Health and Human Services News and Research

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HHS launches website to provide consumers with public, private health coverage options

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today unveiled an innovative new on-line tool that will help consumers take control of their health care by connecting them to new information and resources that will help them access quality, affordable health care coverage. Called for by the Affordable Care Act, HealthCare.gov is the first website to provide consumers with both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool.

2 Jul 2010

New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan from HHS

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today the establishment of a new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) that will offer coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition.

2 Jul 2010

Federal government launches new health insurance website

NPR reports that the website, which was mandated in the new health reform law, is meant to guide consumers through the process of securing health insurance.

2 Jul 2010

HHS grants $96M to increase diversity in health workforce

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the awarding of $96 million in grants to increase diversity in the health professions workforce and encourage nurses to choose careers as nurse educators.

2 Jul 2010

High-risk insurance pools open to people 'locked out' of market

People who have been unable to obtain health insurance in the commercial market because of pre-existing conditions can apply for a new, federally funded high-risk insurance pool beginning Thursday, The Wall Street Journal reports. "The program is the first major plank of the health overhaul signed into law in March, and it's designed as a temporary provision to expand coverage until 2014, when a requirement kicks in that insurers accept all applicants."

2 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 1, 2010

Today's health policy headlines highlight news about the launch of a government health insurance web site and the start of the high-risk health insurance pools mandated in the health reform law.

1 Jul 2010

Study results of triple combination therapy in patients with diabetes and hypertension presented at ADA 2010

Preliminary results of a pre-specified subgroup study analysis of patients with diabetes and hypertension demonstrated that the investigational triple combination therapy of olmesartan medoxomil / amlodipine / hydrochlorothiazide (40/10/25 mg) resulted in a statistically significant greater Least Squares mean reduction in blood pressure from baseline at week 12 (37.9/22.0 mm Hg versus 26.4-28.0/14.7-17.6 mm Hg, P less than or equal to 0.0013) as compared to corresponding dual combination therapy [olmesartan medoxomil (40 mg) / amlodipine (10 mg); olmesartan medoxomil (40 mg) / hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg); or amlodipine (10 mg) and hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg)].

1 Jul 2010

Ambitious high-risk health insurance pools supposed to launch this week

The Associated Press: "The Obama administration is launching a special coverage program for uninsured Americans with medical problems this week, the most ambitious early investment of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But here's the catch: Premiums will be a stretch for many, even after government subsidies to bring rates close to what healthier groups of people are charged."

1 Jul 2010

First Edition: June 30, 2010

Today's headlines highlight the results of a new tracking poll that indicate that the health reform law has gained popularity among Americans while implementation advances for overhaul initiatives such as high-risk pools and the early retiree reinsurance program.

30 Jun 2010

Federal agencies, state governments take action to educate, protect against serious risks of indoor tanning

As the scientific evidence mounts, more federal agencies and state governments are taking action to educate and protect Americans against the serious risks of indoor tanning. Recent and pending legislation in numerous states restricting access to indoor tanning, along with the federal 10 percent indoor tanning tax that goes into effect on July 1, are important steps in keeping Americans safe from overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and the potential for future skin cancers.

30 Jun 2010

Smoking bans in two Minnesota cities not associated with significant economic impact

The passage of smoking bans in two large Minnesota cities was not associated with job losses at bars and may in fact have contributed to higher employment in restaurants, according to new research.

30 Jun 2010

Study: Near-normal glucose control does not delay risk of organ damage in diabetes patients

In people with longstanding type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for heart attack and stroke, lowering blood sugar to near-normal levels did not delay the combined risk of diabetic damage to kidneys, eyes, or nerves, but did delay several other signs of diabetic damage, a study has found. The intensive glucose treatment was compared with standard glucose control.

30 Jun 2010

Health law provisions kicking in; States prepare for high-risk insurance pool implementation

Three months after health reform was enacted, state leaders are beginning to make decisions about implementing the new law, Politico reports: "With the messy politics of health reform, the burden of balancing state budgets and the goal of expanding health coverage, lawmakers at the state level have had mixed reactions."

