Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Deficit forecast -questioned by some - buttressed support for health overhaul

The Congressional Budget Office report that found the health legislation would cut the deficit by $140 billion over 10 years boosted Democratic momentum and pulled fiscally conservative moderates behind the bill, the Financial Times reports.

24 Mar 2010

Mayor Reed joins group to launch Medicare Diabetes Screening Project in Atlanta

Mayor Kasim Reed today urged the citizens of Atlanta, especially those ages 65 and older, to learn more about diabetes and its risk factors and get screened for this very serious disease. The Mayor joined with other city and community leaders and more than 100 seniors at Big Bethel Village to help launch the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project on American Diabetes Association Alert Day.

24 Mar 2010

State roundup: Arizona repeals CHIP program, Conn. insurance pool, Minnesota boosted by health bill

The Associated Press: "A controversial decision by Arizona lawmakers to eliminate a health insurance program for poor children puts it at risk of losing billions of dollars in federal Medicaid funding under the historic health care bill approved by Congress. Arizona last week became the first state to eliminate its Children's Health Insurance Program, removing an estimated 38,000 kids from the rolls starting in June in a budget-cutting move by Gov. Jan Brewer and the Republican-led Legislature. ... Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Phoenix, told Brewer and House Speaker Kirk Adams in separate letters that eliminating the state's KidsCare program on June 15 would violate a 'maintenance of effort' requirement of the Senate health care overhaul bill approved by Congress" (Davenport, 3/22).

24 Mar 2010

Drugmakers, insurers and hospitals expected to see gains from health bill

Kaiser Health News: "Most health industry sectors are winners - some bigger than others -- under sweeping health care legislation that will expand coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans over the next decade, analysts say." Hospitals and drug makers are both winners; insurers could go either way, depending on long-term cost trends; and, doctors "got a pass," according to one expert (Galewitz, 3/22).

24 Mar 2010

Raising alcohol price shows many benefits

Raise the price of alcohol and reduce the ill effects it causes. May seem like plain common sense and yes now it has research data to support it. British researchers in the University of Sheffield have used a epidemiological, mathematical model to prove that as general price increases the alcohol consumption decreases. So the alcohol related deaths and health care costs will also decrease.

24 Mar 2010

Majority of Pennsylvania women do not seek treatments for chronic pain

Results of a statewide pain survey revealed that chronic pain is widespread among Pennsylvania women but often left untreated.

24 Mar 2010

Obama and Congress deliver meaningful healthcare reform

Alliance President and CEO joins President Obama, Members of Congress, and leading health advocates at President's speech marking signing of health insurance reform into law

24 Mar 2010

Renowned leaders to discuss latest findings in early-stage drug development for cancer

When people think of cancer treatment, chemotherapy infusions, injections and pills often come to mind. These treatments result from extensive research and testing in drug development. But how does the process begin?

24 Mar 2010

Tax hikes violate Obama's pledge, says Baucus

Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) has admitted that some Americans making less than $200,000 per year will face tax hikes under ObamaCare. Such tax hikes are a violation of President Obama's "firm pledge" not to raise "any form" of taxes on those making less than $250,000 per year.

24 Mar 2010

Health care bill victory for Pelosi

Roll Call reports that "no vote came easy" for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the health bill. "The stories of the late-breaking votes illustrate just how tight the margin was.

24 Mar 2010

Both parties gear up for long-lasting message battle over health overhaul

Democrats and Republicans are preparing for a long political battle that will turn on the ramifications of health reform.

24 Mar 2010

Visual collaboration makes its way into healthcare services

Evolving patients' needs, limited number of medical specialists in remote areas, and technological advances are some of the most important factors driving interest in visual collaboration in healthcare.

23 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 23, 2010

Today's headlines cover a range of topics related to the newly passed health overhaul bill, from the surrounding opposition and next steps to some of its policy implications.

23 Mar 2010

Skin sparing mastectomy procedures under-utilized in the U.S.

Joel A. Aronowitz, M.D., founder of the Breast Preservation Foundation and Division Clinical Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, recently led a group in Washington, D.C., to educate legislators and healthcare policy staff about the under-utilization of skin sparing mastectomy procedures in the U.S.

23 Mar 2010

Royal Philips Electronics introduces Lifeline with AutoAlert solution

Royal Philips Electronics today introduced Lifeline with AutoAlert, an enhanced medical alert service. This integrated solution offers an added layer of protection by combining the industry-leading Philips Lifeline medical alert service with automatic fall detection capabilities.

From Philips Healthcare 23 Mar 2010

Perrigo signs definitive merger agreement to acquire PBM Holdings for $808M in cash

Perrigo Company today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire PBM Holdings, Inc. (PBM), the leading store-brand infant formula manufacturer, for approximately $808 million in cash. Based in Gordonsville, Virginia, privately-held PBM manufactures and distributes over-the-counter store brand infant formula and baby foods sold by leading retailers in the mass, club, grocery and drug channels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. The acquisition is expected to close in the Company's fiscal 2010 fourth quarter pending regulatory approval.

23 Mar 2010

School-based program raises awareness about preventing type 2 diabetes

It is well known that type 2 diabetes is largely a preventable chronic disease with proper nutrition, regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight. Yet despite growing awareness, the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) reports that more than three million Canadians currently have diabetes, with an overwhelming 90% of cases reflecting type 2 diabetes. The CDA also suggests that a child born in the year 2000 has a frightening 1 in 3 chance of developing diabetes.

23 Mar 2010

Infections from Clostridium difficile on the rise in community hospitals

While prevention methods appear to be helping to lower hospital infection rates from MRSA, a deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium, a new superbug is on the rise, according to research from the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network.

23 Mar 2010

Freedom to choose healthcare taken away, and stepping towards a socialist system

The Democrats may be celebrating in Washington, but the party may be premature, according to David Larsen, Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District in NJ.

23 Mar 2010

Labeling calories on menus mandatory – unhealthy eating discouraged further

With the newly passed healthcare bill calorie counts at fast food and chain restaurants become mandatory. More than 200,000 fast food and other chain restaurants will have to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards, buffets, vending machines, alcoholic drink menus and even drive-throughs.

23 Mar 2010