Health Care News and Research

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First Edition: June 15, 2010

Susan Jaffe, writing for Kaiser Health News in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports: "For consumers looking for bargains on refrigerators or restaurants, ratings can be helpful. But a score card doesn't work as well for selecting a Medicare private health plan" (Kaiser Health News).

15 Jun 2010

Central Washington Hospital improves patient experience with Toshiba' Vantage Titan MR system

In today's demanding health care environment, many community hospitals require imaging equipment that provides a variety of advanced diagnostic exams with features that improve patient cooperation. To offer a variety of high-quality, comfortable MR exams to its patients, Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, Wash., selected Toshiba America Medical Systems' Vantage TitanTM MR system.

15 Jun 2010

ACRO unveils survey findings on decline in physician participation in clinical research

Today, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) unveiled findings from a groundbreaking survey exploring the decline in physician participation in clinical research across the United States and Western European markets at the 46th Drug Information Association (DIA) annual meeting. Over the past decade, the number of physicians participating in clinical research has continued to decrease in the U.S. and countries in Western Europe while participation increased at double digit rates in Asia, Latin America and Central/Eastern Europe.

15 Jun 2010

New regulation on 'grandfathered' health plans

The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury today issued a new regulation that makes good on President Obama's promise that Americans who like their health plan can keep it.

15 Jun 2010

Alliance for a Healthier Generation recognizes 179 schools for increasing healthy eating, physical activity

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, today recognized 179 schools that have transformed their campuses into healthier places for students and staff. President Bill Clinton, American Heart Association Chairman Neil Meltzer, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey presented awards during an event in New York City.

15 Jun 2010

AMA's National Health Insurer Report Card helps improve claims processing performance

The American Medical Association today announced that one in five medical claims are processed inaccurately by health insurers, according to the AMA's third annual check-up of the nation's commercial health insurers and the systems they use to manage and pay claims. This was the key finding of the AMA's 2010 National Health Insurer Report Card, which for the first time, benchmarked the overall claims processing accuracy of the nation's largest health insurers.

15 Jun 2010

Medicare coverage of unproven mammography screening device leads to surge in usage

In a study illustrating the potentially powerful influence of political pressure on medical practice, a UC Davis physician-researcher has found that use of a largely unproven mammography screening device has surged since Medicare began covering its cost.

15 Jun 2010

Retiring health care professionals may strain an overburdened system

The Washington Post: "Since the passage of the health-care law in March, much has been said about the coming swarm of millions of retiring baby boomers and the strain they will put on the nation's health-care system. That's only half the problem. Overlooked in the conversation is a particular group of boomers: doctors and nurses who are itching to call it quits.

15 Jun 2010

2,300 researchers under one roof at American Society of Echocardiography 21st Annual Scientific Sessions

Research released today at the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) 21st Annual Scientific Sessions unveiled findings that will have a significant impact on the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease and the application of echocardiography in the future.

15 Jun 2010

Free clinics across the U.S. care for 1.8M uninsured patients annually: Survey

Free clinics across the U.S. provide care to about 1.8 million mostly uninsured patients annually and the majority of clinics receive no government support, according to the first comprehensive survey of all known free clinics since the 1960s.

15 Jun 2010

Apple juice calms declining moods that are part of normal progression of AD: AJADD study

Apple juice can be a useful supplement for calming the declining moods that are part of the normal progression of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's Disease, according to a study in American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, published by SAGE.

15 Jun 2010

ULURU present Altrazeal at 2010 WOCN/WCET joint conference

ULURU Inc. announced today that six posters detailing clinical experience using Altrazeal™ Transforming Powder Dressing will be presented at the 2010 Joint Conference of the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) and World Council of Enterostomal Therapists (WCET) on June 14-16 in Phoenix, Arizona.

