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Doctors, Pelosi pan Senate-passed 'doc fix' plan

USA Today: Doctors are limiting the number of new Medicare patients they are seeing, concerned about reimbursements pay from the federal program. "Recent surveys by national and state medical societies have found more doctors limiting Medicare patients, partly because Congress has failed to stop an automatic 21% cut in payments that doctors already regard as too low.

21 Jun 2010

Today's OpEds: Medicare reimbursements threaten health care; Battling health care fraud; A national standard on nurse-patient ratios

The Senate on Friday passed the annual "doc fix" -- but this short-term stay on the reimbursement rates for physicians who treat Medicare patients does not resolve the underlying problem: Those reimbursements are woefully below market. And if Congress does not address this, the much-heralded health-care reform is at risk (Dr. Michael Newman, 6/19).

21 Jun 2010

KHN column: Even with the 'grandfather clause' protection, change is coming to most health plans

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, done in collaboration with The New Republic, Jonathan Cohn writes: "Now that Karl Rove doesn't have a Republican president to advise anymore, he's been picking up some new hobbies. One of them is health care policy. In a recent column for the Wall Street Journal editorial page, Rove made the latest in a series of attacks on the new reform law.

21 Jun 2010

Antibacterial lab coats to help prevent spread of disease in hospitals

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 99,000 people die every year from infections acquired while in hospitals. "The goal in our profession is to help cure you not introduce you to another deadly infection," said Dr. Charles Kinder, Heart Rhythm expert and Director of Heart Rhythm Program at Heart Care Centers of Illinois.

21 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 21, 2010

Today's news includes an exploration of the impact of Medicare payment rates on physicians, an analysis of the fate of the COBRA subsidy and how an innovation may offer a medical malpractice fix.

21 Jun 2010

Thomson Reuters identifies top 10 U.S. health systems from second annual study

Thomson Reuters today released its second annual study identifying the top 10 U.S. health systems based on their clinical performance.

21 Jun 2010

PHS offers special discounted program for clients utilizing Milliman Care Guidelines

Proven Healthcare Solutions an industry innovator in fortifying hospital compliance with emergency department admission screening, is pleased to introduce the offering of a special discounted program for clients utilizing Milliman Care Guidelines.

21 Jun 2010

EIN News expands health news-monitoring coverage

With impending lawsuits from states, an uprising from the Tea Party sect and an outpouring of rhetoric from both major parties, the healthcare debate is far from over.

21 Jun 2010

New tobacco regulations and FDA rules authorized by Family Smoking and Prevention Act to be released

Starting tomorrow (June 22), new regulations and FDA rules authorized by the Family Smoking and Prevention Act will further limit the tobacco industry's ability to deceive consumers with misleading marketing and labeling that imply "light," "mild" or "low-tar" cigarettes are safer, as well as other practices that make products more appealing to youth.

21 Jun 2010

Medco Health Solutions, Celesio join to help relieve financial burden on healthcare payors across Europe

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and Celesio AG, two of the world's leading pharmacy-driven healthcare companies, today announced a joint venture with a long-term goal of improving patient health and helping to relieve the crushing financial burden on healthcare payors across Europe.

21 Jun 2010

Incidental findings in brain imaging can be managed ethically and cost-effectively: UBC researchers

The increasing number of incidental findings in brain imaging can be managed ethically and cost-effectively by screening study participants based on gender, age and family history, according to University of British Columbia researchers.

21 Jun 2010

State leaders to increase New York cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack

It is great news for New York's health that state leaders are planning to increase the state cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack, while also increasing the tax on other tobacco products and ensuring that taxes are properly paid on cigarettes sold by Native American tribes to non-tribal members. Increasing the tobacco tax is one of the most effective ways to reduce smoking and other tobacco use, especially among children.

21 Jun 2010

Magic Power Coffee can dangerously lower blood pressure, warns FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers that Magic Power Coffee, an instant coffee product marketed as a dietary supplement for sexual enhancement, contains an active drug ingredient that can dangerously lower blood pressure.

