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'Bundling' pay to doctors and hospitals is challenging

Studies in the journal Health Affairs looked at the concept of bundling payments to doctors and hospitals in which they are paid for "episodes of care" rather than for each individual treatment. The studies note the potential of such a move but also the difficulties.

9 Nov 2011

South Korea authorizes WHO to distribute medical aid for malnourished North Korean children

"South Korea on Tuesday authorized the World Health Organization [WHO] to resume distribution of Seoul-funded medical aid to North Korea, amid growing calls for humanitarian assistance for malnourished North Korean children," the New York Times reports.

9 Nov 2011

Fewer businesses take advantage of health tax credits

The Treasury Department says the number of small businesses taking a new tax credit set up in the 2010 health law is smaller than expected. Also, a report to be issued Thursday says the FDA should not be in charge of health information technology.

9 Nov 2011

RWJF announces recipients of 2011 Community Health Leaders Award

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is proud to announce today the recipients of its 2011 Community Health Leaders Award, honoring 10 individuals who have overcome daunting odds to improve the health and quality of life for disadvantaged or underserved communities across the country.

9 Nov 2011

Parents of children on Medicaid, CHIP give programs good grades

Parents whose children get their health services through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program say they have good access to doctors and that their children are getting good care, according to a federal survey that the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services will release Tuesday morning.

9 Nov 2011

American Anesthesiology acquires Austin Anesthesiology Group

American Anesthesiology, a division of MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of Austin Anesthesiology Group, L.L.P., a physician group practice that provides comprehensive adult and pediatric anesthesia services in Austin, TX.

9 Nov 2011

GHTC interviews prominent Americans, leading U.S. health officials on why Americans should care about global health

In anticipation of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's speech on the HIV/AIDS pandemic at the NIH on Tuesday, GlobalPost's "Global Pulse" blog provides video footage of interviews conducted by the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) in which Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.); FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg; Amie Batson, deputy assistant administrator for global health at USAID; and actress Whoopi Goldberg respond to the question of why Americans should care about the global health.

9 Nov 2011

Kleinert Kutz selects ChartLogic EHR Suite

The Kleinert Kutz Hand Care Center of Kentucky with 12 physicians and five offices has selected the ChartLogic EHR Suite. The orthopedic medical group and surgical center is one of the largest hand surgery programs in the world, handling more than 65,000 patient visits per year with offices in Lexington and Louisville, KY and New Albany, IN.

9 Nov 2011

Heeding Gates's suggestions to fill global development finance hole without spending more money

In his Foreign Policy column, "The Optimist," Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and a Schwartz fellow at the New America Foundation, responds to a speech to G20 leaders last week by Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, in which he "suggested that a financial transactions tax, alongside additional taxes on tobacco and carbon, could be used to help rich countries meet a global target of committing 0.7 percent of GDP to development aid."

9 Nov 2011

Political cartoon: 'Super Trapped?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Super Trapped?" by Steve Kelley.

9 Nov 2011

Global Fund delays closing date for round 11 applications, says disbursements may not be available until 2013

The Global Fund to Fight HIV, TB and Malaria has delayed the closing date for applications for its next round of funding, reduced the estimated amount of money that will be available in that round, and potentially delayed the disbursement of the funds until 2013, PlusNews reports.

9 Nov 2011

Clinton expected to urge U.S., other countries to intensify HIV/AIDS prevention efforts in speech on Tuesday

In a speech to be delivered at the NIH, "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to call Tuesday for a new push by the U.S. and other countries to harness recent science to stem the HIV/AIDS pandemic," the Wall Street Journal reports.

9 Nov 2011

Powerful monitoring tool to track spread of seasonal flu

A powerful monitoring tool that will allow researchers to track the spread of seasonal flu launches today. This year the UK Flusurvey will, for the first time, join a European network of online surveys, gathering information on how the illness spreads across the continent and enabling comparison between the different countries.

9 Nov 2011

Hospitals face penalties if they don't please patients

In the coming months, Medicare will start taking patient satisfaction into account when reimbursing hospitals.

9 Nov 2011

State roundup: Kansas Medicaid announcement; pilot projects for nursing homes, C-sections; Calif. marijuana clinics

Gov. Sam Brownback, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and three Cabinet officials have scheduled a news conference for 10 a.m. Tuesday to describe details of their plan for making over the Kansas Medicaid program. ... The plan is expected to include a significant expansion of managed care.

9 Nov 2011

Premier, RF Surgical sign three year agreement for detection technology

RF Surgical, Inc., the leader in prevention and detection of retained surgical items (RSI), today announced a three year agreement with the Premier healthcare alliance, a leader in healthcare performance improvement.

8 Nov 2011

Pennsylvania General Assembly passes bill banning texting for all drivers

The National Safety Council congratulates the Pennsylvania General Assembly for passage of Senate Bill 314, which makes sending text messages while driving a violation for all drivers. The bill will become law with Gov. Tom Corbett's signature, and the law will go into effect 120 days after it is signed.

8 Nov 2011

Health Net expands Improving the Patient Experience toolkit

Health Net, Inc. has expanded its Improving the Patient Experience toolkit for its contracted providers in three new markets. Piloted first in California in 2010, the insurer now offers the toolkit in Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

8 Nov 2011

First Edition: November 8, 2011

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories on malpractice reforms and previews of voting in Ohio on two ballot questions affecting health care issues and a Mississippi abortion issue.

8 Nov 2011

Victorian nurses protest over ‘lockout dossier’

Victorian hospitals have been provided with a 51-page dossier on how to conduct a lockout of nurses in a move slammed by the Australian Nursing Federation. This dossier was sent by the Hospitals Industry Association last week and includes templates for letters to be sent to nurses if they are to have their pay docked.

8 Nov 2011