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Aetna adds The Washington Hospital to provider network

Aetna announced that it has reached agreement with The Washington Hospital on a contract that adds a new hospital and potentially as many as 200 new physicians to Aetna's provider network in western Pennsylvania.

15 Oct 2010

Report examines impact of federal stimulus funding on health spending in Florida

The Collins Center for Public Policy has released a report that examines the impact of the federal government's economic stimulus funding on Florida's health care system.

15 Oct 2010

VBA awards DOMA contract for Pilot Study into Private Medical Records

The Department of Veterans Affairs through the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) has awarded DOMA Technologies (DOMA) the contract for a Pilot Study into the Centralized Retrieval, Assembly, and Secure Transmission of Private Medical Records to expedite claims processes.

15 Oct 2010

WSNA sues 4 hospitals for failing to provide nurses with rest and meal breaks

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing more than 16,000 registered nurses in Washington State, has filed lawsuits against four hospitals around the state for failing to provide nurses with rest and meal breaks. Research confirms that nurses working long hours have decreased alertness and vigilance which can lead to an increase in medical errors and compromised patient care. WSNA has been working for several years to ensure that nurses receive full, uninterrupted breaks because that dedicated time to rest is critical in preventing fatigue and fatigue-related errors.

15 Oct 2010

New comprehensive program for medical electronic device designers

Canon Communications today announced the formation of a comprehensive program to assist designers, developers, and engineering managers involved in the design of electronics-based medical devices. The DesignMED conference and exposition is a collaborative project between the company's Medical Device Group-Medical Electronics Design (MED), EDN, and MD+DI-and its Event Division.

15 Oct 2010

AstraZeneca launches new campaign on depression through Facebook and Twitter

AstraZeneca is launching a new campaign called "Take on Depression" through a "Take on Depression" Facebook page and a @FaceDepression Twitter feed to support, educate, and inspire those affected by bipolar depression and major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as depression.

15 Oct 2010

NIH awards $1.2M for study on discharge decisions at hospitals

A Georgia State University professor and an Emory University surgeon have received a $1.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health for a joint research project to study discharge decisions at hospitals.

15 Oct 2010

Medicare actuary says changes in advantage plans will mean more cost for some seniors

Politico obtained an analysis by Richard Foster, the actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, which that the health law will mean increased costs for seniors in Medicare Advantage plans.

15 Oct 2010

$Spinal fractures remain undiagnosed and untreated$

Spinal fractures remain undiagnosed and untreated

A new report issued by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) for World Osteoporosis Day puts the spotlight on the severe impact of spinal fractures and calls on health professionals to recognize the signs of these fractures in their patients.

15 Oct 2010

Political cartoon: "To The Moon"

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "To The Moon" by Bob Englehart.

15 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 15, 2010

Today's top stories from major news organizations report on the effort by 20 states to challenge the federal health law, a new federal panel to inform consumers about health care options and the struggle to pay for cancer care.

15 Oct 2010

FDA warns companies over unsubstantiated claims of 'chelation' products

The Food and Drug Administration says there's no proof that nonprescription 'chelation' products—which claim to treat everything from autism to Alzheimer's disease—can rid the body of toxic metals.

15 Oct 2010

Visa supports global law enforcement action against online sale of counterfeit, illegal medicines

Visa Inc. and Visa Europe today announced support for "Operation Pangea III," a global law enforcement action coordinated by INTERPOL targeting the online sale of counterfeit and illegal medicines resulting in arrests across the globe and the seizure of thousands of potentially harmful medicines.

15 Oct 2010

Study highlights need to address overuse, underuse of colorectal cancer screening tests

Only one-fifth of primary care physicians in the US follow practice guidelines for colorectal cancer screening for all the tests they recommend, according to Dr. Robin Yabroff from the National Cancer Institute and her colleagues. About 40 percent followed guidelines for some of the tests they recommended and the remaining 40 percent did not follow guidelines for any of the screening tests they recommended.

15 Oct 2010

MedSolutions, Corporate Research Group announce initial results from diagnostic accuracy program

MedSolutions and Corporate Research Group today announced initial results from a groundbreaking diagnostic accuracy program, which showed shortened hospital stays, reduced emergency room visits and lower overall medical costs among participants.

15 Oct 2010

WHO Western Pacific meeting addresses immunization, TB control, women's health

The WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific meeting continued with leaders discussing regional immunization goals, public health emergencies, TB control, and the health effects of urbanization, multiple news outlets report.

15 Oct 2010

New program will cut payment for durable medical equipment in Medicare test program

In California, beginning Jan. 1, "a new Medicare program will slash by 30 percent the prices it will pay for certain wheelchairs, oxygen concentrators and other medical devices in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, lowering costs for both local Medicare recipients and the American taxpayer," Redland Daily Facts reports.

15 Oct 2010

RMEI, PIM sponsor continuing education monograph on hereditary angioedema

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare but serious condition that can be both challenging to diagnose and to treat. To overcome these obstacles, healthcare professionals who encounter patients with HAE must be aware of the most up-to-date information regarding diagnosis and treatment of this potentially life-threatening condition.

15 Oct 2010

HHS limits, but can't eliminate, child-only policy double-standards

The New York Times: "The Obama administration, aiming to encourage health insurance companies to offer child-only policies, said Wednesday that they could charge higher premiums for coverage of children with serious medical problems, if state law allowed it. ... Earlier this year, major insurers, faced with an unprofitable business, stopped issuing new child-only policies.

15 Oct 2010

Experts use multi-disciplinary approach to provide innovative care for children

Liver tumors affect more than 300 children in the United States each year and management of these children requires coordinated comprehensive care from experts in many disciplines. To answer this problem, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine announced today the formation of a new Liver Tumor Center that brings together renowned specialists in all aspects of liver cancer who will utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to provide the most comprehensive and innovative care for children afflicted with these diseases.

15 Oct 2010