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First Edition: July 22, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the continuing efforts in opposition to the health law as well as a Washington Post investigation into a "flaw" in U.S. health care pricing.

22 Jul 2013

High arsenic levels in rice pose potential threat to human health: Study

High levels of arsenic in rice have been shown to be associated with elevated genetic damage in humans, a new study has found.

22 Jul 2013

DaVita acquires dialysis operations of Malaysia's CDC Group

DaVita®, a division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. and a leading provider of kidney care services, today announced the acquisition of the dialysis operations of Malaysia's Caring Dialysis Centre Group by DVA (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.

22 Jul 2013

FDA revokes policy that prohibited sale of feed contaminated with Salmonella

On Tuesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration formally revoked a 1967 policy that prohibited the sale of feed contaminated with Salmonella. As a result of this policy change the agency will allow feed known to be contaminated with Salmonella to be fed to pigs, chickens and cattle.

22 Jul 2013

Study explores potential of program designed to prevent avoidable rehospitalizations

Recent federal legislation imposes financial penalties on hospitals that experience excessive patient readmissions within 30 days. A new study published today in the Journal of Hospital Medicine looks at the potential of a program designed to improve the discharge process and prevent avoidable rehospitalizations.

22 Jul 2013

Toshiba, Unfors RaySafe partner to improve clinical staff safety during interventional procedures

To improve clinical staff safety during interventional procedures and help monitor radiation dose, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. has partnered with Unfors RaySafe, Inc. to offer a new dose monitoring and management tool for Infinix-i cardiovascular X-ray systems. The Unfors RaySafe i2 displays real-time dose exposure information, helping to make exams safer for all clinical staff.

22 Jul 2013

Cedars-Sinai's first accredited Complex Surgical Oncology Fellowship program established

The Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute has established the medical center's first accredited Complex Surgical Oncology Fellowship program, joining an elite group of 16 U.S. hospitals that have received accreditation for this type of training from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, a premier evaluator of physician education programs.

22 Jul 2013

Registration now open for Mushrooms and Health Summit

Registration is now open for the Mushrooms and Health Summit held at the Mayflower Renaissance hotel in Washington D.C. on September 9-10, 2013. The meeting is of interest to scientists, writers and researchers looking to learn and discuss the unique and comprehensive examination of the global research that links mushrooms to today's and future health issues.

22 Jul 2013

African-Americans, Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites

Blacks and Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites, finds a new study in Health Services Research.

22 Jul 2013

Jersey Shore to present free educational conference focusing on thyroid cancer patients, survivors

On Friday, August 2, 2013, Jersey Shore, in partnership with Meridian Cancer Care and the Light of Life Foundation, will present a free educational conference featuring Meridian Health specialists.

22 Jul 2013

Experts to focus on health care challenges at U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products

Patient advocates, industry leaders, medical researchers, government officials, and investors will join together in Bethesda, MD, on Oct. 7 - 9 for the 3rd annual U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products.

20 Jul 2013

BCBSMA exceeds state and national health care spending standards in 2012

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts exceeded federal standards by $396 million and state standards by $242 million in the amount it spent on medical benefits on behalf of its members in 2012.

20 Jul 2013

State highlights: Court hears arguments on Fla. 'gun-gag' law; Univ. of Minn. seeks to scale back coverage; fewer Utah docs see Medicaid patients

The top attorney for the state of Florida asked a federal appeals court today to reinstate a Florida law that regulates what physicians can ask patients about gun ownership, asserting that the law does not actually stifle such questions. Yes, it does, countered a lawyer representing several Florida medical societies and individual physicians who challenged the law as an infringement on their First Amendment right to free speech (Lowes, 7/18).

20 Jul 2013

Washington University School of Medicine physicians join Coventry's Medicare networks

Coventry Health Care of Missouri, Inc. has signed an agreement with Washington University School of Medicine adding the school's physicians to two of Coventry's Medicare networks. Under the agreement, effective July 1, members of Coventry's Gold Advantage and Advantra Medicare Advantage plans can receive covered services, at in-network rates, from The School of Medicine physicians.

20 Jul 2013

Longer looks: Immigrant health tied to their status; one end-of-life expert confronts a personal journey

Every week reporter Ankita Rao selects interesting reading from around the Web.

20 Jul 2013

Aetna expands Dental Preferred Provider Organization network

Today Aetna announced the expansion of its Dental Preferred Provider Organization network, PPO II, to over 205,000 available dental practice locations nationally. The augmented network gives Aetna members greater access and choice when it comes to their dental care. Aetna's Dental PPO networks serve over nine million members today.

20 Jul 2013

Research roundup: Eye care disparities; more complications for Medicaid patients after spine surgery; the cost to states opting against Medicaid expansion

After analyzing 2003-2004 data of patients who underwent spinal surgery at two medical institutions, they found that Medicaid beneficiaries were at much higher risk of experiencing any type of complication than patients who are privately insured. "The results of our study further support the growing body of literature that Medicaid patients have higher rates of complications," the authors write. When evaluating patients and considering the likelihood of complications, "Medicaid status should be considered as well," they concluded (Hacquebord et al., 7/15).

20 Jul 2013

AACN Nurse Manager Priorities conference aims to meet unique needs of nurse managers

Today's increasingly complex healthcare environment requires nurses in management roles to balance staff leadership, patient care and budget considerations while also keeping their own nursing skills current.

20 Jul 2013

Health law views: Responding to 'farcical bit of political theater;' Senators call for revision of law's definition of full-time job

The recent announcement of the premium cuts in New York and President Barack Obama's health speech has galvanized opinion writers.

20 Jul 2013

Lower premiums in health exchanges -- but only if right people buy; other state online marketplace news

CBS News looks at the dynamics of the health exchanges. In the meantime, officials in Minnesota and Maryland are weighing how to educate consumers about the nuances of the marketplaces, while private organizations are filling that role in Texas.

20 Jul 2013

Healthcare News

First Edition: July 22, 2013

High arsenic levels in rice pose potential threat to human health: Study

DaVita acquires dialysis operations of Malaysia's CDC Group

FDA revokes policy that prohibited sale of feed contaminated with Salmonella

Study explores potential of program designed to prevent avoidable rehospitalizations

Toshiba, Unfors RaySafe partner to improve clinical staff safety during interventional procedures

Cedars-Sinai's first accredited Complex Surgical Oncology Fellowship program established

Registration now open for Mushrooms and Health Summit

African-Americans, Latinos receive less adequate mental health care than Whites

Jersey Shore to present free educational conference focusing on thyroid cancer patients, survivors

Experts to focus on health care challenges at U.S. Conference on Rare Diseases and Orphan Products

BCBSMA exceeds state and national health care spending standards in 2012

State highlights: Court hears arguments on Fla. 'gun-gag' law; Univ. of Minn. seeks to scale back coverage; fewer Utah docs see Medicaid patients

Washington University School of Medicine physicians join Coventry's Medicare networks

Longer looks: Immigrant health tied to their status; one end-of-life expert confronts a personal journey

Aetna expands Dental Preferred Provider Organization network

Research roundup: Eye care disparities; more complications for Medicaid patients after spine surgery; the cost to states opting against Medicaid expansion

AACN Nurse Manager Priorities conference aims to meet unique needs of nurse managers

Health law views: Responding to 'farcical bit of political theater;' Senators call for revision of law's definition of full-time job

Lower premiums in health exchanges -- but only if right people buy; other state online marketplace news

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

A new method to measure intracellular water in biological systems

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