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Medicare buy-in can provide significant savings for seniors, says 2008 CBO report

A briefly considered "Medicare buy-in" proposal for 55- to 64-year-olds was apparently killed in the Senate this week by self-styled moderates who claimed it would be too costly for taxpayers.

18 Dec 2009

Ambulatory monitoring technique can disturb sleep and raise nighttime blood pressure

A widely used test for measuring nighttime blood pressure may interfere with patients' sleep, thus affecting the results of the test, reports a study in an upcoming issue of Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).

18 Dec 2009

AANS and CNS oppose Senate healthcare reform

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) have joined thousands of other physicians from 12 medical specialty organizations to deliver an urgent message to the public and to Congress: we need reform, but this isn’t the right reform; urge your Senator to vote “NO” on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) as introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

18 Dec 2009

Lieberman's health care move still reverberating

Politico: "Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) is taking a thrashing from his former Democratic colleagues and liberal activists for forcing a Medicare expansion out of the health bill. But in the end, Lieberman may have done President Barack Obama one of the biggest favors in the health care debate. That's because any bill with the Medicare buy-in would have drawn fierce opposition from doctors and hospitals, two groups Obama has worked hard to keep on board.

17 Dec 2009

House votes to extend COBRA benefits, delay Medicare physician pay cuts

The House of Representatives voted yesterday to delay Medicare doctor payment cuts and extend COBRA benefits.

17 Dec 2009

ASA offers practical ways for sufferers to take active role in treatment of pain

Whether the result of injury, illness or a chronic condition, 70 million Americans experience pain annually. The individual pain sufferer may experience a diminished quality of life, lack of mobility and added stress.

17 Dec 2009

ESC CV Imaging textbook for trainees and cardiologists

Imaging is at the heart of diagnostic procedures in cardiology. The idea of publishing an ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Imaging which accumulates the expertise of European cardiovascular imagers, is therefore long awaited.

17 Dec 2009

Majority of Canadians confuse sinusitis with H1N1 symptoms

It's winter, that great Canadian season of snow, ice, grey skies...and colds and the flu. In a year when H1N1 is high on everyone's radar, it is more important than ever for Canadians to know what their symptoms mean and when they should see their doctor.

17 Dec 2009

National medical societies launch multi-state advertising campaign to oppose current health care bill

Today, a group of national medical societies launched a multi-state advertising campaign in opposition to H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, currently under consideration by the U.S. Senate and making its way towards a final vote in the coming days.

17 Dec 2009

Major Medicare fraud crackdown in 3 states

The Associated Press: "Federal agents arrested 26 suspects in three states Tuesday, including a doctor and nurses, in a major crackdown on Medicare fraud totaling $61 million in separate scams. Arrests in Miami, Brooklyn and Detroit included a Florida doctor accused of running a $40 million home health care scheme that falsely listed patients as blind diabetics so that he could bill for twice-daily nurse visits.

16 Dec 2009

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

On the campaign trail, Barack Obama vowed to take on the drug industry by allowing Americans to import cheaper prescription medicine. "We'll tell the pharmaceutical companies 'thanks, but no, thanks' for the overpriced drugs. ... On Tuesday, the matter came to the Senate floor -- and President Obama forgot the "no, thanks" part (Dana Milbank, 12/16).

16 Dec 2009

Cost-effective alternative to original Medicare or Medicare supplement plan for Syracuse-area residents

At a time when many people with Medicare in Syracuse are increasingly concerned about finding affordable health insurance, they now have a new Medicare Advantage option for 2010.

16 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 16, 2009

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey explores some of the key issues within current health reform proposals related to Medicare and cost. "In an effort to rein in health costs, Senate Democrats are proposing steps that would give federal agencies more power to overhaul how Medicare pays for medical care - and thus reduce Congress' own role in running the giant program for the elderly" (Kaiser Health News).

16 Dec 2009

Deaths from heart disease peak in December and January, US database reveals

'Tis the season… for a heart attack? According to Dr. Keith Churchwell, associate director of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, a US database of 53 million deaths occurring between 1973 and 2001 reveals that deaths from heart disease peak in December and January, with spikes on Christmas and New Year's Day.

16 Dec 2009

LifeSpan TR200 folding treadmill receives Best New Treadmill award

The new compact LifeSpan TR200 folding treadmill, made by PCE Health and Fitness ( www.LifeSpanFitness.com ), was highly praised by treadmill review groups in recent reviews of the best treadmills for 2010. The compact TR200 folding treadmill received awards for Best New Treadmill, Recommended Unique Design, and Best Treadmill under $1000.

16 Dec 2009

Gynaecological visits presents great opportunities for dialogue about sexual health

Visits to a gynaecologist or midwife are generally associated with different tests and/or prescriptions for contraceptives, but could offer so much more. Women, doctors and midwives are agreed that gynaecological visits presents great opportunities for dialogue about sexual health, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

16 Dec 2009

Consumer Watchdog calls for preserving state authority, ban on annual benefit limits and effective rate regulation

Consumer Watchdog condemned the removal of the Medicare buy-in provision for those over 55 and the public option from the U.S. Senate health reform bill. But the group said that the Senate must still make three essential fixes to the greatly weakened bill to prevent ceding the entire health care system to the insurance industry.

16 Dec 2009

Patient advocate to discuss provisions in current health bills

Patient advocate Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., will be cautioning the Republican Women Members of Congress that, "it doesn't matter whether there's a public option.

15 Dec 2009

Seven tips to quit smoking

Many people will make New Year's resolutions to quit smoking this year. With a still uncertain economy, quitting smoking is good both for your health and your wallet. Having a solid smoking cessation plan can greatly improve a person's chance for success.

15 Dec 2009

Discrepancy in dance confidence between men and women due to genetic make-up

Men may shuffle on to the dance floor this Christmas, but once there, they will be impressed by their moves, according to research carried out by the 'Doctor of Dance' at the University of Hertfordshire.

15 Dec 2009