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Research roundup: Restricting Medigap coverage; Hospital-acquired infections

Increases In Mortality, Length Of Stay, And Cost Associated With Hospital-Acquired Infections In Trauma Patients -- This study explores the clinical and economic burden of hospital-acquired infections, the most common complication in hospitalized patients, for trauma patients.

22 Jul 2011

SAMHSA report provides insight on scope and nature of behavioral health issues affecting states

A new report providing state-by-state analyses of a wide range of behavioral health issues reveals that despite some wide variations among the states in the types and levels of problems they confront -- every state must deal with these issues.

22 Jul 2011

Health care company settles class action lawsuit after Katrina deaths

A New Orleans judge gave preliminary approval today to a settlement agreement that would end a class-action lawsuit against one of the nation's largest publicly owned health care companies.

22 Jul 2011

Exchanges: HHS official offers insights on state deadline, insurer roles

During a news briefing in Washington, D.C., Steve Larsen, deputy administrator and director of the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the CMS, discussed certain issues related to the establishment of state health exchanges.

22 Jul 2011

Deficit-reduction talks: Progress or stalemate?

As President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner continue trying to move toward an ambitious $4 trillion grand bargain, reports indicate that wide differences remain. Still in the mix are cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs that would be combined with revenue increases resulting from a tax code revamp.

22 Jul 2011

Premier healthcare alliance awards new agreements for talent management solutions

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced that new agreements for talent management solutions have been awarded to Astron Solutions of New York, a small business enterprise; and TEDS Inc. of Atkins, Va., a small business enterprise.

22 Jul 2011

Analyzing the impact of default worries on Medicare, Medicaid

News outlets report on the potential impact that the possibility of debt default is having on Medicare, Medicaid and state budgets.

22 Jul 2011

Effects of refusal and delay in childhood vaccination

Alison M. Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, assistant professor at Penn Nursing answers parents' questions about childhood vaccines. Dr. Buttenheim is a public health researcher and social demographer who studies parent behavior and child health.

22 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 22, 2011

Even as the debt talks continue, some news outlets explore the impact of this uncertainty on Medicare, Medicaid and state budgets.

22 Jul 2011

U.N. increases humanitarian aid need to $4.9B for 2011

The U.N. on Wednesday said during a donor meeting in Geneva that "it needs $7.9 billion this year, $500 million more than it had originally sought, to fund relief operations in the face of spreading humanitarian crises in Africa and Asia," Reuters reports (7/20).

22 Jul 2011

Allowing optometrists to perform surgeries may put patients at risk

Proposed regulations for a new state law which allows optometrists, who are not medical doctors, to perform a broad range of surgical procedures on the eye, fail to properly define the education, training and oversight necessary for this new scope of work that is typically performed by medical board-certified physicians.

22 Jul 2011

Somali President issues appeal for famine assistance

Somali President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed on Wednesday "issued an urgent appeal for international aid" for famine assistance in his country during an exclusive interview with CNN at his residence in Mogadishu. "The situation is very severe. The conditions are very harsh," he said (7/21).

22 Jul 2011

Senators introduce critical legislation to increase access to podiatric care

As Congress works to bring down the cost of healthcare delivery and reduce the budget deficit, Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) have introduced critical legislation that would increase access to podiatric care and save billions of dollars in the process.

22 Jul 2011

Grand bargains, fall-back plans and short-term deals — debt talk status checks

The status of ongoing negotiations to raise the debt ceiling changes daily, and news outlets report on the political and policy dynamics in play.

22 Jul 2011

A counter to claims that extending Medicaid drug rebates would help reduce deficit

Rep. Henry Waxman and Sen. Jay Rockefeller have introduced legislation that would extend Medicaid rebates to "dual eligibles" and those who qualify for the low-income subsidy program — a plan they say could reduce the deficit by $112 billion over the next ten years.

22 Jul 2011

U.S. must continue long-term investment in food security

In a post on USAID's "IMPACTblog," USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah describes the U.S. response to the drought in the Horn of Africa, as well as his visit on Wednesday to the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

22 Jul 2011

Sanitation pioneer earns Roll of Honour Award for lifetime service in Kigali, Rwanda

Professor Sandy Cairncross has received a unique honour from the governments of Africa in recognition of his major contribution to improving the health and well-being of Africans through his three decades of work to improve sanitation and hygiene across the continent.

22 Jul 2011

ICF receives HHS re-compete contract to leverage IT and health domain knowledge

ICF International, a leading provider of consulting services and technology solutions to government and commercial clients, has been awarded a re-compete contract from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the Surgeon General, Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps.

22 Jul 2011

Medigap policy options could lead to program savings, increased costs for enrollees, report says

Savings estimates range from $1.5 billion to $4.6 billion — depending on the proposal. Policymakers are currently eyeing some of these options to reduce Medicare costs in the ongoing deficit-reduction talks.

22 Jul 2011

Regulation of association health plans triggers questions

News outlets report on this and other issues related to implementation of the health law, including patient-centered outcomes research and how the so-called death-panel discussions are now echoing in the debate surround the Independent Payment Advisory Board.

22 Jul 2011