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IOM proposes state, FDA actions to stop growth of counterfeit drugs

The Institute of Medicine Wednesday urged a series regulatory changes to help protect the public against buying fake or poorly made drugs.

15 Feb 2013

Kitchen table health assessments improve outcomes of Medicare Advantage members

A study by Matrix Medical Network and MVP Heath Care indicates that Medicare Advantage members who receive "kitchen table" health assessments have improved outcomes, including fewer hospital admissions, lower cost of claims and a higher level of satisfaction with their health plans.

15 Feb 2013

Wider use among young women drives higher use of 'morning-after' pill

Growth in use among 20-somethings has doubled the use of the "morning-after" contraceptive pill in recent years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

15 Feb 2013

Weekend reading: What your doctor should tell you, new stages of grief

Dr. Jim Dougher climbs into his white SUV, plugs the address of his next patient into the GPS, and he's off. The SUV is well stocked: He has a large Tupperware bin in the back full of bandages and wound cleaning supplies; he has a variation on the old-time doctor's bag with a stethoscope and blood-pressure cuff; and he has a dedicated cellular wifi hotspot and a laptop that can communicate with HealthCare Partner's electronic medical record.

15 Feb 2013

House GOP chairman seeks permanent solution to Medicare doc pay problem

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told physicians this week that he hopes to send "doc fix" legislation to the House floor this summer. Meanwhile, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., plans hearings for President Barack Obama's pick to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

15 Feb 2013

Relief efforts in Syria trying to keep pace, U.N. humanitarian aid chief says

"Relief efforts are failing to keep pace with the scale of the emergency in Syria, where the death toll has risen to nearly 70,000, the U.N.'s head of humanitarian operations said on Wednesday," the Guardian reports.

15 Feb 2013

Illinois is 3rd state approved to run insurance market in partnership with feds

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius joined Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Wednesday to announce the state had become the third to receive conditional approval to run a health insurance exchange in partnership with the federal government. Other states are also taking steps to develop their exchanges -- or, at least, mulling what to do next.

15 Feb 2013

Improving tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis: an interview with Professor Madhukar Pai, MD, PhD

TB is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Nearly 9 million people develop TB every year, and TB kills nearly 1.4 million individuals each year. While the incidence of TB has steadily declined in the west, it remains a huge public health problem in many developing countries, with India having the highest burden.

15 Feb 2013

Treasury pick says he will work to reduce Medicare spending, but offers few specifics

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama's references in his State of the Union address to modest changes to Medicare continue to generate examination.

15 Feb 2013

India announces plans to improve adolescent health, evaluate progress on child survival

"India's health ministry has announced plans to improve the health of adolescents and also to evaluate progress of states and districts on child survival under a fresh package of initiatives to reduce mortality among children under five years old," BMJ reports.

15 Feb 2013

Effective approaches to prevent and control obesity among Latino children

Guided grocery store trips, menu labeling at restaurants, community gardens, and video-game-based exercise programs are among several promising, culturally appropriate ways to prevent obesity among Latino children, according to a new collection of studies from Salud America! The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Research Network to Prevent Obesity Among Latino Children published in a supplement to the March issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

15 Feb 2013

State officials worry that doctors may not accept upcoming wave of new Medicaid patients

More than 7 million people are expected to gain insurance through Medicaid under the federal health law next year. In other news about implementation of the health overhaul, the trade group representing Catholic hospitals reserves judgment for now on latest administration policy on requiring contraception coverage.

15 Feb 2013

Pivotal Response Treatment improves brain activity in children with autism

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for before-and-after analysis, a team of researchers including a UC Santa Barbara graduate student discovered positive changes in brain activity in children with autism who received a particular type of behavioral therapy.

15 Feb 2013

IOM report offers recommendations to combat distribution of fake, substandard medicines

The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies "is urging stronger regulation of pharmaceuticals around the world to combat the growing problem of fake and poor-quality medicines," NPR's "Shots" blog reports.

15 Feb 2013

Magazine examines maternal mortality in Africa; Ghanaian TV series aims to improve maternal health

The U.N.'s Africa Renewal reports on maternal mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, citing a U.N. report released in May 2012, "Trends in Maternal Mortality: 1990 to 2010," which "shows that maternal mortality has declined by 41 percent in the past 10 years in" the region.

15 Feb 2013

Marshfield Clinic’s Heart Health Mobile app wins HSS competition

Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, a division of Marshfield Clinic, announced today that its first completed mobile app has won a national competition that challenged competitors to develop a program that will help improve heart health in the U.S.

15 Feb 2013

SANA releases new video on Benefits of Soyfoods for Active Adults

The Soyfoods Association of North America today announced that it has released a video on the Benefits of Soyfoods for Active Adults demonstrating how soyfoods can help you stay fit and healthy. Americans who are trying to lead healthier lives will find that soyfoods boost their energy, improve heart health, and provide antioxidants.

15 Feb 2013

Aspen Dental to inaugurate new office in Gallatin, TN on Feb. 21

Aspen Dental is proud to announce that a new Aspen Dental office is opening in Gallatin, TN on Thursday, Feb. 21. Located at 1007 Nashville Pike, the practice will provide dental services that range from dentures and preventive care to general dentistry and restoration.

15 Feb 2013

Benaroya Research Institute establishes T1D Exchange Biobank Operations Center

In a major effort to advance discoveries in type 1 diabetes research, the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) established the T1D Exchange Biobank Operations Center with a $4.4 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

15 Feb 2013

Virgin HealthMiles announces partnership with vielife

vielife, the global provider of health and wellness solutions, has today announced a partnership with Virgin HealthMiles. The partnership will enable Virgin HealthMiles to offer its customers' employees online health coaching as a flexible tool to encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyle choices.

15 Feb 2013