Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

DaVita donates $1.2M to charities across United States

DaVita, the kidney care division of DaVita HealthCare Partners Inc. (NYSE: DVA) and a leading provider of kidney care services, announced that its teammates donated $1.2 million to charities in more than 1,100 communities across the United States as part of the "DaVita Way of Giving."

10 Feb 2014

Women who survive stroke have worse quality of life than men

The good news: More people survive stroke now than 10 years ago due to improved treatment and prevention.

10 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: Health law distorting--or 'undistorting' the labor market; gas stations should follow CVS' lead; ways to fight heroin

On Wednesday, Douglas Elmendorf, the director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, said the obvious: losing your job and choosing to work less aren't the same thing.

10 Feb 2014

New study co-led by scientists sheds light on role of genes, blood lipid levels in cardiovascular health

New genetic evidence strengthens the case that one well-known type of cholesterol is a likely suspect in causing heart disease, but also casts further doubt on the causal role played by another type.

10 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Value-based insurance; telemedicine in nursing homes; advance care planning

Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

10 Feb 2014

Ipsen’s phase III clinical trial evaluating Decapeptyl in patients with prostate cancer meets primary endpoints

Ipsen today announced that the phase III clinical trial evaluating Decapeptyl (triptorelin pamoate) 11.25 mg administered subcutaneously in patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer has met its primary endpoints.

10 Feb 2014

After uproar about Obamacare remarks, AOL reverses 401(K) policy

News outlets reported that the company blamed the law and the health costs of two "distressed babies" for a significant change in how it matches 401(k) contributions.

9 Feb 2014

CBO report on Obamacare and jobs still hot-button issue

Republicans and Democrats jumped on the Congressional Budget Office report of the effects of the health law on employment.

9 Feb 2014

Researchers examine link between gender and genetic disorder

A genetic disorder that affects about 1 in every 2,500 births can cause a bewildering array of clinical problems, including brain tumors, impaired vision, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, heart defects and bone deformities. The symptoms and their severity vary among patients affected by this condition, known as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

9 Feb 2014

Study identifies seven new genetic regions associated with type 2 diabetes

Seven new genetic regions associated with type 2 diabetes have been identified in the largest study to date of the genetic basis of the disease.

9 Feb 2014

New study provides important understanding of what drives appetite

While the function of eating is to nourish the body, this is not what actually compels us to seek out food. Instead, it is hunger, with its stomach-growling sensations and gnawing pangs that propels us to the refrigerator - or the deli or the vending machine. Although hunger is essential for survival, abnormal hunger can lead to obesity and eating disorders, widespread problems now reaching near-epidemic proportions around the world.

9 Feb 2014

N.H. State Senators agree to bipartisan Medicaid expansion compromise

The plan will require three federal waivers, would sunset after three years without continued 100 percent federal contributions and would use private insurance to reach the additional low-income New Hampshire residents. It's similar to the Iowa and Arkansas approaches.

9 Feb 2014

Penn Medicine launches program to improve health of LGBT individuals

Penn Medicine is the first academic medical center in Philadelphia - one among just a handful of academic medical centers in the U.S.—to launch a program across multiple professional schools and affiliated hospitals at Penn to improve the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.

9 Feb 2014

Henry Schein and ADA join forces to celebrate annual Give Kids A Smile Day

Henry Schein, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health and medical practitioners, together with 26 of the Company's valued supplier partners, join the American Dental Association (ADA) today to celebrate the ADA's annual Give Kids A Smile Day.

9 Feb 2014

Sunshine Health and Orange Bowl partner to create special graffiti wall with messages of hope

Sunshine Health, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, partnered with the Orange Bowl at the City of Fort Lauderdale Orange Bowl Downtown Countdown on New Year's Eve to create a special graffiti wall with messages of hope and compassion for the Make-A-Wish Southern Florida.

9 Feb 2014

States struggle to fix failed exchanges

The "spectacular failure" of health insurance exchanges in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maryland and Oregon -- despite their support of the health law -- gets a closer look from ProPublica. Repair efforts in Maryland and Oregon are also covered.

9 Feb 2014

Researchers shed light on role of genes and blood lipid levels in cardiovascular health

New genetic evidence strengthens the case that one well-known type of cholesterol is a likely suspect in causing heart disease, but also casts further doubt on the causal role played by another type. The findings may guide the search for improved treatments for heart disease.

9 Feb 2014

Hill committee leaders reach deal on replacing Medicare doctor pay formula

The agreement would get rid of the troubled system that has often left doctors uncertain about their reimbursements, but the bipartisan leaders have not yet found a way to pay for such a change.

9 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 7, 2014

Today's headlines include reports from Capitol Hill about the continuing efforts to overhaul Medicare's payment system for doctors.

9 Feb 2014

Insurers say limited doctor choice key to plan affordability under health law

Insurers are saying that offering more narrow networks of which doctors patients can see or hospitals they can go to is vital to keeping costs down in plans offered under the health law. In the meantime, some insurers are offering supplemental plans to fill in these gaps.

7 Feb 2014