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Health law's insurance exchanges studied, demonstrated

According to data from Connecticut insurers, the majority of health plans sold to individuals and small businesses provide less generous coverage -- most likely, at a lower cost -- than plans sold on the exchange will be required to provide. The analysis suggests that people buying insurance through the exchange could get plans that offer more coverage with lower out-of-pocket costs, but they would likely have to pay more for them.

7 Dec 2011

UH Case Medical Center designated as 'Top Hospital' and leader in quality patient care

University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio is among 65 hospitals nationwide to be designated as a "Top Hospital" and leader in quality patient care by The Leapfrog Group.

7 Dec 2011

Legislative update: A range of congressional health measures draw attention

New legislation was introduced to make drug price gouging a federal crime. Also, a measure is pending that seeks to make the upcoming Supreme Court term "must-see TV." The abortion battle will heat up again in a hearing scheduled today over the Prenatal NonDiscrimination Act.

7 Dec 2011

Study compares two radiation therapy techniques available to women with breast cancer

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) brachytherapy, the localized form of radiation therapy growing increasingly popular as a treatment choice for women with early-stage breast cancer, is associated with higher rate of later mastectomy, increased radiation-related toxicities and post-operative complications, compared to traditional whole breast irradiation (WBI), according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

7 Dec 2011

Study: Number of young people choosing nursing jumps

An increasing number of young men and women are opting for nursing as a career, says a study released Monday by the RAND Corporation. The study may serve to allay fears about a nursing shortage as the health care law is implemented and millions of people without insurance sign up for medical plans. It predicts that if the growth continues, there will be enough nurses to meet national health care needs by 2030.

7 Dec 2011

King's College London submits first clinical grade xeno-free hES cell lines to the UKSCB

Stem cell scientists at King's College London will announce they have submitted to the UK Stem Cell Bank (UKSCB) their first clinical grade human embryonic stem (hES) cell lines that are free from animal-derived products, known as 'xeno-free' stem cells.

7 Dec 2011

Supercomputer simulations give insight into proteins involved in drug detoxification

Supercomputer simulations at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory are giving scientists unprecedented access to a key class of proteins involved in drug detoxification.

7 Dec 2011

Multiple-employer health plans will be subject to quick enforcement procedures

Under a proposed rule stemming from the health law, the secretary of labor will have enforcement tools designed to protect employers, providers and workers from mismanaged or fraudulent multiple-employer welfare arrangements.

7 Dec 2011

Evaluation method supports soy as high-quality protein

The importance of protein in the human body is undeniable. However, the idea of what makes a protein a "quality protein" has not been as easy to determine. A new study from the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry takes a closer look at the criteria for determining the quality of a protein.

7 Dec 2011

Medicare enrollment deadline is tomorrow

Seniors enrolled in Medicare have until Wednesday to select a medical and prescription-drug plan for 2012. Medicare moved up its enrollment deadline to Wednesday from the traditional Dec. 31 deadline. Consumers who have Medicare and have not selected a plan have until Wednesday to switch plans. Even those who decide to stick with existing plans are encouraged to review their options because plans can change from year to year.

7 Dec 2011

SG Austria, Nuvilex use live cell encapsulation technology and treat diabetes in animal model

Nuvilex, Inc. announced today their affiliate SG Austria and partners have successfully treated diabetes in an established, recognized animal model utilizing live encapsulated cells.

7 Dec 2011

Still on the Capitol Hill to-do list: Payroll tax holiday extension, Medicare doc fix

Reuters terms the tasks as "issues affecting Americans' pocketbook." The outstanding questions include how to pay for the payroll tax break extension - could Medicare offer some ideas? Also, could the doc fix fight spill over into January? One area where there appears to finally be a truce, though, is the fight over Tricare, the health insurance plan for the military. Meanwhile, Politico looks ahead to health policy issues in 2012.

7 Dec 2011

Combination of cannabinoids and opiates could help reduce chronic pain

A UCSF study suggests patients with chronic pain may experience greater relief if their doctors add cannabinoids - the main ingredient in cannabis or medical marijuana - to an opiates-only treatment. The findings, from a small-scale study, also suggest that a combined therapy could result in reduced opiate dosages.

7 Dec 2011

Business of Health: Iowa companies merging, 'rapid' growth for Mass. for-profit chain

In Iowa, two nonprofit nursing services are joining, and in Mass., Steward Health Care System's growth is worrying community hospitals.

7 Dec 2011

Pretreatment fasting glucose could block breast cancer progression

An increasing understanding of molecular pathways that regulate breast and colorectal cancer development and progression has produced new therapeutic agents, including the biologic agents trastuzumab, bevacizumab, and cetuximab. Identifying the indicators that are likely to predict which patients will achieve the best response to these agents represents a major challenge for contemporary oncologists.

7 Dec 2011

UCSF resident to receive 2012 William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship

The William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship Selection Committee has announced Matthew Christopher Tate, MD, as the recipient of the 2012 William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship. Dr. Tate, a resident in neurological surgery at University of California in San Francisco, will commence the fellowship on July 1, 2012.

7 Dec 2011

Health Alliance, Bayer sign outcomes-based contract to support MS patients

Bayer HealthCare and Health Alliance Medical Plans have entered into an outcomes-based contract for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) who are taking Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations.

7 Dec 2011

Medical News

Health law's insurance exchanges studied, demonstrated

UH Case Medical Center designated as 'Top Hospital' and leader in quality patient care

Legislative update: A range of congressional health measures draw attention

Study compares two radiation therapy techniques available to women with breast cancer

Study: Number of young people choosing nursing jumps

King's College London submits first clinical grade xeno-free hES cell lines to the UKSCB

Supercomputer simulations give insight into proteins involved in drug detoxification

Multiple-employer health plans will be subject to quick enforcement procedures

Evaluation method supports soy as high-quality protein

Medicare enrollment deadline is tomorrow

SG Austria, Nuvilex use live cell encapsulation technology and treat diabetes in animal model

Still on the Capitol Hill to-do list: Payroll tax holiday extension, Medicare doc fix

Combination of cannabinoids and opiates could help reduce chronic pain

Business of Health: Iowa companies merging, 'rapid' growth for Mass. for-profit chain

Pretreatment fasting glucose could block breast cancer progression

UCSF resident to receive 2012 William P. Van Wagenen Fellowship

Health Alliance, Bayer sign outcomes-based contract to support MS patients

Scientists understand how nervous system becomes wired during early development

Family planning spending cuts will lead to 'more unwanted' pregnancies, 'unsafe abortions'

Breast reconstruction surgery to become safer and more realistic

Advancing Menopause Care: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Vasomotor Symptoms

Building quality into drug development for safer, faster medicines

How Pulp Fixin Is Turning Paper into High-Performance Sustainable Labware

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