Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

In unanimous decision, Supreme Court justices rule genes can't be patented

The decision was applauded by many researchers and drew speculation that it could likely boost patient care. Meanwhile, the stock of Myriad Genetics tumbled after the court's finding invalidated the company's hold on testing for two breast cancer genes.

15 Jun 2013

Mayo Medical School awarded AMA grant to create new model of undergraduate education

Mayo Medical School has been awarded a grant from the American Medical Association's Accelerating Change in Medical Education program to develop a curriculum to better prepare students for the fast-changing world of health care. The medical school, with operations at Mayo Clinic campuses in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida, will receive $1 million from the AMA program over five years.

15 Jun 2013

Weekend reading: Seeking better health outcomes for homeless people; What becomes of the women denied abortions?

Even before President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, Republicans were vowing to repeal it. It's no wonder, because polls showed that the basic elements of the ACA were quite popular, and there was a real danger that it would become more so as people found out that the plan denounced as a "monstrosity" by the National Republican Senatorial Committee would not trample on their liberties so much as help protect their health.

15 Jun 2013

Specialists working in migraine and headache share scientific advances at International Headache Congress

Researchers and clinicians worldwide working in migraine, headache and brain injury share the field's latest scientific advances at the International Headache Congress, hosted by the International Headache Society and the American Headache Society.

15 Jun 2013

Immigrants' health care costs are hot topic on Capitol Hill

Other media reports detail Sen. Ron Wyden's proposal to allow accountable care organizations to focus on the sickest, most costly patients; questions from Rep. Darrell Issa, R.-Calif., about the navigator program's funding; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., angry response to a reporter's question about late-term abortions.

15 Jun 2013

RUSM makes history by awarding medical doctor degree to 10,000th student

History was made at the Ross University School of Medicine commencement ceremony on June 14 when the School's 10,000th graduate was awarded a medical degree. The graduation was held at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables, Fla.

15 Jun 2013

ESH and ESC issue new joint Guidelines for hypertension treatment

Lifestyle factors, lack of awareness by both patients and physicians, hesitancy in initiating and intensifying drug treatment, and healthcare structural deficiencies are amongst the reasons for the increasing problem of high blood pressure in Europe, according to new joint Guidelines issued today by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

15 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Good news from Medicare trustees; Medicaid no 'cure-all' for access to care

The 2013 Medicare Trustees Report had some good news. Costs per beneficiary grew just 0.7 percent in 2012, down from a 5.4 percent annual average since 1990. This is the third year of slow growth, and if the trend continues, our national finances will dramatically improve.

15 Jun 2013

State highlights: Ga. ponders higher health plan rates for employees

Home health care providers in Oregon and their allies say their industry is in a bind. The state's rural home health providers don't make as much as they should from serving Medicare patients, and the state's providers overall are slated for an even bigger hit next year, according to the industry's advocates and allies in Congress.

15 Jun 2013

Clark McCarthy Healthcare Partners II to build Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital in El Paso

Clark McCarthy Healthcare Partners II, a joint venture of Clark Construction Group and McCarthy Building Companies Inc., was recently awarded a $648 million contract by The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District to build the Fort Bliss Replacement Hospital in El Paso.

15 Jun 2013

Anthem and SVHP to collaborate on new model of provider reimbursement

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and St. Vincent's Health Partners, Inc., announced today the collaboration on a new model of provider reimbursement. Under this new arrangement, SVHP will focus on the management of chronic disease and preventive health of their patients.

15 Jun 2013

Research roundup: Studying states' readiness for insurance exchanges

Unauthorized immigrants' options for health care generally consist of hospital emergency rooms and community health centers. Using nationally representative survey data from 2000 to 2009, researchers compared medical spending for unauthorized immigrants, legal residents, naturalized citizens, and natives of the United States and found that "unauthorized immigrants have lower health care spending overall but higher rates of receiving uncompensated care than legal immigrants and US natives."

15 Jun 2013

Arizona legislature approves Medicaid expansion

After a months-long, high-stakes political battle, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a Medicaid expansion plan backed by Gov. Jan Brewer.

15 Jun 2013

Accenture: Boom ahead for retail health clinics

According to the consulting firm Accenture, the number of retail clinics will likely double by the end of 2015 -- a trend fueled by the demand for care by consumers who will become insured under the health law. Meanwhile, the Fiscal Times examines why some physicians are choosing not to accept any health insurance.

14 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 14, 2013

Today's headlines includes reports about how, after months of battle, Arizona lawmakers endorsed a Medicaid expansion plan backed by Gov. Jan Brewer.

14 Jun 2013

Emergency department doctors are not identifying pelvic inflammatory disease in adolescent girls

Despite government efforts to expand diagnostic criteria for pelvic inflammatory disease, emergency department doctors are not identifying the condition any more often in adolescent girls, finds a new study in Journal of Adolescent Health.

14 Jun 2013

Survey finds employers 'pessimistic' about health law's costs

The Wall Street Journal reports on a survey that finds companies are increasingly "pessimistic" they can avoid health care cost increases they believe will stem from the overhaul. Politico reports that insurers are showing little interest in small business exchanges.

14 Jun 2013

Researchers report on the use of GIS as public health research tool

The current special issue of Technology and Innovation - Proceedings of the National Academy of Inventors-, is devoted to public health research using Geographic Information Systems to help provide beneficial data for public health researchers focusing on health risks and food access in rural Alaska; racial disparities in health care and resources in Fort Worth, Texas; and pathways for health care development in remote areas of Nepal.

14 Jun 2013

Experts raise awareness about the importance of flu vaccine

The last flu season arrived four weeks early, was more intense than expected and resulted in the deaths of more than 110 children in the United States. In an effort to get ahead of the upcoming flu season, experts at Montefiore Medical Center are raising awareness about the importance of the flu vaccine, which remains the best option to reduce a person's risk of contracting the virus. The flu season can start as early as late September and usually runs for about 12 to 15 weeks.

14 Jun 2013

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center opens new tower to better serve Bay Area Houston community

Clear Lake Regional Medical Center today celebrated the grand opening of its $92 million expansion project that will enhance services to better serve the Bay Area Houston community.

14 Jun 2013