Health Care News and Research

RSS

Yoga lowers number of compounds in blood and reduces inflammation

Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging and stress, a new study has shown.

12 Jan 2010

Administration, labor leaders set stage for today's meeting regarding proposed 'Cadillac' tax

The president is expected to meet Monday afternoon with labor leaders who oppose a tax on high-cost insurance premiums that the president has backed, The Associated Press/The New York Times reports.

12 Jan 2010

New federal law expands mental health coverage

The Los Angeles Times reports on the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1. "Passed as part of the federal stimulus package, the act requires that insurers provide mental health coverage that's no less restrictive than traditional medical coverage. In theory, the act should enable patients needing lengthier therapy to receive it.

12 Jan 2010

Research suggests ancient Egyptians may have used lead-based cosmetics to prevent eye infections

There's more to the eye makeup that gave Queen Nefertiti and other ancient Egyptian royals those stupendous gazes and legendary beauty than meets the eye. Scientists in France are reporting that the alluring eye makeup also may have been used to help prevent or treat eye disease by doubling as an infection-fighter.

12 Jan 2010

MEDecision to deliver Alineo and Nexalign to AFMC

MEDecision, Inc., a leading provider of collaborative health care management solutions, today announced that it will deliver its Alineo® collaborative health care management platform and Nexalign® collaborative health care information exchange service to the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC).

12 Jan 2010

Insurance mandates spark GOP fight while proposed insurance pools, abortion issues are examined

The Wall Street Journal: "As congressional Democrats try to iron out differences in the House and Senate health-care bills, Republicans are attacking the legal premise of the legislation, saying Congress has no power to make people carry health insurance or pay a penalty or tax." The article also notes that some experts say the provision — if passed — could become fodder for a constitutional challenge on congressional authority.

12 Jan 2010

Public awareness campaign needed to curb health threats posed by hepatitis B and hepatitis C

Stepped-up vaccination requirements, a boost in resources for prevention and treatment, and a public awareness campaign similar to the effort that dispelled the stigma of HIV/AIDS are needed to curb the health threats posed by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

12 Jan 2010

Detroit paper explores pain of facing breast cancer without insurance

A woman with a $7,000 annual income and $67 in the bank was diagnosed with breast cancer, leading to a week of phone calls from her surgeon to state, federal and hospital officials before a charitable agreement was struck with a medical center, the Detroit Free Press reports.

12 Jan 2010

Jobs numbers in health sector defy recession, more growth expected

As most sectors of the economy shed jobs last month, health care companies continued to defy the pattern and hire more people in a trend that's spanned more than two years, Kaiser Health News reports. The main reason is that people are reluctant to skip health care services, even when times are tight, economists say. That factor, combined with an aging population allowed health care business to grow, albeit more slowly than normal, even as the broader economy flagged (Weaver, 1/8).

12 Jan 2010

Calif. Gov. Schwarzenegger plans health cuts; news outlets report on Medicaid funding issues

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning cuts to health programs and has "warned more would come if the federal government does not increase program reimbursements," ModernHealthcare reports. "His $82.9 billion spending plan for fiscal 2010-11 includes $750 million in cuts to Medi-Cal, the state's Medicaid program. Prison medical care would be cut by $811 million under his plan." Schwarzenegger is seeking $1.8 billion more in Medicaid funds by raising California's match to the national average for the program — 57 percent (Vesely, 1/8).

12 Jan 2010

Lawmakers, public grapple with health care endgame

Many Democrats consider their health overhaul increasingly politically dicey now, but "are betting that the only thing worse than passing a bill many of them don't like is not passing one at all," the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

12 Jan 2010

Medical Care Technologies reaches definitive agreement to acquire GUC's technologies

Medical Care Technologies Inc. today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire various technologies from Great Union Corporation, ("GUC") a private Hong Kong corporation.

12 Jan 2010

Obama administration supports Cairo conference goals, Clinton says

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday "reiterated the Obama administration's support" for universal access to family planning, improving maternal health care and other goals outlined at the 1995 International Conference on Population and Development Action Plan held in Cairo, Egypt, All Headline News reports.

12 Jan 2010

In weekly address, Obama focuses on immediate benefits of health bill

"President Obama said Saturday that Americans would see immediate benefits from a landmark overhaul of the nation's health insurance system, and he urged Congress to reconcile swiftly differences on the legislation so it could be signed into law in the coming weeks," The New York Times reports.

12 Jan 2010

Obama to meet with labor leaders to push 'Cadillac' tax in health overhaul legislation

"President Barack Obama, facing growing resistance among Democrats over his support for taxing health benefits, will confront U.S. labor leaders and House lawmakers this week on the issue."

11 Jan 2010

Study demonstrates benefits of allergen immunotherapy for children with allergic rhinitis

Allergy immunotherapy, generally referred to as allergy vaccinations or shots, reduce total health care costs in children with allergic rhinitis (hay fever) by one-third, and prescription costs by 16 percent, according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

11 Jan 2010

Exercise may improve cognitive function

Moderate physical activity performed in midlife or later appears to be associated with a reduced risk of mild cognitive impairment, whereas a six-month high-intensity aerobic exercise program may improve cognitive function in individuals who already have the condition, according to two reports in the January issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

11 Jan 2010

CMS study finds Senate health bill would increase costs less steeply than thought

A report from the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services finds that the Senate health bill would increase health care spending less steeply than previously thought.

11 Jan 2010

A wellness provision in the Senate reform bill draws opposition

A health overhaul provision meant to encourage healthier lifestyles by allowing companies to give insurance discounts to workers who meet certain milestones has found unlikely opposition, The (Wilmington, Del.,) News Journal reports.

11 Jan 2010

Uphill battles for lawmakers as intensity picks up on health bill negotiations

Politico: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi is telling her caucus not to believe stories that the House will simply roll over and accept the Senate's hard-fought health care bill." But as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is tasked with holding together his 60 votes to pass reform, Pelosi "may not have a choice."

11 Jan 2010

Health Care News and Research

Yoga lowers number of compounds in blood and reduces inflammation

Administration, labor leaders set stage for today's meeting regarding proposed 'Cadillac' tax

New federal law expands mental health coverage

Research suggests ancient Egyptians may have used lead-based cosmetics to prevent eye infections

MEDecision to deliver Alineo and Nexalign to AFMC

Insurance mandates spark GOP fight while proposed insurance pools, abortion issues are examined

Public awareness campaign needed to curb health threats posed by hepatitis B and hepatitis C

Detroit paper explores pain of facing breast cancer without insurance

Jobs numbers in health sector defy recession, more growth expected

Calif. Gov. Schwarzenegger plans health cuts; news outlets report on Medicaid funding issues

Lawmakers, public grapple with health care endgame

Medical Care Technologies reaches definitive agreement to acquire GUC's technologies

Obama administration supports Cairo conference goals, Clinton says

In weekly address, Obama focuses on immediate benefits of health bill

Obama to meet with labor leaders to push 'Cadillac' tax in health overhaul legislation

Study demonstrates benefits of allergen immunotherapy for children with allergic rhinitis

Exercise may improve cognitive function

CMS study finds Senate health bill would increase costs less steeply than thought

A wellness provision in the Senate reform bill draws opposition

Uphill battles for lawmakers as intensity picks up on health bill negotiations

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

Latest News