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RPSPP for health benefits accepted into federal program

Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that the Retired Pennsylvania State Police Program for health benefits has been accepted into a federal program to help offset the rising health care costs for retirees.

28 Sep 2010

HHS pumps up rhetoric but eases rules on health insurance for kids

Politico reports that the administration "is taking health insurers to task again, this time for choosing to no longer sell plans intended to cover sick children." Insurers "have said in recent weeks that they would stop selling 'child only' insurance plans because the overhaul requires them to accept all applicants, even if they apply for coverage at the last minute before treatment." In a letter to industry groups, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighted the "plight of millions of parents who desperately want to provide health coverage and critical treatments" in the face of insurer decisions.

28 Sep 2010

HHS Secretary announces $30M to expand HIV prevention efforts under President's NHAS

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that CDC has allocated $30 million of the Affordable Care Act's Prevention and Public Health Fund to expand HIV prevention efforts under the President's National HIV/AIDS Strategy. This includes $21.6 million in grants to state and local health departments.

27 Sep 2010

HHS announces grants to support public health programs

Six months after the Affordable Care Act was signed into law, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius highlighted another important facet of the law today with the announcement of nearly $100 million in grants made possible primarily by the new law's Prevention and Public Health Fund.

27 Sep 2010

HHS awards grant to promote better primary care services for mentally-ill patients

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius today awarded more than $26.2 million in grants to support and promote better primary care and behavioral health services for individuals with mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

27 Sep 2010

Health law affecting insurers, employers and comparative effectiveness research

Kaiser Health News has a list of eight provisions in the new health law that took effect this week as insurers, businesses and employers sort out what the new changes mean for them.

27 Sep 2010

Insurers irked by latest draft of spending requirements

"One of the most critical aspects of the federal health overhaul for insurers is shaping up as a mixed bag for the industry, as regulators issued draft rules Thursday on how the companies must account for how much they spend directly on patients' medical care," The Wall Street Journal reports. At issue is which expenses count as medical, versus administrative.

24 Sep 2010

Maine receives federal grants to upgrade electronic public health systems, scores of criminals provide home health care in Cal.

The Boston Globe: "Caritas Christi Health Care executives have told union negotiators they will shutter St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton and Carney Hospital in Dorchester if they can't close a deal for the six-hospital chain to be bought by a New York private equity firm. The warning was made during contract talks last week with the Massachusetts Nurses Association, according to two people who attended the meeting.

24 Sep 2010

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

A concerted effort to boost research on women's health over the last two decades has lessened the burden of disease and reduced deaths among women due to cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and cervical cancer, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. The effort has yielded less but still significant progress in reducing the effects of depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis on women, added the committee that wrote the report.

24 Sep 2010

First Edition: September 24, 2010

In today's news, more reports regarding the health reform provisions that took effect yesterday and more details on the GOP's "Pledge To America."

24 Sep 2010

NIH awards grants to treat HIV/AIDS in criminal justice system

Twelve scientific teams in more than a dozen states will receive National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants to study effective ways to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS among people in the criminal justice system.

24 Sep 2010

Efforts to reduce worker exposure to hazards during disaster response, cleanup

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is awarding $36 million in grants to 20 organizations that develop safety and health training for workers involved in hazardous waste operations and transportation, environmental restoration of contaminated facilities, and chemical emergency response. These training programs can receive annual funding for up to five years.

24 Sep 2010

Pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs

Vice President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that the nation's pharmaceutical manufacturers will provide 50 percent discounts on the cost of covered brand-name prescription drugs for beneficiaries in the Medicare Part D coverage gap, or donut hole, starting in 2011.

24 Sep 2010

TJMS, Lily team up to raise awareness on diabetes epidemic

Angie Stone and Anthony Anderson, spokespeople for Lilly's Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered Diabetes initiative, are teaming up with The Tom Joyner Morning Show for the 9th annual Take a Loved One to the Doctor Day, taking place on September 28, 2010.

24 Sep 2010

Reform positions play into campaign rhetoric

Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va., spent Wednesday touting the new health reform law as he campaigns to win re-election, unlike other Democrats. Perriello's visit occurred the same day that President Barack Obama appeared in Northern Virginia in an attempt to regain some momentum for the health reforms, which have been a top issue in mid-term congressional races across the country.

24 Sep 2010

Health Reform's Big Day: New consumer protections start now

Today marks the six month anniversary of enactment of the health reform law, and with it, a slew of consumer friendly provisions go into effect.

24 Sep 2010

Bay Area nonprofit hospitals struggle with finances; Medicaid plan for neighborhood clinics in New Orleans approved

When Mountain View's El Camino Hospital last month announced plans to lay off about 140 workers due largely to a rise in nonpaying clients, the medical provider highlighted a debate over the financial health of the Bay Area's nonprofit hospitals.

24 Sep 2010

New online health care reform resource from WebMD

WebMD Health Corp., the leading source of health information for consumers and health care professionals, is launching a new online resource to help Americans better understand the health care reform provisions that go into effect today. WebMD's health care reform resource presents a series of exclusive video interviews with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as well as in-depth editorial coverage, blogs, community and interactive polls.

23 Sep 2010

NextGen Healthcare becomes CCHIT Certified for Dermatology and Behavioral Health

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced that NextGen® Ambulatory EHR version 5.6, a CCHIT Certified® 2011 Ambulatory EHR, has been additionally certified for Dermatology and Behavioral Health in the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology's (CCHIT®) certification program.

23 Sep 2010

Researchers recruit pregnant women to study environment influences on children's health

The National Children's Study has initiated recruitment at 30 additional study locations around the United States. Study researchers at these locations seek to enroll women who are pregnant or may become pregnant in the next few years.

23 Sep 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

RPSPP for health benefits accepted into federal program

HHS pumps up rhetoric but eases rules on health insurance for kids

HHS Secretary announces $30M to expand HIV prevention efforts under President's NHAS

HHS announces grants to support public health programs

HHS awards grant to promote better primary care services for mentally-ill patients

Health law affecting insurers, employers and comparative effectiveness research

Insurers irked by latest draft of spending requirements

Maine receives federal grants to upgrade electronic public health systems, scores of criminals provide home health care in Cal.

Concerted effort yields significant progress in reducing depression, HIV/AIDS, and osteoporosis in women

First Edition: September 24, 2010

NIH awards grants to treat HIV/AIDS in criminal justice system

Efforts to reduce worker exposure to hazards during disaster response, cleanup

Pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide 50% discount on brand-name prescription drugs

TJMS, Lily team up to raise awareness on diabetes epidemic

Reform positions play into campaign rhetoric

Health Reform's Big Day: New consumer protections start now

Bay Area nonprofit hospitals struggle with finances; Medicaid plan for neighborhood clinics in New Orleans approved

New online health care reform resource from WebMD

NextGen Healthcare becomes CCHIT Certified for Dermatology and Behavioral Health

Researchers recruit pregnant women to study environment influences on children's health

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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