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Rural thoughts on improving the health care system; plus other state news

Kaiser Health News examines rural health care in Kentucky and finds that models for community health care that operate there could benefit the nation's health care system despite. The article notes that Hazard, Ky., was labeled as one of the worst health care regions in America by the 2008 American Human Development Report, but "there are enduring models in places like Hazard that could prove instructive to rebuilding healthy communities across the nation, both rural and urban."

13 Nov 2009

Insurer recruits employees to oppose health bills, angers consumer group

"In an aggressive new effort to influence the congressional health care debate, UnitedHealth Group this week e-mailed its 75,000 U.S. employees, urging them to contact their senators and providing two form letters attacking specific legislative proposals," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

13 Nov 2009

Health reform: Senate facing controversies on coverage numbers, abortion language

The Wall Street Journal: "When the Senate unveils its health-care bill, all eyes will be on the price tag. But an equally significant number may be how many people get health insurance under the legislation."

13 Nov 2009

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Secrets of Massachusetts' Success - "By the summer of 2008, less than two years after Massachusetts' health reform law became effective, only 2.6 percent of state residents were uninsured—the lowest proportion ever recorded for any state." This study by the RWJF-funded State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE) initiative "explains how national reforms can use similar methods to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other coverage expansions."

13 Nov 2009

GOP hopes to rally sentiment against Dems' health bills but face flap over RNC abortion coverage

For the first time, when asked who voters trusted more on handling health care, congressional Republicans tied Obama at 40 percent with 21 percent undecided," in Ohio, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, Politics Daily reports. PD adds: "In September, respondents favored Obama by 49 percent to 28 percent. (Ohio) voters oppose Obama's health care plan by 55 percent to 36 percent with 9 percent undecided and disapprove of his handling of the issue by a similar margin" (Drake, 11/12).

13 Nov 2009

Doctors face image problems; patients deal with shortages, are urged to question care

Doctors must not only face the fading image of primary care providers, but also physician shortage issues. Meanwhile, some experts suggest patients consider saying "no" to their doctor to control health care costs.

13 Nov 2009

AMA takes on social issues, backs reform, rebuts 100-year trend

After a century of health-reform opposition - with highlights such as coining the term "socialized medicine," - the American Medical Association is now supporting Democrats' overhaul efforts, as well as taking on a few one taboo social issues, NPR's Health Blog reports.

13 Nov 2009

Business and insurers' groups back health reform, but not all legislation

A group of CEOs, the Business Roundtable and America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry group, separately expressed qualified support for health overhaul efforts Thursday.

13 Nov 2009

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

The nation’s leading health insurers saw an aggregate decline of 836,000 members for the first six months of 2009. Declining commercial enrollment was offset primarily by gains in products offered to seniors and growth in Medicaid business. Administrative Services Only (ASO) enrollment experienced its first quarterly decline since June 2007.

13 Nov 2009

Veterans' health: Measuring the scope of mental health challenges

NPR profiles retired General Eric Shinseki, the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and his efforts to measure the scope of veterans' mental health issues. In his first nine months in this position, he "has spent hours just listening to veterans talk. Shinseki tells NPR's Steve Inskeep that he feels a strong obligation to 'give back' to the men and women he once served with." NPR reports on the task Shinseki faces: "Since 2001, more than 1 million new veterans have come into a system that is being stretched thin." One of Shinseki's missions to improve the care and resources available to these vets is to work with the Department of Defense to "create a computer-driven system that will track service personnel through their careers — including when they become veterans.

13 Nov 2009

Senate aides: Reid considering Medicare payroll tax increase on wealthy

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid pondering a proposal to increase the Medicare payroll tax on high earners "to help offset the costs of providing health insurance to millions of Americans, Senate aides said Thursday," The New York Times reports.

13 Nov 2009

Overhaul could leave kids' hospitals strapped for cash

Industry advocates say health reform could place a disproportionate burden on children's hospitals, because they will face cuts along with other hospitals, but do not stand to benefit from expansions in insurance coverage, USA Today reports.

13 Nov 2009

Suggestions abound for cutting national health care costs

Two publications looked at the problem of rising health costs and ways to try to "bend the curve."

13 Nov 2009

In rural Kentucky, an unexpected take on the health debate

Frank Browning reports for Kaiser Health News on how the health reform debate is playing out in rural Kentucky. "From a strip-mined bluff at the edge of this famous mountain town you can see one of the most concentrated and diverse sets of medical facilities in rural America: a general hospital, a psychiatric hospital, a university-based rural health care center and clinics for primary care, cancer, urology, cardiology, addiction and ear-nose-and throat problems.

13 Nov 2009

Study of GBHN Order Set project reveals improvements in the length of stay and ordering of best practices

A study of the Grey Bruce Health Network (GBHN) Order Set project has revealed impressive improvements in the length of stay and ordering of best practices.

13 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 13, 2009

On this Friday the 13th, the headlines offer an array of health policy views -- from the possibility of including a Medicare payroll tax in health reform legislation to continuing analysis of the overhaul's winners and losers as well as the CDC's new estimate of the far-reach of the swine flu.

13 Nov 2009

NCLEX-RN Test Plan: A guide for registered nurses

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®) has published the "2010 NCLEX-RN® Detailed Test Plan" and has posted it to its Web site at https://www.ncsbn.org/1287.htm.

13 Nov 2009

Deadline for the submission of application for third funding cycle announced

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN®) Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program announces a deadline of March 1, 2010, for application submissions for its third funding cycle.

13 Nov 2009

Ascom Wireless Solutions to showcase its IP-based nurse call system at the Medica 2009

Ascom Wireless Solutions, the leading provider of wireless on-site communications, supplies its customers with advanced telecommunications systems, purpose-built handsets, wireless voice- and message transmission systems, customised alarm and positioning applications for the healthcare market.

13 Nov 2009

Improved method of chest closure may set new standard of care for open-heart surgery

An innovative method is being used to repair the breastbone after it is intentionally broken to provide access to the heart during open-heart surgery. The technique uses a state-of-the-art adhesive that rapidly bonds to bone and accelerates the recovery process.

13 Nov 2009

Healthcare News

Rural thoughts on improving the health care system; plus other state news

Insurer recruits employees to oppose health bills, angers consumer group

Health reform: Senate facing controversies on coverage numbers, abortion language

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

GOP hopes to rally sentiment against Dems' health bills but face flap over RNC abortion coverage

Doctors face image problems; patients deal with shortages, are urged to question care

AMA takes on social issues, backs reform, rebuts 100-year trend

Business and insurers' groups back health reform, but not all legislation

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

Veterans' health: Measuring the scope of mental health challenges

Senate aides: Reid considering Medicare payroll tax increase on wealthy

Overhaul could leave kids' hospitals strapped for cash

Suggestions abound for cutting national health care costs

In rural Kentucky, an unexpected take on the health debate

Study of GBHN Order Set project reveals improvements in the length of stay and ordering of best practices

First Edition: November 13, 2009

NCLEX-RN Test Plan: A guide for registered nurses

Deadline for the submission of application for third funding cycle announced

Ascom Wireless Solutions to showcase its IP-based nurse call system at the Medica 2009

Improved method of chest closure may set new standard of care for open-heart surgery

The future of automation: Machine learning–driven hepatocyte and organoid counting

From street to lab: Advancing controlled substance testing with handheld Raman and FTIR

Reimagining light scattering for biotherapeutics

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