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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

Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California hosts 2012 Annual Conference

The Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California (MVCAC) will host its 2012 Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport in Burlingame, California. The top issues being addressed at the conference are a new Clean Water Act permit requirement that may result in mosquito control agencies being unable to provide the same level of protection from vector-borne diseases and the recent infestation of the Asian tiger mosquito in Southern California.

30 Jan 2012

Patients may not receive all necessary screening tests during medical checkups

New research finds that patients may not always receive all of the screening tests and counseling services that are due during their medical checkups.

30 Jan 2012

Research Down Syndrome enters second year of national running program

Research Down Syndrome (RDS), a nonprofit foundation that is among the leading sources for funding of Down syndrome related cognitive research, is entering the second year of its national running program, Race for the Extraordinary, to help increase public awareness and funding for Down syndrome research. The mission of RDS is the development of safe and effective therapies to address the intellectual difficulties associated with Down syndrome.

30 Jan 2012

Single-payer bill fails in California Senate

A single-payer health plan failed by two votes in the California State Senate Thursday.

30 Jan 2012

Signs motivate more people to take the stairs

Signs that read, "Burn Calories, Not Electricity" posted in lobbies of New York City buildings, motivated more people to take the stairs and continue to use them even months later.

30 Jan 2012

Supporting foreign aid programs

In this New York Times opinion piece, Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, writes that people's willingness to donate billions of dollars for humanitarian relief efforts "is a testament to human beings' generosity.

30 Jan 2012

Submissions open for 6th Annual Excellence in Urology Health Reporting Awards

The American Urological Association (AUA) today announced that submissions are now being accepted for the 6th Annual Excellence in Urology Health Reporting Awards, designed to recognize outstanding news coverage of urologic disease topics. Presentation of the awards will take place during the AUA Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta, GA, in May.

30 Jan 2012

Proposed Express Scripts-Medco merger endangers over 2,400 jobs in New Jersey

New Jersey would lose over 2,400 jobs, local economies would suffer and patients may be denied their choice of pharmacy if the proposed mega-merger of two prescription drug middlemen goes through, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) said today.

30 Jan 2012

Global hunger estimates 'are not infallible'

"While the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) estimated figures on global hunger often grab headlines, the uncertainty surrounding the numbers receives relatively little media attention," Guardian reporter Claire Provost writes in the newspaper's "Poverty Matters Blog."

30 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Health law's consumer safeguards; Shredding Medicare's safety net; Georgia's trauma crisis

Requiring the makers of drugs and medical devices to disclose most payments and gifts to physicians will protect patients and reduce medical costs. ... [the federal health law] requires the makers of drugs and medical devices to disclose most payments and gifts to physicians (1/27).

30 Jan 2012