Healthcare News

RSS

Study: Canada's drinking-age laws have significant effect on youth mortality

A recent study by a University of Northern British Columbia-based scientist associated with the UBC Faculty of Medicine and UNBC's Northern Medical Program demonstrates that Canada's drinking-age laws have a significant effect on youth mortality.

19 Mar 2014

Mass. cutting ties with insurance exchange website vendor after problems

The contractor, CGI Group, is also the lead contractor on the federal marketplace website.

18 Mar 2014

New study shows positive memories of exercise can influence future workouts

Getting motivated to exercise can be a challenge, but new research from the University of New Hampshire shows that simply remembering a positive memory about exercise may be just what it takes to get on the treadmill.

18 Mar 2014

House Democrats ask treasury to help domestic violence victims get health subsidies

Advocates for domestic violence victims and chronically ill people urge the Obama administration to issue rules enabling them to enroll in subsidized insurance. Meanwhile, doctors say they shouldn't be left holding the bag for new health plan enrollees who have 90-day grace periods.

18 Mar 2014

House GOP will seek health alternatives at April town-hall meetings

As the Republicans struggle to find an alternative to President Barack Obama's health law, they will test some of their ideas at the party meetings.

18 Mar 2014

Obama administration highlights 'sweet sixteen' bracket full of reasons to get health insurance

The White House is hoping to attract the interest of young people in the health law's coverage options by using unorthodox approaches such as linking insurance to March Madness and reaching out to "digital influencers."

18 Mar 2014

GOP, Dems predict fall victories, Boehner's 'absurd' claim on enrollments

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus called Obamacare "complete poison" on Sunday and vowed the GOP would continue to target the new health law in upcoming races. Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," he called the Affordable Care Act the "main target" for Republicans. And he said that David Jolly's victory over Democrat Alex Sink in last week's special congressional race in Florida's 13th District was largely due to opposition to Obamacare (Topaz, 3/16).

18 Mar 2014

State highlights: States urge some retailers to end tobacco sales; abortion in N.D., Ark.; Conn. assisted suicide

A selection of health policy stories from North Dakota, Arkansas, Connecticut, New York, California, Missouri, Arizona and Minnesota.

18 Mar 2014

New standard for U.S. heart transplantation

The Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute has set a new standard for U.S. heart transplantation by completing 117 adult heart transplants and two adult heart-lung transplants, for a total of 119 adult heart transplants in a single year. The previous number set in 2005, was 98 adult heart transplants performed in one year.

18 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: The lesson from Florida's special election; hospital deaths; costs of treating hep C

But in recent months, the political landscape has grown bleaker [for Democrats] .... The question, of course, is why so many Republicans turned out [in the Florida special election last week] and why so few Democrats did. The answer among strategists on both sides was: Obamacare. But not in the sense that the healthcare law is so unpopular that Democrats are doomed; in fact, as more people sign up for health coverage, polls suggest that Obamacare is a little less toxic now than it was last fall. Instead, the problem is that a high-decibel debate over Obamacare has the effect of prompting conservatives to come out and vote, but not liberals (Doyle McManus, 3/16).

18 Mar 2014

More compassion, resources required to help guide treatment choices for congenital heart disease

Based on a survey of parents of children with congenital heart disease, physicians delivering the diagnosis need to do a better job of showing compassion, ensuring parents understand all their options and providing easily understandable information, according to a new study published in the February edition of the journal, Pediatric Cardiology.

18 Mar 2014

White House to expand federal marketplace insurance plan standards in 2015, broaden choices

The Obama administration will rely less on state insurance regulators and private groups in determining which plans will meet standards to sell insurance on the federal marketplace.

18 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 18, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Obama administration announcement that more than 5 million people have enrolled in coverage under the health law -- an increase of about 800,000 in the last two weeks.

18 Mar 2014

Virginia business, hospital groups launch ads promoting Medicaid compromise

The radio promotion is trying to drum up support for a private option plan that would help insure thousands of low-income residents. Gov. Terry McAuliffe also is barnstorming around the state seeking to put pressure on Republican lawmakers who are opposed to the expansion of Medicaid.

18 Mar 2014