of a medication for treating anemia in patients with kidney disease, compared to nonprofit facilities, according to a study in the April 18 issue of JAMA.

18 Apr 2007

Access to dermatologist improves melanoma-related health outcomes

Individuals whose melanoma is diagnosed by a dermatologist may be more likely to have early-stage cancer and to survive five years than those with melanoma diagnosed by a non-dermatologist, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Dermatology.

17 Apr 2007

AARP to track Senate vote on Medicare Rx bargaining bill

Today, AARP will be sending the following letter from CEO Bill Novelli to every member of the U.S. Senate alerting them that the association will be recording the upcoming Senate vote on a bill to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices.

17 Apr 2007

Health disparities in access to healthcare

Minority individuals are much more likely to develop and die from cancer than the general U.S. population.

16 Apr 2007

Robotics in urology leads to decreased surgical and medical complications

Mani Menon, MD Detroit, Michigan, USA presented "The Role of Robotics in Urology" as the AUA Lecture at the plenary session of the EAU on Friday March 23, 2007.

15 Apr 2007

Health care reconsidered: Options for change

The Hamilton Project, an initiative at the Brookings Institution, hosted a forum, "Health Care Reconsidered: Options for Change," today at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. At the event, policy papers on reforming Medicare Part "D" (including closing the "donut hole" gap in prescription drug coverage), improving preventive care and promoting greater affordability through progressive cost-sharing were released by The Hamilton Project.

11 Apr 2007

Full impact of mental health and substance abuse disorders on U.S. community hospitals

Almost one-fourth of all stays in U.S. community hospitals for patients age 18 and older – 7.6 million of nearly 32 million stays – involved depressive, bipolar, schizophrenia and other mental health disorders or substance use related disorders in 2004, according to a new report by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

11 Apr 2007

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators offer lifesaving benefits, return to active life, and reduced cost

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Medicine have discovered that implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) -- electric monitoring devices that deliver a lifesaving shock in the event of a cardiac arrest -- help patients with heart problems live longer more active lives.

7 Apr 2007

PhRMA statement on the Medicare prescription drug program

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Senior Vice President Ken Johnson issued the following statement on the AARP's campaign to modify the Medicare prescription drug program.

5 Apr 2007

Rural hospitals shown to provide quality care for patients with heart attacks

Contrary to some previous studies, rural hospitals in Iowa do provide quality care for patients with heart attacks and do not have higher death rates when compared to urban hospitals, report University of Iowa researchers.

5 Apr 2007

AARP asks U.S. Senator Coleman to stand up to big pharma

AARP State President Skip Humphrey stood with a group of red-shirted AARP members and representatives of the Minnesota Senior Federation and the Elder Care Rights Alliance to urge U.S. Senator Norm Coleman to support legislation to give Medicare the authority to negotiate with drug companies for lower prescription drug prices.

5 Apr 2007

Bayh calls for tripling of breast cancer research funds

U.S. Senator Evan Bayh called for a dramatic increase in breast cancer research funding at a reception for recipients of the Marvella Bayh Memorial Scholarship at Indiana University's Cancer Research Institute on IUPUI's campus today.

5 Apr 2007

People with physical disabilities endure substandard health care

Rachel steered her wheelchair into a Chicago area medical center for a series of upper gastrointestinal tests.

4 Apr 2007

Dingell introduces bill that would expand dental coverage for children enrolled in Medicaid, SCHIP

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) last week introduced a bill (HR 1781) that would help improve the delivery of dental services to low-income children enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP, CQ HealthBeat reports.

3 Apr 2007

Shoulder arthroplasty to relieve pain has no greater risk of complications than replacement of other major joints

Contrary to widespread belief, total surgical replacement of arthritic shoulder joints carries no greater risk of complications than replacement of other major joints, a Johns Hopkins study suggests.

3 Apr 2007

Bush apologizes for Walter Reed Army Medical Center issues

President Bush on Friday during a visit to Walter Reed Army Medical Center apologized for recently reported problems with outpatient living conditions and bureaucratic delays at the facility, the Washington Post reports.

2 Apr 2007

Lawmakers should not reduce funds for Medicare Advantage program

While Congress has some tough budget choices to make, lawmakers must realize that Medicare Advantage funding cuts would not only disrupt care for beneficiaries, but leave Medicare woefully unprepared to manage the care for millions of people with multiple chronic conditions," Scott Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, writes in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.

2 Apr 2007

Stark introduces universal health insurance bill

House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced a bill that would seek to provide health insurance to all U.S. residents through Medicare and employer-sponsored coverage, the Oakland Tribune reports.

2 Apr 2007

Tommy Thompson enters Presidential race

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) on Sunday announced his candidacy for the 2008 presidency, the AP/Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

2 Apr 2007

Patient safety incidents at the nation's hospitals rose three percent

Patient safety incidents at the nation's hospitals rose three percent over the years 2003 to 2005, but the nation's top-performing hospitals had a 40 percent lower rate of medical errors when compared with the poorest-performing hospitals, according to the largest annual study of patient-safety issued today by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings company.

2 Apr 2007