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Survey finds high level of physician unhappiness with insurance companies

More than 10,000 physicians across the nation participated in Medscape's Insurer Ratings Report 2011. Feelings of outrage, resignation, and powerlessness dominated the comments that we received. In more than 4,700 physician remarks, the vitriol jumped off the page about physicians' perceptions of unjustified denials of claims, needless preauthorization demands, and requests for documentation that seem designed to stall payment for as long as possible.

7 Dec 2011

Health law's insurance exchanges studied, demonstrated

According to data from Connecticut insurers, the majority of health plans sold to individuals and small businesses provide less generous coverage -- most likely, at a lower cost -- than plans sold on the exchange will be required to provide. The analysis suggests that people buying insurance through the exchange could get plans that offer more coverage with lower out-of-pocket costs, but they would likely have to pay more for them.

7 Dec 2011

UH Case Medical Center designated as 'Top Hospital' and leader in quality patient care

University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio is among 65 hospitals nationwide to be designated as a "Top Hospital" and leader in quality patient care by The Leapfrog Group.

7 Dec 2011

Legislative update: A range of congressional health measures draw attention

New legislation was introduced to make drug price gouging a federal crime. Also, a measure is pending that seeks to make the upcoming Supreme Court term "must-see TV." The abortion battle will heat up again in a hearing scheduled today over the Prenatal NonDiscrimination Act.

7 Dec 2011

Study: Number of young people choosing nursing jumps

An increasing number of young men and women are opting for nursing as a career, says a study released Monday by the RAND Corporation. The study may serve to allay fears about a nursing shortage as the health care law is implemented and millions of people without insurance sign up for medical plans. It predicts that if the growth continues, there will be enough nurses to meet national health care needs by 2030.

7 Dec 2011

Multiple-employer health plans will be subject to quick enforcement procedures

Under a proposed rule stemming from the health law, the secretary of labor will have enforcement tools designed to protect employers, providers and workers from mismanaged or fraudulent multiple-employer welfare arrangements.

7 Dec 2011

Medicare enrollment deadline is tomorrow

Seniors enrolled in Medicare have until Wednesday to select a medical and prescription-drug plan for 2012. Medicare moved up its enrollment deadline to Wednesday from the traditional Dec. 31 deadline. Consumers who have Medicare and have not selected a plan have until Wednesday to switch plans. Even those who decide to stick with existing plans are encouraged to review their options because plans can change from year to year.

7 Dec 2011

Still on the Capitol Hill to-do list: Payroll tax holiday extension, Medicare doc fix

Reuters terms the tasks as "issues affecting Americans' pocketbook." The outstanding questions include how to pay for the payroll tax break extension - could Medicare offer some ideas? Also, could the doc fix fight spill over into January? One area where there appears to finally be a truce, though, is the fight over Tricare, the health insurance plan for the military. Meanwhile, Politico looks ahead to health policy issues in 2012.

7 Dec 2011

Business of Health: Iowa companies merging, 'rapid' growth for Mass. for-profit chain

In Iowa, two nonprofit nursing services are joining, and in Mass., Steward Health Care System's growth is worrying community hospitals.

7 Dec 2011

UCSF resident to receive 2012 William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship

The William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship Selection Committee has announced Matthew Christopher Tate, MD, as the recipient of the 2012 William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship. Dr. Tate, a resident in neurological surgery at University of California in San Francisco, will commence the fellowship on July 1, 2012.

7 Dec 2011

Family planning spending cuts will lead to 'more unwanted' pregnancies, 'unsafe abortions'

"Unwanted babies and unsafe abortion are major problems in the developing world, yet funding for contraception is limited because of attitudes to sex and abortion in donor countries," the Guardian's Sarah Boseley writes in her "Global Health Blog."

7 Dec 2011

Vietnam should shut compulsory rehab centers for drug users, sex workers, U.N. expert says

A U.N. expert on Monday "urged Vietnam ... to close down its compulsory rehabilitation centers for sex workers and drug users, stressing that detention and forced treatment violate their right to health and perpetuate stigmatization and discrimination of those groups in the society," the U.N. News Centre reports.

