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Senate GOP faces tricky vote on House-passed budget

Democratic leaders are terming this week's Senate vote on the House-passed Ryan budget, including its proposal to revamp Medicare, a "defining issue." Meanwhile, some Republican senators have announced that they won't back the plan.

25 May 2011

Homeless people more likely to have family doctor if they possess health card

For every year a person is homeless, the odds of them having a family doctor drop by 9 per cent, according to a report by St. Michael's Hospital and Street Health.

25 May 2011

Biogen Idec launches educational forum, 'Women in MS'

Biogen Idec today announced the launch of "Women in MS," an educational initiative to address both the advantages and challenges female clinicians experience in treating patients living with multiple sclerosis.

25 May 2011

Abortion rates decline, except among poor women

The overall abortion rate dropped 8 percent between 2000 and 2008, but rose about 18 percent among the nation's poorest women.

25 May 2011

GP groups call for reinvestment into successful mental health program

United General Practice Australia – the coalition of the peak groups representing Australia’s general practitioners – has issued a strong united statement calling on the government to expand the Better Access program to meet the demand for mental healthcare in the community rather than reducing Medicare patient rebates for vital mental health services.

25 May 2011

Debt limit talks move to topic of finding savings in Medicare, Medicaid

In related news, projections released last week by Medicare's chief actuary concluded that spending on physician and hospital services will be significantly higher than expected if Congress reverses scheduled reductions in Medicare payments.

25 May 2011

USPTO awards Awarepoint patent for wireless interaction-based tracking system for hospitals

Awarepoint Corporation, the leading provider of real-time location systems (RTLS) for hospitals, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has awarded the company Patent No. 7,941,096 for a wireless interaction-based tracking system that helps hospitals enhance their patient safety, improve quality of care, and drive better financial outcomes.

25 May 2011

MIT, ADI partner to research and develop technologies for next-generation patient monitoring devices

Analog Devices, Inc., a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal-processing applications and long-time supplier to the medical equipment industry, today announced a collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to research and develop technologies for next-generation patient monitoring devices.

25 May 2011

Eating with a larger fork leads to less food consumption

Researchers from the University of Utah have found when eating at a restaurant, diners who wish to eat less food should eat with a larger fork.

25 May 2011

3M Skin and Wound Care introduces Tegaderm Diamond Dressing with Comfort Adhesive Technology

3M Skin and Wound Care introduces 3M Tegaderm Diamond Pattern Film Dressing, a versatile dressing solution with transparent, breathable film, preferred frame delivery system and new, Comfort Adhesive Technology.

25 May 2011

Viewpoints: Pawlenty weighs in; entitlement reform dominating GOP politics

"ObamaCare" is unconstitutional, and it is already driving up health costs — not reducing them. ... Government money isn't "free." ... And the cuts we must make cannot just be in other people's favorite programs. ... This week I'm going to Florida to tell both young people and seniors that our entitlement programs are on an unsustainable path and have to be changed.

25 May 2011

MRSA, VRE traces found in bed bugs

Reports of bed bug infestations are on the rise worldwide. Recently, scientists in Canada studying five bed bugs found on patients at St. Paul's Hospital, found traces of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, or VRE. However as of yet, no evidence indicating that bed bugs can transmit disease to humans has been found.

25 May 2011

State Roundup: Texas overhauls hospital payments

Advocates today asked a single justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to declare the state's exclusion of thousands of legal immigrants from subsidized health coverage unconstitutional.

25 May 2011

Cost of elderly and long term care set to double by 2050: Report

A report from the Organization for Economic Co–operation and Development (OECD) has shown that long term care costs are set to double by 2050 thanks to an ageing population. It shows that even those on above–average incomes could spend 60% of their disposable income on care costs. By 2050, the UK will spend more than a fifth of its entire national output on services for the elderly.

24 May 2011

GP’s religious advice sparks controversy

A Family Physician is facing disciplinary hearing for suggesting a patient could find solace in Jesus. Dr. Richard Scott, 50 said yesterday that it was worth the risk if he could ‘make a stand’ for his faith. He was placed under official investigation for talking to a patient about Jesus.

24 May 2011

First Edition: May 24, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the Senate's upcoming vote on the House-passed GOP budget, the run-up to today's special congressional election in New York and details on the Medicare positions being taken by Republican presidential hopefuls.

24 May 2011

Majority of opinion leaders strongly support creation of federal health insurance exchange

More than eight of 10 leaders in health and health care policy believe states should be allowed to implement key provisions of the Affordable Care Act early with full federal support, ahead of the timeline outlined in the law.

24 May 2011

Disaster-response planning raises challenges for mental health services, bioethicists say

Johns Hopkins University bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions.

24 May 2011

WellAWARE Systems receives 2011 Smart Choice Award for senior care

WellAWARE Systems, the developer of breakthrough technology designed to enable proactive and preventive senior care, announced it was recognized with the 2011 Smart Choice Award presented by the 50+ Housing Council, a special interest council of the Building Industry Association of Southern California.

24 May 2011

Ocean County, Conmed sign new agreement to provide correctional healthcare services for detainees

Conmed Healthcare Management, Inc. has signed a new agreement with Ocean County, New Jersey, to provide correctional healthcare services for the detainees at its jail for an initial three-year term, beginning July 1, 2011, with two optional one-year renewals.

24 May 2011