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Reduction in secondhand smoking associated with fewer cases of middle ear infection among children

Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers and colleagues from Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society have found that a reduction in secondhand smoking in American homes was associated with fewer cases of otitis media, the scientific name for middle ear infection. The study appears on January 26, 2011, as an online first article on the website of the journal Tobacco Control.

28 Jan 2011

U.N. Women Executive Director Bachelet launches 100-day 'action plan'

During the inaugural meeting of U.N. Women's executive board this week, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet laid out a 100-day action plan for the newly-launched agency, Inter Press Service reports.

28 Jan 2011

One in ten pregnant Norway women consume organic food regularly

Who eats organic food when they are pregnant? Is it just certain groups? What kind of organic foods are most popular? A recent study from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health provides some answers. The study includes nearly 65,000 women in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

28 Jan 2011

Majority of Americans favor foreign aid cuts, Poll finds

A USA Today/Gallup poll released on Wednesday found that a majority of Americans oppose spending cuts when asked about specific programs, except for foreign aid, The Hill's blog, "Briefing Room," reports (Fabian, 1/26).

28 Jan 2011

Georgia Hospital Association selects onFocus enterprise performance management solution

onFocus Healthcare, Inc. today announced that it is the exclusive enterprise performance management solution to the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) and its more than 200 hospitals. This partnership allows onFocus to extend its web-based software, onFocus|epm™, and performance optimization service programs through increased collaboration with GHA member hospitals and management teams.

28 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Is Obama abandoning his health victory?

Did Obama say enough about health care reform last night? I suppose I'm one of the very few people who would even ask that question. Most Americans would probably think, "More health care? Lord no." And I think Obama and his speechwriters sensed as much. Although his defense of the Affordable Care Act was clear -- he's not going to sign a bill repealing the law -- it was also short. That portion of the speech was just two brief paragraphs, by my count (Jonathan Cohn, 1/26).

28 Jan 2011

White House renominates Berwick as Medicare chief

Six months after installing Dr. Don Berwick to direct the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services with a recess appointment, the Obama administration has renominated him.

28 Jan 2011

Opinions: Global poverty; Global Fund corruption; Tackling poverty, environmental issues

Ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Laurence Chandy and Geoffrey Gert, both of the Brookings Institution's Global Economy and Development program, reflect on "Poverty's Success Story," a Washington Post opinion piece. They note that the last time the World Bank issued global poverty statistics (the number of people in the world living on less than $1.25 each day) was 2005.

28 Jan 2011

States step up legislative, legal action against federal overhaul

State legislatures are considering bills to undermine the sweeping health overhaul. In addition, a Virginia court promises speedy action in a pending legal challenge. And, of course, the concept of "waivers" continues to draw interest.

28 Jan 2011

Tobacco smoke exposure still a major cause for asthma attacks in kids: National Poll

Exposure to smokers is still a major cause of asthma attacks in kids, according to results of a poll released today by the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.

28 Jan 2011

Racial disparities exist between kidney disease patients and physicians: Study

Significant disparities exist between the race of kidney disease patients and that of the physicians who will care for them, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology.

28 Jan 2011

CBO projections, deficit reduction talk causes Medicare nerves

The need to take steps to reduce the federal deficit is leading some to experience "Medicare jitters."

28 Jan 2011

Early dental visit is important for good oral health in children

Good oral health is a key component of good overall health in children, which is why an early visit to the dentist is very important, says Temple University pediatric dentist Mark Helpin.

28 Jan 2011

GOP focuses health law attacks during two House hearings

The hearings represent the first of what will likely be a long list of hearings and new legislation designed to question and denounce the new health law. With the measure in the spotlight, the debate surrounding its fiscal impact also is a "hot topic." Meanwhile, some Democrats who last year opposed the health overhaul are starting to find value in it.

27 Jan 2011

Roundup: Calif. wrestles with prison health costs; Texas legislator challenges GOP thinking; Mass. Gov. seeks remedy for municipal workers' health expenses

Amid California's budget crisis, the receiver put in charge of the prison health system by a federal judge has spent $82 million on blueprints for medical facilities that have been largely scrapped, more than $50,000 a month on an architectural consultant and millions hiring medical professionals — more per inmate than in many other states.

27 Jan 2011

Scrutiny about New York State's Medicaid program continues

The Wall Street Journal reports on the program's fraud unit while KHN explores the plans for New York's plans to revamp the entire program.

27 Jan 2011

NHS reforms & proposed spending questioned

According to John Appleby, Chief Economist at the King’s Fund, deaths from heart attacks and cancer in the UK are falling despite lower spending on health than in countries such as France. This, he said calls attention to the Government’s claim that poor outcomes justify a £1.4 billion restructuring of the NHS that will pass control of budgets from managers to GPs. He said, “Comparing health outcomes across countries is complex and not simply down to healthcare spending, but these trends must challenge one of the government’s key justifications for reforming the NHS.”

27 Jan 2011

Appalling report on Victoria’s mental healthcare services

In a new revealing report, a Victorian Government official – from the Office of the Public Advocate (OPA), spoke about the declining level of care and protection provided to those with a mental disability. The OPA report entitled “Violence against People with Cognitive Impairments” analyzed 86 cases of abuse in government-funded and private support facilities over four years and reported mistreatment including instances of physical, sexual, psychological, and emotional abuse - sometimes by carers themselves. The report said police often believe the perpetrator of the abuse, rather than the mentally impaired victim.

27 Jan 2011

Major changes at Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology

The Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology-the monthly, peer-reviewed flagship publication of the Society of Interventional Radiology-announced several major changes for 2011-all directed at highlighting the global impact of this minimally invasive medical specialty and its lead journal.

27 Jan 2011

Study examines primary care capacity challenges that states will face when Medicaid eligibility expands

A new article released online January 26 in the New England Journal of Medicine, authored by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services and supported by the Geiger Gibson/ RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative, examines primary care capacity challenges that states will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

27 Jan 2011