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Infighting threatens COBRA subsidy extension, longer Medicare doc pay 'fix'

Roll Call reports that infighting over some unemployment benefits and a scheduled "fix" of Medicare physician payments has left Democratic congressional leaders at a "dramatic low" in their relationship. "And while publicly, House and Senate leaders refused to assign blame, the behind-the-scenes story was far different. The deadline for the benefits package had been looming for weeks.

2 Jun 2010

Postdoctoral scientists receive NYSCF-Druckenmiller Fellowship award

The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) today announced the award of eight new NYSCF-Druckenmiller Fellows. These postdoctoral scientists join 15 accomplished stem cell researchers from leading institutions who have been supported by the program since 2006. NYSCF has awarded 23 fellowships to date.

2 Jun 2010

Health law implementation: Insurance, coverage and Medicare payment questions

Kaiser Health News reports that the insurance industry — traditionally a state-regulated industry — is facing new federal scrutiny by four officials in the new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. "On this year's to-do list: writing rules to define when premium increases are 'unreasonable,' creating new coverage for people who can't get it because of health conditions and making sure insurers comply with consumer protections. The new director of the office is Jay Angoff, a former Missouri insurance commissioner.

2 Jun 2010

GOP candidates for California governor struggle with budget issues, including health care

The two candidates in California's Republican gubernatorial primary, Steve Poizner and Meg Whitman, "agree on several budget fixes, including a spending cap, a hiring freeze, and reforms to welfare, pensions and prison health care." Both candidates seek to rid waste and create a leaner, more cost efficient budget, but cuts can come at a cost. "Reaction to Schwarzenegger's proposed budget revision this month indicates what the next governor is in for.

2 Jun 2010

911 program aims to reduce ER visits

USA Today reports on a 911 pilot program that aims to reduce unnecessary trips to the emergency rooms.

2 Jun 2010

Businesses fret penalties, seek opportunities in health overhaul

Some small businesses may get financial help as part of the health overhaul that could cover up to 35 percent of business's premium costs for insuring employees in the form of new tax credits, Kaiser Health News explains in a consumer column.

2 Jun 2010

Firms chase opportunities in online medicine

General Electric Co. chief executive Jeffrey Immelt urged Japan, at a conference in Tokyo Monday, to use health information technology to improve home-based health care as a hedge against the strains of an aging population, The Wall Street Journal reports. Japan's over-65 population is growing, and could top 30 percent by 2030.

2 Jun 2010

AMA President to unveil multi-million dollar ad campaign

Today, the 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut goes into effect, leaving health care for seniors and military families in jeopardy. On June 3, AMA President J. James Rohack, MD, will hold a telephone news conference to unveil a multi-million dollar AMA ad campaign urging Americans to call their senators to help avoid a Medicare meltdown.

1 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 1, 2010

A number of today's headlines focus on the continuing role of health reform in national political calculations and strategies.

1 Jun 2010

New walk-in medical center opened in Duane Reade Pharmacy

If you have never been to a walk-in medical center at the local drugstore, you just might soon. Walk-in medical centers are already located in about 1,000 retail locations across the country, and experts say that number could easily double or more within five years.

1 Jun 2010

AAPA honors Col. John W. Bullock with 2010 Federal Service PA of the Year Award

Col. John W. Bullock, PA-C, DFAAPA, of Falls Church, Va., received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Federal Service PA of the Year Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday. He was honored for his groundbreaking work on behalf of physician assistants. His decisions on policy, clinical research and acquisition have helped enable the medical workforce both at home and overseas to provide quality, effective and accessible care in all kinds of environments.

1 Jun 2010

Donald M. Pedersen of Salt Lake City receives AAPA's 2010 Outstanding PA of the Year Award

Donald M. Pedersen, Ph.D., PA-C, of Salt Lake City, Utah, received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Outstanding PA of the Year Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday. Pedersen has shaped PA education at the University of Utah School of Medicine for more than three decades, headed the implementation of the university's Master of PA Studies degree, and pioneered the program's international clinical activities in Papua New Guinea and Thailand.

1 Jun 2010

9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN from June 30 - July 2, 2010

9th INT'L BIO FORUM & BIO EXPO JAPAN, organised by Reed Exhibitions Japan, will come back again as Asia's largest bio-event from June 30 - July 2, 2010. One of the hottest feature topics is "antibody drugs".

1 Jun 2010

Seattle's Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau receives 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award from AAPA

Phoumy Bobby Bounkeau, PhD, PA-C, of Seattle, Wash., received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Humanitarian PA of the Year Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday. Bounkeau, of Lao and Thai descent, co-founded the CME training project, a program that provides funding for rural Lao health workers to travel from their villages to the large city of Luang Prabang, Laos, to participate in much-needed continuing medical education.

1 Jun 2010

Portland's Dana Gray and Jonathan Hill honored with AAPA's Physician-PA Partnership Award

Dana Gray, PA-C, of Portland, Ore., along with his physician partner, Jonathan Hill, MD, received the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Physician-PA Partnership Award at the organization's 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday. The team has provided quality, broad-based trauma and cardiothoracic care to medically underserved populations in the Portland area for more than 15 years.

1 Jun 2010

Elsevier Foundation seeks grant proposals for 2010 Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program

The Elsevier Foundation is seeking new grant proposals for the 2010 Innovative Libraries in Developing Countries program. Sponsored by Elsevier, a leading global publisher of scientific, technical and medical information, the Innovative Libraries program provides grants to library programs in the developing world for innovative systems and services that improve access to scientific, technical and medical information.

1 Jun 2010

Sweet Tomatoes kicks off annual cookie campaign for Easter Seals

Today, Sweet Tomatoes kicks off its annual cookie campaign for Easter Seals. This month, participating Sweet Tomatoes restaurants will offer a free bag of cookies and a coupon for a return visit as a thank you gift to guests who make a $2 donation to Easter Seals.

1 Jun 2010

AAPA recognizes role of PAs in transforming health care delivery with 2010 PAragon Awards

The American Academy of Physician Assistants celebrated the role of physician assistants in transforming health care delivery at its 38th Annual Physician Assistant Conference in Atlanta yesterday with its presentation of the 2010 PAragon Awards.

1 Jun 2010

ASH wins six Aster Awards for excellence in healthcare marketing and advertising

American Specialty Health Incorporated, a national health and wellness organization, recently announced that it had won four Gold and two Silver Aster awards for excellence in healthcare marketing and advertising. The Aster Awards, one of the largest national competitions of its kind, is hosted by Marketing Healthcare Today Magazine and Creative Images, Inc.

1 Jun 2010

Odds of surviving cardiac arrest may depend on neighborhood: Study

The odds of surviving cardiac arrest may depend on which part of town you call home and whether anyone in the neighborhood comes to your rescue by attempting to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, according to a first-of-its-kind study in the June issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

1 Jun 2010