Health and Human Services News and Research

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Patient quality improvements a must for obtaining federal EHR stimulus fund, urge members of Congress

Congressman Patrick Kennedy (D, RI) and Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D, TX) have taken the lead in urging their fellow members of Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to require patient quality improvements as a prerequisite to obtaining federal electronic health record (EHR) stimulus funds.

10 Nov 2009

Yo-yo dieting and sugar-bingeing can lead to anxiety and withdrawal symptoms

In research that sheds light on the perils of yo-yo dieting and repeated bouts of sugar-bingeing, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have shown in animal models that cycling between periods of eating sweet and regular-tasting food can activate the brain's stress system and generate overeating, anxiety, and withdrawal-like symptoms.

10 Nov 2009

New FDA Food Code published

The Food and Drug Administration today announced the publication of the new FDA Food Code, a model code and reference document that provides a scientifically sound technical and legal basis for regulating the retail and food service segment of the food industry. The 2009 FDA Food Code is a key component of the President's overall public-health-focused food safety framework for maintaining a safe food supply.

10 Nov 2009

Needle exchanges could be limited under Congressional bill

The New York Times reports on federal legislation that could limit needle exchanges. "A bill working its way through Congress would lift a ban of more than 20 years on using federal money for needle exchange programs.

10 Nov 2009

U.S. Conference of Mayors commends the passage of Affordable Health Care for America Act

Today, the nation Mayors commended the U.S. House of Representatives on passing, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a historic piece of legislation, and an important step in reforming America's healthcare system.

9 Nov 2009

Americans United for Life Action endorses amendment to prohibit abortion mandates and funding in HR 3962

Americans United for Life Action endorses a key vote today on the House floor of the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment, an Amendment that blocks any federal money from going to abortion in health care reform.

9 Nov 2009

Bishops urge the House of Representatives to vote for Stupak-Ellsworth Amendment to health care reform

The U.S. bishops November 7 urged members of the House of Representatives to vote for the Stupak-Ellsworth Amendment to the health care reform.

9 Nov 2009

NHLBI stops enrollment in study comparing resuscitation strategies

Enrollment has ended early in a large, multicenter clinical trial comparing two distinct resuscitation strategies delivered by emergency medical service (EMS) providers to increase blood flow during cardiac arrest. The study's independent monitoring board and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), the lead sponsor of the study, stopped enrollment based on preliminary data suggesting that neither strategy significantly improved survival.

7 Nov 2009

Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices to install its locker system and patent-pending BACS

Auburn Hills, MI-based Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices, LLC (LEID) will be installing its locker system and patent-pending Biometric Access Control System(TM) (BACS) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Institutes of Health (NIH) based in Bethesda, MD.

7 Nov 2009

Program for safe school environments and violence prevention activities

In the wake of several recent highly-publicized stories about violence among school-aged children, a new report shows that school districts participating in the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative substantially improved the safety of their students.

6 Nov 2009

HHS announces contract awards for up to 120,000 treatment courses of intravenous antiviral drugs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced contract awards for up to 120,000 treatment courses of intravenous (IV) antiviral drugs to help treat hospitalized 2009 H1N1 influenza patients.

6 Nov 2009

Prescription drug abuse among teens: NCPIE, SAMHSA launches campaign

The National Council on Patient Information and Education (NCPIE), along with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and representatives from 15 nationally recognized prevention, health professional and child advocacy organizations, are launching Maximizing Your Role as a Teen Influencer: What You Can Do to Help Prevent Teen Prescription Drug Abuse.

6 Nov 2009

GenVec and SAIC-Frederick signs contract to develop influenza and HIV vaccines

GenVec, Inc, announced today that SAIC-Frederick, Inc. has signed a contract with GenVec for the development of influenza and HIV vaccines in support of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

5 Nov 2009

U.S. health officials offer no prediction of when all high-risk groups will have access to H1N1 vaccine

U.S. health officials briefing Congress on Wednesday would not outline a timeline for when enough H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines would be available to reach all high-risk populations in the country, the Washington Post reports.

5 Nov 2009

FDA and FSIS announce joint public meeting to prevent foodborne illness

A joint public meeting focused on improving the system for tracing of food products and ingredients that are causing illness outbreaks or presenting other risks to the health of consumers was announced today by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

5 Nov 2009

Montana State to introduce constitutional amendment to defend health care choice

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation's largest individual membership association of state legislators, congratulates Montana State Senators Jim Shockley and Greg Hinkle for announcing their intent to introduce a constitutional amendment to protect the right of individuals to make their own health care choices.

5 Nov 2009

False Claims Act lawsuit filed against Virginia Medicaid providers

The United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia have intervened in a False Claims Act suit in the Western District of Virginia against the Medicaid providers Universal Health Services Inc., Keystone Marion LLC and Keystone Education and Youth Services LLC, the Justice Department announced today.

5 Nov 2009

NIAID funds CCHI and IMVC programs to help identify new vaccines for emerging infectious diseases

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has awarded approximately $208 million to two programs that support research to better understand the human immune response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, including those that may be introduced into a community through acts of bioterrorism.

5 Nov 2009

NIAID renews contract to support inner city asthma research

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, has renewed the contract to continue studying asthma in children living in lower-income, inner-city environments.

5 Nov 2009

Shionogi files New Drug Application in Japan

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its partner, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has filed a New Drug Application (NDA) in Japan to seek regulatory approval for intravenous (i.v.) peramivir to treat patients with influenza. As a consequence of this filing, BioCryst will receive a regulatory milestone payment of $7 million under its agreement with Shionogi.

4 Nov 2009

Health and Human Services News and Research

Patient quality improvements a must for obtaining federal EHR stimulus fund, urge members of Congress

Yo-yo dieting and sugar-bingeing can lead to anxiety and withdrawal symptoms

New FDA Food Code published

Needle exchanges could be limited under Congressional bill

U.S. Conference of Mayors commends the passage of Affordable Health Care for America Act

Americans United for Life Action endorses amendment to prohibit abortion mandates and funding in HR 3962

Bishops urge the House of Representatives to vote for Stupak-Ellsworth Amendment to health care reform

NHLBI stops enrollment in study comparing resuscitation strategies

Law Enforcement Intelligent Devices to install its locker system and patent-pending BACS

Program for safe school environments and violence prevention activities

HHS announces contract awards for up to 120,000 treatment courses of intravenous antiviral drugs

Prescription drug abuse among teens: NCPIE, SAMHSA launches campaign

GenVec and SAIC-Frederick signs contract to develop influenza and HIV vaccines

U.S. health officials offer no prediction of when all high-risk groups will have access to H1N1 vaccine

FDA and FSIS announce joint public meeting to prevent foodborne illness

Montana State to introduce constitutional amendment to defend health care choice

False Claims Act lawsuit filed against Virginia Medicaid providers

NIAID funds CCHI and IMVC programs to help identify new vaccines for emerging infectious diseases

NIAID renews contract to support inner city asthma research

Shionogi files New Drug Application in Japan

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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