15 Jun 2010

Texas prepares for health reform's changes despite opposition to new law; Other states brace for federal funding cuts

When Congress approved the sweeping federal health care overhaul in March, Texas Governor Rick Perry was one of the loudest critics. He blasted the initiative as unconstitutional, a government takeover of health care and an unfunded federal mandate on the states. … That sentiment remains widespread in Texas, which has joined with 20 other states in suing to block the law from taking effect.

15 Jun 2010

Report: Violent crime increasing at hospitals and clinics

"More and more violent crimes are occurring in America's hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities, according to a new alert issued by the Joint Commission, an independent health care oversight group," USA Today reports.

15 Jun 2010

HHS issues interim rules for grandfathered health plans

The government suggested that under a highly complicated interim rule released today more than half of employer-sponsored health plans could lose their special status that shields them from some aspects of the new health overhaul. The administration outlined "a number of ways health plans could lose their grandfathered status. Plans that substantially eliminate benefits to diagnose or treat a particular condition would lose the status, for instance.

15 Jun 2010

States, Feds look to expand ACOs and medical homes

Crain's New York Business, on ACOs in New York: "Authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Barack Obama in March, ACOs are intended to reward providers that shift their focus to preventive care and presumably reduce the need for expensive procedures.

15 Jun 2010

AMA adopts new policies to strengthen physician workforce

The American Medical Association adopted today at its Annual Meeting new policies to strengthen the physician workforce to meet the nation's growing health care needs. The United States faces a shortage of between 124,000 and 159,000 physicians by 2025. Already at least 22 states and 15 medical specialties have reported physician workforce shortages, including in medically underserved regions and front-line specialties including primary care and general surgery.

15 Jun 2010

Studies show rising health costs, ways to slow them

A PricewaterhouseCoopers report suggests a leap in the portion of health costs paid directly by employees will leave the majority of the American workforce with deductibles of $400 or more for the first time next year, The Associated Press/Los Angeles Times reports. "Two years ago, only 25 percent of companies participating in the annual survey said they asked employees to pay deductibles of $400 or more.

14 Jun 2010

Feds to issue rules on 'grandfathered' health plans and new law

The Wall Street Journal reports that draft regulations "being developed by the Obama administration say more than half of employer health care plans may lose their grandfathered status and be required to comply with the health overhaul bill approved March 23. The guidelines are likely to touch off fresh disputes between President Obama and opponents of the health care bill.

14 Jun 2010

Health reform continue to dominate campaigns

After voting "no" on the health reform bill earlier this year, Rep. John Barrow, D-Ga., has gotten significantly less support from colleagues than he did in previous re-election bids, The Hill reports. "Only five lawmakers ... have given money from their personal campaign funds to Barrow in the 2010 cycle. Five other elected Dems gave money to Barrow through their leadership political action committees."

14 Jun 2010

Health Care News and Research

First Edition: June 15, 2010

Central Washington Hospital improves patient experience with Toshiba' Vantage Titan MR system

ACRO unveils survey findings on decline in physician participation in clinical research

New regulation on 'grandfathered' health plans

Alliance for a Healthier Generation recognizes 179 schools for increasing healthy eating, physical activity

AMA's National Health Insurer Report Card helps improve claims processing performance

Medicare coverage of unproven mammography screening device leads to surge in usage

Retiring health care professionals may strain an overburdened system

2,300 researchers under one roof at American Society of Echocardiography 21st Annual Scientific Sessions

Free clinics across the U.S. care for 1.8M uninsured patients annually: Survey

Apple juice calms declining moods that are part of normal progression of AD: AJADD study

ULURU present Altrazeal at 2010 WOCN/WCET joint conference

Texas prepares for health reform's changes despite opposition to new law; Other states brace for federal funding cuts

Report: Violent crime increasing at hospitals and clinics

HHS issues interim rules for grandfathered health plans

States, Feds look to expand ACOs and medical homes

AMA adopts new policies to strengthen physician workforce

Studies show rising health costs, ways to slow them

Feds to issue rules on 'grandfathered' health plans and new law

Health reform continue to dominate campaigns

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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