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Hospital group and physicians looking at ACOs; Harvard to open primary care education center

In an Oct. 27 letter to the CMS, the Federal Trade Commission and HHS inspector general's office, the Federation of American Hospitals offered comments on accountable care organizations.

29 Oct 2010

Prominent scientist in mitochondrial genetics joins Children's Hospital to establish CMEM

Douglas C. Wallace, Ph.D., a pioneer and internationally prominent scientist in the field of human mitochondrial genetics, has joined The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to continue his investigations into the role of mitochondrial energy in health and disease.

29 Oct 2010

PHARMABIZ.com examines India’s push for clearer definition of counterfeit, substandard medicines

India has taken the lead to get together a number of generic drug-producing nations to call for better definitions to ensure quality, strengthening of regulatory authorities in the respective countries, and bringing focus of the world to public health instead of intellectual property, PHARMABIZ.com writes in an article that examines the recent meeting of leaders from Brazil, India and South Africa on issues regarding counterfeit medicines.

29 Oct 2010

cbm marks 10 millionth cataract surgery

Today's cataract surgery of Joyce Kaaya, 57, in Moshi, Tanzania symbolically marks the 10 millionth cataract surgery in cbm-supported programs throughout the world.

29 Oct 2010

Nursing homes struggle to allow seniors use of medical marijuana

The New York Times: As states begin embracing medical marijuana they are also grappling with how they allow or don't allow seniors in nursing homes to use it. "The prospect has just begun to raise difficult questions for administrators and state regulators.

29 Oct 2010

New surgical centers open in Penn., faith-based clinic in Michigan

Stand-alone surgical centers in York County as well as the entire state have tripled in the past decade, according to a report released earlier this month by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, The York Dispatch reports.

29 Oct 2010

Physicians suggest tips to overcome acute pain

The truth is not all pain is created equal. Acute pain is where it all begins. Lasting for several months, acute pain is typically treated with rest, time and medication. For many, that is enough. But if the pain persists, it converts to chronic pain, and new methods must be explored.

29 Oct 2010

CNN reports on recent uptick in cholera cases worldwide

CNN's "the chart" blog examines the rising number of cholera cases around the world. In addition to the cholera outbreak in Haiti, "[a]s of this month, four African nations - Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger - have reported more than 40,000 cases of cholera and more than 2,000 deaths. And Pakistan, a country that is still suffering from the effects of horrific floods, also is reporting 100+ cases of cholera since last month."

29 Oct 2010

Outcome-based contract between CIGNA and Merck helps diabetics control blood sugar levels

The first national outcome-based contract between a pharmaceutical company and a pharmacy benefit management company resulted in an increase in the number of people with type 2 diabetes who were able to control their blood sugar levels by taking their medications appropriately.

29 Oct 2010

Agweek examines USAID's food aid purchases

Agweek examines USAID's approach to purchasing food aid. The piece notes USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah's comments from his Oct. 15 remarks at the World Food Prize symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, when he explained that USAID has used $250 million to purchase foodstuffs in developing countries this year.

29 Oct 2010

Countdown on as Republicans ready health repeal agenda, Democrats continue push

Kaiser Health News' Health on the Hill, examines advertisements about the new health law in a video conversation. Many Democrats, concerned that voters view the measure in a negative light, continue to not mention health reform.

29 Oct 2010

Return of the doc cuts threatens access, physician-group lobby says, again

Pending Medicare cuts could mean physician practices would back away from the program, according to a trade group representing these doctor groups, Medscape reports.

29 Oct 2010

With incentives from insurers, pharmacies refocus from snacks to drugs

Drug stores are returning to their roots — drugs, the (Raleigh N.C.) News and Observer/Scripps News reports. "After years of adding everything from groceries to grills to their inventory, drugstore chains are once again emphasizing their pharmacies.

29 Oct 2010

Physician-owned hospitals racing to meet health law deadline

Kaiser Health News staff writer Christopher Weaver, working in collaboration with USA Today, reports: "At the Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital here, construction workers scrambled on a recent day to turn a mud pit into a parking lot and put other finishing touches on the $35 million physician-owned facility" (Weaver, 10/28).

29 Oct 2010

More details of the health law revealed as implementation unfolds

The law imposes stringent restrictions on physician-owned hospitals, which critics say cherry pick the lucrative specialty patients community hospitals depend on to stay afloat, Kaiser Health News/USA Today report.

29 Oct 2010

Health law only small part of insurance rate increases

The Seattle Post Intelligencer reports on a 16.3 percent premium hike this year by Regence BlueShield, Washington state's largest health insurer, which was the "the forth year in a row of double-digit increases." After the increase, "company reserves grew and executive salaries mostly increased, a seattlepi.com review of state documents has found.

29 Oct 2010

Long hours and nights on call lead to surgeon distress

Just as with everyone else perhaps, the more hours surgeons work, and the more nights they spend on call each week, the more likely they are to face burn-out, depression, dissatisfaction with their careers and serious work-home conflicts, according to a major new study led by Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic researchers.

29 Oct 2010

Statewatch: D.C poised to approve Johns Hopkins-Sibley deal; Controversial Medicaid cuts in Idaho, Indiana

The Washington Post: "The agreement for Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins Health System to acquire Sibley Memorial Hospital is likely to be approved by District officials as soon as Thursday, giving the world-class academic medical center its first foothold in the District. Driven by Sibley's need to ensure long-term financial stability by increasing its volume of patients, the move will allow Hopkins to improve its market position in the Washington-Baltimore region.

29 Oct 2010

KHN Column: What if the President had changed his priorities? A pre-election analysis from an alternate universe

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, done in collaboration with The New Republic, Jonathan Cohn writes, Mere days stand between the Democrats and a major defeat at the polls.

29 Oct 2010

Health on The Hill – October 27, 2010

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey talks with The Fiscal Times' Eric Pianin and KFF's Jackie Judd about the latest news in politics and health policy.

29 Oct 2010