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Toronto Star examines cost of fighting maternal mortality, Canada's G8 initiative

Experts say that fighting maternal mortality will cost the world a total of $24 billion annually, or an additional $12 billion per year, the Toronto Star writes in an article about Canada's G8 maternal and child health initiative and a maternal health conference that is being planned ahead of the G8 meeting.

7 Apr 2010

Annual Medicare report delayed to reflect impact of health law, the AP reports

The Associated Press: "The Obama administration is delaying release of the annual report on the financial health of Social Security and Medicare so that the new report can reflect the impact of the recently passed health care overhaul." The AP says that, according to an administration official, the report "will be delayed until June 30, three months later than it usually comes out."

7 Apr 2010

Policy Roundup: Health law's effect on insurance plans, mandate enforcement issues

Kaiser Health News: "Consumers and employers who provide health insurance are scrambling to understand what will change in their premiums and benefits once provisions of the recently passed law go into effect." Some of the answers they seek are unclear because the legislation leaves out details the health department must fill in during the regulatory process.

7 Apr 2010

Patients with sickle cell disease require acute care: Study

Patients with sickle cell disease average about 2.5 hospital visits per year, with 18- to 30-year old patients more likely to require acute care or rehospitalization, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

7 Apr 2010

Financial stake in surgery centers motivates doctors to operate more often

When doctors become invested in an outpatient surgery center, they perform on average twice as many surgeries as doctors with no such financial stake, according to a new study from the University of Michigan Health System.

7 Apr 2010

Ontario invests millions of dollars in universal flu vaccine campaign

The millions of dollars invested by the province of Ontario in its universal flu vaccine campaign saves lives and is a sensible investment, according to an economic analysis by a researcher at the University of Toronto and the University Health Network.

7 Apr 2010

Sebelius vows implementation of health law will be clear, transparent

"U.S. health officials aim to move swiftly and clearly to implement newly enacted healthcare reforms, the nation's health secretary said in remarks on Tuesday aimed at selling Americans on the benefits of the controversial changes," Reuters reports. In excerpts of a speech to be delivered today at the National Press Club, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius explained health officials would work "to be as clear and transparent as possible" as the law is implemented. "

7 Apr 2010

Medicare advantage insurers won't see increase in 2011

Payments for Medicare Advantage plans, which are operated by private health insurers, will be frozen at this year's rates in 2011, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports.

7 Apr 2010

Many health care professionals not aware of health problems associated with mouth breathing

For some, the phrase "spring is in the air" is quite literal. When the winter snow melts and flowers bloom, pollen and other materials can wreak havoc on those suffering from seasonal allergies, usually causing a habit called "mouth breathing."

7 Apr 2010

Children with FASD show high prevalence of developing epilepsy

Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder show a very high prevalence of developing epilepsy and having seizures, according to a national study by Queen's University researchers.

7 Apr 2010

Insurers sue Mass. regulators over rejected rate hikes

Massachusetts insurers are suing the state government after regulators rejected proposed double-digit premium rate increases that would have gone into effect April 1. The move would spell hundreds of millions of dollars in losses for the six insurers that joined the suit, the firms said.

7 Apr 2010

Frequency of complex fusion procedures for lower back increased among Medicare recipients

The frequency of complex fusion procedures to treat spinal stenosis of the lower back increased between 2002-2007 among Medicare recipients, while the rates of decompression and simple fusion procedures decreased, according to a study in the April 7 issue of JAMA.

7 Apr 2010

Today's OpEds: Harkin, Coleman, Leavitt and others

Despite all the talk recently about how our nation has become divided and ungovernable, we have proved not only that we are governable, but also that we still have the capacity to act with boldness and vision (Sen. Tom Harkin, 4/6).

7 Apr 2010

At home, congressional Dems face voters on health bill, Rep. Issa investigating 'deals'

Before Congress left town for the spring recess, Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged rank-and-file Democrats to return home and tout the benefits of the landmark health care bill, Politico reports.

7 Apr 2010

Health care reform will have negative effect on cardiology patients, practices: American cardiologists

American cardiologists believe that recently passed health care reform will have a negative effect on both their cardiology patients and their practices, according to a new survey.

6 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 6, 2010

Among today's headlines is news about a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts insurers who are seeking to reverse the state insurance commissioner's decision and allow them to raise rates.

6 Apr 2010

ITI to lead multi-university consortium to improve patient outcomes

The U.S. health care community has increasingly been adopting the use of electronic medical records and other electronic health information systems, but serious concerns about the security and privacy of those systems have been raised.

6 Apr 2010

Study finds link between BRCA mutations and contralateral breast cancer

Women with breast cancer before age 55 who carry an inherited mutation in the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 or BRCA2 are four times more likely to develop cancer in the breast opposite, or contralateral, to their initial tumor as compared to breast cancer patients without these genetic defects.

6 Apr 2010

TIAA-CREF collaborates with NFLHE to promote development of Latino healthcare leaders

TIAA-CREF, America's largest private retirement system, today announced a relationship with the National Forum for Latino Healthcare Executives, a national nonprofit organization led by senior executive healthcare leaders in the U.S. that works with the healthcare system to meet the needs of diverse communities throughout the nation.

6 Apr 2010

Two pioneering hospital systems to pilot Unity Medical's Medical Video jLog for Apple iPad

Unity Medical, Inc. a premier provider of digital health tools that enhance the patient experience today announced that two pioneering hospital systems will pilot the company's new Medical Video jLog™ for the Apple iPad™, an innovative application that utilizes short form interactive video to explain common medical procedures such as CT scans, cardiac stent placements, and physical rehabilitation treatment.

6 Apr 2010

Health Care News and Research

Toronto Star examines cost of fighting maternal mortality, Canada's G8 initiative

Annual Medicare report delayed to reflect impact of health law, the AP reports

Policy Roundup: Health law's effect on insurance plans, mandate enforcement issues

Patients with sickle cell disease require acute care: Study

Financial stake in surgery centers motivates doctors to operate more often

Ontario invests millions of dollars in universal flu vaccine campaign

Sebelius vows implementation of health law will be clear, transparent

Medicare advantage insurers won't see increase in 2011

Many health care professionals not aware of health problems associated with mouth breathing

Children with FASD show high prevalence of developing epilepsy

Insurers sue Mass. regulators over rejected rate hikes

Frequency of complex fusion procedures for lower back increased among Medicare recipients

Today's OpEds: Harkin, Coleman, Leavitt and others

At home, congressional Dems face voters on health bill, Rep. Issa investigating 'deals'

Health care reform will have negative effect on cardiology patients, practices: American cardiologists

First Edition: April 6, 2010

ITI to lead multi-university consortium to improve patient outcomes

Study finds link between BRCA mutations and contralateral breast cancer

TIAA-CREF collaborates with NFLHE to promote development of Latino healthcare leaders

Two pioneering hospital systems to pilot Unity Medical's Medical Video jLog for Apple iPad

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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