7 Dec 2011

First international agricultural communications symposium to be held on Feb. 17 at U of I

Is it possible to find common ground among colliding beliefs surrounding food and agriculture? Food security is one of the most pressing issues facing world leaders today, and despite the technological tools available to help more of the world's population reach self-sufficiency, an epic communications challenge remains.

7 Dec 2011

UCSD CNO wins Nursing Management's 2011 Visionary Leader award

Margarita M. Baggett, MSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, UC San Diego Health System, is the winner of Nursing Management's 2011 Visionary Leader award. The annual award recognizes a nurse leader who "views nursing as both art and science by promoting caring and competence as the link between science and humanity."

7 Dec 2011

New global map shows difficult-to-treat malaria strain remains prevalent in Asia, Latin America

"Declining malaria deaths in Africa and progress toward an effective malaria vaccine are raising hopes the disease will soon be eradicated worldwide," but "researchers at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, [on Monday] unveiled a new global malaria map that raises new concerns about the disease," VOA News writes.

7 Dec 2011

USA Today: Health law provision triggered $1.5 billion in prescription drug savings for beneficiaries

USA Today notes that the government is expected to announce today that the health law's Medicare doughnut hole provision triggered this savings. In other Medicare news, the federal government announced Monday that Medicare will allow its claims database to be used by employers, insurance companies and consumer groups.

7 Dec 2011

Integration of family planning, HIV programs 'makes sense'

In this Knowledge for Health (K4Health) blog post, Elsie Mwaniki, a communication specialist at K4Health, reflects on the integration of family planning and HIV services, writing, "Many HIV-positive women have an unmet need for family planning (FP) services," so providing these services together (FP/HIV integration) "makes sense."

7 Dec 2011

Mayo Clinic in Florida now offers kidney and pancreas transplants for HIV-positive patients

Mayo Clinic in Florida is now offering kidney and pancreas transplants to HIV positive patients with advanced kidney disease and diabetes. Evidence is now solid that HIV-positive patients have the same favorable outcome in terms of patient and allograft survival as non-HIV positive organ transplant recipients, says Mary Prendergast, M.D., a kidney specialist whose focus is the care of patients who receive kidney and pancreas transplants.

7 Dec 2011

Obese, overweight people at increased risk of cancer

More than a quarter of obese and overweight people do not want to lose weight and many more are unaware of the benefits brought by a healthy lifestyle, a new survey by Cancer Research UK reveals..

7 Dec 2011

Special 'ribbon cutting' event of new Rush University Medical Center on Dec. 8, 2011

Leading Chicago area government officials and other dignitaries will join Rush University Medical Center trustees, leadership, doctors and nurses on Thursday, Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. for a special "ribbon cutting" event, signifying the completion of the new hospital building at Ashland Avenue and the Eisenhower Expressway. Attendees will also receive a tour of key components of the new hospital.

6 Dec 2011

Healthcare News

Survey finds high level of physician unhappiness with insurance companies

Health law's insurance exchanges studied, demonstrated

UH Case Medical Center designated as 'Top Hospital' and leader in quality patient care

Legislative update: A range of congressional health measures draw attention

Study: Number of young people choosing nursing jumps

Multiple-employer health plans will be subject to quick enforcement procedures

Medicare enrollment deadline is tomorrow

Still on the Capitol Hill to-do list: Payroll tax holiday extension, Medicare doc fix

Business of Health: Iowa companies merging, 'rapid' growth for Mass. for-profit chain

UCSF resident to receive 2012 William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship

Family planning spending cuts will lead to 'more unwanted' pregnancies, 'unsafe abortions'

Vietnam should shut compulsory rehab centers for drug users, sex workers, U.N. expert says

First international agricultural communications symposium to be held on Feb. 17 at U of I

UCSD CNO wins Nursing Management's 2011 Visionary Leader award

New global map shows difficult-to-treat malaria strain remains prevalent in Asia, Latin America

USA Today: Health law provision triggered $1.5 billion in prescription drug savings for beneficiaries

Integration of family planning, HIV programs 'makes sense'

Mayo Clinic in Florida now offers kidney and pancreas transplants for HIV-positive patients

Obese, overweight people at increased risk of cancer

Special 'ribbon cutting' event of new Rush University Medical Center on Dec. 8, 2011

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PhD researcher at LifeArc

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