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CGD releases report on improving clinical trials, regulatory pathways for fighting neglected diseases

The Center for Global Development (CGD) last week released a new report on global health, the Global Health Technology Coalition's "Breakthroughs" blog reports.

8 Nov 2011

Economic burden of chronic hepatitis C-related liver disease

Health care costs for hepatitis C patients with end-stage liver disease are nearly 2.5 times higher than those in the early stages, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study.

8 Nov 2011

Health coverage issues for young and old: Broadening access to CHIP; closing the door on CLASS Act

As many states open CHIP programs to provide coverage for children of some state employees, the halting of CLASS Act implementation means consumers must carefully consider their long-term care options.

8 Nov 2011

Patient and nurse safety may be related by common causes

A safe working environment for nurses is also a safe environment for the patients in their care, according to a new study led by public health researchers at Drexel University. Researchers, led by Dr. Jennifer Taylor, an assistant professor in Drexel's School of Public Health, found that safety climate was associated with both patient and nurse injuries, suggesting that patient and nurse safety may be linked outcomes.

8 Nov 2011

South Africa draws inspiration from Brazil's health care system despite skepticism by some Brazilians, IPS reports

Inter Press Service reports on how the South African government, in setting up its own universal health coverage scheme, was inspired by Brazil's Sistema Unico de Saude or Single Health System (SUS), which was shaped during the 1980s when the system was restructured to make health care a universal right. However, IPS notes that the news may be met with skepticism by Brazilians with a negative opinion of the country's public health care system.

8 Nov 2011

First-ever Mantle Cell Lymphoma Symposium to be held on Nov. 12

The Lymphoma Division of the John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center with the participation from the Facebook groups "Hope for Lymphoma" and "Our MCL Family," will host its first-ever Mantle Cell Lymphoma Symposium on Saturday, November 12 from 8:30am - 3:45pm.

8 Nov 2011

Sen. Grassley seeks more public information on doctors; some experts say physicians could take tough stance with 'assertive' patients

Full public access should be restored to a federal databank on sanctioned doctors maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services, Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley said in a letter to the agency Friday. Grassley wrote to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to reiterate his objections to a decision by the Health Research and Services Administration (HRSA) to remove the National Practitioner Databank's Public Use File from its website.

7 Nov 2011

Medicare touts progress on closing doughnut hole

Meanwhile, MedPAC makes recommendations for controlling costs for "dual eligibles," and Medicare sees new rules bring costs down for weight loss surgery.

7 Nov 2011

Malpractice charges work way slowly through legal system, if at all

As hospitals and doctors try to implement new ways of preventing lawsuits, scrutiny of the system continues around the country.

7 Nov 2011

States trying to wrangle Medicaid costs, with some unintended consequences

Wisconsin is not alone in dealing with the thorny task of trying to lower the cost of its health care programs for low-income residents. Massachusetts no longer pays for restorative dental care and dentures. Washington no longer covers eyeglasses and hearing aids. Minnesota no long covers chiropractic care. … Every state plans to implement at least one policy to control Medicaid spending this fiscal year.

7 Nov 2011

Insurance Commissioners delay vote on brokers' fees

The National Association Of Insurance Commissioners meeting could not come to a consensus on the issue of whether to remove broker and agent fees from the expenses that insurance companies can count as administrative costs under the health law. In the meantime, GOP lawmakers have asked the IRS commissioner to clarify that individuals in state exchanges get any tax credits created under the new law.

7 Nov 2011

AMS pleased with CMS' increase in 2012 payment rate for proton therapy

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, said today that the recent announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicade Services (CMS) of a 15% increase in the payment rate of proton therapy for hospital based centers beginning in 2012 strengthens the economic case for the proton centers now under development by the Company.

7 Nov 2011

Blue Shield of Calif. turns to retail stores; Poll finds workers' share of health costs growing

Insurer's retail outlet in San Francisco will be in a supermarket. Meanwhile, a poll of large U.S. employer health spending by Modern Healthcare finds workers' costs are increasing.

7 Nov 2011

Proposals to raise Medicare age could raise costs too

NPR reports that raising the Medicare age could shift higher health care costs to others instead of saving money, while some lawmakers send a letter to the super committee opposing changing the tax exclusion for employer-sponsored health care.

7 Nov 2011

Conway to deploy PatientKeeper's physician healthcare information systems

PatientKeeper, Inc., the leading provider of physician healthcare information systems, today announced that Conway Medical Center has purchased PatientKeeper's suite of advanced clinical applications to automate physician workflow and drive physician adoption of healthcare information technology at their 210-bed hospital located near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

7 Nov 2011

Groups sound off on exchanges as governors wrestle with HHS over control

The issue of shaping health insurance exchanges is raising controversy even as states worry they'll bear the brunt of the public's anger over the law.

7 Nov 2011

Abortion and 'personhood' on GOP campaign agenda

State-level initiatives to restrict access to abortions help make social issues a major focus of the Republican presidential nomination contest.

7 Nov 2011

Gifts established at Case Western Reserve to educate physicians in integrative oncology

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is honored to announce gifts to establish the inaugural Parker Hannifin - Helen Moss Cancer Research Foundation Professorship in Integrative Oncology. This professorship will establish the School of Medicine and its affiliate hospitals as national leaders in teaching, research, and patient care in the field of integrative oncology.

7 Nov 2011

First Edition: November 7, 2011

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports on venture capitalists' new interest in companies that can curb health costs and concerns among states on implementing the federal health law.

7 Nov 2011

Toshiba to showcase new 56-inch LCD monitor for Infinix-i line at TCT 2011

In cath lab procedures, clearly visualizing complex vascular structures is crucial to making exams faster and easier. Toshiba will showcase a new 56-inch LCD monitor for the Infinix-i line at this year's Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) annual conference, November 7-11, 2011, in San Francisco, Calif.

7 Nov 2011