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Sebelius says HHS will not seek more money this year to implement health overhaul

"The Obama administration does not plan to seek additional money in next year's Health and Human Services Department budget to implement the new U.S. healthcare reform law, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Wednesday," Reuters reports. "Testifying before a House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee, Sebelius said the $911 billion HHS budget request for fiscal year 2011, which begins Oct. 1, remains the same even after Congress passed the healthcare overhaul," which "included $1 billion" for implementation by HHS.

23 Apr 2010

Report highlights 11 key categories of diseases, health consequences that occur due to climate change

A report released today by a federal working group highlights 11 key categories of diseases and other health consequences that are occurring or will occur due to climate change. The report, A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change, provides a starting point for coordination of federal research to better understand climate's impact on human health.

22 Apr 2010

Swine flu vaccine blues

Exactly a year after the swine flu outbreak vigilance, newer vaccine techniques and other measures are being emphasized by researchers and key decision makers. Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chairman of the World Health Organization's pandemic review committee and President of the U.S. Institute of Medicine says, we need to look at the past to learn from it.

22 Apr 2010

Merck to market and distribute MBL's Td vaccine in the U.S.

MassBiologics of the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Merck & Co., Inc. announced today that they have entered into an agreement that provides Merck with exclusive rights to market and distribute MBL's tetanus and diphtheria toxoids adsorbed (Td) vaccine in the United States, with the exception of Massachusetts, where MBL will continue distributing the vaccine.

21 Apr 2010

Some health insurers move to cover kids up to age 26 even earlier than law requires

Insurers will move even more quickly than required to keep young adults on their parents insurance plan, USA Today reports. "UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Kaiser Permanente and WellPoint said they will put into effect some provisions of the new health care law ahead of schedule to let adult children stay on parents' plans until age 26." The reason for moving earlier than the Sept. 23 deadline? "[T]he companies said they are changing rules now to prevent young adults from falling into a coverage gap" (Young, 4/20).

21 Apr 2010

Elan's first-quarter total revenue up by 27% to $310.5M

Elan Corporation, plc, today reported its first quarter 2010 financial results.

21 Apr 2010

Kaiser Permanente physician to receive ASH Marvin Moser Clinical Hypertension Award

Kaiser Permanente physician Joel Handler, MD, has been selected to receive a national award from the American Society of Hypertension for his "outstanding dedication to the treatment and care of hypertensive patients." The City of Orange resident is a critical care specialist at Kaiser Permanente's Anaheim Medical Center and has served area residents for over 30 years.

21 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 20, 2010

Today's headlines highlight coverage of the political implications of health reform as well as action taken by the nation's two largest insurers to meet a requirement of the new health law early.

20 Apr 2010

FDA launches CDRH Transparency Web site as part of agency's transparency initiative

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration launched the Center for Devices and Radiological Health Transparency Web site today as part of the agency's transparency initiative. The site will provide information about medical device and radiation-emitting product regulatory processes and decisions, and summaries of data that provide the rationale for agency actions.

20 Apr 2010

Two large health insurers extend coverage to young adults

The Wall Street Journal / Dow Jones: Two large U.S. health insurers have announced plans "to keep young adults on their parents' policies before a new law requiring such action goes into effect, and the government is working to get others to do the same. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, citing the insurers' moves, said Monday her department is 'working hard with other insurers on similar proposals' and sent letters offering to assist them in such efforts.

20 Apr 2010

Obama camp, industry shift from political battle to implementation focus

President Barack Obama's administration is shifting its focus from the politics of the health overhaul to the work of implementing it, which officials may pursue even more quickly than required by the law, The New York Times reports. Top health officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, White House adviser Pete Rouse, and Obama's health care lobbyist Nancy-Ann DeParle will all play central roles in implementing the law.

20 Apr 2010

Ingen Technologies provides update on Proxy vote and plans up-list onto OTCBB

Ingen Technologies, Inc., is an ISO Certified and FDA Registered medical device manufacturer with an emerging new medical product line for the respiratory market worth an estimated $4 billion in the U.S., and $8 billion globally. The company sells their patented and proprietary Oxyview and SMART Nasal Cannula along with their most recent released INGEN Pulse Oximeter. Today the company announced Proxy results and growth plans.