21 Jun 2010

Greater focus on mental health is needed says expert

According to mental health expert and Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry the resignation of the head of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health (NACMH), John Mendoza, is an indication of the disappointment of the mental health care sector with the government.

20 Jun 2010

Special Olympics Minnesota's 2010 Summer Games conclude

Today is the last day of competition at the Special Olympics Minnesota's 2010 Summer Games. Volleyball competition will take place on the third floor of the University of Minnesota's Recreation Center (1906 University Avenue SE) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tennis competition will be held at Life Time Fitness in Lakeville (18425 Dodd Boulevard) from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. In addition, artistic gymnastics competition will start at 2 p.m. and conclude at 5:30 p.m. at Mini-Hops Gymnastics Club in Minnetonka (131 Cheshire Lane, Suite 100).

19 Jun 2010

Gary and Mary West Foundation announces $25M commitment to West Wireless Health Institute

The Gary and Mary West Foundation today announced a $25 million commitment to enable the West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) to amplify its aggressive recruitment of world class engineering talent and accelerate its mission on a national and global scale. The additional funding comes on the heels of a $20 million grant announced last month, and brings the total support provided by the foundation to nearly $100 million since the Institute's inception in March 2009.

19 Jun 2010

NPAF draws attention on need to ensure patients' right to privacy in Virginia's HIE

The National Patient Advocate Foundation (NPAF) – a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of creating avenues of improved patient access to health care through public policy reform at the state and federal levels – delivered a letter to Dr. William Hazel Jr., M.D., Secretary of Health and Human Resources and Chair of Virginia Governor's Health Information Technology Advisory Commission (HITAC), bringing attention to the need to ensure patients' right to privacy in the state's health information exchange (HIE).

19 Jun 2010

Active surveillance sufficient for patients with low-risk prostate cancer

Active surveillance or watchful waiting might be sufficient treatment for patients with prostate cancer that has a low risk of progression, according to a new study published online June 18 in The Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

19 Jun 2010

Researchers review data comparing IUDs and hormonal contraceptives

Women who have had intrauterine devices fitted as contraceptives are less likely to become pregnant than those who have hormone injections, a new review by Cochrane Researchers has found. The review, which focused on women in developing countries, also found a possible link between contraceptive method and disease progression in HIV.

19 Jun 2010

Justice Department files stipulated settlement agreement resolving portion of lawsuit against Erie County

The Justice Department today announced that it has filed a stipulated settlement agreement resolving a portion of its lawsuit against Erie County, N.Y., regarding the limited issue of suicide prevention and related mental health care.

19 Jun 2010

Health Care News and Research

Doctors, Pelosi pan Senate-passed 'doc fix' plan

Today's OpEds: Medicare reimbursements threaten health care; Battling health care fraud; A national standard on nurse-patient ratios

KHN column: Even with the 'grandfather clause' protection, change is coming to most health plans

Antibacterial lab coats to help prevent spread of disease in hospitals

First Edition: June 21, 2010

Thomson Reuters identifies top 10 U.S. health systems from second annual study

PHS offers special discounted program for clients utilizing Milliman Care Guidelines

EIN News expands health news-monitoring coverage

New tobacco regulations and FDA rules authorized by Family Smoking and Prevention Act to be released

Medco Health Solutions, Celesio join to help relieve financial burden on healthcare payors across Europe

Incidental findings in brain imaging can be managed ethically and cost-effectively: UBC researchers

State leaders to increase New York cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack

Magic Power Coffee can dangerously lower blood pressure, warns FDA

Greater focus on mental health is needed says expert

Special Olympics Minnesota's 2010 Summer Games conclude

Gary and Mary West Foundation announces $25M commitment to West Wireless Health Institute

NPAF draws attention on need to ensure patients' right to privacy in Virginia's HIE

Active surveillance sufficient for patients with low-risk prostate cancer

Researchers review data comparing IUDs and hormonal contraceptives

Justice Department files stipulated settlement agreement resolving portion of lawsuit against Erie County

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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