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Final health care package shaped by changing political landscape

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau writes: "In the year it took Congress to write and pass a health care overhaul, turbulent political shifts — including the Democrats' loss of Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat and the rise of the Tea Party movement — forced critical compromises on the scope of legislation"

25 Mar 2010

Alzheimer's Foundation of America applauds dementia-related provisions in health reform law

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is extremely pleased that the historic health reform signed into law by President Obama late this morning, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday and the U.S. Senate in December, includes a number of provisions that are especially significant for AFA's constituents—and bode well for improving quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their family caregivers. In particular, we are grateful that the final action addresses many of the practical and financial needs faced daily by this population, speaks to preventative issues and bolsters training of dementia care professionals.

25 Mar 2010

Controversy brews on new law's provisions on health coverage for Congress members, staff

The health care reform bill signed into law by President Barack Obama Tuesday requires members of Congress and their office staffs to buy insurance through the state-run exchanges it creates - but it may exempt staffers who work for congressional committees or for party leaders in the House and Senate.

25 Mar 2010

NHS needs to gear up in terms of productivity, say statisticians

In an alarming new revelation, the productivity of National Health Service NHS, has dropped steadily from 2001 by 0.4% each year and a total of 3%. 2008 has seen the largest fall, 0.7% according to the Office for National Statistics, ONS.

25 Mar 2010

Breastfeeding expert offers tips for choosing right feeding bottles

Breastfeeding expert Donna Dowling, associate professor of nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University, could sympathize with the new mom next to her in a large baby store as she was also overwhelmed by the variety of bottle choices in the 12 x 8 foot display.

25 Mar 2010

Looking back: Moments that shifted health reform conversation

Kaiser Health News reports on the "critical compromises" and events that shaped the final version of the health care reform bill, including the Democratic loss of Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat and the rise of the Tea Party movement.

25 Mar 2010

American Lung Association in California supports efforts for quality TB care

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious public health threat in the U.S. with nearly 13,000 TB cases reported during 2008.

25 Mar 2010

Obama to sign executive order on abortion funding in private ceremony

The President will sign an executive order Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in a much smaller ceremony than the one for the health care reform bill Tuesday.

25 Mar 2010

Canadian Diabetes Association launches new tools to help optimize diabetes care

Today the Canadian Diabetes Association launched new tools for people living with diabetes and healthcare practitioners to help optimize diabetes care across the country.

25 Mar 2010

Health reform debate often misrepresents changes to Medicare

Seniors, as well as doctors who treat Medicare patients, "have been shaken up by news that health care reform efforts are largely funded by about $455 billion worth of projected savings in the government health insurance program for the elderly.

25 Mar 2010

An interview with NIH director Francis Collins

The Washington Post interviewed Francis S. Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, about the health care bill and the human genome project, among other topics.

25 Mar 2010

Medicaid cuts weaken Idaho’s health care safety net, says AARP

The 217,000 Idahoans, 15% of the state's population, who rely on Medicaid for basic health services, are bracing for bad news from state lawmakers -- more cuts to their health care safety net.

25 Mar 2010

Industry continues to give thumbs up to overhaul

On Tuesday, "[p]rovider groups hailed the president's historic signing of the Senate's healthcare reform bill, which seeks to overhaul the healthcare system through the establishment of a new insurance marketplace, expansions to Medicaid and various insurance reforms," Modern Healthcare reports.

25 Mar 2010

Health law includes calorie-counting requirement for chain restaurants, vending machines

Health care reform legislation includes a provision requiring chain restaurants and vending machines to include calorie counts.

25 Mar 2010

DEA crackdown on nursing home drugs comes under Congressional scrutiny

The New York Times previews a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday where nursing home operators and caregivers will criticize a narcotics crackdown by the Drug Enforcement Administration that they say "has left seriously ill patients crying for pain relief.

25 Mar 2010

DEA regulations will impact nursing home residents, says AAHSA

In written testimony to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging as part of a hearing entitled, "The War on Drugs Meets the War on Pain: Nursing Home Residents Caught in the Crossfire," the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) urged the committee to support legislation designed to recognize "chart orders" and the functional role of nurses as the de facto agent of physicians whose patients reside in nursing facilities.

25 Mar 2010

Expert testimony in trial of Dr Patel

Dr Jayant Patel’s manslaughter trial in the supreme court of Brisbane saw Dr Nigel Chikolwa give testimony about the deteriorating condition of Mr Morris after surgery. Dr Chikolwa was the principal house officer at Bundaberg hospital, where Dr Patel had performed the surgery in 2003.

25 Mar 2010

GOP plans post-health reform strategy

"Over the past six months, Republicans used the White House push for a health care overhaul as a way to build grass-roots energy and rebuild enthusiasm among activists demoralized by the Democratic sweep back in 2008. While the effort to kill the health care bill ended in defeat for the GOP, conservatives say the issue has lost none of its power to motivate the opposition to the White House in this midterm election year and beyond"

25 Mar 2010

Democrats expect to end debate early on health reconciliation bill

Senate Democratic leaders are trying to end the debate on a bill that "fixes" the health overhaul law that President Barack Obama signed Tuesday. Once the debate ends, the Senate is expected to begin voting on a number of Republican amendments, The New York Times reports.

24 Mar 2010

OHC invites public and organizations' opinions on local hospital services

On Tuesday March 23rd, the Ontario Heath Coalition will begin its final week of a month long tour that began March 4th and has held hearings in Wallaceburg, Shelburne, Kincardine, Welland, Port Perry, Cobourg, Haliburton, and Burk's Falls. By the end of this week, the panel will have visited every region in Ontario.

24 Mar 2010