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'Super Committee' hears pleas to protect health program enrollees and providers

Some say the recession's toll could be even greater if Medicaid funding for mental health services hits the deficit panel's chopping block. Meanwhile, provider groups continue to make their cases to the committee.

23 Sep 2011

FDA denies FOIA regarding Gilead Sciences' Truvada correspondence, AHF sues

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over its denial of AHF's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests regarding correspondence between the FDA and Gilead Sciences regarding its potential application to the FDA to expand the use of its AIDS drug, Truvada, for use as an HIV prevention pill for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in uninfected individuals.

23 Sep 2011

Bachmann, Perry wrestle over HPV issue

During the last debate, Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry clashed over their positions on the HPV vaccine. During Thursday night's Orlando debate, the issue again emerged.

23 Sep 2011

Imaging cuts in deficit reduction proposal would restrict patient care, raise Medicare costs: ACR

The American College of Radiology (ACR) states that imaging cuts in the Obama Administration's deficit reduction proposal would restrict patient access to care and may actually raise Medicare costs. The ACR urges the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to reject the administration's imaging recommendations and work with ACR and other imaging stakeholders to create policies that ensure safe, appropriate care, promote quality and protect patient access.

23 Sep 2011

Consumer groups were among winners when HHS awarded insurance rate review grants

HHS this week awarded $109 million to states to strengthen the review process for proposed increases in health insurance premiums. Politico reports that some of the funding also went to consumer advocacy groups that often take on insurers. Meanwhile, California Healthline details what funding its home state secured.

23 Sep 2011

CLASS Act future in doubt

The health law's long-term care program, which has faced concerns about its fiscal sustainability, appears at risk following reports that the HHS office overseeing it faces a key staff reduction.

23 Sep 2011

Medicare, health reform hot topics as Romney, Perry spar in GOP presidential debate

GOP hopefuls across-the-board criticized President Obama's policies while Mitt Romney and Rick Perry accused each other of flip-flopping on health care issues.

23 Sep 2011

State, private exchange developments attract attention

In Oregon, the Senate confirmed Governor John Kitzhaber's recommendations for the Oregon Insurance Exchange Board. On the private side, Bloom Health, a Minneapolis startup, is continuing its efforts to create a national health insurance exchange.

23 Sep 2011

Six ways to prevent coronary artery disease

In honor of National Cholesterol Education Month, Hotze Health & Wellness Center (HHWC) is encouraging both men and women to take a proactive role in healthy aging, specifically heart disease prevention. HHWC is advocating effective measures to prevent heart attacks and is shedding new light on cholesterol myths and the dangers of cholesterol-lowering (statin) drugs.

23 Sep 2011

Complications requiring hospitalization after prostate biopsy rise: Study

In a study of complication rates following prostate biopsy among Medicare beneficiaries, Johns Hopkins researchers have found a significant rise in serious complications requiring hospitalization.

23 Sep 2011

First Edition: September 23, 2011

In today's headlines, the skinny on how health policy issues played in Thursday night's GOP presidential primary debate.

23 Sep 2011

Role of email advice in patients with sexual problems

More than two-thirds of men who contacted an email advice service run by a leading sexual advice charity had erection problems, which were frequently linked to loss of sex drive, according to research in the October issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

23 Sep 2011

DOJ faces strategic decisions in next steps on health law challenges

The Obama administration has to decide by Monday whether it wants to directly ask the Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of its signature health reform legislation. Since the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the health law in August, the administration can either ask the full court to take another look at the case or ask the Supreme Court to review it and issue a final decision.

23 Sep 2011

Study: Torontonians want non-profit organizations to provide programs and services

Torontonians want non-profit organizations to provide programs and services in their neighbourhoods that are relevant to their needs, held at convenient times and locations and have stable funding, a research study has found.

23 Sep 2011

Senate committee approves FY12 foreign operations appropriations bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved a $53 billion FY12 foreign operations appropriations bill, the Associated Press reports. "Reflecting the economic pressure, the bill is $6.2 billion less than President Barack Obama requested," the news agency notes.

23 Sep 2011

University of Chicago to create Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence

The Matthew and Carolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation is giving $42 million to the University of Chicago to create the Bucksbaum Institute for Clinical Excellence, a unique initiative that will focus on how to improve doctor-patient interaction.

23 Sep 2011

Cutting foreign assistance funding might mean death for world's poor

In this opinion piece in The Hill's "Congress Blog," Rep. Barbara Lee D-Calif. writes that cutting "funding of vital programs that focus on global food security, health, climate adaptation, and disaster relief, which make up less than one percent of the U.S. federal budget, will not get us far in terms of plugging the budget gap but they could literally make the difference between life and death for many of the world's poor."

23 Sep 2011

First Annual ACR Imaging Informatics Summit and Dose Monitoring Forum to be held from Nov. 3-4

Top radiology and policy experts will offer solutions to critical imaging informatics and radiation dose challenges at the First Annual ACR Imaging Informatics Summit and Dose Monitoring Forum.

23 Sep 2011

Commercial interests confound fight against NCDs, some experts say

The Washington Post examines the influence of commercial interests on the "political declaration" that emerged from this week's U.N. High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York. NCDs "are the globe's biggest health problem, responsible for 63 percent of all deaths each year, with incidence growing steeply in the low-income, rapidly urbanizing nations of the world," but they "are deeply entangled with important global industries, not only tobacco but also food, pharmaceuticals, advertising, transportation and construction," the newspaper writes.

23 Sep 2011

AARP launches ad campaign urging debt panel to steer clear of Medicare

According to the national ad campaign's script, which urges the deficit panel to take Medicare cuts off the table, Social Security payments have been earned by a lifetime of work and Medicare, the health insurance plan for seniors, is paid for by participants.

23 Sep 2011