Health Care News and Research

RSS

DeParle gets GOP cold shoulder on health reform

Politico: "Senate Republicans say they want to 'smoke out' Democratic senators who could help them bring down the health care bill, and so far, they think they've found one in Sen. Jim Webb. With all the attention focused on four other fence-sitting moderates, Webb has voted with Republicans six times on the first series of amendments on the Senate floor — giving GOP leaders some hope that the unpredictable Virginian could buck his party in the end and block the bill" (Raju, 12/14).

14 Dec 2009

Companies shed more light on health bill lobbying

USA Today: "Sweeping ethics rules passed by Congress in 2007 require corporate interests that lobby Washington to reveal more information than ever, such as how much they donate to politicians' favorite charities.

14 Dec 2009

Language Line Services honored with ‘Raquel Cashman Language Access Award’

The International Medical Interpreters Association (IMIA) recently awarded Language Line Services, a leading interpretation and translation provider, with the Raquel Cashman Language Access Award at the organization's 2009 conference.

14 Dec 2009

Musical greeting cards can pose danger for children

While musical holiday cards are a lot of fun, Their batteries pose a danger to little ones. Kids swallow them and stick them in their ears and nose, A health problem this does pose. The Montreal Children's Hospital doesn't mean to preach But please keep these batteries out of reach.

14 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 14, 2009

Today's headlines reflect the mounting pressure in the Senate regarding the pending health overhaul bill -- especially as the clock ticks closer to the Christmas holiday.

14 Dec 2009

Recipients of ‘2009 Putting Patients First grant’ program announced

Recognizing the need for programs that improve patient safety and quality care, AHRA: The Association for Medical Imaging Management and Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. announced the six recipients of the second annual Putting Patients First grant program.

14 Dec 2009

Detroit-area residents plead guilty in connection with health care fraud schemes

Detroit-area residents Baskaran Thangarasan, Sandeep Aggarwal and Wayne Smith pleaded guilty this week for their roles in connection with several Detroit-area health care fraud schemes, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Terrence I. Berg, Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office and Daniel Levinson, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

14 Dec 2009

Psychopharmacology expert calls for more mental health staffing at army bases

The recent shootings at the Ft. Hood, Texas army base, allegedly by an army psychiatrist, have placed much-needed focus on mental health care in the army. In an article published in the December issue of the journal CNS Spectrum, renowned psychopharmacology expert Stephen M. Stahl, MD, PhD, calls for increased mental health staffing at Fort Hood and other army bases.

14 Dec 2009

Michigan Legislature passes new legislation for smoke-free workplaces

The Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) today applauded the wisdom of the Michigan legislature to enact legislation to make workplaces in our state smoke-free.

14 Dec 2009

Maine-based EMHS recognized for creating system-wide culture of safety

A poor economy in a rural area might seem like overwhelming obstacles to creating a sophisticated culture of safety in a health care system that serves the largest aging population in the country, but leaders at Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (EMHS) beat those odds in 2009.

14 Dec 2009

VHI introduces 2009 industry report on efficient hospitals and nursing care facilities

Virginia Health Information (VHI) released its 2009 Industry Report: Virginia Hospitals and Nursing Facilities, which identifies the most efficient and productive hospitals, nursing facilities and other health care providers. The report contains important information for businesses and health care purchasers including data on providers' costs, profits and charity care.

14 Dec 2009

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan applauds the state legislature for passing smoking ban

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan applauds the state legislature for protecting the health of millions of Michigan residents by passing a state-wide smoking ban in restaurants and bars.

14 Dec 2009

African American women with breast cancer receive no follow-up care after lumpectomy, shows study

A new study finds many breast cancer patients - particularly African American women - do not receive recommended radiation treatments after undergoing a lumpectomy.

14 Dec 2009

Changes to NCQA's disease management Accreditation and Certification standards released

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) today released changes to its disease management Accreditation and Certification requirements, adding voluntary performance reporting for five chronic conditions.

14 Dec 2009

National Vaccine Plan aims to protect Americans from vaccine-preventable illnesses

While vaccines help prevent many diseases in the United States, we lack immunization protection against several serious illnesses, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine that identifies priority areas for updating the National Vaccine Plan.

14 Dec 2009

Senate plan may raise costs and cut healthcare access for senior citizens, says new report

A new report released by the Medicare Chief Actuary, Richard Foster, and the Center for Medicaid Services, the federal agency that oversees Medicaid, says that the proposed health care overhaul plan will dramatically increase health care costs and senior citizens will suffer from Medicare cuts.

14 Dec 2009

UnitedHealthcare completes previously announced acquisition of Health Net

UnitedHealthcare, a UnitedHealth Group company, and Health Net, Inc. today announced that UnitedHealthcare has completed the previously announced acquisition of Health Net of the Northeast’s licensed subsidiaries and has obtained rights to renew Health Net’s membership in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey.

14 Dec 2009

Survey provides comprehensive look at prevalence of common mental disorders

Only about half of American children and teenagers who have certain mental disorders receive professional services, according to a nationally representative survey funded in part by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The survey also provides a comprehensive look at the prevalence of common mental disorders.

14 Dec 2009

Wellpoint stock surges as public plan struggles

Indianapolis Star: "As the health-care reform debate boiled over this week, so did WellPoint's stock price. Shares of the Indianapolis-based health insurance giant surged to a 52-week high Thursday as the prospects for a new government-run 'public option' health plan faded amid intense Senate debate.

14 Dec 2009

Researchers explore regenerative techniques to treat common neurological disorders

For more than 400 years, scientists have studied the amazing regenerative power of salamanders, trying to understand how these creatures routinely repair injuries that would usually leave humans and other mammals paralyzed -- or worse.

14 Dec 2009

Health Care News and Research

DeParle gets GOP cold shoulder on health reform

Companies shed more light on health bill lobbying

Language Line Services honored with ‘Raquel Cashman Language Access Award’

Musical greeting cards can pose danger for children

First Edition: December 14, 2009

Recipients of ‘2009 Putting Patients First grant’ program announced

Detroit-area residents plead guilty in connection with health care fraud schemes

Psychopharmacology expert calls for more mental health staffing at army bases

Michigan Legislature passes new legislation for smoke-free workplaces

Maine-based EMHS recognized for creating system-wide culture of safety

VHI introduces 2009 industry report on efficient hospitals and nursing care facilities

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan applauds the state legislature for passing smoking ban

African American women with breast cancer receive no follow-up care after lumpectomy, shows study

Changes to NCQA's disease management Accreditation and Certification standards released

National Vaccine Plan aims to protect Americans from vaccine-preventable illnesses

Senate plan may raise costs and cut healthcare access for senior citizens, says new report

UnitedHealthcare completes previously announced acquisition of Health Net

Survey provides comprehensive look at prevalence of common mental disorders

Wellpoint stock surges as public plan struggles

Researchers explore regenerative techniques to treat common neurological disorders

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Latest News