Children's Health News and Research

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Commissions to examine paring costs from Medicaid, Medicare

Medicaid payments are coming under review by a new commission, American Medical News reports. "MACPAC was created by a provision of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, signed by President Obama in February 2009. The act instructs the panel to examine the effect of Medicaid pay and other factors on the access and quality of care received by Medicaid and CHIP enrollees." Kaiser Family Foundation executive Diane Rowland will chair the panel. The panel has not yet gained federal funding (Trapp, 1/25).

27 Jan 2010

Obama: Not going to walk away from health reform

New York Times' The Caucus blog: "Conceding his health care overhaul had 'run into a bit of a buzz saw,' President Obama vowed on Friday to keep fighting for legislation that will 'hold the insurance industry accountable and bring more stability and security to folks in our health care system'" (Stolberg, 1/22).

23 Jan 2010

One-third of parents give primary schools an ‘A’; less than one-fourth give secondary schools an ‘A’

School psychologists, counselors and social workers are often the first line of support for children with behavioral, emotional or family problems. Problems can range from attention deficit disorder and homelessness to depression and bullying all of which can make academic success a challenge.

21 Jan 2010

Foresters renews commitment as the international underwriter of Children’s Miracle Network’s Radiothon program

Foresters™, a life insurance provider that champions the well-being of families, has renewed its commitment as the international underwriter of Children’s Miracle Network’s Radiothon program. Foresters support of Children’s Miracle Network, a children’s charity that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals, spans 20 years and three countries - the US, Canada and the UK.

19 Jan 2010

Health Policy Research Roundup: New Orleans clinic experiences, health reform and lagging biomedical research funds

Journal of the American Medical Association: Funding of US Biomedical Research, 2003-2008 - After doubling in a decade, the rate of increase in biomedical research in the U.S. has slowed since 2005, and the level of funding from the National Institutes of Health and industry appears to have decreased by 2 percent in 2008, after adjusting for inflation, the authors of this study report.

18 Jan 2010

Minnesota County says state plan to cover costs of health care for the needy is unfair

In Minnesota, Hennepin County officials are saying a plan to charge counties extra to "cover health care for their neediest residents would have an unfair impact on the state's largest county and biggest public hospital."

18 Jan 2010

Federal survey shows more than 6.7 million children in the United States have no health insurance

A recent federal survey of children's health shows more than 6.7 million children in the United States don't have health insurance, and nearly 1 in 4 insured children lack adequate insurance coverage.

18 Jan 2010

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

States are grappling with budget crises and lost revenues that have affected health programs.

18 Jan 2010

ACP supports equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today was one of 118 organizations that joined to send a letter to House and Senate leaders supporting equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services.

13 Jan 2010

American Lung Association releases State of Tobacco Control 2009 report

The American Lung Association today released its State of Tobacco Control 2009 report, which grades the strength of federal and state laws to protect citizens from tobacco-caused illnesses.

12 Jan 2010

Today's opinions and editorials

Californians need to ask themselves why, when other states and the federal government are making children's health a priority, the Golden State may be adding another half-million children … to the ranks of the uninsured next year (1/7).

9 Jan 2010

Public option, affordability issues central to health bill negotiations

Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports that House Democrats who favor a government-run public insurance plan on Tuesday signaled "they are willing to agree to a final health overhaul bill without a government-run health insurance option if other parts of the bill would fulfill the same goals."

7 Jan 2010

New research shows breast milk is not as important for mother or child's health

Feeling guilty that you didn't breastfeed your children enough - or at all? Relax. New research shows that breast milk is not as important for either the mother or the child's health.

6 Jan 2010

An audit of Obama's performance on his health care campaign promises

The National Journal assessed President Barack Obama's progress on his health care campaign promises and gave him a score of 47. "As a candidate, Barack Obama made a series of fairly specific promises on health care ($10 billion a year for health IT, loan forgiveness for rural doctors) and drew some bold lines in the sand (universal coverage, prohibitions on insurers from discriminating).

5 Jan 2010

Changes to children's health care and education policies required for California's economic competitiveness

Significant changes to children's health care and education policies are required for California to regain its financial footing and safeguard its future economic competitiveness.

5 Jan 2010

Children’s vaccination coverage rises substantially in U.S.

About three-quarters of U.S. children received recommended vaccinations in 2008, up from about half in 2000, reports a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

5 Jan 2010

Montana high court allows physician-assisted suicide

The Associated Press/NPR reports: "The Montana Supreme Court said Thursday that nothing in state law prevents patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide, making Montana the third state that will allow the procedure. Patients and doctors had been waiting for the state's high court to step in after a lower court decided a year ago that constitutional rights to privacy and dignity protect the right to die. The Montana Supreme Court opinion will now give doctors in the state the freedom to prescribe the necessary drugs to mentally competent, terminally ill patients without fear of being prosecuted, advocates said" (1/2).

5 Jan 2010

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

Democratic lawmakers will begin this week to try to hammer out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a health care reform bill as they keep an eye on votes for the measures.

4 Jan 2010

Providence Service comments on the landmark healthcare legislation passed by the Senate

The Providence Service Corporation today commented on the landmark healthcare legislation that was passed last week by the United States Senate. The Senate Bill, which still needs to be merged with the House Bill and therefore could still undergo substantial changes, has a number of features that are expected to add funding for many of the types of home and community based social services that Providence provides to Medicaid eligible populations.

29 Dec 2009

UNICEF chief to step down after term ends in 2010

UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman will not seek a second term as head of the agency after her term expires in a few months, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced "with great regret" on Wednesday, Xinhua reports. In a statement, Ban said that Veneman "fulfilled her mandate with immense dedication, and I have been impressed by her extraordinary energy and determination to improve children's health, education and well-being around the world" (12/23).

27 Dec 2009

Children's Health News and Research

Commissions to examine paring costs from Medicaid, Medicare

Obama: Not going to walk away from health reform

One-third of parents give primary schools an ‘A’; less than one-fourth give secondary schools an ‘A’

Foresters renews commitment as the international underwriter of Children’s Miracle Network’s Radiothon program

Health Policy Research Roundup: New Orleans clinic experiences, health reform and lagging biomedical research funds

Minnesota County says state plan to cover costs of health care for the needy is unfair

Federal survey shows more than 6.7 million children in the United States have no health insurance

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

ACP supports equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services

American Lung Association releases State of Tobacco Control 2009 report

Today's opinions and editorials

Public option, affordability issues central to health bill negotiations

New research shows breast milk is not as important for mother or child's health

An audit of Obama's performance on his health care campaign promises

Changes to children's health care and education policies required for California's economic competitiveness

Children’s vaccination coverage rises substantially in U.S.

Montana high court allows physician-assisted suicide

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

Providence Service comments on the landmark healthcare legislation passed by the Senate

UNICEF chief to step down after term ends in 2010

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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