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GAO report: Millions of adults have pre-existing conditions

A report issued by the Government Accountability Office estimated that between 36 million and 112 million American adults have some form of pre-existing condition that could result in health coverage denials or restrictions.

27 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 27, 2012

Today's headlines include details of a new study finding that, as a result of the health law, consumers and businesses will receive an estimated $1.3 billion in rebates from insurance companies this year.

27 Apr 2012

Checklist for seniors to reduce risk of falls

For those 65 and older, falling can be fatal; in fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths among this age group, and some 40 percent of seniors fall at least once each year. Additionally, one in four who sustains a hip fracture from a fall will die within a year, and another 50 percent will never return to their pre-fall level of mobility.

27 Apr 2012

Feed the Future examines 'whole-of-government approach' to fighting global hunger

Tjada McKenna, deputy coordinator for development for Feed the Future, and Jonathan Shrier, acting special representative for global food security and deputy coordinator for diplomacy for Feed the Future, examine efforts to end global hunger through a "whole-of-government approach" in this article on the initiative's webpage.

27 Apr 2012

Congressional panel grills Minn. official over possible Medicaid overpayments

The state's commissioner for human services was called on to answer questions about why Minnesota got a $30 million payment from a managed care company.

27 Apr 2012

Blog continues coverage of International Treatment as Prevention conference in Vancouver

The Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog continued its coverage of the 2nd International Treatment as Prevention Workshop in Vancouver.

27 Apr 2012

California senate scales back bill to broaden abortion access

In its current form, the bill would allow 41 California non-physicians peform a certain first-trimester abortion procedure.

27 Apr 2012

After losing two state contracts, Molina Healthcare pushes on

Healthcare companies are tripping over themselves to profit from a flood of government contracts for treating the poor and disabled, and a family-run company in Long Beach with nearly $5 billion in revenue is trying to stay ahead of the pack.

27 Apr 2012

Nature outlook examines fight against malaria in Uganda

Nature Outlook examines the fight against malaria in Uganda. "Uganda's tragic failure to abate malaria has numerous political, geographic, economic and social factors -- and illustrates the reality that it takes more than scientific breakthroughs and cheap drugs to solve this persistent menace," according to the article. Nat

27 Apr 2012

Blogs examine malaria fight in recognition of World Malaria Day

Wednesday, April 25, marked World Malaria Day, which this year had the theme "Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria."

27 Apr 2012

Longer looks: Why we still have faith in physicians

This patient is no fool, and she does't award trust liberally. … Yet, somehow, (Mary) Morse-Dwelley never lost faith in Pellegrini. She'd hear the click of her doctor's shoes in the hallway, see her blond hair and funky glasses, and feel confident that she was in good hands. This, too, represents a broad trend: As we have become better-informed patients, we have grown more cynical about a health care system that is ever more corporate and reliant on technology.

27 Apr 2012

Mass. cost control legislation advances to Senate committee

The measure, more than a year old, was initially put forth by Gov. Deval Patrick but the panel's chair predicted "a significant redraft" before it reaches the Senate flooor.

27 Apr 2012

Home-based dialysis more popular in developing countries

Researchers at Lawson Health Research Institute have discovered that developing countries have faster growing rates of use of home-based dialysis (called peritoneal dialysis) for kidney failure than the developed world. Despite home-based dialysis' reduced cost and better outcomes, developed countries (including Canada) are using this form of therapy less.

27 Apr 2012

House GOP eyes prevention trust fund as means to pay for student loan plan

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has scheduled a Friday vote on the proposal, which some news outlets describe as a "bitter pill" for Democrats.

27 Apr 2012

New system assesses and records mobility of bedridden patients

Healthy people move an average of two to four times per hour in their sleep. The movements are triggered by pain that occurs when tissue has an insufficient blood supply. The sleeping person changes position involuntarily, relieves the pressure point and therefore prevents bedsores, which are known in professional jargon as "decubitus ulcers".

27 Apr 2012

Shutdown looms as committees, lawmakers spar over budget, spending cuts

The House Energy and Commerce Commitee, as well as other House panels, worked yesterday on various spending cuts and policy items with an eye on budget reconciliation. The GOP-led effort, which has very little chance of being taken up by the Senate, will likely lead to "a long summer of political skirmishing."

27 Apr 2012

Smarter purchasing of bednets could save $630M over 5 years, report suggests

"A new report from the Results for Development Institute," released to coincide with World Malaria Day on Wednesday, "suggests there are ways to save and reinvest badly needed funds, by getting better value for money out of the bednets distributed in endemic areas," Guardian Health Editor Sarah Boseley reports in her "Global Health Blog."

27 Apr 2012

Rochester researcher to continue MS study

A Rochester, New York, researcher will receive a $263,622 grant to continue his study of injury to brain cell connections (synapses) in multiple sclerosis (MS) through the American Brain Foundation (formerly the American Academy of Neurology Foundation) and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Clinician-Scientist Development Award.

27 Apr 2012

U.S. government 'catalyzing' international community to end preventable child deaths

"When it comes to promoting global health, the American people have much to celebrate and be proud of. With strong bipartisan support, the U.S. government has not only committed many billions of dollars and saved many millions of lives, it has changed the way the world approaches foreign aid," former U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Mark Dybul writes in an opinion piece in The Hill.

27 Apr 2012

USDA: Dairy cow in California tested positive for atypical BSE

This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that a dairy cow in California tested positive for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The USDA also confirmed the cow did not enter the animal feed or human food supply

27 Apr 2012