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Oregon health law insurance exchange never worked, officials questioned on problems

Oregon residents are facing a state health exchange application deadline in two weeks to get coverage at the beginning of 2014, even as the online aspect of the marketplace still doesn't work -- and never did. In the meantime, Oregon lawmakers question officials on the exchanges problems and when they knew about them.

22 Nov 2013

New Medicaid 'doughnut hole' creating some pressure on states, federal officials

Health law advocates are concerned about low-income residents who are left out of health overhaul in states that are not expanding Medicaid. Meanwhile, in other states, the new enrollment in the joint federal-state program is strong.

22 Nov 2013

Patients to have online access to their prescription data for improved safety

As part of its mission to accelerate the adoption of health information exchange throughout California, the UC Davis Institute for Population Health Improvement's California Health eQuality program awarded $400,000 to L.A. Care, the nation's largest publicly operated health plan, to develop Blue Button functionality.

22 Nov 2013

Study finds that anticipation of pain worse than pain itself

Faced with inevitable pain, most people would choose to get it out of the way as soon as possible, according to a new study.

22 Nov 2013

Electronic health records may be used to measure patient-centeredness of primary care practices

Although electronic health records (EHR) are primarily used to store patient clinical data, the non-clinical data they collect may be used to measure patient-centeredness of primary care practices, finds a new study in Health Services Research. In addition, two of the process of care measures collected via EHRs, volume of between clinician e-messages and frequency of in-person patient visits, were associated with better patient health outcomes.

22 Nov 2013

Board of Visitors approves resolution to create Faculty of Health Sciences

At its quarterly meeting this week, Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors approved a resolution to create a Faculty of Health Sciences.

22 Nov 2013

Longer looks: Parents' crusade on rare diseases; fighting obesity; experts' view of alternative medicine

In the beginning, Chris Hempel noticed the clumsiness. Her girls tripped over toys on the floor. Their grandfather said he couldn't teach them to pedal their tricycles. … The Hempels learned of people who called themselves citizen-scientists. Many shared research papers and their day-to-day experience. Some talked of their willingness to try any promising drug. Others sought a role as equal partners with researchers. Scientists, while sympathetic, generally believe their work should be left to experts. Families are encouraged to raise money if they want to help, but the traditional view is that amateurs can't shape research or find cures. The Hempels found a maddening gap between the search for scientific knowledge and the search for treatments (Amy Docker Marcus, 11/2013).

22 Nov 2013

Narrow choices for doctors and hospitals could keep costs down but add to consumer concerns

The Associated Press offers examples of limited networks that exclude some of the most prestigious hospitals in the Chicago and New York City areas.

22 Nov 2013

Reason for decline in stroke deaths still remains unclear

A national group of leading scientists, including one University of Alabama at Birmingham expert, says that for more than 100 years fewer people have been dying of stroke, yet it is still unclear why this decline remains constant.

22 Nov 2013

Investigation into Medicare payment decision spotlights issues of insider trader and 'political intelligence'

Investigators are hitting a wall in an insider-trading probe of how a government funding decision made its way to investors before it was officially released, according to people familiar with the probe.

22 Nov 2013

GOP formulates new attack strategy to swell opposition to health law

Republicans are planning new health law attacks with an arsenal of tactics including issuing talking points to members and hammering Obama administration officials at hearings all in an attempt to further unravel the law.

22 Nov 2013

Air quality forecast play an increasing role in mitigating health risk

As the link between air pollution and several illnesses has been established, air quality forecast will play an increasing role in mitigating health risk.

22 Nov 2013

High knowledge about HIV and risky sexual activity does not make teens more likely to get tested for HIV

Having high knowledge about HIV and engaging in risky sexual activity do not make high-school-aged teens more likely to get tested for HIV. Those are the findings of a new study by researchers at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

22 Nov 2013

How the health law is playing in the states

The Washington Post offers a table documenting how the overhaul is doing while USA Today chronicles successes and failures in three specific states.

22 Nov 2013

White House struggles with health law messaging

As President Barack Obama is pilloried for the rocky rollout of the law, the White House struggles with how to refocus the public's attention, since some of the strongest arguments for the law are longer-term benefits that are harder to comprehend.

22 Nov 2013

New tool provides first comprehensive guide to optimize ostomy management

Nurses caring for ostomy patients will now be equipped with an essential new tool that provides them with the first comprehensive guide to optimize ostomy management and enhance patient safety.

22 Nov 2013

State regulators share insurance 'fix' concerns with Obama

In a meeting at the White House Wednesday, a group of state insurance commissioners expressed concerns about President Barack Obama's proposal to extend canceled plans for one year that don't meet the requirements of the health law and both sides acknowledged that each state must come to its own decision about how to proceed.

21 Nov 2013

Proposed cancellation 'fix' may have limited reach

It remains unclear how many consumers may be affected because some state regulators and insurers are unlikely to go along. Meanwhile, in congressional testimony, an administration official placed the blame for the canceled policies on insurers, saying they had the opportunity to extend grandfathered plans.

21 Nov 2013

Bangladesh outperforms Asian neighbours despite low spending on health care

Exceptional improvements in the survival of infants and children under 5 years of age, life expectancy, immunisation coverage, and tuberculosis control in Bangladesh are part of a remarkable success story for health in the South Asian country, according to a major new Series published in The Lancet. This is despite low spending on health care, a weak health system, and widespread poverty.

21 Nov 2013

Antibiotic resistance holds stable in U.S. children's hospitals

Two studies published in the December issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology show antibiotic resistance patterns for children have held stable over a seven-year period and surgical patients in U.S. children's hospitals account for 43 percent of all antibiotic use in children's hospitals, presenting an opportunity for targeted intervention.

21 Nov 2013