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Study examines how biotech firm partnerships with developing nations can help increase innovation, revenue

By forging partnerships with developing countries, biotechnology companies from developed countries may be able to stay afloat during the current economic crisis and bolster innovation, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature Biotechnology, Livemint.com reports.

11 Sep 2009

NCOA supports Obama for improving Medicare’s delivery system

NCOA applauds President Obama's call for universal health care. Older Americans with Medicare know first-hand the benefits of universal coverage -- and they should be in the forefront of efforts to secure the same rights for their children and grandchildren.

11 Sep 2009

BCBSA supports Obama on maintaining health insurance reforms for affordable coverage

Scott P. Serota, president and chief executive officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), released the following statement regarding President Obama's address to the joint session of Congress:

11 Sep 2009

Tort reform back on table in health care debate

"Sparked by complaints at town hall meetings last month about the impact of medical malpractice suits on healthcare costs, a battle is brewing between business advocates and lawyers over whether to limit damages in lawsuits against physicians and other medical professionals as part of a healthcare overhaul," CongressDaily reports.

11 Sep 2009

ACLJ: Abortion funding issue cannot be resolved without a specific exemption

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), focusing on constitutional law, said today despite President Obama’s insistence that “no federal dollars will be used to fund abortions” – the fact is that such a proclamation does not guarantee that abortion won’t become a mandatory health care “benefit” under health care reform.

11 Sep 2009

Gastroenterologists applaud President's call for screening tests coverage

Gastrointestinal specialists from the American College of Gastroenterology applaud President Obama's call to cover preventive screening tests, such as breast cancer exams and colonoscopy. In his health care speech to a joint session of Congress last night, the President argued that "there's no reason we shouldn't be catching diseases like breast cancer and colon cancer before they get worse. That makes sense."

11 Sep 2009

New uninsured number: Up to 46.3 million in mid-2008

The Associated Press: "The Census Bureau reports that the number of people lacking health insurance rose to 46.3 million in 2008. That's up from 45.7 million in 2007, due to a continuing erosion of employer-provided insurance. Still, the level remained just below the peak of 47 million who were uninsured in 2006, because of the growth of government insurance programs such as Medicaid for the poor" (Yen, 9/10).

11 Sep 2009

Medicare reimbursement cuts will affect cancer care system

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a national non-profit organization that represents oncologists and other cancer care providers, strongly opposes cuts in Medicare reimbursement for cancer care outlined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

11 Sep 2009

Personalities: Democrats continue to wrangle while GOP seeks to make use of summer momentum gains

Top health care negotiators for a group of fiscally conservative Democrats are seeking to bolster their positions with key Democrats and Republicans ahead of the stretch run at health care reform.

11 Sep 2009

Study in Asia finds monkey malaria strain more widespread in humans than previously thought

"Researchers in Malaysia have confirmed that a form of malaria thought to primarily affect monkeys can infect and kill humans, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases journal," Agence France-Presse reports.

11 Sep 2009

Obama: 'Time for bickering is over' on health care reform

"Obama said the changes he has in mind would cost about $900 billion over [a] decade, 'less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans' passed during the Bush administration."

11 Sep 2009

Better use of quality-of-care ratings can lead to greater consumer control

A hospital pneumonia survival rate of 93 percent may sound good, but knowing that it's actually merely "fair" can help people pick a better hospital, according to new research. A "good" survival rate would be from 95 percent to 98 percent, medical experts say.

11 Sep 2009

Democrats and Republicans take action, offer more reactions the day after President Obama's speech

Republicans are continuing to react to President Obama's Wednesday night speech while Democrats are counting votes and meeting with key groups within the caucus.

11 Sep 2009

Blood collection professionals honored as part of the 5th Annual Blood Collectors Week

Blood collection professionals will be recognized in communities worldwide September 13-19, 2009, as part of the 5th Annual Blood Collectors Week, sponsored jointly by Fenwal, Inc. and AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks). During the week, blood centers across the country will host celebrations, often with local government officials, to recognize their staffs and donors.

11 Sep 2009

Obama highlights new uninsured census numbers during meeting with nurses

Almost 6 million more Americans were uninsured during the last year when the economy worsened, President Obama, citing new census data, told a group of nurses at the White House on Thursday, the New York Times reports.

11 Sep 2009

Today's editorials and opinions

At Last, Firing Back On Health Reform The Washington Post [T]he most striking aspect of the address may have been its call to battle: The days of taking incoming fire without any return volleys are over (E.J. Dionne, Jr., 9/10).

10 Sep 2009

Labs grumble over co-pays, new fees for Medicare lab work

Roll Call reports that big labs — including ones like Quest Diagnostics — are unhappy with a Senate Finance Committee proposal to increase taxes for labs that perform Medicare services.

10 Sep 2009

Fact checks on Obama's health care speech

Several news organizations offered fact checks of President Obama's health care speech to Congress and the nation.

10 Sep 2009

UNICEF data shows global child mortality now below 9m, progress not enough to achieve MDG in most regions

The annual number of deaths among children younger than five worldwide "has fallen below nine million" compared with 12.5 million in 1990, according to new data from UNICEF, the New York Times reports. "That's 10,000 less children dying per day," Ann Veneman, UNICEF's executive director, said.

10 Sep 2009

For young adults, health care not political priority

"Young voters helped put Barack Obama in the White House, but they're not proving to be much help when it comes to the biggest push of his presidency," Politico reports. Voters aged 18 to 29 say "they're likely to support health care reform by wider margins than those in any other age range," but polling numbers and other evidence indicate "health care reform just isn't a particularly high priority for the younger crowd."

10 Sep 2009