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Nebraska ranks 40th on Amnesty International's maternal mortality ranking

In releasing a new report on maternal health nationwide, Amnesty International today revealed that flaws and shocking disparities in maternal health care that the government is ignoring lead to two to three women dying daily in the United States from pregnancy-related complications, with half of these deaths believed preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A state-by-state examination shows that Nebraska is 40th on a maternal mortality ranking, with 12.6 deaths per 100,000 live births.

12 Mar 2010

Report shows 16.6% of women in Tennessee receive delayed or no prenatal care

In releasing a new report on maternal health nationwide, Amnesty International today revealed that flaws and shocking disparities in maternal health care that the government is ignoring lead to two to three women dying daily in the United States from pregnancy-related complications, with half of these deaths believed preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A state-by-state examination shows that Tennessee is 38th on a maternal mortality ranking, with 11.7 deaths per 100,000 live births.

12 Mar 2010

20.2% women in New Jersey receive delayed or no prenatal care

In releasing a new report on maternal health nationwide, Amnesty International today revealed that flaws and shocking disparities in maternal health care that the government is ignoring lead to two to three women dying daily in the United States from pregnancy-related complications, with half of these deaths believed preventable, according to the Centers for Disease Control. A state-by-state examination shows that New Jersey is 35th on a maternal mortality ranking, with 11.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.

12 Mar 2010

Amnesty International: New York stands 47th on maternal mortality ranking

12 Mar 2010

Amnesty International: Office of Maternal Health need to be established to reduce maternal deaths nationwide

Amnesty International called on President Obama today to quickly establish an Office of Maternal Health to lead government action to reduce soaring pregnancy-related complications and maternal deaths nationwide. The human rights organization said the government must take immediate steps to stop the loss of two to three women every day and reduce the risk of complications that now affect one-third of all pregnant women -- 1.7 million women a year.

12 Mar 2010

Baxter International, DVC present Phase III clinical efficacy data for PREFLUCEL

Baxter International Inc., in conjunction with DynPort Vaccine Company LLC, a CSC Company, today presented Phase III study data measuring the clinical efficacy for PREFLUCEL, a trivalent seasonal influenza candidate vaccine. PREFLUCEL is made using Baxter’s Vero cell culture platform and does not contain an adjuvant or preservatives. The data were presented at the International Congress on Infectious Disease (ICID) in Miami, Florida.

From Baxter International Inc. 12 Mar 2010

Sebelius attacks health insurers, they fight back

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius "pleaded with insurance companies on Wednesday to scrap their campaign against President Obama's health care bill and to work with the White House to pass it," The New York Times reports.

12 Mar 2010

Detroit federal jury convicts doctor in Medicare fraud scheme

Farmington Hills, Mich., physician Jose Castro-Ramirez was convicted today by a Detroit federal jury on all 13 charged counts in connection with his role in an $18.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.

12 Mar 2010

FDA provides guidance on Restanza clinical program in treatment of CABP

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided guidance on the clinical program required to assess the approvability of Restanza™ (cethromycin), a novel oral once-a-day antibiotic, in the treatment of outpatient community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) as well as biodefense indications including anthrax, plague and tularemia.

11 Mar 2010

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings reports decrease in net loss for full-year 2009

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

11 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 11, 2010

Today's headlines offer details of President Obama's continued full-court press on health reform with an appearance in Missouri. Meanwhile, work to move the bill toward a vote continues on Capitol Hill.

11 Mar 2010

NIH panel recommends delivery options for women: VBAC or cesarean

An independent panel convened this week by the National Institutes of Health confronted a troubling fact that pregnant women currently have limited access to clinicians and facilities able and willing to offer a trial of labor after previous cesarean delivery because of so-called VBAC bans.

11 Mar 2010

Investigators develop new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data

Investigators have developed a new mathematical approach to analyze molecular data derived from complex mixtures of immune cells. This approach, when combined with well-established techniques, readily identifies changes in small samples of human whole blood, and has the potential to distinguish between health and disease states.

11 Mar 2010

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Harvey Rosenfield, author of California's landmark insurance regulation Proposition 103—recognized as the most successful insurance regulation in the country—was joined today by people struggling to pay for health insurance in calling on President Obama and Congress to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates as part of the final round of votes on reform. Consumers must have a breather from yearly premium hikes like the 39% increase planned by Anthem Blue Cross, said Consumer Watchdog, which Rosenfield founded.

11 Mar 2010

Sebelius: Insurer's opposition to health measure works against them

The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius spoke earlier today at the America's Health Insurance Plans' national policy forum in Washington, D.C. and "warned health insurers Wednesday that opposing President Obama's health-care agenda and letting premium hikes continue would eventually hurt the health-care industry. ... Sebelius cautioned in stark terms that, if insurers opposed Democrats' health-care legislation, premiums hikes would continue and more small businesses would drop health coverage for their employees" (Yoest, 3/10).

11 Mar 2010

California rescission settlement benefits few consumers

The Associated Press reports on a new California state assembly report that found fewer than 200 people out of the more than 6,000 affected have taken advantage of benefits won by a settlement between state regulators and health insurers that dropped sick policyholders.

10 Mar 2010

Few CE studies compare medications with nonpharmacologic interventions, and examine safety or cost-effectiveness

An analysis of comparative effectiveness studies finds that few compare medications with nonpharmacologic interventions, and few examine safety or cost-effectiveness, according to a study in the March 10 issue of JAMA.

10 Mar 2010

Strong, local leadership is the key for success of health departments and activities

The surge of funds for bioterrorism preparedness over the past decade does not appear to be improving local public health resources in general, according to research from Purdue University.

10 Mar 2010

Medicare False Claims Act allegations: Rush University Medical Center to pay over $1.5M

Rush University Medical Center has agreed to pay $1,547,200 plus interest to resolve allegations that the facility violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today. Rush is alleged to have submitted false claims to Medicare during the period 2000 through 2007 by entering into certain leasing arrangements for office space with two individual physicians and three physician practice groups that violated the Stark Law.

10 Mar 2010

States struggle with strapped budgets, cuts to health programs

The Dallas Morning News: "Lawmakers have been thinking ahead to a massive shortfall, topping $10 billion, that's probably coming when they write the next budget in 2011. But state officials told them Monday that they'll have to fix a hole in the current budget, too.

10 Mar 2010