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Ryan budget floor vote foreshadows fiscal showdown

The House Budget Committee approved the measure in a late vote Wednesday. Meanwhile, because it "fractures" the spending agreement reached last summer between the White House and congressional Republicans, both sides may be fixing for a fight as the election gets closer.

23 Mar 2012

State roundup: Union seeks $80M from N.Y. for health aides' insurance

As Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers lurch toward a budget deal, the state's largest health-care union is asking Albany for another bailout of its troubled insurance fund. The union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, is asking the state for $80 million more in Medicaid dollars so it can keep on providing health insurance to personal-care aides.

23 Mar 2012

Quest Diagnostics unveils redesigned corporate website

Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, has unveiled its redesigned corporate website at www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

From Quest Diagnostics 23 Mar 2012

Status checks on the health overhaul's implementation

A top Health and Human Services official told a congressional panel on Wednesday that his office is still figuring out how employers will be asked to determine their workers' health insurance status once the overhaul law goes into effect. The issue is important because beginning in 2014, companies with 50 or more full-time workers will be required to provide health insurance coverage or face paying a penalty.

23 Mar 2012

HCLA praises Congress on passage of medical liability reform legislation

The Health Coalition on Liability and Access today applauds Congress on the passage of medical liability reform provisions included in H.R. 5, the Protecting Access to Healthcare Act.

23 Mar 2012

Global health 'nowhere to be found' on G8 agenda

In this post in the Center for Global Development's (CGD) "Global Health Policy" blog, Amanda Glassman, director of global health policy and a research fellow at the center, summarizes the history of G8 global health initiatives and examines why global health has been dropped from the G8 and G20 agendas, writing that "as we look to the U.S.-hosted G8 meeting in 2012, global health is still nowhere to be found."

23 Mar 2012

FBR accepts entries for 11th annual Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards

The Foundation for Biomedical Research (FBR) announced today it is accepting entries for the 11th annual Michael E. DeBakey Journalism Awards. The awards, named after FBR's late chairman, Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, honor professional journalists whose reporting has enhanced public understanding of how the humane and responsible use of animal models leads to medical and scientific discoveries.

23 Mar 2012

Longer looks: Health literacy's effect on costs

In many families, women are the health care decision makers. When children go for their checkups, we are often the ones who make the appointment and sit in the room holding their hand. When elderly parents see a new specialist, we are the ones carrying the folder with all their health information. ... In the past, this also meant that many women would take care of their own health last. By the time they got around to it, women found a system stacked against them. But thanks to the health care law, that's changed.

23 Mar 2012

NYU Langone, BIAA mark March as Brain Injury Awareness Month

Rehabilitation experts from NYU Langone Medical Center participated in several events in conjunction with the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) to mark March as Brain Injury Awareness Month.

23 Mar 2012

Bloomberg Philanthropies pledges $220M over 4 years to global anti-tobacco initiative

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday announced his charitable foundation will "spend $220 million over the next four years to discourage tobacco use in developing countries, as he seeks to promote strategies around the world that curbed smoking in his city," the Wall Street Journal reports.

23 Mar 2012

Only few OB-GYNs routinely inquire about patients' sexual issues

How often does your doctor ask about your sexual life? Unfortunately, the answer may be: not often enough. Leaving the subject off the check-up checklist could mean missing an important link to overall wellness.

23 Mar 2012

Survey: Doctors violate professionalism online

A letter in JAMA found most state medical licensing boards are receiving complaints about some doctors' online behavior.

23 Mar 2012

CBT, PE can ameliorate treatment-induced menopausal symptoms in breast cancer patients

Researchers from The Netherlands have found that the menopausal symptoms caused by giving chemotherapy or hormonal therapy to younger women with breast cancer can be ameliorated considerably through the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and physical exercise.

23 Mar 2012

Johns Hopkins surgeons seek IRB approval to perform facial transplantation

Johns Hopkins surgeons have established a facial transplantation team and are in the process of obtaining approval from the University's Institutional Review Board (IRB) of their protocol to perform the complicated procedure.

23 Mar 2012

BUMC to open first dedicated cancer hospital in North Texas

Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas is opening Baylor Cancer Hospital, the region's first dedicated cancer hospital beginning in early 2012. The cancer hospital will provide inpatient cancer care services, a 24-hour oncology evaluation and treatment center, as well as an array of support services to cancer patients, their families and caregivers.

23 Mar 2012

Employers target lifestyle habits to improve health of employees: Survey

Organizations in the Chicago area report an increase of health-improvement and wellness programs according to a survey conducted in September 2011 by Aon Hewitt in partnership with Rush Health. The survey results will be released at the 9th annual Employer Symposium at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago on Thursday, March 22.

23 Mar 2012

Nearly three in five Kentuckians believe pain is just a part of life

New research released today finds that pain affects the majority of Kentuckians, yet most underestimate its severity and the need for effective treatment. The survey by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) uncovered that nearly three in five Kentuckians believe pain is just a part of life and two in five don't believe it can be eased with proper treatment.

23 Mar 2012

Human Immunity to Tuberculosis conference to take place from April 13-14

Leading international experts in tuberculosis and related diseases from at least 10 countries will gather at a Human Immunity to Tuberculosis conference April 13-14 in Atlanta. The meeting will take place at the Emory Conference Center, 1615 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30329.

23 Mar 2012

IBM, MSKCC partner to develop decision support tool for oncologists

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and IBM have agreed to collaborate on the development of a powerful tool built upon IBM Watson in order to provide medical professionals with improved access to current and comprehensive cancer data and practices.

23 Mar 2012

Lawmakers allege some drug companies inflate cost of scarce drugs with 'fake pharmacies'

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., is leading a congressional investigation accusing some drug distributors of opening "fake pharmacies" to drive up the cost of some pharmacueticals that are in short supply.

23 Mar 2012