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Forum sets goal for achieving widespread adoption, meaningful use of EHRs by 2014

The following joint statement, by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Principal Deputy Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, was issued today at a forum, "Accelerating Electronic Health Records Adoption and Meaningful Use."

7 Aug 2010

Dr. Robert Mondavi offers new patients special promotion in dental care

Dr. Robert Mondavi, dentist in Torrance CA, would like to offer all new patients a special promotion in dental care. This special offer will include a basic cleaning, examination of teeth and gums, X-rays, and Free Home Bleaching, all for the incredible price of only $60.00.

7 Aug 2010

Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing stable Medicaid, Medicare funding

As the extension of emergency Medicaid relief moves from the Senate to the House of Representatives, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living's nationwide Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing adequate, stable Medicaid and Medicare funding for long term and rehabilitative care for America's seniors and disabled citizens continues to draw significant support from legislators and coverage from local media.

7 Aug 2010

Tufts University faculty debunks common dental myths

Brushing, flossing, and twice-yearly dental check-ups are standard for oral health care, but there are more health benefits to taking care of your pearly whites than most of us know. In a review article, a faculty member at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) debunks common dental myths and outlines how diet and nutrition affects oral health in children, teenagers, expectant mothers, adults and elders.

7 Aug 2010

Health reform law update: State lawsuits, implementation efforts attract attention

Today, 20 states and the National Federation of Independent Business are planning "to file their response to the government's attempt to dismiss their lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The Justice Department in June asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the U.S. District Court in Pensacola lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over some of the lawsuit's claims. ... A key issue raised by their lawsuit is whether the federal government can require individuals to purchase health care insurance and fine those who don't" (Kay, 8/6).

7 Aug 2010

Boston Globe examines rise of polio in Tajikistan, other pockets of world

"Polio has reappeared in a corner of the world that had not seen cases in years - Tajikistan, the former Soviet republic - a chilling setback in the two-decade campaign to purge a dreaded cause of childhood paralysis from the planet," the Boston Globe reports in a story that examines the reemergence of polio in other areas of the world.

7 Aug 2010

UnitedHealth Group launches new initiatives to enhance broad portfolio of EHR-related programs

UnitedHealth Group today launched new initiatives, which further enhance its broad portfolio of electronic health record -related programs. These initiatives support the Department of Health and Human Services' drive to increase physician adoption of Electronic Health Records and other health information technology that meet recently-released federal "Meaningful Use" criteria for EHRs.

7 Aug 2010

Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver better health results: Study

Preliminary data from a study of private insurance and Medicare claims commissioned by the American Association of Diabetes Educators reveal that ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver results in terms of better health and reduced private insurance and Medicare claims.

7 Aug 2010

Scientists develop hand prosthesis that eases phantom pain

The pain of losing a body part is twofold, as the patients not only suffer from wound pain. Often they are also affected by so called phantom pain. Unlike bodily wounds which will eventually heal, phantom pain often lasts for years and sometimes a lifetime. "Phantom pain is very difficult to treat", says Professor Dr Thomas Weiss from the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

7 Aug 2010

Upbeat Medicare solvency report quickly finds doubters

The new health law will buttress Medicare for a dozen more years than previously expected, according a report issued Thursday by the program's trustees, The Washington Post reports. But, "[t]he relatively bright picture of Medicare's future triggered immediate debate over whether the forecast by the trustees, all members of President Obama's Cabinet, is realistic.

7 Aug 2010

Senate gives final passage to state aid bill, House summoned for Tuesday vote

Senators voted Thursday to give $26 billion in aid to states and schools, $16 billion of which will be directed to Medicaid programs around the nation as the House prepares to return during its recess to cast votes on the legislation.

7 Aug 2010

AMA says most doctors at some point face malpractice lawsuits

MedPage Today/ABC News: According to a new survey by the American Medical Association, more than 60 percent of doctors older than 55 have been sued for medical malpractice. "Although most of those claims are dropped or dismissed, the new survey from the AMA shows that most physicians will be sued for malpractice at some point in their careers.

7 Aug 2010

Text4baby messaging program wins HHSinnovates award

Text4baby, a program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, has been honored with a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHSinnovates award, presented by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius at a ceremony in Washington, DC. This week, Representatives from HMHB, Voxiva, Health Resources and Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the HHS Office on Women's Health accepted the award on behalf of the text4baby team.

7 Aug 2010

Private firms take up torch of health IT push

Health insurance companies, doctors' professional associations and provider organizations are taking efforts to move hospitals and physicians towards 'meaningful use' of information technology into their own hands, The Hill reports.

7 Aug 2010

Obama Administration awards $159.1 million in grants for nurses, geriatric care workers

"The grants, which include new and continuing funding, build on multimillion dollar investments called for under the new health-care overhaul law in order to address a growing shortage of primary care workers." A 2008 report by the Council on Physician and Nurse Supply said schools would need to produce 30,000 nurses annually to offset the shortfall and the looming mass retirement of nurses, 45 percent of whom are 50 or older" (Aizenman, 8/5).

7 Aug 2010

Walgreens launches Pharmacy Chat for 24/7 online access

With 20 percent of Walgreens 7,500-plus pharmacies open 24 hours daily, Walgreens patients nationwide rely on the round-the-clock convenience and accessibility of Walgreens pharmacy. Now, Walgreens is making its trusted pharmacy staff even more accessible - available any time online - with Walgreens Pharmacy Chat. Pharmacy Chat is a live, one-on-one, online chat with a pharmacy staff member available 24/7

7 Aug 2010

Blue Cross of Massachusetts agrees to reduce dramatic rate increases

In Massachusetts, the state's largest health insurer has agreed to reduce dramatic rate increases for individuals and small businesses.

7 Aug 2010

Health reform provisions on abortion, IRS reporting requirements stirring up Capitol Hill

The Hill reports that Sens. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, introduced legislation Thursday "designed to eliminate a controversial provision of the Democrats' new healthcare reform law that allows subsidized plans to offer abortion coverage if patients pay separately, and with their own money, for that portion of the coverage.

7 Aug 2010

From Florida to Oregon, Medicare Advantage's benefits – and cuts – vary

This Kaiser Health News story by David Gulliver, produced in partnership with Health News Florida, explores how the impact of changes to Medicare Advantage will differ from place to place across the country.

7 Aug 2010

Funk Out Cancer to raise money, awareness for research at University of Wisconsin

Funk Out Cancer is back for the second annual concert and silent auction to raise money and awareness for cancer research at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center. Funk Out Cancer will feature music by international recording artists funk/jazz trio SOULIVE along with special guests Madison's own Phat Phunktion and Mama Digdown's Brass Band. The event will be held on Saturday, November 20 at 7:00 PM at the Orpheum Theatre, Madison.

7 Aug 2010