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End alternative medicine degrees say scientists

A group of more than 400 doctors, medical researchers and scientists are urging universities to close down alternative medicine degrees.

30 Jan 2012

Aged care needs an immediate boost

According to coalition of 28 groups, including health professionals, unions and charitable organisations the aged-care system needs to be overhauled and improved to avoid an imminent crisis. They warn that the aged-care system, designed in the 1960s needs to be revamped.

30 Jan 2012

In Florida, GOP presidential hopefuls wrestle with health policy issues

The candidates appear to be proceeding with caution regarding politically risky plans to overhaul Medicare while painting opponents in a harsh light.

30 Jan 2012

President Obama addresses research and innovation in SOTU

In this post on the Global Health Technologies Coalition's (GHTC) "Breakthroughs" blog, "Ashley Bennett, senior policy associate at the GHTC, offered her take on President Obama's State of the Union address, including his emphasis on research and innovation."

30 Jan 2012

Reflecting on Africa's successes, challenges in fight against malaria

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia and the new chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), writes in a Huffington Post opinion piece about Africa's efforts in the fight against malaria.

30 Jan 2012

New HIS guidelines to minimise surgical infection in day centres and primary care

New guidelines from the Healthcare Infection Society (HIS) aimed at minimising surgical infection in day centres and primary care are now published in The Journal of Hospital Infection .

30 Jan 2012

Medicaid drug payment rule change could lead to savings

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services estimates that the federal government could save as much as $17.7 billion over the course of five years as a result of a rule change that shifts more costs to drug makers and pharmacies.

30 Jan 2012

Previewing inaugural Malaria Policy Advisory Committee

The Malaria Policy Advisory Committee, convened by the WHO Global Malaria Programme and composed of 15 malaria experts, will hold its first meeting January 31 through February 2 in Geneva, according to this article in Malaria Journal, which is a prelude to a series on the group's policy recommendations and supporting evidence that will be published following each biannual meeting.

30 Jan 2012

NSABB explanation of decision to recommend censoring of bird flu research expected soon

The NIH is expected on February 1 to release a statement explaining how the U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity (NSABB) reached a decision late last year to recommend "that two scientific papers describing research that created strains of bird flu potentially transmissible in humans should be published only if key details are omitted," for fear "that terrorists or hostile nations could learn how to cause a pandemic," a New York Times editorial by Philip Boffey, Times science editorial writer, states.

30 Jan 2012

OIG: Data inconclusive about why docs leave Medicare

A report released last week by the Health and Human Services' Office of the Inspector General found that limited data made it difficult to gauge if issues surrounding the uncertainty of physician pay is driving doctors to opt out of Medicare.

30 Jan 2012

Report highlights gaps in health IT implementation

A report from the Bipartisan Policy Center noted that gaps persist in the nation's efforts to transition from a paper-based to a computer-based health records system.

30 Jan 2012

HHS denies Texas' request for MLR waiver

On Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services rejected Texas' request to delay implementation of the health law's medical-loss ratio requirement.

30 Jan 2012

Milk boosts brain and mental performance

Pouring at least one glass of milk each day could not only boost your intake of much-needed key nutrients, but it could also positively impact your brain and mental performance, according to a recent study in the International Dairy Journal.

30 Jan 2012

New simulation-based customer service training program for emergency department staff

A new training program for emergency department staff at Rhode Island Hospital teaches communication skills by having staff take part in simulations of real patient experiences. The goal is to improve the patient experience by standardizing both team and patient communication in an emergency department setting.

30 Jan 2012

Book launch marks anniversary of GABBA Program

On Monday 30th January at 6 p.m. in the Rectory of the University of Porto (Praça Gomes Teixeira), the Secretary of State for Science, Leonor Parreira and the ex-Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, Mariano Gago, will attend the commemoration ceremony for the 15th anniversary of the Graduate Program in Basic and Applied Biology (GABBA) at the University of Porto.

30 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 30, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include a report that GOP leaders are pledging quick action on legislation to extend the payroll tax break and to prevent a scheduled cut in Medicare physician payment.

30 Jan 2012

HHS denies Texas request for waiver from MLR insurance rule

The medical loss ratio rule is in the federal health law.

30 Jan 2012

Gingrich: Romney couldn't 'defend himself' on health care in debate against Obama

News organizations are covering the increasingly bitter Florida presidential primary race, which includes attacks on Mitt Romney's health care record by Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

30 Jan 2012

FTC terms Omnicare's proposed acquisition of PharMerica illegal

The Federal Trade Commission issued a complaint to block Omnicare, Inc.'s hostile acquisition of rival long-term care pharmacy provider PharMerica Corporation, alleging that the combination of the two largest U.S. long-term care pharmacies would harm competition and enable Omnicare to raise the price of drugs for Medicare Part D consumers and others.

30 Jan 2012

Washington State Medical Association weighs in on legislation in Olympia

More than 140 physicians met with legislators to voice their opinions on several bills that could significantly impact patient access to care and patient safety. The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), which held its annual Legislative Day this week, is working hard on legislation to preserve programs that are on the cutting block, and promote legislation that would benefit patients.

30 Jan 2012