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Obama takes health reform on the road, touts key consumer provisions

President Obama Wednesday took to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. to tout provisions of the new health law that protect consumers. These changes go into effect Thursday.

23 Sep 2010

Medical loss ratio debate drags on, drags down stock prices

The failure to clearly define the key health law requirement that many insurers must spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health services has left investors tepid about health plan stocks and has complicated corporate decisions in the sector, Bloomberg reports. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners, a group of state regulators, were supposed to offer a definition to federal policy makers by June, but their deadline was pushed back to October.

23 Sep 2010

Covidien launches Puritan Bennett 560 ventilator in Europe

Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company and recognized innovator in mechanical ventilation and respiratory care devices, today announced that the Puritan Bennett™ 560 ventilator is now available in Europe. The Puritan Bennett 560 ventilator is compact and portable, weighing just 4.5 kg. This lightweight device provides mobile respiratory support, enabling ventilated adult and pediatric patients to pursue regular activities with peace of mind.

23 Sep 2010

Opinions: Genetically-modified crops can improve vaccines; MDG focus on women and girls; U.S. leadership for MDGs; Boosting access to drugs; Merits of bilateral development assistance

"The U.N. estimates that diarrheal diseases kill 1.8 million people every year. … So you might take it as good news that American company Ventria Bioscience says it has hit on an improvement to existing rehydration therapies, which could mean another tool in the fight against diarrhea," according to a Wall Street Journal editorial examining the delays the company has experienced since it first sought to have its product approved by the FDA back in 2004, even "[a]fter a panel of food, medicine, immunology, child nutrition and health experts had declared its product safe."

23 Sep 2010

First intestine transplant in Michigan performed on 50-year-old Port Austin patient

The first intestine (bowel) transplant in Michigan was performed on a 50-year-old patient from Port Austin by physicians at Henry Ford Hospital.

23 Sep 2010

Federal officials seek stronger workforce safety standards for health workers

Scripps Howard News Service/The (Montgomery County, Pa.) Times Herald: "Federal officials of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced this month they will consider proposals from advocacy, labor and student groups that contend work-hour rules proposed by an accreditation council's task force don't go far enough. They're pushing for new caps [on how long medical residents can work] including: No more than 80 hours in any week, compared to current standards that allow for an average of 80 hours.

23 Sep 2010

Metabolon publishes biomarker validation study results for periodontal diseases

Metabolon, Inc., leaders in global metabolomics, biomarker discovery and biochemical analysis, announces the publication of "Assessment of Dentifrice on Periodontal Disease Biomarkers in Gingival Crevicular Fluid", in the Journal of Periodontology.

23 Sep 2010

Health overhaul offers many flavors of campaign fodder

As the campaign season continues, conflicting narratives emerge about how the health law will factor in to voters' decisions.

23 Sep 2010

Congress examines health care payment issues and high costs

Congress is preparing to tackle health care issues including reforming the payment system and addressing the high costs of Alzheimer's care, Medicare fraud and long-term disability.

23 Sep 2010

A guide to Sept. 23: Health law's big day

Kaiser Health News has gathered a collection of resources to coincide with Sept. 23 -- health reform's big day.

23 Sep 2010

Americans head south to Mexico for cheaper health care

Americans are flocking to Mexico for discount health care, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

23 Sep 2010

U.S. joins whistleblower suit against Pfizer for drug marketing

The Wall Street Journal: "The Justice Department is trying to take the lead in a lawsuit accusing Pfizer Inc.'s Wyeth unit of improperly promoting an organ-transplant drug for unauthorized uses and paying illegal kickbacks to doctors. The lawsuit was filed by two former Wyeth sales representatives who were responsible for promoting Rapamune, an immunosuppressant used to prevent the body's rejection of transplanted kidneys.

23 Sep 2010

AstraZeneca to use THEW database for cardiac safety evaluation

AstraZeneca purchased a one-year membership to gain access to an international repository of data designed to aid industry and academic researchers developing new technologies to improve cardiac safety.

23 Sep 2010

Today's Opinions: Coloradans' insurance concerns, contraception and New York's Medicaid burden

For years, Coloradans have lived with uncertainty about their health insurance: lifetime caps, recisions, coverage for life-saving screenings. New provisions that begin Thursday, the six-month anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act, address some of the biggest concerns consumers had about the failing health system (Dede de Percin, 9/22).

23 Sep 2010

Political Cartoon: 'The Republican plan to replace Obamacare'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh perspective on health policy developments with "The Republican Plan To Replace Obamacare" by Monte Wolverton.

23 Sep 2010

CDC report shows significant progress toward improving public health emergency preparedness

State and local health departments have made significant progress toward improving public health emergency preparedness and response capabilities, says a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

22 Sep 2010

Study shows physical and mental health benefits of sports participation in adolescents

Taking part in sports is good all round for young teens: physically, socially, and mentally, according to a new study by Dr. Keith Zullig and Rebecca White from West Virginia University in the US. Their research shows that middle-school teenagers who are physically active and play on sports teams are more satisfied with their life and feel healthier. Zullig and White's paper is published online in Springer's journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.

22 Sep 2010

APF launches new educational initiative for people with pain, health care professionals

The American Pain Foundation today announced the launch of PainSAFE (Pain Safety & Access For Everyone), a new educational initiative designed for people with pain and health care professionals. The mission of PainSAFE is to provide education surrounding the appropriate and safe use of pain management therapies for people affected by pain and health care professionals, thereby, helping to reduce risk and improve access to quality pain care.

22 Sep 2010

Seredor acquires United Sleep Diagnostics to expand sleep diagnostic activities

Continucare Corporation announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Seredor Corporation has further expanded its sleep diagnostic activities through the acquisition of United Sleep Diagnostics, Inc., an operator of sleep diagnostic centers. The acquired business currently operates three independent testing facilities and manages sleep centers at six hospitals located in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties, Florida.

22 Sep 2010

Nationwide Health Information Network tool to convey public health information

One hundred and sixty-six years after Samuel Morse used dots and dashes to telegraph "What hath God wrought?" opening up a whole new world of communication, Indiana has become the first state in the nation to use a potentially equally revolutionary tool, the Nationwide Health Information Network, to convey public health information to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

22 Sep 2010