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Teenagers ignore warnings on skin cancer

For most teens, getting a tan during spring break or in preparation for the prom is as common as these rites of passage themselves. Although teens hear dermatologists’ warnings that tanning is the most avoidable risk factor in the prevention of skin cancer, studies find they forgo this advice in favor of the bronzed look.

3 May 2004

Medicare drug discount cards now available

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today that seniors and people with disabilities who receive Medicare can now begin to compare and choose the Medicare-approved drug discount card that best fits their needs in providing savings on their prescription medicines.

3 May 2004

Bush on healthcare

The way I like to kind of try to describe health care is, on the research side, we're the best. We're coming up with more innovative ways to save lives and to treat patients.

1 May 2004

Agreement supports students seeking health careers

Representatives of Ohio University and Columbus State Community College (CSCC) signed an agreement to form the Pathways Institute Partnership on Wednesday, April 28, in Athens.

30 Apr 2004

Pre-diabetes is far more common in America than previously believed

"Pre-diabetes" -- a condition that raises a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke -- is far more common in America than previously believed, according to a new HHS estimate released today.

29 Apr 2004

Medicare triples customer phone support

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. today announced that Medicare has more than tripled the number of customer service representatives available through its toll-free information line, 1-800-MEDICARE, which also received a record number of calls on Monday.

28 Apr 2004

Education campaign to inform people with Medicare about the new prescription drug savings

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today the beginning of a comprehensive education campaign to inform people with Medicare about the new prescription drug savings available to them through Medicare-approved drug discount cards.

28 Apr 2004

Launch of first national multicultural diabetes prevention campaign

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) launched the first national multicultural diabetes prevention campaign

28 Apr 2004

McGreevey signs landmark legislation designed to improve patient safety

Governor James E. McGreevey today signed landmark legislation designed to improve patient safety and save lives through comprehensive reporting of medical errors by hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities.

27 Apr 2004

WHO and UNICEF have announced a global reduction of 30% in deaths from measles between 1999 and 2002

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) today announced a global reduction of 30% in deaths from measles between 1999 and 2002. At 35%, the reduction in measles deaths was even greater in Africa, the region with the highest number of people affected by the disease.

27 Apr 2004

NYU School of Medicine and Bellevue to examine health issues in hispanic population

Renowned Latino leaders in the health and political community will gather at a free two-day conference to discuss issues affecting the community at “Latino Health: Progress through Action”.

27 Apr 2004

Illinois, hospital beds and other health care services to be monitored

Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich today announced the launch of a $450,000 Web-based system that provides the state with up-to-the-minute information from more than 200 hospitals in Illinois on the availability of beds and other critical health care services necessary to guide the response to an act of terrorism or other public health emergency.

27 Apr 2004

New steps to prevent drug card fraud

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D. today announced efforts that CMS is undertaking to strengthen oversight of the Medicare-approved Discount Drug Card Program.

23 Apr 2004

Organ donation bill signed into law

On April 5, 2004 the President signed into law H.R. 3926, the Organ Donation and Recovery Improvement Act. ALF has supported the passage of this bill for several years and we should consider its passage as one of our “victories.” The bill does the following things:

22 Apr 2004

HHS approves first-ever multi-state purchasing pools for Medicaid drug programs

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved plans by five states to pool their collective purchasing power to gain deeper discounts on prescription medicines for their state programs.

22 Apr 2004

HHS Launches Organ Donation Education Program for High School Students

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today released a new organ and tissue donation education program to raise awareness among high school students and to help them make informed decisions about donation.

20 Apr 2004

Hospitals Reclassified Under Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that 121 hospitals in 25 states will begin receiving higher payments for patients who are discharged on or after April 1, 2004. The increases are due to the geographic reclassification of these hospitals under a special one-time-only provision in the recent Medicare modernization law. The new payments will be retroactive to April 1.

20 Apr 2004

Study reveals brain function of poor readers can improve

A brain imaging study has shown that, after they overcome their reading disability, the brains of formerly poor readers begin to function like the brains of good readers, showing increased activity in a part of the brain that recognizes words.

19 Apr 2004

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association announce anti-fraud efforts

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) today announced a new Anti-Fraud Strike Force comprised of top Blue Plan investigators that will work with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other national, state and local law enforcement agencies to fight major insurance fraud schemes that rob consumers of millions of dollars annually.

19 Apr 2004

Medicare makes drug card enrollment easier

Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, today announced two new steps to help Medicare beneficiaries enroll in the Medicare drug card program.

19 Apr 2004