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Surgeons to discuss on healthcare issues at JSAC

On Tuesday, March 29, 2011, hundreds of surgeons from across the country will join together to speak with one voice to their federal legislators. As part of the fourth annual Joint Surgical Advocacy Conference, approximately 70 otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons representing over 30 states will meet with their U.S. Representatives, Senators, and their staff to encourage Congressional action on several of the specialty's legislative priorities for 2011.

28 Mar 2011

McDonnell calls for quick review by Supreme Court of health law

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell lashed out at the federal health law while giving the Republicans' weekly address Saturday.

28 Mar 2011

GOP looks to reshape Medicaid; Democrats question HHS stance on cuts

Republicans are gearing up to make suggested changes to the Medicaid system, one GOP lawmaker reports. At the same time, some congressional Democrats are unhappy with the administration's efforts to help states find trims in the program.

28 Mar 2011

Pregnant women can benefit from low-to-moderate intensity weight-training program

Despite decades of doctors' reluctance to recommend weight training to pregnant women, a new University of Georgia study has found that a supervised, low-to-moderate intensity program is safe and beneficial.

28 Mar 2011

AACC and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society announce 2011 recipients of Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarships

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, with the generous support of Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI) and L-3 Communications, Inc., are pleased to announce the 2011 recipients of the Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarships. The scholarships recognize the accomplishments of students enrolled in allied health programs offered by regionally accredited community colleges. Twenty-five students received scholarships of $1,000 each.

25 Mar 2011

Elsevier announces free online medical information and clinical reference support for Japan earthquake relief efforts

Elsevier, a world leader in health care and medical publishing and online solutions, today announced that following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, the company is providing free access to its primary online clinical reference tools - MD Consult and First Consult - to all IPs originating from Japan. Free access will be available through April, 2011. This effort is part of a new initiative to provide easily accessible focused resources in response to world events that present difficult medical challenges.

25 Mar 2011

Simple workplace interventions can prevent employees from gaining weight

Some simple changes to promote healthy habits at work can help to prevent employees from gaining weight, reports a study in the March Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, official publication of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM).

25 Mar 2011

Bupa announces plans to improve quality of cancer cover

In an industry first, Bupa, the leading international healthcare group, has announced plans to improve the quality of its cancer cover by no longer selling corporate health insurance schemes which feature overall cost or time limits for cancer treatment.

25 Mar 2011

Ontario's doctors call for continued strategic investments in health care

With the provincial budget set to be delivered on March 29, 2011, Ontario's doctors are reminding the government that strategic investments must continue to be made in health care.

25 Mar 2011

German company steps up production of Radiogardase following Japan nuclear crisis

Heyltex Corporation is the exclusive U.S. distributor of Radiogardase® (Prussian Blue insoluble capsules), the only FDA-approved drug to treat people who have been internally contaminated with radioactive cesium (Cs-137), which is manufactured by Heyl chem. pharm. Fabrik Berlin GmbH in Germany.

25 Mar 2011

Research Roundup: Parents' knowledge of kids' coverage

Based on analyses of the Food Stamp Program and Oregon Health Plan (the state's combined Medicaid-CHIP program) databases and a statewide survey of families, the authors report that more than 20 percent of parents whose children were not enrolled reported that they were, while more than 11 percent who had children in the OHP program reported their kids were not covered:

25 Mar 2011

OPM to insurers: Provide wellness program incentives

Speaking at a meeting of the America's Health Insurance Plans association on Thursday, Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, told representatives of companies providing coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program that they should encourage healthy lifestyles by offering "concrete incentives to participate in wellness and prevention activities".

25 Mar 2011

Longer Looks: Behind the hospital money curtain; Medical data breaches

Think you would stick to a diet if someone paid you for it? Would you be more likely to exercise if you were fined each time you bailed on your scheduled workout? Research in recent years suggests—and a handful of new businesses are betting—that you might.

25 Mar 2011

'Dispense as written' prescriptions cost the health care system $7.7 billion annually

Approximately five percent of prescriptions submitted by CVS Caremark Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) members in a 30-day period during 2009 included a "dispense as written" (DAW) designation.

25 Mar 2011

Lawmakers continue to tussle over short- and long-term budget issues

Momentum appears to building for efforts to address record budget deficits by reining in spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, as both parties agree they need to reach a deal to provide funding to keep the government functioning in the the current year, legislative riders that would impose restrictions on federal agencies and cut off funding for Planned Parenthood continue to trip up their progress.

25 Mar 2011

MedCAREERS GROUP announces Nurses Lounge professional network

MedCAREERS Group, Inc. today provided an overview of Nurses Lounge, which was acquired by the Company on November 19, 2010.

25 Mar 2011

Health law's retiree health plans, exchanges, waivers draw scrutiny

A congressional report found that the retiree health plan could run out of money as soon as this year, Bloomberg reports. Meanwhile, the health overhaul's insurance exchanges create a challenge for GOP governors just as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners will examine exchange issues among other topics at their Austin meeting.

25 Mar 2011

Health law continues to create state-level 'partisan strife'

Discussions and debate in Louisiana, Kansas and Colorado included buzz words such as "government takeover" and "stalemate," as well as the concept of opting out.

25 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Deconstructing a $65,515 bill; 'Puzzling' health reform; Good news on America's health

Susan Kovinsky underwent outpatient surgery recently at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The procedure, a hysterectomy, began at 10:40 a.m. By 3 p.m., she was on her way home.

25 Mar 2011

State News: Study highlights problems in Mass. Connector

Los Angeles officials Thursday unveiled what Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa termed a landmark tentative labor agreement that would greatly increase healthcare and pension contributions for thousands of municipal workers and put an end to some furloughs caused by the city's budget crisis.

25 Mar 2011