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AHIP develops new initiatives to improve the quality and safety of health care

The proposal includes reforms to the FDA and a plan for comparing the effectiveness of prescription drugs, devices and new medical technologies.

17 Apr 2007

Factors that influence late stage cancer diagnosis

Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC) found that patients who received a later stage cancer diagnosis were likely to be living in an unsafe neighborhood, using public transportation and traveling at least 45 minutes to get to a doctor's office.

16 Apr 2007

Socio-ecological and cultural factors attributed to later stage cancer diagnosis

16 Apr 2007

Health disparities in access to healthcare

Minority individuals are much more likely to develop and die from cancer than the general U.S. population.

16 Apr 2007

Health insurers in California need to justify rates

Consumers enduring triple-digit health insurance increases will join Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) and consumer advocates to support Jones' legislation (AB 1554) requiring HMOs and health insurers to justify their rates and get approval for increases.

15 Apr 2007

Hospital-based performance measures for quality of care for breast and colorectal cancer

In a move more than two years in the making, a National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsement became effective today of the first nationally recognized hospital-based performance measures for quality of care for breast and colorectal cancer.

15 Apr 2007

Health care reconsidered: Options for change

The Hamilton Project, an initiative at the Brookings Institution, hosted a forum, "Health Care Reconsidered: Options for Change," today at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. At the event, policy papers on reforming Medicare Part "D" (including closing the "donut hole" gap in prescription drug coverage), improving preventive care and promoting greater affordability through progressive cost-sharing were released by The Hamilton Project.

11 Apr 2007

Rising vaccine costs put kids at risk

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is alarmed that the soaring costs of vaccines combined with lower reimbursements from insurance companies will lead to the under- immunization of the nation's children and unnecessary outbreaks of preventable diseases.

11 Apr 2007

Computer disk with personal info on millions lost

In what will seem a worrying turn of events to many, a computer disk containing personal information on nearly 3 million state and federal health insurance clients has gone astray.

11 Apr 2007

Myths about manhood can undermine teenage boys sexual health

Research led by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center has found that teenage boys who hold some traditional beliefs about what it means to be a "real man" can undermine their sexual health and good preventive care in general.

5 Apr 2007

Bayh calls for tripling of breast cancer research funds

U.S. Senator Evan Bayh called for a dramatic increase in breast cancer research funding at a reception for recipients of the Marvella Bayh Memorial Scholarship at Indiana University's Cancer Research Institute on IUPUI's campus today.

5 Apr 2007

People without health insurance more likely to forego routine physical exams

The lack of health insurance prompts people to forego routine physical exams and have a reduced awareness of cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with increased rates of stroke and death, researchers have concluded.

4 Apr 2007

Dingell introduces bill that would expand dental coverage for children enrolled in Medicaid, SCHIP

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.) last week introduced a bill (HR 1781) that would help improve the delivery of dental services to low-income children enrolled in Medicaid and SCHIP, CQ HealthBeat reports.

3 Apr 2007

Monthly premiums for low-cost health plans in Massachusetts fell by 8% in second round of bidding

Monthly premiums for the four lowest-cost health plans submitted to the Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority decreased by an average of 8% in the second round of bidding, the Boston Globe reports.

2 Apr 2007

Stark introduces universal health insurance bill

House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair Pete Stark (D-Calif.) on Thursday introduced a bill that would seek to provide health insurance to all U.S. residents through Medicare and employer-sponsored coverage, the Oakland Tribune reports.

2 Apr 2007

SCHIP program needs substantial work

When given health insurance through the state children's health insurance program (SCHIP), teens see their doctors more often, racial disparities are eliminated and more preventive care is received.

2 Apr 2007

Most pediatricians use untrained interpreters to communicate with families not proficient in English

Most pediatricians use untrained interpreters to communicate with families who are not proficient in English, according to the results of a nationwide survey of doctors led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

2 Apr 2007

Drug-eluting stent use in heart patients determined more by insurance type

If you want the best technology available to relieve blocked blood flow to the heart, the choice is a drug-eluting stent.

31 Mar 2007

Massachusetts health insurance connector board votes to require prescription drug coverage as part of draft minimum coverage requirements

The Massachusetts Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority on Tuesday approved minimum coverage requirements for health insurance plans to comply with the state's universal coverage law, including requiring prescription drug coverage, the New York Times reports.

22 Mar 2007

Call for health coverage for women of childbearing age and children

Dr. Marina L. Weiss, senior vice president, public policy and government affairs of the March of Dimes, made the following statement as the Senate Committee on Finance held a hearing entitled "Charting a Course for Health Care Reform: Moving Toward Universal Coverage".

14 Mar 2007