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National Sleep Awareness month: ACOEM focuses on the impact of sleep disorders in workplace

In recognition of May as National Sleep Awareness month, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine's ongoing awareness campaign to address chronic disease in the workplace is focusing on the impact of sleep disorders on worker health and productivity.

27 May 2013

Mayo experts provide tips to prevent teen suicide

Suicide is the third-leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. If parents are worried their child may be having suicidal thoughts, it's no time to tiptoe around the question, according to Mayo Clinic experts who have produced two educational videos on suicide prevention for use by media outlets, schools and others.

24 May 2013

Health officials discuss new strategies to prevent rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease

Today, at the World Health Assembly, top health officials from New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Fiji and Rwanda met to discuss the vital need for countries to integrate rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease prevention and control into national action plans.

23 May 2013

Roundup: Okla. governor pushes funding fix to cover 9,000 on Medicaid; Texas lawmakers OK new mental health funds

Gov. Mary Fallin proposed a last-minute legislative change Friday to the state's Insure Oklahoma program that would direct $50 million in state tobacco taxes to pay for more than 9,000 people who are expected to lose their health insurance under the program.

21 May 2013

First Edition: May 20, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the policy and political issues currently surrounding the health law's implementation.

20 May 2013

New LAMP malaria test to improve diagnosis for imported UK cases

A new, highly sensitive blood test that quickly detects even the lowest levels of malaria parasites in the body could make a dramatic difference in efforts to tackle the disease in the UK and across the world, according to new research published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.

17 May 2013

Study reveals barriers among African-Americans in getting help for stroke

African-Americans know the signs of stroke, but concerns about medical cost, ambulance response time and unfamiliarity with the need for prompt hospital care impacted whether they called 9-1-1 immediately.

15 May 2013

DESSO launches campaign to raise awareness of the continued dangers of bad indoor air quality

To support the aims of the EU's Year of Air, DESSO, a leading European carpet and sports pitches manufacturer is launching its own campaign, 'The Great Indoors' to raise awareness of the continued dangers of bad indoor air quality and to demonstrate what business and innovation can do to combat the problem.

13 May 2013

State roundup: Ala. lawmakers OK shift to Medicaid managed care

A bill that restructures the way Medicaid is administered passed the Alabama Legislature Tuesday and now awaits the governor's signature. The State Medicaid Agency now pays doctors directly for services provided to Medicaid patients. Under the new policy, there will be several regions managed by privately owned, for-profit Regional Care Organizations that will contract with doctors and other providers (Wingard, 5/7).

9 May 2013

New NTD Special Envoys to focus on eliminating NTD primarily on LAC region

Today, the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases, a major initiative of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, announced His Excellency, President Alvaro Arz- Irigoyen of Guatemala (1996-2000), His Excellency, President Ricardo Lagos Escobar of Chile (2000-2006) and former Pan American Health Organization Director Dr. Mirta Roses Periago as the organization's newest Neglected Tropical Disease Special Envoys.

8 May 2013

Experts launch new initiative to improve workers' health and wellness

Leaders from 16 international occupational medical societies attending the 2013 annual meeting of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine have launched the International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative -- a new initiative aimed at improving worker health and wellness globally through the exchange of ideas and information.

5 May 2013

Question of subsidies and federal exchanges at center of latest health law court challenge

News outlets report on a variety of health implementation issues, including the latest lawsuit filed by the law's opponents. Other stories detail cost and coverage wrinkles and advances.

4 May 2013

Highlights: New health care oversight laws in Md.; Texas hospitals negotiate over uncompensated care payments; Colo. considers psychiatric hospital for homeless

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed three laws Thursday that will give more protection for patients. The measures provide more state oversight of cosmetic surgery centers, pharmacies that make sterile medications and staffing agencies that find temporary jobs for health care professionals (Sun, 5/2).

4 May 2013

Roundup: Calif. employer health premiums soar 170% over decade; Minn. hospitals allege blues cut hospital payments; Mass. AG warns on hospital sale market impact

Premiums for employer health insurance in California jumped 170 percent over the last decade, more than five times the 32 percent increase in the state's inflation rate. That escalation in premiums has taken a toll on employers' willingness to offer health benefits, according to an annual survey by the California HealthCare Foundation (Terhune, 4/24).

26 Apr 2013

GOP leader pulls bill to redirect public health funds to high-risk patients

Shelving the measure to provide more money for coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, which faced strong opposition from conservatives, is viewed as a setback for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., and efforts to rebrand the Republican Party.

26 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 25, 2013

Today's headlines include health policy headlines from Capitol Hill and from the insurance markeplace.

25 Apr 2013

Home-based health education about diseases most effective, finds study

In the first study of its kind, lay health workers increased screening rates for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and knowledge about the disease among a group of Asian Americans, known as the Hmong, UC Davis researchers have found.

24 Apr 2013

Vladeck urges Obama administration to act on home health worker overtime rule

The former head of Medicare and Medicaid in the Clinton administration on Thursday called on the Obama administration to act soon on a proposed rule to extend overtime and minimum wage pay to in-home health care workers.

20 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Karl Rove says GOP reluctance isn't hampering exchanges; CDC's efforts on 'sugary' snacks assailed

In congressional testimony last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius blamed Republican governors for her department's failure to create a "model exchange" where consumers could shop for health-insurance coverage in states that don't set up their own exchange.

19 Apr 2013

UI Health to launch EPIC program to cut frequent ER visits, readmissions to hospital

The University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System is taking steps to reduce frequent emergency room visits and readmissions to the hospital.

17 Apr 2013