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Recent releases in health policy research

"Emergency Department Visits in Massachusetts" - This policy brief examines why the number of people in Massachusetts who seek care in emergency rooms has remained high even though "health reform in Massachusetts has succeeded in increasing health insurance coverage and access to care."

3 Oct 2009

BMI training course launched by Anthem Blue Cross to tackle childhood obesity

In a continued effort to keep screening for childhood obesity at the forefront, Anthem Blue Cross' State Sponsored Business launched an innovative on-line Body Mass Index (BMI) training course featuring a virtual BMI wheel and web-based interactive practice sessions to help provide hands-on experience.

3 Oct 2009

Health reform unlikely to fix Medicare doctor payment system

Health care reform in Congress is unlikely to reform the Medicare physician payment system, and lawmakers are likely to settle for another one-year fix to block a reduction in payments to doctors, CQ Politics reports.

3 Oct 2009

Doctors battle proposed penalties for heavy use of tests

"Doctors are trying to remove a provision in the Senate's latest health bill that would cut Medicare payments to those who administer the most tests and treatments," The Wall Street Journal reports. "The proposal -- aimed at reducing waste -- is one of several proposals in the bill by the Senate Finance Committee that could change how doctors are evaluated and paid."

3 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health news: U.S. food aid declines; agriculture in Zimbabwe; U.S.-backed ITN network; reducing maternal mortality; DNDI expands; healthcare in Congo

Although U.S. food aid funding has increased by 53 percent over the last two years, a Government Accountability Office report on Wednesday said that during the same time period, the "amount of food delivered to address emergencies abroad fell 5 percent," the Washington Independent reports.

3 Oct 2009

$7.2 million grant awarded to develop microbicide-releasing vaginal ring

The National Institutes of Health has awarded Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University a four-year, $7.2 million grant to develop a microbicide-releasing vaginal ring to prevent HIV transmission.

3 Oct 2009

Electronic medical records may help doctors spot or predict abuse

As the data stored in electronic medical records grow, the technology may be able to help doctors predict domestic abuse and other medical conditions, a new study in the British Medical Journal finds, Reuters reports. Patients with injuries, poisoning and alcoholism were more likely than others to report domestic abuse.

1 Oct 2009

Capitol Hill personalities play a key role in how health bills are taking shape

A number of news organizations are detailing the conflicts and positions of certain lawmakers in the ongoing health overhaul effort.

1 Oct 2009

UMDNJ's University Hospital agrees to pay $8.3M to settle allegations

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) has agreed to pay the government $8.3 million to settle allegations that it illegally paid kickbacks to cardiologists and caused the submission of false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today.

1 Oct 2009

New website offers personalized advice on H1N1

Researchers at the University of Southampton have developed a new website which gives personalised advice on coping with swine flu and other cold and flu symptoms.

1 Oct 2009

Presence of sequencing technologies in routine hospital and physician office labs over the next decade

As DNA testing expands and the price and speed of sequencing equipment improves, it's not out of the question that the half-million dollar sequencers now only available in top research labs may find their way into routine hospital and physician office labs throughout the U.S. over the next decade, according to the findings of Kalorama Information.

1 Oct 2009

NAACP endorses optometric vision therapy at its 100th Anniversary Convention

A routine visit to the eye doctor resulted in a national resolution that was passed by the NAACP at its 100th Anniversary Convention held in New York City, endorsing optometric vision therapy as a way to help some prisoners become productive members of society.

1 Oct 2009

Envisionier launches new mobile medical imaging platform for capturing and sharing endoscopic multimedia

Envisionier announces the launch of the endogo® HD, a mobile medical imaging platform for capturing, storing, and sharing endoscopic multimedia.

1 Oct 2009

New improved marker-free technique provides faster blood analysis

The analysis takes just a few minutes and the doctor knows straight-away whether there are any pathogens in the blood. An improved marker-free technique provides the basis for faster analysis, whether in a hospital or for mobile blood donations.

1 Oct 2009

57% of Americans believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever: Kaiser poll

Public support for health reform ended its summer slide, reversed course and moved modestly upwards in September, according to the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

1 Oct 2009

Medicaid members to receive cover for administration cost of the H1N1 vaccine from WellCare

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) announced it will cover the full cost of administration of the H1N1 vaccine as a preventative care benefit for Medicare Advantage, Medicare private fee-for-service (PFFS) and Medicaid plan members when it becomes available to the public.

1 Oct 2009

Recession impacts health: AOA survey

While the economy begins to show signs of a slow recovery, many consumers continue to struggle with financial challenges, some of which could affect their health. A survey released today by the American Optometric Association (AOA) revealed that 36 percent of Americans say they are limiting their doctor visits because of the recession.

1 Oct 2009

Health care should be made secure and affordable to all: Speaker Pelosi

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman John Dingell, and Congressman Martin Heinrich joined advocates on behalf of America's seniors for a press conference this afternoon in the Capitol to discuss the benefits of the health insurance reform legislation to senior citizens.

1 Oct 2009

POWER study results support the need to re-evaluate depression treatment in Ontario

Less than half of men and women in Ontario who may be suffering from depression see a doctor to treat their potentially debilitating condition, according to a new women's health study by researchers at St. Michael's Hospital and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES). What's more, many hospitalized for severe depression fail to see a doctor for follow-up care within 30 days of being discharged, and many head to hospital emergency departments for care.

1 Oct 2009

Study reveals that training pediatricians will help reduce early childhood cavities

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have found that pediatricians provided with the proper communication, educational and information technology tools and training could reduce the rates of children developing early childhood caries (ECC) or cavities by 77 percent. This study appears in the October issue of the Journal Medical Care.

1 Oct 2009