19 Apr 2010

Exposure to dust after WTC collapse impairs ability to detect odors and sense irritants

Individuals involved in rescue, recovery, demolition, and clean-up after the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster on September 11, 2001, were exposed to a complex mixture of airborne smoke, dust, combustion gases, acid mists, and metal fumes. The impact of this exposure on responders' upper and lower respiratory function has been well documented, but little is known about its impact on their sensitivity to odor and irritants.

19 Apr 2010

Study shows ultrathin flexible implants can effectively record brain activity

Scientists have developed a brain implant that essentially melts into place, snugly fitting to the brain's surface. The technology could pave the way for better devices to monitor and control seizures, and to transmit signals from the brain past damaged parts of the spinal cord.

19 Apr 2010

HHS and CMS announce grants to improve enrollment of eligible AI/AN uninsured children in Medicaid and CHIP

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced grants to 41 health programs operated by the Indian Health Service; tribes and tribal organizations; and urban Indian organizations. The grants will help improve outreach and enrollment of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) uninsured children eligible for, but not enrolled in, their state's Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP).

17 Apr 2010

Miami resident pleads guilty to role in fraudulent medical testing scheme

Miami resident Hans Lobato pleaded guilty today to engaging in a fraudulent medical testing scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).

17 Apr 2010

Pennsylvania awarded $1M in Recovery Act funding for managing chronic disease in older citizens

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced that $1 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been awarded to Pennsylvania to prevent and manage chronic disease in older citizens.

17 Apr 2010

Obama extends hospital visitation rights, medical decisions, to gays and other non-family members

The Washington Post: "President Obama mandated Thursday that nearly all hospitals extend visitation rights to the partners of gay men and lesbians and respect patients' choices about who may make critical health-care decisions for them. ... The president directed the Department of Health and Human Services to prohibit discrimination in hospital visitation in a memo that was e-mailed to reporters ... while he was at a fundraiser in Miami."

17 Apr 2010

Coburn casts doubt on health repeal this year; Health groups lobbying on implementation

The Hill reports Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said Friday that "Republicans can only 'nip at' the law until healthcare opponents take back the White House and gain majorities in Congress, or gain veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate. … Many conservative activists and Republican lawmakers have argued for full repeal right away, but others have said that won't be possible."

17 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 16, 2010

Today's headlines highlight the passage of a temporary extension of jobless benefits -- including a COBRA subsidy -- and a directive issued by President Obama to extend medical rights for same-sex partners.

16 Apr 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Sebelius says HHS will not seek more money this year to implement health overhaul

Report highlights 11 key categories of diseases, health consequences that occur due to climate change

Swine flu vaccine blues

Merck to market and distribute MBL's Td vaccine in the U.S.

Some health insurers move to cover kids up to age 26 even earlier than law requires

Elan's first-quarter total revenue up by 27% to $310.5M

Kaiser Permanente physician to receive ASH Marvin Moser Clinical Hypertension Award

First Edition: April 20, 2010

FDA launches CDRH Transparency Web site as part of agency's transparency initiative

Two large health insurers extend coverage to young adults

Obama camp, industry shift from political battle to implementation focus

Ingen Technologies provides update on Proxy vote and plans up-list onto OTCBB

Exposure to dust after WTC collapse impairs ability to detect odors and sense irritants

Study shows ultrathin flexible implants can effectively record brain activity

HHS and CMS announce grants to improve enrollment of eligible AI/AN uninsured children in Medicaid and CHIP

Miami resident pleads guilty to role in fraudulent medical testing scheme

Pennsylvania awarded $1M in Recovery Act funding for managing chronic disease in older citizens

Obama extends hospital visitation rights, medical decisions, to gays and other non-family members

Coburn casts doubt on health repeal this year; Health groups lobbying on implementation

First Edition: April 16, 2010

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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