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ASTRO urges MedPAC to recommend end to abuse of physician self-referral law in radiation oncology

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) commends the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) for highlighting concerns about physician self-referral in cancer care in its report released yesterday. We urge the commission to make recommendations to Congress to end abuses of the physician self-referral law in radiation oncology enabled by the "in-office ancillary services exception."

17 Jun 2010

Two-day conference examines effectiveness of U.N. pilot program to coordinate development assistance

A two-day conference examining the effectiveness of a pilot program aimed at improving the coherence and effectiveness of U.N. assistance is taking place this week in Ha Noi, Vietnam, South Asian News Agency reports.

17 Jun 2010

Opinions: Maintain fight against HIV/AIDS; Ending PMTCT; Impact of U.S. health reform on foreign-trained physicians

Following a recent trip to the largest HIV/AIDS clinic in Uganda, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon reflects on the recent progress made in the fight against the disease in a McClatchy opinion piece. Though "Uganda was the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic. …Uganda is also a success story," Ban writes. "A decade ago, fewer than 10,000 people were on the new generation of antiretroviral drugs that suppress the disease and offer the promise of a normal life.

17 Jun 2010

Officials discuss ways to improve quality measures in health care

Officials from Highmark Inc., Pinnacle Health System and Penn State Hershey Medical Center today discussed ways to improve quality measures in health care that will ultimately result in better patient care, improved health outcomes and ways to save valuable health care dollars.

17 Jun 2010

Hospital waiting time reduced nationally: Report

According to the latest report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) hospital admissions have risen significantly up to 16 percent from 2004 to 2009. Admissions in 2008 and 2009 amounted to a whopping 8 million and the report author George Bodilsen felt that multiple factors are responsible for this growing pressure on the nation’s hospitals. “The increase in hospital activity is a reflection of the increasing population, the ageing population, and perhaps the increase in chronic diseases in the population as we age,” he said.

17 Jun 2010

Rand Paul, who opposed federal 'handouts,' is criticized for taking Medicare patients; Other health politics news

Rand Paul, a Kentucky GOP Senate candidate, sees Medicare and Medicaid patients, even as he opposes federal "handouts" and is facing criticism from his Democratic opponent for not releasing his Medicare billing records, The Associated Press reported.

17 Jun 2010

GAO audit explores use of taxpayer funds by family planning groups

Hearst Newspapers/The San Antonio Express: "Anti-abortion lawmakers in Congress have determined that federal taxpayers poured at least $967 million into family planning organizations such as Planned Parenthood over the last eight years — money they said potentially freed the health-service enterprises to use other donations to perform abortions.

17 Jun 2010

AACC receives $6.6M grant to fund development of open-source delivery platform for healthcare careers

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that the American Association of Community Colleges will receive a $6.6 million grant to fund development of Healthcare Virtual Career Platform: Healthcare Career Central, an open-source delivery platform that will manage an individual's entry into any of more than 200 healthcare careers – from career exploration, to skills assessment, training and job placement.

17 Jun 2010

HealthPort launches AudaPro web-based audit management tool

HealthPort, an industry leader in health information technology announced today, the availability of a comprehensive software and services solution to manage audits in healthcare, including RAC, MIC, MAC and other government contractors as well as commercial plan and internal coding and compliance audits.

17 Jun 2010

Financial Times examines how GAVI's $2.6B shortfall might affect new vaccine programs in developing countries

GAVI Alliance's plan to introduce new vaccine projects in the developing world "is under threat amid the international economic downturn," the Financial Times reports. "Subsidies to extend the use of vaccines against rubella, HPV to tackle cervical cancer, cholera and Japanese encephalitis in the developing world are among those likely to be cancelled or delayed," according to GAVI's CEO Julian Lob-Levyt, the newspaper writes.

17 Jun 2010

State round-up: Calif. orders review of insurers' planned rate hikes; S.D. targets young smokers

"California health insurance regulators have ordered independent reviews of rate hikes being sought by four of the state's largest insurers, a move that could lead to smaller increases for consumers. The action comes after an outside analysis found significant errors in a recent rate filing by Anthem Blue Cross, leading it to cancel increases of as much as 39% for hundreds of thousands of policyholders. , to be announced Wednesday by The California Department of Insurance's findings are to be announced Wednesday" (Helfand, 6/16).

