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House Republicans continue budget assault on health law

Hearings are scheduled next week to develop legislation to make it possible to defund the health law by redesignating the related spending from "mandatory" to "discretionary."

5 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Gambling on entitlement cuts; 'culture war' over family planning; insurance premium 'gouge' in Calif.

The House Republicans are rolling the political dice. They've pledged that in their budget for next year they will offer detailed proposals for curbing spending on "entitlements" — Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. When Democrats heard this, their world suddenly brightened. One congressional aide dismissed the Republicans as "suckers".

4 Mar 2011

GOP focus remains tight on reforming Medicare, entitlement programs

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, has made clear his determination to address this issue — The Wall Street Journal is reporting that he has even assured President Barack Obama that he will give him "cover" if he makes a proposal to cut entitlement spending.

4 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 4, 2011

In today's headlines, a Florida federal judge stays his own order regarding the health law, clearing the way for it's implementation -- for now -- but also making clear that the appeals process should move forward at an expedited rate.

4 Mar 2011

Medicus lowers its base rates to 20% for medical professionals in Missouri

Medicus Insurance Company, one of the fastest growing medical professional liability insurance carriers in the country, lowered its base rates an average of 20% for medical professionals in Missouri.

4 Mar 2011

Avvo lets users identify doctors by hospital affiliation

Avvo (www.avvo.com), the world's largest online directory for doctors and lawyers that provides free rankings for 90% of the working physicians in the U.S., continues to grow the number of service features offered on its medical website -- to bring doctors and patients the latest, breakthrough online directory tools. This month, Avvo unveils a new Hospital Sort capability that further enables users to hone in on the comprehensive information they need to make their physician search even more effective, and that also helps doctors and hospitals to more easily reach prospective patients.

4 Mar 2011

Alcohol, marijuana and methamphetamines are common abuse substances

A new study shows that the most commonly abused substances among those 18 and older referred to substance abuse treatment from parole or probation was alcohol, followed by marijuana and methamphetamines.

4 Mar 2011

ICFH receives Health Foundation of South Florida grant for health information technology

Institute for Child and Family Health received a $100,000 grant funding from Health Foundation of South Florida to support health information technology initiatives.

4 Mar 2011

Dramatic decrease in CP diagnoses provides evidence of quality of neonatal care

Cerebral palsy is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects motor function, more often in children born prematurely. Because cerebral palsy is a result of brain injury received shortly before, during, or soon after birth, the number of infants being diagnosed with the condition is a good indicator of the quality of perinatal and neonatal care.

4 Mar 2011

NSBRI selects Brigham researcher for postdoctoral fellowship

Christopher J. Morris, PhD, of the Division of Sleep Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, is one of four scientists selected by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute for a postdoctoral fellowship.

4 Mar 2011

Study: Job satisfaction affects quality of sleep

The employed and self-employed enjoy much better sleep than those out of work, according to Understanding Society, the world's largest longitudinal household study.

4 Mar 2011

Longer looks: Best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

Every Thursday, KHN's Jessica Marcy compiles this selection of interesting perspectives, from a variety of publications, on health care in America.

4 Mar 2011

HHS Inspector General: Many nursing home workers have criminal records

The New York Times: Study Finds Criminal Pasts Of Nursing Home Workers.

4 Mar 2011

RPCU to track and ensure Premier's measures for seniors

The Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers is pleased with Premier Jean Charest's announcement updating the Vieillir chez soi government initiative, introduced in his opening address to the National Assembly.

4 Mar 2011

For Mitt Romney, another voice adds to the criticisms of Mass. health plan

A top congressional Republican this morning tweaked Mitt Romney for his health care plan in Massachusetts, further illustrating the primary challenge Romney faces in his expected presidential bid. Representative Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican and chairman of the House Budget Committee, criticized the Massachusetts health care plan by comparing it to President Obama's national plan.

4 Mar 2011

New analysis compares House and administration proposals with public budgets

When it comes to the federal budget, the public is on a different page than either the House of Representatives or the Obama Administration - with a different set of priorities and a greater willingness to cut spending and increase taxes - concludes a new analysis by the University of Maryland's Program for Public Consultation.

4 Mar 2011

Bipartisan Senate bills would open Medicare physician payment data to public

Two senators, a Republican and a Democrat, are pushing legislation to overturn a 1979 court injunction that bars the public from seeing what individual physicians earn from Medicare.

4 Mar 2011

Clinton, Kerry caution against FY11 foreign aid cuts at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

At a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senate Foreign Relations Chair John Kerry "decried House GOP cuts to the foreign affairs budget," The Hill's "On The Money" blog reports.

4 Mar 2011

ATS releases new report recommending research priorities in OSA treatment

The American Thoracic Society has released a new official report recommending research priorities in incorporating ambulatory management of adults with obstructive sleep apnea into healthcare systems.

4 Mar 2011

Few primary care physicians pay adequate attention to patients taking prescription opioid drugs

Few primary care physicians pay adequate attention to patients taking prescription opioid drugs — despite the potential for abuse, addiction and overdose, according to a new study by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

4 Mar 2011