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Shinseki: VA pushing to improve vets' access to care

US Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki was in New Hampshire Tuesday to visit the site of the new Veterans Center in Hooksett. The new center, which will be completed in August, is part of an effort by the VA to help Vets gain better access to medical care and mental health counseling.

12 Apr 2012

Without scale-up of aid, Africa's Sahel region facing humanitarian crisis, U.N. warns

"Senior United Nations officials on Tuesday made impassioned appeals to the international community to make more resources available to assist millions of people affected by the severe food and nutrition crisis in the Sahel region of West Africa, cautioning that global inaction could lead to a humanitarian disaster," the U.N. News Centre reports.

12 Apr 2012

Santorum -- who helped propel criticism of Romney's health law record -- suspends race

The former Pennsylvania senator didn't immediately endorse his opponent. Meanwhile, Politico details Newt Gingrich's latest comments comparing health care and makeup.

12 Apr 2012

Two UM events examine timely issue of medicinal marijuana use

Two events this week at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law examine the timely issue of medicinal use of marijuana.

12 Apr 2012

Mayo Clinic experts available to discuss mental health challenges faced by cancer survivors

April is National Cancer Control Month, which focuses on the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and on efforts to improve the quality of life of the more than 11 million cancer survivors in the United States.

12 Apr 2012

Hospitals step up efforts to control spending

Faced with the prospect that the Affordable Care Act's Medicare cost control measures will remain in place even if the Supreme Court rules its individual mandate and other insurance reforms are unconstitutional, hospital and physician groups are stepping up their efforts to control spending with a special emphasis on limiting labor costs.

12 Apr 2012

Number of people worldwide with dementia expected to triple by 2050; Caregivers need support, report says

The number of people living with dementia is expected to double to 65.7 million by 2030 and more than triple by 2050, with "the current estimated cost of treating and caring for those with the condition at $604 billion a year," according to a report released Wednesday by the WHO and Alzheimer's Disease International, Agence France-Presse reports.

12 Apr 2012

Experts share top 5 springtime fruits and vegetables that fight cancer

The price of springtime fruits and vegetables seems to increase each year. But when buyers break this expense down to cents, they realize stocking up on these cancer-fighting foods still makes economical sense, say experts from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

12 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Santorum pushed Romney on health care; GOP's 'classic male mistake'; ACOs and the anti-trust challenge

The Pennsylvanian was also by far the most effective Republican critic of RomneyCare. When he stood on stage in a debate and took apart the Massachusetts health law as a prototype for ObamaCare, Mr. Romney realized he couldn't coast to the nomination. That's when the former Massachusetts Governor came out with his own tax cut and tax reform plan to appeal to economic conservatives.

12 Apr 2012

Study reveals influence of family environment on individual's health status

The study -conducted at the University of Granada- has also demonstrated that having a high level of education and a job are also protective against diseases. The per capita income and per capita welfare of the region of residence are protective factors against diseases.

12 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 11, 2012

In today's news highlights, reports about the Obama administration's latest ACO announcement as well as a new poll exploring Americans' expectations for the Supreme Court's health law ruling.

12 Apr 2012

Screen time linked with obesity in children

Approximately 20 percent of adolescents in the U.S. today are obese or overweight. With the number of obese and overweight younger children close behind, this epidemic has lasting implications for the future.

12 Apr 2012

State roundup: Calif. essential benefits bill passes committee; Ariz. legislature OKs late-term abortion ban; States with longest doc waits

California Assemblyman Bill Monning, chair of the Assembly Committee on Health introduced AB 1453, which laid out a plan for what essential benefits will be covered in California under the Affordable Care Act. The proposed set of benefits is modeled on the Kaiser small group HMO plan

12 Apr 2012

Support for Global Fund helps work of PEPFAR

In this post on the State Department's "DipNote" blog, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby provides an update on the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, stating, "I am buoyed by the reform that is happening at the Fund under the leadership of new General Manager Gabriel Jaramillo."

12 Apr 2012

Education tool helps chest pain patients decide on stress testing

Chest pain patients educated about their future heart attack risk and involved in deciding care options were more likely than less-aware patients to opt out of stress testing, according to research in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal.

12 Apr 2012

When the economy is tough, hospitals woo well-insured patients

A study published in Health Affairs found that during the recession, hospitals have sought to establish themselves in affluent markets.

12 Apr 2012

Act now 'to prevent tragedy' in Africa's Sahel food security crisis

"The world appears reluctant to open its wallets to relief organizations dedicated to saving the lives of Africa's children until it's official. They want the United Nations to declare a famine," a Globe and Mail editorial states.

12 Apr 2012

U.S. spends more on cancer care, but gains time in return

A new analysis published in Health Affairs found that American cancer patients lived almost two years longer than those in 10 European countries -- leading the researchers to say that the additional expense is worth it.

12 Apr 2012

Access to modern contraceptives, family planning services is human right

"In the developing world, an estimated 215 million women who want to delay or avoid their next pregnancy cannot exercise this right as they lack modern contraceptives, resulting in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and more than 100,000 maternal deaths," UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin writes in this Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" blog post.

12 Apr 2012

Study: Health law would add $340 billion to nation's deficit

Although the health overhaul is touted by the Democrats as a means to control health care costs, a study by a Republican member of the board that oversees Medicare financing contends that it will add at least $340 billion to the federal deficit.

12 Apr 2012