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State legislatures take on ultrasound mandate costs, employee health plans, Medicaid reform, malpractice

Democrats in the state Senate have sent Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell a list of conditions they want addressed before allowing a new state budget necessary to fund state services and operations to pass. … They want the state to pay for the ultrasound exams now mandated for women seeking abortions under a bill McDonnell signed Wednesday. ... And they want Medicaid eligibility restored for about 4,500 nursing home residents.

9 Mar 2012

Odds of adult mortality lower in PEPFAR focus countries compared with non-focus countries, study shows

"In an attempt to assess the impact of U.S. international assistance for AIDS, researchers from Stanford University carried out a review of the relationship between U.S. support provided through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and adult mortality in PEPFAR focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and whether there were differences in outcome between these countries and other African countries which did not receive PEPFAR support," NAM's Aidsmap reports.

9 Mar 2012

FDA clears Hospira's Symbiq 3.13 infusion device

Hospira, Inc., the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies, announced today that the company has received regulatory clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the Symbiq 3.13 infusion device, the enhanced version of the company's advanced infusion system platform.

9 Mar 2012

Viewpoints: Wilensky on bipartisan Medicare reform; Mass. 2006 health law and 2012 GOP politics; Reinstating advanced care planning

The Super Tuesday exit polls yielded a mountain of data in 10 states, but the most telling single statistic may have been in Massachusetts, which Mitt Romney won in a largely uncontested rout. Yet believe it or not, he still lost on health care. The exit poll asked voters their opinion of the "Massachusetts Health Care Law," with the options of Did Not Go Far Enough, About Right and Went Too Far. Remarkably, 51% said the bill went too far, while only 37% said it was about right, and 6% said not far enough.

9 Mar 2012

Elsevier to publish new journal of FPM, Health Policy and Technology

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announces that it will publish the new journal of the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine (FPM), Health Policy and Technology.

9 Mar 2012

3SBio, DaVita partner to offer dialysis services in NE China

DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) today announced it has entered into an agreement with 3SBio Inc., a leading Chinese biotechnology developer of biopharmaceutical products, to establish a joint venture for providing dialysis treatments in northeastern China.

9 Mar 2012

NCCN issues new guidelines for AYA oncology patients

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network announces that it has issued new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Oncology. AYA patients are defined in the guidelines as individuals 15 to 39 years of age at initial cancer diagnosis.

9 Mar 2012

Political cartoon: 'Cheapskate?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Cheapskate?" by Harley Schwadron.

8 Mar 2012

£1.2 billion over five years to be saved with Telehealth roll out in UK

Telehealth or telecare in health may soon allow people with long term conditions like heart disease, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) to manage their illness largely from home feel authorities.

8 Mar 2012

Diaverum takes an active role in 2012 World Kidney day

Diaverum, one of the world's leading renal care service providers, is taking an active role in today's World Kidney day. Through activities such as open door days at dialysis clinics, free kidney screening and blood pressure tests, Diaverum is increasing awareness for renal diseases and informing about possible prevention measures.

8 Mar 2012

Study investigates knowledge about khat among medical students in Yemen

A new study conducted by Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) researchers shows that a majority of medical students in Yemen believe that chewing the plant khat is harmful to one's health but they would not advise their patients to quit.

8 Mar 2012

Symposium to cover latest breakthroughs in percutaneous treatment of CAD

The agenda for the Optimizing PCI Outcomes: A Vision for 2012 symposium is now available at: http://www.pcioutcomes.com/conference/agenda.html. This evening symposium will feature the latest clinical and experimental breakthroughs in the percutaneous treatment of coronary artery disease, including the latest clinical data on current and second-generation drug-eluting stent device-based therapies.

8 Mar 2012

Africare hosts panel discussion on issues of health care, women and economic development

In honor of International Women's Day, Africare in partnership with Global Health & Diplomacy (GHD) and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), hosted a panel discussion and press conference focused on issues of health care, women and economic development in Africa and the developing world.

8 Mar 2012

States use retiree health care, Medicaid cuts to stare down budget gaps

State budget cuts are targeting health care and retiree health care programs in states around the U.S. In Maryland, a "doomsday" budget scenario could reduce Medicaid spending by $101 million while advocates push for reinstatement of Medicaid dollars in Idaho and Arizona.

8 Mar 2012

Progress made in talks with North Korea regarding food aid, U.S. envoys say

"U.S. envoys said there was progress in talks Wednesday on arrangements for the first U.S. government food aid shipment to impoverished North Korea in three years, part of an agreement aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear programs," the Associated Press reports.

8 Mar 2012

Public reporting improves diabetes care in Wisconsin clinics

In one of the first studies of the impact of publicly reporting quality measures on outpatient care, a research team has found that clinics made improvements in diabetes care when they began publicly reporting how they were treating patients with the chronic disease.

8 Mar 2012

International Women's Day provides opportunity to renew commitment to world's girls

In this Huffington Post "Global Motherhood" opinion piece, Kate Roberts, vice president of corporate marketing, communications and advocacy at Population Services International, marks International Women's Day, to be recognized on March 8, and its 2012 theme, "Connecting Girls, Inspiring Futures."

8 Mar 2012

Study suggests onchocerciasis can be eliminated with sustained distribution of treatment

"New research supported by Sightsavers and the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) shows that yes, onchocerciasis really can be eliminated when treatment is distributed in an area for a sustained period" and "found that the disease may already be eliminated in one Nigerian state, marking a significant milestone for onchocerciasis control programs," the Global Network for Neglected Diseases' "End the Neglect" blog writes.

8 Mar 2012

WPI professor receives NSF's CAREER Award for general purpose robots

Sonia Chernova, assistant professor of computer science and robotics engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), has received a five-year, $500,000 CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to conduct research aimed at paving the way for general purpose robots that can work effectively and productively alongside people in everyday settings.

8 Mar 2012

Global health community marks passing of U.S. Rep. Donald Payne

Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.), the first African American elected to Congress from New Jersey, died of complications from colon cancer on Tuesday at age 77, VOA News reports.

8 Mar 2012