30 Jun 2010

AMP commends Advisory Committee for addressing genetic education, training needs

The Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) commends the Secretary's Advisory Committee for recognizing the importance of professional and public education and training in genetics and addressing the needs in this area. AMP offers a number of continuing education programs for health professionals in genetics and genomics, including the AMP annual scientific meeting, outreach courses to health professionals, a review course in molecular genetic pathology, and online webinars geared to health professionals.

30 Jun 2010

Study indicates two treatment strategies can reduce progression of diabetic retinopathy

In high-risk adults with type 2 diabetes, researchers have found that two therapies may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in working-age Americans.

30 Jun 2010

ACRO calls for sufficient resources for FDA to monitor foreign clinical trials

The Association of Clinical Research Organizations, which represents the global CRO industry, today released the following statement regarding a report from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) titled Challenges to FDA's Ability to Monitor and Inspect Foreign Clinical Trials.

30 Jun 2010

New strategies can improve continuity of primary care, shorten patient waiting time

A national shortage of primary care doctors plus a growing population of older adults, many with chronic diseases, is leading in some underserved areas to longer wait times to see a doctor and is reducing patients' chances of seeing their own physician, experts say.

30 Jun 2010

School-based program lowers obesity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in high risk youth

An intervention in middle schools lowered the obesity rate in students at highest risk for type 2 diabetes, those who started out overweight or obese in sixth grade, an NIH-funded study has found. However, schools that implemented the program did not differ from comparison schools in the study's primary outcome-the prevalence of overweight and obesity combined-which had declined 4 percent in both groups of schools by the end of the three-year study.

29 Jun 2010

N.J. Gov. still undecided on whether to join lawsuit against overhaul while health care costs roil Mass. Governor's race

The Philadelphia Inquirer: N.J. "Gov. Christie says he has not decided whether to sign on to a 20-state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health-care law signed in March by President Obama. That makes New Jersey one of seven Republican-led states that have not joined the largely partisan fight. Interest groups on both sides of the debate are lobbying the governor, but some of his advisers say he should not join the suit.

29 Jun 2010

Health reform law this week: Some states to miss deadline on high-risk pools, tanning tax kicks in

USA Today: "The key early program of the nation's new health law aims to provide affordable coverage to about 200,000 people with pre-existing medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes, through federal high-risk insurance pools. The law called for the program to be in place last week, 90 days after its enactment, though the Department of Health and Human Services had said the programs would launch Thursday to coincide with the start of states' fiscal years."

28 Jun 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

HHS launches website to provide consumers with public, private health coverage options

New Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan from HHS

Federal government launches new health insurance website

HHS grants $96M to increase diversity in health workforce

High-risk insurance pools open to people 'locked out' of market

First Edition: July 1, 2010

Study results of triple combination therapy in patients with diabetes and hypertension presented at ADA 2010

Ambitious high-risk health insurance pools supposed to launch this week

First Edition: June 30, 2010

Federal agencies, state governments take action to educate, protect against serious risks of indoor tanning

Smoking bans in two Minnesota cities not associated with significant economic impact

Study: Near-normal glucose control does not delay risk of organ damage in diabetes patients

Health law provisions kicking in; States prepare for high-risk insurance pool implementation

AMP commends Advisory Committee for addressing genetic education, training needs

Study indicates two treatment strategies can reduce progression of diabetic retinopathy

ACRO calls for sufficient resources for FDA to monitor foreign clinical trials

New strategies can improve continuity of primary care, shorten patient waiting time

School-based program lowers obesity and risk factors for type 2 diabetes in high risk youth

N.J. Gov. still undecided on whether to join lawsuit against overhaul while health care costs roil Mass. Governor's race

Health reform law this week: Some states to miss deadline on high-risk pools, tanning tax kicks in

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

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