17 Jun 2010

Seniorlink announces approval of Caregiver Homes

Seniorlink, Inc. has announced the approval of its Caregiver Homes subsidiary as a Shared Living Services provider for the state of Rhode Island Department of Human Services. In the Caregiver Homes' model, the client lives in the home of a paid caregiver who is supported by a clinical care team to provide 24-hour care and supervision for an elder or disabled adult.

17 Jun 2010

States push for additional Medicaid funding with budget cuts on the horizon

Inside Health Policy reports that Democrats and hospital groups are pushing hard for the Senate to increase Medicaid payments as part of the "tax extenders" bill. "Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) told a crowd of hospital stakeholders that the enhanced Medicaid funding, which failed to make its way into health reform, is by no means a lock, despite the pleas of even some Republican governors for its passage."

17 Jun 2010

PVAHCS receives 2010 Silver Anvil Award from PRSA

Led by the Phoenix VA Health Care System, the VA Veterans Day Parade in Phoenix received the prestigious Silver Anvil Award from the Public Relations Society of America. The Silver Anvil, which recognizes outstanding achievement in strategic public relations planning and implementation, was presented during the Silver Anvil Awards Ceremony held June 3 in New York City.

17 Jun 2010

Senate rejects plan to extend jobless aid, avert looming Medicare cuts

Every Senate Republican and 12 Democrats rejected a White House-backed proposal to extend jobless programs and state aid created in last year's economic stimulus bill in a 52-45 vote Wednesday. Because the "test vote" on the extension plan failed, "Democrats seeking to reduce the measure's deficit impact are looking at rolling back last year's $25 a week increase in unemployment checks and giving doctors just a short reprieve from scheduled cuts in their Medicare payments" (6/16).

17 Jun 2010

Scientists receive over $3M to launch training and mentorship programs for promising young researchers

Scientists from the Universit- de Montr-al and its affiliated engineering school, -cole Polytechnique, have received major funding from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Over $3 million was awarded to enable both institutions to launch training and mentorship programs for promising young researchers.

17 Jun 2010

Young canvassers part of nationwide health care drive

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz, working in collaboration with USA Today, writes: "On a cool weekday afternoon, a small group of young adults gathers outside Covenant House, a homeless shelter where some of them live or go to school.

17 Jun 2010

Renewed threat of Medicare pay cuts leaves doctors with 'sense of fatigue'

Doctors across the country find themselves - once again - putting their Medicare claims on hold while they wait for Congress to take action.

17 Jun 2010

U.S. Department of Labor announces over $14.7M in health care career grants

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $14.7 million in health care career grants authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The four grantees are the American Association of Community Colleges, Goodwill Industries International, the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services and SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc.

17 Jun 2010

Wednesday's OpEds: Berwick nomination; Health reform costs and benefits; Medicaid and COBRA in jobs bill

As its real costs become clearer, Obama's program is looking even more expensive for employers, seniors, and taxpayers (Rick Santorum, 6/16).

17 Jun 2010

Healthcare News

ASTRO urges MedPAC to recommend end to abuse of physician self-referral law in radiation oncology

Two-day conference examines effectiveness of U.N. pilot program to coordinate development assistance

Opinions: Maintain fight against HIV/AIDS; Ending PMTCT; Impact of U.S. health reform on foreign-trained physicians

Officials discuss ways to improve quality measures in health care

Hospital waiting time reduced nationally: Report

Rand Paul, who opposed federal 'handouts,' is criticized for taking Medicare patients; Other health politics news

GAO audit explores use of taxpayer funds by family planning groups

AACC receives $6.6M grant to fund development of open-source delivery platform for healthcare careers

HealthPort launches AudaPro web-based audit management tool

Financial Times examines how GAVI's $2.6B shortfall might affect new vaccine programs in developing countries

State round-up: Calif. orders review of insurers' planned rate hikes; S.D. targets young smokers

Seniorlink announces approval of Caregiver Homes

States push for additional Medicaid funding with budget cuts on the horizon

PVAHCS receives 2010 Silver Anvil Award from PRSA

Senate rejects plan to extend jobless aid, avert looming Medicare cuts

Scientists receive over $3M to launch training and mentorship programs for promising young researchers

Young canvassers part of nationwide health care drive

Renewed threat of Medicare pay cuts leaves doctors with 'sense of fatigue'

U.S. Department of Labor announces over $14.7M in health care career grants

Wednesday's OpEds: Berwick nomination; Health reform costs and benefits; Medicaid and COBRA in jobs bill

Advancing brain microphysiological systems (bMPS)

PhD researcher at LifeArc

Unveiling Hidden Potential: Organoids for Disease Modeling in Neuroscience Research

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