Healthcare News

RSS

Maryland's online insurance marketplace plagued by technical issues, discord

The director of the state exchange resigned Friday. Meanwhile, the web portal continues to be marked by operational difficulties that are undermining enrollment efforts.

9 Dec 2013

Lawmakers close in on 'cease-fire' budget deal

Lawmakers are close to finding accord on a budget that would undo only a few parts of the government cuts known as "sequester." In addition, the proposed budget wouldn't lower the debt or change the costs involved with health care programs in addition to leaving other programs intact.

9 Dec 2013

GOP uses weekly address to reignite Obamacare debate ahead of election season

In the GOP's weekly address, Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., said the health law amounts to the Obama administration telling Americans what's best for them and that it is also an example of the "war on women." Elsewhere, the health law is figuring prominently in early election politics.

9 Dec 2013

UC Davis experts call for updated prostate cancer treatment guidelines

With a deluge of promising new drug treatments for advanced prostate cancer on the market, a new model of care is needed that emphasizes collaboration between urologists and medical oncologists, according to UC Davis prostate cancer experts.

9 Dec 2013

Largest-ever immunization campaign under way in the Middle East

The largest-ever immunization response in the Middle East is under way this week, aiming to vaccinate more than 23 million children against polio in Syria and neighbouring countries over the coming weeks.

9 Dec 2013

Findings support health impact assessments of fine particles in Europe

Prolonged exposure to tiny particles of soot or dust found in traffic fumes and industrial emissions may be more deadly below current European Union air quality limits than previously thought, according to new research examining two decades of data from over 360 000 residents of large cities in 13 European countries.

9 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 9, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about new sticker-shock concerns over costs for coverage purchased through the health law's new online insurance marketplaces.

9 Dec 2013

Janssen announces first-of-its-kind pediatric HIV treatment donation program

Janssen, the pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson, today announced a first-of-its-kind pediatric HIV treatment donation program to improve access to the company's approved HIV medicines for children and adolescents failing HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa.

9 Dec 2013

New research report provides insights on retirement risks

Around 70 percent of pre-retirees plan to work longer in retirement, while only 37 percent of retirees took this approach to address retirement risks. These findings are one of several retirement planning issues covered in the Society of Actuaries new research report, "2013 Risks and Process of Retirement Survey." The report provides insights on how Americans decide to retire and how they manage resources in retirement.

9 Dec 2013

Revised Clinical Practice Guidelines on management of HCV published by EASL

The European Association for the Study of the Liver today publishes their revised Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on the management of hepatitis C virus infection. The EASL guidelines, which supersede the previous version published in 2011, are designed to help physicians and other healthcare providers optimise their management of patients with acute and chronic HCV.

9 Dec 2013

Atonomics reaches agreement to advance development of diagnostic test for lifestyle diseases

Atonomics announces today that it has entered into an agreement with Omron Healthcare, which will enable Atonomics to advance the development of the AtolyzerConsumer device for advanced diagnostic testing of lifestyle diseases in a consumer pharmacy setting. As part of the transaction Omron Healthcare is taking a minority equity stake in Atonomics.

9 Dec 2013

New web-based tool empowers people with epilepsy to seek specialized care

Receiving specialized care in a timely manner plays a significant role in the progression and impact of epilepsy on someone's life. Multiple organizations across the global epilepsy community have collaborated on "My Seizure, Know More" a web-based tool that empowers people with epilepsy and their families to seek specialized care.

9 Dec 2013

State highlights: N.C. panel finds Medicaid costs may not stabilize until 2020; Va. readies new mental health changes

State health policy stories from North Carolina and Virginia.

9 Dec 2013

Researchers assess direct out-of-pocket costs for couples undergoing fertility treatment

From drug therapy to IVF, out-of pocket costs can range from $900 to $19,000 per treatment cycle, report researchers in The Journal of Urology

9 Dec 2013

Every hour, every day a child is taken to a hospital as injuries surge 22 percent

High chairs and booster seats are commonly used to help make feeding young children easier. Although most parents assume these products are safe, millions have been recalled in recent years, and injuries associated with their use continue to occur.

9 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Health law is here to stay; problems for Obamacare go beyond website; future 'doc shock'

For almost two months, the debacle of healthcare.gov allowed conservatives to live the life they always wanted. Health reform was a dismal failure; Obama would go down in history as a laughingstock; government can't do anything; viva Ayn Rand! ... while things are far from completely fixed, the crisis is clearly over. Obamacare will have millions of beneficiaries by the time open enrollment ends; it will add many more in the 2015 cycle. Health reform is pretty much irreversible at this point (Paul Krugman, 12/5).

9 Dec 2013

Research roundup: 'Substantial' Medicare savings from avoiding ERs; new ways for primary care; trends in kids' fast food consumption

Some Medicare beneficiaries who place 911 calls to request an ambulance might safely be cared for in settings other than the emergency department at lower cost. Using 2005–09 Medicare claims data and a validated algorithm, we estimated that 12.9–16.2 percent of Medicare-covered 911 emergency medical services transports involved conditions that were probably nonemergent or primary care treatable.

9 Dec 2013

Study: Uncontrolled epilepsy associated with higher healthcare utilization

Seizures in people with epilepsy are commonly treated with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) but 30-40 percent do not achieve adequate seizure control, predisposing them to severe health risks, impaired quality of life and higher healthcare costs.

9 Dec 2013

Low-income women less likely to receive breast cancer treatment

Women with interruptions in health insurance coverage or with low income levels had a significantly increased likelihood of failing to receive breast cancer care that is in concordance with recommended treatment guidelines, according to results presented here at the Sixth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved, held Dec. 6-9.

9 Dec 2013

Ky. Gov. says state is 'gold standard' in implementing health law

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear touted his state's progress on implementing the health law in appearances on Capitol Hill Thursday during which he also urged his state's Republicans -- including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell -- to come see how the exchange is working.

9 Dec 2013