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First Edition: February 11, 2011

Today's health policy headlines highlight various aspects of the policies and politics involved in the health law mix.

11 Feb 2011

Med-Mal bill hits 'speed bump' during House Judiciary Committee consideration

The bill triggered concerns from committee Republicans over issues related to states' rights. Still, the measure is likely to clear the panel next week.

11 Feb 2011

Pyrethroid insecticides linked to delayed mental development in children

When the EPA phased out the widespread residential use of chlorpyrifos and other organophosphorus (OP) insecticides in 2000-2001 because of risks to child neurodevelopment, these compounds were largely replaced with pyrethroid insecticides. But the safety of these replacement insecticides remained unclear, as they had never been evaluated for long-term neurotoxic effects after low-level exposure.

11 Feb 2011

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

When U.S. District Court judge Roger Vinson struck down President Obama's health care program as unconstitutional, the White House declared the decision an "outlier." It was anything but that. The ruling on January 31 was in harmony with limits the Supreme Court has imposed on the use of the Constitution's commerce clause to justify far-reaching legislation by Congress.

11 Feb 2011

House Republicans release partial list of proposed cuts to Obama's FY11 budget request

House Republicans on Wednesday released a list of 70 proposed budget cuts to be debated next week as Congress must vote to "fund the government past March, when the current temporary budget expires," USA Today's "On Politics" blog reports (Camia, 2/9).

11 Feb 2011

GOP Reps. grill CMS Chief Berwick about health reform law, earlier remarks on British system

Republicans on the US House Committee on Ways and Means this morning pounded Donald Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on the effects of the new health care law on seniors, and Berwick's past statements in praise of the publicly-funded British health care system.

11 Feb 2011

Minnesota makes progress in reducing tobacco usage and exposure to secondhand smoke

Findings from the latest Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS), published today in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, show that Minnesota is continuing to make progress in reducing tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. The study is the most thorough and accurate source of information about tobacco use in Minnesota.

11 Feb 2011

African leaders meet in Rwanda to discuss capacity building

A two-day summit of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, concluded on Wednesday with African leaders calling for stronger "efforts in building capacity that goes beyond achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of 2015," the New Times reports.

11 Feb 2011

Family planning funds targeted by GOP

The new Congress also continues to be embroiled in battles surrounding the issue of abortion restrictions, which GOP house lawmakers have made a priority.

11 Feb 2011

New resources made available to increase awareness of PCIP

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today made new resources available to the media, consumer groups, states, health care providers, and others to increase awareness of the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan, a health plan for uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions created by the Affordable Care Act.

11 Feb 2011

Rite Aid raised $4.9M in funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in 2010

Rite Aid raised $4.9 million in 2010 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. The money raised by Rite Aid funds life-saving medical care, research, education and outreach programs at 117 Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in the communities Rite Aid serves.

11 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Sebelius on empowering states; NY Times on insurance mandate; WSJ on 'next repeal target'

As governor of Kansas, I saw up close the urgent need for health-care reform. I heard it when factory owners told me their biggest concern was not manufacturing costs but rising insurance premiums, and when families said they felt like hostages to insurance companies that could deny or cancel coverage with little accountability.

11 Feb 2011

HHS lists GE PSO as part of AHRQ Patient Safety Organization program

The Secretary of Health and Human Services has listed the GE-MERS National Patient Safety Organization as part of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety Organization program. With this federal certification, GE Healthcare Performance Solutions joins leading healthcare organizations across the U.S. working to minimize risks in patient care.

11 Feb 2011

CHPA to lend its support for The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association is pleased to lend its support for The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act, introduced today by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Tex.) and Representative Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.) This important legislation would repeal a requirement enacted into law as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 that requires consumers to obtain a prescription in order to utilize their flexible spending arrangements and health savings accounts to purchase over-the-counter medications.

11 Feb 2011

State roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver; Mass. BCBS plans charge more for high-cost hospitals; Texas Dems' abortion fight

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's proposal to cut 280,000 people from the state's Medicaid rolls is being reviewed by U.S. officials who don't know whether they have the power to approve the action, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

10 Feb 2011

House Republicans unveil partial list of budget cuts, advance plan to offer amendments to 'defund' health law

The National Journal reports on speculation that the GOP decision to advance a "clean" continuing resolution may signal that the Republican leadership is trying to move away from the partisan fight surrounding efforts to repeal the health law.

10 Feb 2011

New model of dementia care reduces emergency department visits, hospitalizations

An innovative model of dementia care developed by researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the Regenstrief Institute significantly reduces emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and encourages use of medications that are not harmful to older brains. The result is improved health for older adults and their family caregivers and lower healthcare costs, according to a paper evaluating the model in real world use.

10 Feb 2011

College health plans must comply with health law's 'central provisions'

The Department of Health and Human Services made clear Wednesday that the nation's colleges and universities would not be exempt from the requirements of the health overhaul.

10 Feb 2011

Guide designed to help hospitals reduce variation in care

The American Hospital Association has released a guide to help hospitals and health care systems reduce inappropriate variation in areas such as end-of-life care, imaging, emergency services and obstetrics.

10 Feb 2011

GE Healthcare, BHS announce planned implementation of HIE

GE Healthcare and Butler Health System, which serves Western Pennsylvania communities, have announced the planned implementation of a health information exchange to enable clinical information access between BHS and its affiliated and independent physicians, as well as referral hospitals outside of the immediate community.

10 Feb 2011

Healthcare News

First Edition: February 11, 2011

Med-Mal bill hits 'speed bump' during House Judiciary Committee consideration

Pyrethroid insecticides linked to delayed mental development in children

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

House Republicans release partial list of proposed cuts to Obama's FY11 budget request

GOP Reps. grill CMS Chief Berwick about health reform law, earlier remarks on British system

Minnesota makes progress in reducing tobacco usage and exposure to secondhand smoke

African leaders meet in Rwanda to discuss capacity building

Family planning funds targeted by GOP

New resources made available to increase awareness of PCIP

Rite Aid raised $4.9M in funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals in 2010

Viewpoints: Sebelius on empowering states; NY Times on insurance mandate; WSJ on 'next repeal target'

HHS lists GE PSO as part of AHRQ Patient Safety Organization program

CHPA to lend its support for The Patients' Freedom to Choose Act

State roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver; Mass. BCBS plans charge more for high-cost hospitals; Texas Dems' abortion fight

House Republicans unveil partial list of budget cuts, advance plan to offer amendments to 'defund' health law

New model of dementia care reduces emergency department visits, hospitalizations

College health plans must comply with health law's 'central provisions'

Guide designed to help hospitals reduce variation in care

GE Healthcare, BHS announce planned implementation of HIE

Exploring the nanoscale: How AFM is transforming cosmetic science

Innovating Texture and Culture in Plant-Based Foods

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

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