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Using American diplomacy to fight NTDs

In a PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases editorial, Peter Hotez of the Sabin Vaccine Institute outlines the diplomatic benefits of fighting NTDs in developing countries. He discusses why the State Department and USAID should be involved and outlines how they could work to expand NTD control.

1 Jul 2011

IOM report highlights need for changes in pain management

Defining pain as "a major public health problem," the Institute of Medicine offered recommendations to make systemic and cultural changes in how pain could either be prevented or managed better.

1 Jul 2011

Women's rights becoming 'cornerstone' of U.S. foreign policy

"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is spearheading a quiet revolution in progressive foreign policy by making the empowerment of women and advancement of their rights a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy," Peter Juul, a policy analyst at American Progress, writes in a post on the American Progress National Security Strategy issue page, before listing multiple programs, including GHI and Feed the Future, that have incorporated women's rights into their core values.

1 Jul 2011

African health experts visit Capitol Hill to discuss family planning

The Global Health Council's "Global Health" blog published two articles on Wednesday examining family planning in West Africa.

1 Jul 2011

Academy opposes legislation to repeal indoor tanning tax

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (Academy) opposes recent legislation to repeal the federal 10 percent indoor tanning tax. Countless scientific studies continue to demonstrate clear and compelling evidence that tanning bed use increases the risk of developing all forms of skin cancer.

1 Jul 2011

Health law's cost and coverage issues draw attention

In an exclusive report, the Associated Press notes an unintended consequence of that health law — some older adults could pay sharply different amounts for private health insurance. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat reports on some recent developments in the policy debate over the health law's maintenance-of-effort provisions.

1 Jul 2011

Longer looks: A Medicare compromise; improving mental health policies

Sen. Joe Lieberman has found an ally for the middle-of-the-road Medicare reform proposal he laid out a few weeks ago. On Tuesday, the independent Senator from Connecticut and conservative Republican Tom Coburn unveiled a tweaked version of Lieberman's plan.

1 Jul 2011

USA Today: New study shows wide variation in health costs

Patients pay as much as 683 percent more for the same medical procedures, such as MRIs or CT scans, in the same town, depending on which doctor they choose, according to a new study by a national health care group.

1 Jul 2011

Flutie Foundation, Autism Speaks join HP's initiative to create touch-based platforms

Autism Speaks, the world's largest autism science and advocacy organization, and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism have joined HP's "Hacking Autism" initiative, which seeks new ideas for touch technology applications beneficial to people with autism.

1 Jul 2011

Health care reform eligibility restrictions will lead to exclusion of 220,000 children in California

Restrictions on eligibility for health care reform programs will result in the potential exclusion of up to 220,000 children from affordable health care coverage in California, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

1 Jul 2011

White House backs boost in COBRA, health insurance premium subsidies

The Obama administration is backing a temporary boost in federal subsidies of health insurance premiums, such as COBRA coverage, for workers who lose their jobs due to foreign competition and older retirees in failed pension plans.

1 Jul 2011

Bloomberg: Ryan Medicare vouchers save little

In the background, political ads are heating up related to the debate over Medicare cost savings and plans to revamp the health insurance program for seniors.

1 Jul 2011

Victoria's hospitals doing poorly on performance assessments

Victoria's hospitals have performed poorly on their report cards that judged them against statewide benchmarks for emergency care and elective surgery. In some areas, the performance has worsened.

1 Jul 2011

Federal appeals court upholds health law

The majority decision, issued by a three-judge panel from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, included the support of a Republican appointee to the federal bench -- the first to affirm the individual mandate's constitutionality.

1 Jul 2011

Minnesota nears government shutdown

Minnesota would face a massive government shutdown under a court ruling released Wednesday, with all but critical services stopping by Friday.

1 Jul 2011

Multinational drug companies' scam

In an Al Jazeera opinion piece, the first in a two-part series, Khadija Sharife, a journalist and visiting scholar at the Center for Civil Society, examines how multinational drug companies control markets.

1 Jul 2011

State roundup: Calif. braces for budget cuts; Mass. weighs premium freeze

Poor people will receive less medical care and welfare, disabled people will see fewer services, state parks will close and public university students will pay more in California under the budget that takes effect Friday. But also Friday, the state sales tax will decrease from 8.25 percent to 7.25 percent and vehicle licensing fees will drop by almost half. Combined with the taxes that expired in January, an average California family will pocket about $1,000 this year.

1 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Abortion law debates; Medicare cost examinations; state reform building blocks

The Susan B. Anthony List's Pro-Life Leadership Pledge has garnered praise from a number of Republican presidential candidates, including Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Tim Pawlenty, each of whom has signed the pledge. It has also faced some misinformed criticism, however, not only from the media but from other presidential candidates who refuse to sign on to the pledge's four basic principles.

30 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 30, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about yesterday's decision from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upholding the health law.

30 Jun 2011

Chiropractors report high number of back-related injuries during summer moving period

Each year, chiropractors notice a recrudescence of patients that come for a consultation during the summer moving period. Not surprising when we know that many people, eager and tired, hasten to get everything done rapidly without worrying about their muscles and their back. That explains why herniated discs, lumbar pain and muscle soreness are so common during this time of year. How can we avoid this?

30 Jun 2011