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Medicare overpays advantage plans billions because of billing errors: report

An investigation by the Center for Public Integrity examines how use of a "risk score" that is supposed to help protect the private plans if they have an excess of sicker beneficiaries may have been mishandled.

5 Jun 2014

Federal appeals court blocks Ariz. abortion pill restrictions

The court said the state didn't present evidence that the regulations furthered women's health. Elsewhere, a bill to stop employers from denying birth control coverage in their plans is considered in New York.

5 Jun 2014

Loyola achieves 68% decrease in central line-associated bloodstream infections

Loyola University Medical Center achieved a 68 percent decrease in the overall number of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) over a 12-month period. A two-year study compared the use of disinfection caps to an intense scrub-the-hub intervention to standard care. Scrub-the-hub refers to cleaning catheter connector hubs and injection ports with alcohol for the recommended 15 seconds before accessing the central line, a catheter placed in a large vein to deliver medicine and liquids during hospitalization.

5 Jun 2014

Kelley Thompson selected to receive 2014 PCFSN Community Leadership Award

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition (PCFSN) has selected Kelley Thompson to receive a 2014 PCFSN Community Leadership Award. The award is given to individuals and organizations who significantly improve the lives of others through sports, fitness or nutrition-related programs within local neighborhoods.

5 Jun 2014

Healthcare providers reluctant to ask heart failure patients about end-of-life plans

Healthcare providers are reluctant to discuss end-of-life care with heart failure patients and their families because they feel uncomfortable broaching the topic or lack time, according to a new study presented at the Quality of Care and Outcomes Research 2014 Scientific Sessions.

5 Jun 2014

Study examines impact of switching breakfast eating habits on weight loss

Breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day. Nutritionists regularly suggest it be eaten each morning for many health benefits, including weight loss and weight maintenance.

5 Jun 2014

Transforming health care with data proves daunting

Speakers at Health Datapalooza, the annual convention for data geeks, doctors, researchers and patients, offered numerous examples of how people are trying to use data to make medical care safer, swifter and less expensive. But most of those projects are still works in progress.

5 Jun 2014

Tailored light treatment can improve sleep and behavior in people with Alzheimer's disease

A new study suggests that light treatment tailored to increase circadian stimulation during the day may improve sleep, depression and agitation in people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.

5 Jun 2014

Congress wrestles with best way to solve VA problems

Lawmakers ponder whether to expand the system or just give veterans more opportunities to opt into private health care at federal expense. Some analysts say, though, that any fixes could be held up in the Senate by election year bickering.

5 Jun 2014

New edible films contain oils from clove and oregano that preserve bread longer

Essential oils have boomed in popularity as more people seek out alternatives to replace their synthetic cleaning products, anti-mosquito sprays and medicines. Now scientists are tapping them as candidates to preserve food in a more consumer-friendly way.

5 Jun 2014

My Cancer Genome unveils second-generation mobile app

My Cancer Genome (MCG), an online precision cancer medicine tool developed by researchers at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, has unveiled a free, second-generation mobile app that provides even more information about genetic alterations in various types of cancer and the therapies available to treat those alterations.

5 Jun 2014

Citing patient danger, Minn. takes over nursing home

The state health department says it took over the Camden Care Center because of serious violations that endangered patients and a high number of regulatory violations.

5 Jun 2014

Soda consumers may get much higher dose of harmful sugar fructose than labels show

Soda consumers may be getting a much higher dose of the harmful sugar fructose than they have been led to believe, according to a new study by the Childhood Obesity Research Center (CORC) at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), part of Keck Medicine of USC.

5 Jun 2014

Democrats tout Medicaid expansion in campaigns

But House Republicans are divided over their promise to vote on a health law alternative this year as millions of Americans are now enrolled in expanded Medicaid and subsidized private coverage.

5 Jun 2014

NORD's letter to FDA raises concerns on rare diseases

In a letter submitted today to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) urged Commissioner Margaret Hamburg to give serious consideration to the concerns of the rare disease community when setting policy regarding official names for biologics, including biosimilars.

5 Jun 2014

Cleveland clinic chief considered for VA post

Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, the top executive of one of the nation's most prestigious hospital systems and also a decorated Vietnam veteran, is being considered by the White House, reports The Wall Street Journal.

5 Jun 2014

PointRight releases PointRight Pro 30 to track and reduce rehospitalization rates

PointRight Inc., providing industry-standard analytics for healthcare providers and payers, announces the release of PointRight® Pro 30™, an upgraded version of its popular tools leveraging big data to track and reduce rehospitalization rates in long-term care (LTC) facilities.

5 Jun 2014

PruittHealth announces winners of 2014 Guiding Light Caregiver Award

PruittHealth recently announced the 2014 winners of the Guiding Light Caregiver Award program at their annual Spring Conference.

4 Jun 2014

Nurse residency program receives recognition for consistent, high quality care

The nurse residency program at University of Louisville Hospital, a part of KentuckyOne Health, is one of 12 in the nation to receive recognition for consistent, high quality care.

4 Jun 2014

AMS agrees to sell Gamma Knife and radiation therapy services business in Turkey to Euromedic

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, announced today that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Gamma Knife and radiation therapy services business in Turkey to Euromedic Cancer Treatment Centers BV.

4 Jun 2014