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Policy restrictions for certain medications lead to decreased drug use and substantial savings for insurers

Policies that restrict reimbursement for certain medications can save money for health insurers without driving patients to seek other kinds of health care, a new review of studies suggests.

19 Aug 2010

Competitive forces against globally collaborative science

Can the International Science Community Find the Proper Balance Between Cooperation and Competition?

19 Aug 2010

Study outlines recommendations for prevention, management of health epidemics

A new study reveals that the oil and gas industry supply chain which includes oil companies, contractors and sub-contractors does not perceive the full extent of the risks that HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria pose to its workforce, productivity and profitability. The study conducted by management consulting firm Booz & Company in partnership the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) outlines why the oil and gas industry should improve its understanding of the hazards posed by these three epidemics and makes ten recommendations for how to make health a priority.

19 Aug 2010

World MRSA Day kick-off event in Chicago on October 1, 2010

MRSA Survivors Network, the Chicago-based nonprofit organization, launches their second annual World MRSA Day kick-off event at Loyola University Chicago on October 1, 2010. The 2010 global theme for World MRSA Day is: 'The MRSA Epidemic – A Call to Action.' Other events are planned in the United States, U.K. and Canada throughout the month of October, World MRSA Awareness Month.

19 Aug 2010

Experts debate government's decision to ring fence NHS funding

Is the government's decision to ring fence NHS funding fair? Two experts debate the issue on bmj.com today.

19 Aug 2010

Small businesses wrestle with what health reform will mean for them

The Santa Cruz Sentinel/San Jose Mercury News: As a result of the federal health overhaul, businesses "with under 50 full-time equivalent employees will be under no obligation to offer health insurance, but those with over 50 must offer it or pay a fine. This will require counting employee hours; 30 hours is considered full time by the federal government. A tiny percentage of businesses across the nation have more than 50 employees but do not provide health insurance, about 0.2 percent, according to [the Small Business Majority, a trade group]."

19 Aug 2010

Health insurance costs rise sharply for unemployed as COBRA subsidy ends

Kaiser Health News staff writers Andrew Villegas and Phil Galewitz, writing in collaboration with USA Today, report on the status of health insurance assistance for the unemployed: "Jennifer Richards of Park Ridge, Ill., is angry that her family's monthly health insurance bill tripled in August to $1,250 after her husband lost his job and health benefits. But as bad as that is, what really upsets her is the inaction of Congress"

19 Aug 2010

Grants infuse health centers with more money to build, bolster services

The Washington Post: "Health centers across the country are lining up for a shot in the arm from the Obama administration: $250 million in federal grants to build clinics and bolster services at existing clinics for low-income patients such as public housing residents, the homeless, seasonal farmworkers and others who struggle to pay for care.

19 Aug 2010

What do we call nurses with doctorates? And other quality issues

The Philadelphia Inquirer/Kansas City Star: "Most nurse practitioners still have master's degrees, but nursing schools want the doctor of nursing practice degree to be the entry-level degree for advanced-practice nurses by 2015. Enrollment in those programs nationally jumped from 70 in 2002 to more than 5,000 last year." The titles of nurses and how they interact with academic degrees are causing some confusion among patients and resentment from doctors. "Most newly graduating physical therapists now have doctorates, too.

19 Aug 2010

Kansas Health Policy Authority awards HMS contract to conduct Medicaid Subrogation Services

HMS announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Kansas Health Policy Authority to conduct Medicaid Subrogation Services, including Casualty and Estate Recovery services. HMS will identify cases for action and implement best practice recovery procedures.

19 Aug 2010

Mass. regulators reach rate hike accord with one more insurer

Massachusetts regulators cut a deal Monday with insurer Health New England to limit premium increases for individual policyholders and small businesses to 8.2 percent, down from the hikes ranging from 11.5 to 21.3 percent the firm requested earlier this year, The Boston Globe reports. "With the Health New England agreement, the Patrick administration has now reached accords with five of the six Massachusetts insurance carriers that were denied double-digit increases on April 1.

19 Aug 2010

Closure of Vancouver General Hospital's outpatient Domestic Violence Program puts vulnerable women at risk

Despite strong community opposition and media attention, the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority continues to dismantle the outpatient Domestic Violence Program at Vancouver General Hospital. The 18-year-old program is slated to close at the end of this week.

19 Aug 2010

New 'Pesticide-Induced Diseases Database' tracks published epidemiologic and real world exposure studies

Links to pesticide exposure are being found in a growing number of studies that evaluate the causes of preventable diseases -- including asthma, autism and learning disabilities, birth defects and reproductive dysfunction, diabetes, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and several types of cancer. A new database, released today, tracks published epidemiologic and real world exposure studies.

19 Aug 2010

Laid-off workers lament conclusion of COBRA subsidy

Kaiser Health News, in a collaboration with USA Today: Recently laid-off workers, as well as people who received a subsidy for 15 months to help them afford to keep their former employer's health insurance, are lamenting the end of the popular program. "Deficit-conscious lawmakers have not renewed a subsidy that helped many jobless Americans afford health benefits.

19 Aug 2010

UnitedHealthcare to donate $1.95 million for Walking Paths Program

UnitedHealthcare is committing $1.95 million over three years to the American Heart Association to help establish walking paths throughout the country, with a goal of 150 new paths in the first year. It will also fund enhanced online walking resources available on the American Heart Association's walking paths website.

19 Aug 2010

Reuters examines measles outbreaks in Africa

Reuters reports on how some health experts worry that growing complacency about the threat of measles in Africa is contributing to "some of the largest and most deadly outbreaks in years." Worldwide, "[a]bout 164,000 people died from measles in 2008, down 78 percent from 733,000 in 2000, according to the Measles Initiative," Reuters reports, adding that "UNICEF fears the combined effect of decreased political and financial commitment to measles could reverse the gains, resulting in an estimated 1.7 million measles-related deaths globally between 2010 and 2013."

19 Aug 2010

Behavioral Innovations includes In-home Autism Treatment programs in ABA services at San Antonio

SANBehavioral Innovations, the premier provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for families of children with Autism and other developmental disorders, announces the expansion of its San Antonio services to include In-home Autism Treatment programs and consultation services for schools and professionals.

19 Aug 2010

Apex EDI introduces Preferred Solutions Partner Program

Apex EDI, one of the nation's leading e-claims reimbursement companies for dental and medical professionals, unveiled a Preferred Solutions Partner Program to offer turn-key EDI support for health care providers through strong relationships with practice management vendors, business partners, payers and more. The Preferred Solutions Partner Program will allow medical and dental resellers to offer an industry-leading clearinghouse claims processing solution to their clients.

19 Aug 2010

Broadband could be boon for rural clinics

A federal broadband initiative may have implications for the health system, too, NPR reports. "Millions of Americans who live in rural areas travel long distances to get health care. Or they may go without it. But high-speed Internet connections now make it possible to bring a doctor's expertise to patients in far-off places, if those places are connected. As part of its National Broadband Plan, the Federal Communications Commission has pledged $400 million a year to connect nearly 12,000 rural health care providers."

19 Aug 2010

State Department report documents U.S. efforts to expand developing countries' access to safe drinking water, sanitation

The State Department on Monday released its 5th annual Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act report (.pdf) to Congress detailing "U.S. efforts to expand access to safe drinking water and sanitation, improve water resources management and increase water productivity in developing countries," NAN/234NEXT.com reports (8/17).

19 Aug 2010