Healthcare News

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Health exchange countdown: Insurers, regulators test drive new plans, TV ads

News outlets report on how the health law's online health insurance marketplaces will work, the products that will be available through them and the efforts to enroll millions of uninsured or underinsured people.

16 Jul 2013

Fixed-ratio transfusion protocol in trauma patients is feasible, but wastes blood plasma

The use of a 1:1:1 blood transfusion protocol in patients with severe trauma is feasible in hospitals, although it is associated with higher waste of plasma, according to a randomized trial published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

16 Jul 2013

Texas Senate passes abortion restrictions, opponents vow legal fight

Texas Senate lawmakers have followed their House counterparts in approving a series of abortion restrictions. The move has opponents vowing to take their fight to the courtroom and doctors at abortion clinics are worried the legislation could force them to shut down.

16 Jul 2013

SAMHSA awards System of Care Expansion Planning grants up to nearly $4 million

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is awarding System of Care Expansion Planning grants totaling up to nearly $4 million. The purpose of these grants is to develop a comprehensive strategic plan to expand and sustain the system of care approach to providing services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families.

16 Jul 2013

Ripple effect of employer mandate delay seen on policies, politics

Politico reports on how the Obama administration's decision may create some difficulties for employers. Other media outlets detail how Republicans will try to capitalize on it this week on Capitol Hill.

16 Jul 2013

Americans may choose to stop working due to Affordable Care Act

As a consequence of the Affordable Care Act, between 500,000 and 900,000 Americans may choose to stop working. That possibility is predicted in a new analysis of an analogous situation in reverse: the abrupt end of Tennessee's Medicaid expansion in 2005.

16 Jul 2013

Conversation guide helps doctor tackle end-of-life care planning with patient

How does a doctor tackle the delicate issue of end-of-life care planning with a patient? With an aging population and people living longer with chronic illness, it is increasingly important for patients and family members to decide how they and their loved ones would like to spend their final days. And for physicians in both hospital and primary care settings, it is crucial that they know how to address this issue with sensitivity.

16 Jul 2013

Health law opponents using campaign-style maneuvers

NBC News looks at the political tactics of conservatives hoping to derail the health overhaul. Meanwhile, one senator's attempt fails to cut funding and stop implementation.

16 Jul 2013

Health overhaul scam opportunities emerge

As the health law roll-out continues, more attention is being paid to the opportunities it may create for scammers and fraudsters.

16 Jul 2013

Insurance status affects spinal surgery outcomes

Among patients undergoing spinal surgery, Medicaid beneficiaries are at higher risk of experiencing any type of complication, compared to privately insured patients, reports a study in the July 15 issue of of Spine. The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

16 Jul 2013

Assurex Health announces release of new psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel

Assurex Health today announced the release of GeneSight Psychotropic 2.0, its lead psychiatric pharmacogenomic test panel. This latest GeneSight Psychotropic version has been updated to include four additional medications that now cover a total of 36 of the most commonly prescribed psychotropic medications in the US.

15 Jul 2013

Exalenz Bioscience launches BreathID Hp to test and treat H. pylori

Exalenz Bioscience, developer of advanced diagnostic systems that use a patient's breath to detect and help manage gastrointestinal and liver conditions, announced today the global launch of the BreathID Hp, a next generation device in the company's BreathID product line.

15 Jul 2013

First Edition: July 15,2013

Today's headlines include reports about the health law's implementation and status checks on how the measure's online insurance marketplaces are taking shape.

15 Jul 2013

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center receive highest rating

The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University received its highest rating, an overall "outstanding," on the competitive renewal of its National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant, along with recommended funding of $24.9 million over the next five years.

15 Jul 2013

Reid defends Obamacare as McConnell goes on attack

On "Meet the Press," the leaders of the Senate disagreed sharply on the future of the president's signature legislation. Other news outlets covered the appearances.

15 Jul 2013

Two upcoming votes in House part of GOP continuing assault on health law

House Speaker John Boehner said the chamber will vote next week to delay the 2010 health-care law's requirement that most Americans carry health insurance. At his weekly news conference today, the speaker said it's not fair for President Barack Obama's administration to keep that provision in effect while postponing enforcement of the requirement that businesses provide their workers with insurance (Hunter, 7/11).

15 Jul 2013

Researchers say type of helmet not associated with lower risk of concussion

40,000 high school football kids get a concussion every year, but contrary to equipment manufacturers' claims, the specific brand of helmet and helmet age were not associated with lower risk of concussion, say researchers presenting their work today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

15 Jul 2013

ACOEM, ACPM urge adoption of stronger national policies for preventive medicine

The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the American College of Preventive Medicine urged the adoption of stronger national policies to encourage preventive medicine - including in the workplace -- during a special Congressional briefing Tuesday, July 9 in Washington, D.C.

15 Jul 2013

Texas' strict new abortion law heads to Gov. Perry for signature

News outlets closely covered the developments surrounding one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country.

15 Jul 2013

State highlights: Calif. insurers, lawmakers fight over premium disclosure; For-profit hospital re-entrance in Mass.

Despite opposition from insurers, the Assembly Committee on Health last week approved a bill designed to lower health insurance premiums by requiring plans to disclose more information about their rates. SB 746 by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) would require insurers selling coverage to employers with 50 or more employees to provide more detailed information about how and why they raise health insurance rates. Leno said the bill was prompted by a recent dust-up between San Francisco unions and Kaiser Permanente. Union officials asked Kaiser for data and reasons for rate increases. Leno indicated he has not been satisfied with the insurer's response (Hart, 7/11).

15 Jul 2013