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State highlights: States push greater mental health spending after Sandy Hook; Wis. move to delay dropping some from Medicaid may save money

At least 37 states have increased spending on mental health in the year since Adam Lanza shot dead 20 children, six school employees and his mother in Newtown, Conn. It's not just about money, either. States are experimenting with new -- and sometimes controversial -- ways to raise awareness about psychological distress, to make treatment more accessible for children and adults and to keep firearms away from those struggling with mental illness (Simon, 12/2).

3 Dec 2013

Members of Congress get different health marketplace experience than most ordinary customers

The Los Angeles Times explores the experiences for lawmakers and their staffs as they leave the federal employee health insurance system and move to the new exchanges.

3 Dec 2013

Reimbursement cuts for image-guided breast biopsies may reduce women's access to mammography

Drastic reimbursement cuts for image-guided breast biopsies, and other medical imaging techniques in the 2014 Medicare Fee Schedule Final Rule, may further reduce women's access to mammography and other breast cancer services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services directly cut imaging reimbursement every year since 2007. This, along with 12 Medicare imaging cuts in the last six years due to legislation, increasingly threatens patient care.

3 Dec 2013

Experts explain how to prevent heartburn during holidays

Attracted by the decadent treats, fried meats, and festive cocktails of the Thanksgiving-to-New-Year feast, heartburn can be an unwelcome guest during the holidays. According to the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, acid reflux affects about 30 million Americans.

3 Dec 2013

New report on global prevalence of anemia

Despite increasing efforts to diagnose and treat anemia worldwide, there remains a surprisingly large global burden of the disease, particularly among young children and women, according to a new report on trends in anemia between 1990 and 2010.

3 Dec 2013

Viewpoints: Where's Obama's 'Mission Accomplished' banner?; health law critics overlooking those denied affordable care in the past

Great news: The White House says that Healthcare.gov and the 36 federally run insurance exchanges are finally good to go. The only thing missing from Sunday's relentlessly upbeat progress report was President Obama in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner. Sunday's eight-page report was intended to meet Mr. Obama's deadline for fixing the site after its October 1 debut was a calamity. But the more important goal was political -- namely, claiming enough progress to prevent Democrats on Capitol Hill from joining the GOP demand for delaying the individual mandate to buy insurance or even the entire program (12/1).

3 Dec 2013

Tips to protect yourself from getting sick during cold and flu season

As you travel to visit friends and family this holiday season, don't leave home without the hand sanitizer. During cold and flu season, that's one of three things you can do to protect yourself from getting sick you're on the go.

3 Dec 2013

Consumers, employers face new round of health coverage challenges, decisions

News outlets offer consumer tips for using healthcare.gov and take a look at where things stand in terms of obtaining coverage as of Jan. 1.

3 Dec 2013

Siemens Healthcare to introduce new angiography system at RSNA 2013

At the 99th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, December 1-6 in Chicago, Siemens Healthcare (booth #1934, South Building/Lakeside Center at McCormick Place, Hall A) will introduce a new angiography system optimized for broad clinical utilization.

3 Dec 2013

Leapfrog announces list of 2013 Top Hospitals

The Leapfrog Group announced its list of Top Hospitals at its Annual Meeting today, highlighting the diversity of hospitals represented nationwide. Widely cited as the nation's most competitive hospital quality award, the Top Hospitals designation recognizes hospitals that deliver the highest quality care by preventing medical errors, reducing mortality for high-risk procedures like heart bypass surgery, and reducing readmissions for patients being treated for conditions like pneumonia and heart attack.

3 Dec 2013

Medicare looks to narrow discrepancy on what it spends in different parts of U.S.

Medicare wants to narrow the discrepancy on what it spends on some health services in different parts of the country. In the meantime, UnitedHealthcare is dropping hundreds of doctors from its Medicare Advantage plans and the Government Accountability Office says Medicare doesn't know how well its contractors' anti-fraud efforts are working.

3 Dec 2013

Medicaid expansion could exacerbate doctor shortage

As more people gain access to coverage as a result of the health law's expansion of the state-federal insurance program for the poor, finding doctors willing to treat them may be a challenge. Other stories look at how Americans in similar circumstances face vastly different health coverage options because of where they live.

3 Dec 2013

Physicians voice concerns about what the health law will bring in January

News outlets report on some of the specific issues that are causing physician organizations to worry.

3 Dec 2013

3D mammography identifies 22% more breast cancers than traditional mammography

Compared to traditional mammography, 3D mammography—known as digital breast tomosynthesis—found 22 percent more breast cancers and led to fewer call backs in a large screening study at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, researchers reported today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.

3 Dec 2013

Study identifies high burden of pain in older adults

More than half of older adults in the United States - an estimated 18.7 million people - have experienced bothersome pain in the previous month, impairing their physical function and underscoring the need for public health action on pain. Many of those interviewed by investigators for a study published in the current issue of PAIN- reported pain in multiple areas.

3 Dec 2013

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol may lead to more serious alcohol-related problems

Mixing energy drinks with alcohol is riskier than just drinking alcohol alone, according to a new study that examines the impact of a growing trend among young adults.

3 Dec 2013

Insurers worry about back end repairs to HealthCare.gov

The system that is supposed to deliver consumers' information to insurers still needs to be repaired -- with only 30 days to go before coverage is supposed to begin for many people. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reports that insurers will initially estimate what they are owed by the government rather than have the government calculate the bill due to another software problem.

3 Dec 2013

U.S. Administration to provide $5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

In an address recognizing World AIDS Day, President Barack Obama announced today that the U.S. Administration will commit up to $5 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria over the next three years. Specifically, he said the United States will contribute $1 for every $2 provided by other donors worldwide through 2016, up to $5 billion.

3 Dec 2013

Gore receives Shonin approval from Japan to market GORE C3 Delivery System

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. has received Shonin approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare to market the GORE EXCLUDER AAA Endoprosthesis featuring C3 Delivery System as a minimally invasive treatment for patients suffering from an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

3 Dec 2013

Oregon struggles to clear health insurance exchange's high-tech hurdle

Oregon's state-based health law online insurance exchange is still struggling in its quest to sign people up, and officials there are using paper applications to get the job done -- a time-consuming task. Exchanges also make news in Kentucky, California, Mississippi and Washington state.

3 Dec 2013