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Experts outline three elements necessary for ending HIV/AIDS pandemic

According to a new editorial, the world can control and ultimately end the HIV/AIDS pandemic through a three-pronged strategy

22 Jul 2010

New insights on early pathogenic events, strategies for preventing HIV infection

In a plenary lecture at the 18th International AIDS conference in Vienna, Austria, Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., will present new insights on the early and complex pathogenic events that occur rapidly-within hours to days-following sexual exposure to HIV.

21 Jul 2010

ATLIS 2010 shows gap in patient-physician dialogue that may negatively impact patients' quality of life

Results from the landmark AIDS Treatment for Life International Survey, a multi-country survey of more than 2,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, revealed a significant gap in patient-physician dialogue about critical health-related conditions that may negatively impact patients' overall long-term health, quality of life, and treatment outcomes.

21 Jul 2010

Positive family relationships, religious affiliation mediate impact on illicit drug use

American-Indian adolescents continue to have the highest rates of illicit drug use among all ethnic groups. Although previous research has found that increasing adolescent exposure to protective factors can reduce their risk for substance abuse, this has not been thoroughly examined in American-Indian adolescents. Recent findings from a University of Missouri study reveal that positive family relationships and religious affiliation can counteract risk factors - including addicted family members, exposure to violence and deviant peers - associated with drug use.

21 Jul 2010

HHS seeking suggestions for online inventory of comparative effectiveness research

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking suggestions on what to include in a national database of comparative effectiveness research that will be available to the public online, the Kansas Health Institute News Service reports. "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published notice [Monday] in the Federal Register that it seeks suggestions on the sources of information to include in the inventory, how to categorize them, and ways to encourage use of the inventory once it is established.

21 Jul 2010

Policies that weaken ability of payers to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse must be rejected: PCMA

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt issued the following statement today on the recent U.S. House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee vote to provide the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Justice Department with $561 million for programs designed to combat fraud, waste, and abuse:

20 Jul 2010

USAID Administrator issues statement on CAPRISA 004 trial for preventing HIV infection in women

USAID is proud to be the major funder of the first-ever proof of concept that a microbicide can effectively and safely reduce the transmission of HIV from men to vulnerable women. An achievement of this magnitude could not have been possible without collaboration among governments, scientists, communities, and individual women at risk of HIV.

20 Jul 2010

BC-CfE study suggests HAART may prevent transmission, spread of HIV

The BC Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS published an important study today in the globally respected Lancet medical journal. The study strongly reinforces the view that the benefits of highly active antiretroviral therapy extend beyond treatment of the virus to significantly preventing the transmission and spread of HIV.

20 Jul 2010

Abortion fight again heats up over high-risk pools, other health reform news

Anti-abortion activists have "scored a victory" after a decision last week by the Obama administration to not allow the new high-risk pools in America to cover most abortions, The Associated Press reports.

20 Jul 2010

Erie County Medical Center to implement Allscripts EHR

Allscripts announced today that Erie County Medical Center Corporation, a 550-bed academic medical center in Buffalo, has selected the Allscripts Electronic Health Record (EHR) for 100 of its physicians to enhance the quality of patient care, improve physician and patient communications, and better manage the cost of care delivery in 24 outpatient clinics.

19 Jul 2010

SuiteMed applauds HHS final rules on "meaningful use" of EHR

SuiteMed, LLC applauds the long-awaited final rules from the US Health and Human Services Department on "Meaningful Use" of an Electronic Health Record.

17 Jul 2010

Cangene eliminated from ARS contract

Cangene Corporation today reports that it has been advised by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that Cangene has been eliminated from the competitive range with respect to its bid on a contract for developing a treatment for acute radiation syndrome.

17 Jul 2010

Maxygen's option and licensing arrangement with Cangene expires

Maxygen, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of improved protein drugs, today announced that its option and licensing arrangement with Cangene Corporation has expired. Under the agreement, Maxygen had granted Cangene an option to obtain an exclusive license to Maxygen's proprietary MAXY-G34 protein therapeutic for use in treating acute radiation syndrome.

17 Jul 2010

DOJ-HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force charges 94 people for $251 million in false claims

Ninety-four people have been charged for their alleged participation in schemes to collectively submit more than $251 million in false claims to the Medicare program in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Miami; Baton Rouge, La.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Detroit and Houston, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of HHS.

17 Jul 2010

Ingen files patent to produce new drug insulin thermos product

Ingen Technologies, Inc. (Pink Sheets:IGNT), an emerging medical device manufacturer developing innovative solutions for the respiratory market, with a new patented and proprietary medical product line targeting the $8B respiratory market, announced today that the company has also filed a U.S patent and will begin the required manufacturing processes to produce the new drug insulin thermos product.

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

President Obama's agenda, which includes a sweeping overhaul of the health care system, is coming under increased political scrutiny as lawmakers struggle with health budget challenges, and consider issues such as medical bankruptcy and improper Medicare payments.

17 Jul 2010

94 indicted in five-state crackdown on Medicare fraud

Law enforcement officers fanned out across five states Friday in what federal officials called the largest Medicare fraud bust ever conducted. Nearly 100 people were indicted in frauds that totaled $251 million.

17 Jul 2010

First in a series of day-long regional health care fraud prevention summits kicked-off in Miami

Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today kicked-off the first in a series of regional health care fraud prevention summits in Miami. The summit brought together a wide-array of federal, state and local partners, beneficiaries, providers and other interested parties to discuss innovative ways to eliminate fraud within the U.S. health care system.

17 Jul 2010

Treatment admissions for abuse of prescription pain relievers increases by over 400%: Study

The proportion of all substance abuse treatment admissions of those aged 12 and older involving abuse of prescription pain relievers rose by over 400 percent from 2.2 percent in 1998 to 9.8 percent in 2008 according to a new study be the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This dramatic rise in the proportion of admissions associated with the abuse of these drugs occurred among nearly all segments of the population regardless of age, gender, educational level and employment status.

16 Jul 2010

Lyophilized rPA anthrax vaccine more immunogenic than liquid formulation: Study

PharmAthene, Inc., a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, today announced results from a New Zealand White Rabbit study showing that its lyophilized recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine was more immunogenic than a liquid formulation of rPA vaccine and produced a robust response with only 2 doses.

16 Jul 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Experts outline three elements necessary for ending HIV/AIDS pandemic

New insights on early pathogenic events, strategies for preventing HIV infection

ATLIS 2010 shows gap in patient-physician dialogue that may negatively impact patients' quality of life

Positive family relationships, religious affiliation mediate impact on illicit drug use

HHS seeking suggestions for online inventory of comparative effectiveness research

Policies that weaken ability of payers to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse must be rejected: PCMA

USAID Administrator issues statement on CAPRISA 004 trial for preventing HIV infection in women

BC-CfE study suggests HAART may prevent transmission, spread of HIV

Abortion fight again heats up over high-risk pools, other health reform news

Erie County Medical Center to implement Allscripts EHR

SuiteMed applauds HHS final rules on "meaningful use" of EHR

Cangene eliminated from ARS contract

Maxygen's option and licensing arrangement with Cangene expires

DOJ-HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force charges 94 people for $251 million in false claims

Ingen files patent to produce new drug insulin thermos product

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

94 indicted in five-state crackdown on Medicare fraud

First in a series of day-long regional health care fraud prevention summits kicked-off in Miami

Treatment admissions for abuse of prescription pain relievers increases by over 400%: Study

Lyophilized rPA anthrax vaccine more immunogenic than liquid formulation: Study

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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

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