Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Home health payments will fall 2.3% in 2012

The pay cut for home health agencies was announced in a regulation that was issued Monday. Although this reduction is less than initially proposed and will be phased in over two years, industry voices described it as "severe."

2 Nov 2011

Obama takes action to address drug shortages

President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday directing the Food and Drug Administration to, among other steps, speed up reviews of manufacturers' applications to begin or alter production of a drug in potentially short supply.

2 Nov 2011

Early retirees' health insurance fund running out

A federal report predicts this $5 billion account created as part of the health law will be drained by 2012. In related news, one senator criticizes the program's handling. Also drawing criticism are exchange regulations, which advocates say could undermine the law's goal of expanding health insurance. Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized standards - part of the administration's efforts to reduce health disparities - to track factors that affect people's health.

2 Nov 2011

NYC settles Medicaid suit; Wis. officials face deadline for new plan for health care for poor

New York City will pay the federal government $70 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the city of overbilling Medicaid by improperly approving home care for frail and elderly clients, both parties said on Monday.

2 Nov 2011

Nurse scientist recognized as AACN's 2012 Distinguished Research Lecturer

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently selected Martha A.Q. Curley, RN, PhD, FAAN, as its 2012 Distinguished Research Lecturer.

2 Nov 2011

Innovative mobile-technology strategy to prevent HIV/AIDS in Uganda

1 million people in Uganda live with HIV/AIDS, where long distances and expensive travel costs significantly limit access to treatment. By employing an innovative mobile-technology strategy, Dr. Femida Gwadry-Sridhar, Director of I-THINK Research at Lawson Health Research Institute, hopes to provide a much-needed solution.

2 Nov 2011

Active partnership between patient and healthcare professionals can reduce hospital stay

Healthcare that implements a person-centred approach not only make care more efficient, but also yields more satisfied patients. A study carried out at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that if there is an active partnership between the patient and healthcare professionals, the patient's hospital stay can be reduced by one-third.

2 Nov 2011

SurModics to sell Pharma assets to Evonik for $30 million

SurModics, Inc., a leading provider of surface modification technologies to the healthcare industry, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its SurModics Pharmaceuticals assets to Evonik Industries AG for $30 million in cash.

2 Nov 2011

Tufts University introduces MyPlate for Older Adults

Nutrition scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA HNRCA) at Tufts University are introducing today the MyPlate for Older Adults which corresponds with MyPlate, the federal government's new food group symbol.

2 Nov 2011

Perrigo's partner receives final approval for Epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution

Perrigo Company today announced that its partner, PharmaForce/Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, received final approval for Epinastine HCl ophthalmic solution, 0.05%, a generic version of Elestat. Perrigo will commence shipment of the product immediately.

2 Nov 2011

MEDNAX acquires Bexar Pediatric Surgery in San Antonio

MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of a pediatric surgery physician group practice based in San Antonio, TX.

1 Nov 2011

California Medicaid cuts spark anger; N.Y. Medicaid fraud detection

In California, doctors are blasting a decision to cut payments for caring for poor patients.

1 Nov 2011

ECMO and heart procedures performed as a bridge to lung transplantation

Surgeons at UK HealthCare recently became the first ever to perform two specific procedures together as a bridge to lung transplantation. Wanda Craig, of Lexington, Ky., is the first patient in history to receive these procedures, and at the age of 68, she is also the oldest living human to be bridged to transplant using an artificial lung device, also known as an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

1 Nov 2011

Henry Schein third quarter net sales increase 11.5% to $2.1 billion

Henry Schein, Inc., the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended September 24, 2011.

1 Nov 2011

Two transformative philanthropic gifts to fuel new discoveries at Seattle Children's

Seattle Children's today announced two transformative philanthropic gifts totaling $65 million to benefit pediatric research, nursing education and clinical care.

1 Nov 2011

Emotional and psychological traumas may contribute to adult IBS

The psychological and emotional traumas experienced over a lifetime--such as the death of a loved one, divorce, natural disaster, house fire or car accident, physical or mental abuse—may contribute to adult irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), according to the results of a study unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC.

1 Nov 2011

UL, IU and UMMS to implement Center for Excellence in Health and Life Sciences

Indiana University today announced that it is partnering with the University of Liberia and the University of Massachusetts Medical School to administer a transformative $7.2 million project that will address a national shortage of healthcare workers in Liberia, an African nation with which IU has had long-standing ties.

1 Nov 2011

Three centers to improve clinical preventive services and practices

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) awarded three-year grants totaling $4.5 million to support research in three centers that will focus on improving clinical preventive services and practices such as screening, counseling and use of preventive medications for patients.

1 Nov 2011