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Aspirin use in seniors study

Researchers at Monash University and the United States-based Berman Center for Outcomes & Clinical Research will lead an international clinical trial to test whether taking aspirin contributes to good health in the elderly.

1 Oct 2009

EPA reviews dioxin exposure study conducted by the University of Michigan

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development has completed its review of a dioxin exposure study conducted by the University of Michigan in the Midland-Saginaw, Michigan area. EPA found the study was conducted well and provided useful, scientifically credible information. However, the study is of limited value to help EPA fully evaluate human exposure to levels of dioxin in the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River and Bay.

1 Oct 2009

Senate Finance Committee rejects GOP efforts to gut various taxes and fees from bill

During today's mark-up proceedings, Senate Finance Committee Democrats rejected GOP amendments to strip certain fees and taxes included in the draft health reform measure.

1 Oct 2009

Reid's Medicaid deal for Nevada draws criticism

Politico: "Reid moved swiftly to ensure that his home state of Nevada wouldn't be hurt by Medicaid changes included in the health care reform bill moving through the Senate Finance Committee. Now some of his Democratic colleagues are demanding the same treatment for their states."

1 Oct 2009

Opinions: Bridging the divide to stop the spread of HIV; ending future world hunger

"With less than half the people who need treatment having access and with each day more people becoming infected with HIV than are started on treatment, we are mortgaging our future. But we are also exposing a fundamental social injustice - between the privileged and the forsaken - a divide we can bridge," Michael Sidibe, the executive director of UNAIDS, writes in a Daily Nation opinion piece.

1 Oct 2009

New global campaign aims to reduce child mortality

The charity Save the Children announced plans to launch a global campaign to reduce mortality among children younger than age 5, the Canadian Press reports (9/30).

1 Oct 2009

Illegal immigrants receive offers to return home for their health care

Atlanta's Grady Memorial Hospital's offer to send illegal immigrants who can't afford treatment back to their home countries is raising questions about how to handle health care for that population. Some say the practice is necessary financially while others worry about the patients.

1 Oct 2009

Last finance hurdle: how to pay for overhaul

A final hurdle, how to pay for the health overhaul bill, remains, Bloomberg reports. The remaining items for the Senate Finance Committee are whether "to increase taxes on the most-expensive insurance plans, impose new fees on health-related industries, and limit the tax benefits of flexible savings accounts" (Donmoyer and Rowley, 10/1).

1 Oct 2009

House Democratic leaders work to bridge divisions in ranks

Although much of the attention in the health care debate seems be on the Democratic divisions in the Senate, Democrats in the House are also split on what the next steps are.

1 Oct 2009

For American majority - those confused about health reform - a fresh wave of primers

For those still confused about the various health reform bills - six in ten are confused, and half say they don't know enough to form an opinion, the New York Times reports - news organizations offer a series of primers on key bills and provisions today.

1 Oct 2009

Change in Heparin manufacturing - expected to decrease the potency

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today alerted health care professionals to a change in heparin manufacturing that is expected to decrease the potency of the common blood-clotting drug.

1 Oct 2009

Fact check: Canadian versus. U.S. systems; AARP claims

The Associated Press examines rhetoric and reality in the case of a Canadian who came to the U.S. for health care.

1 Oct 2009

Doctors can be frustrated, confused by health care system

Some doctors feel frustrated by insurance paperwork while many recent medical school graduates say they are confused by the structure of the health care system.

1 Oct 2009

CSIRO launches wellbeing plan for kids

Written by researchers in CSIRO's Preventative Health National Research Flagship and based on extensive research, The CSIRO Wellbeing Plan for Kids reduces the guess work for parents by focusing on key lifestyle habits that will make a significant difference in achieving a healthy and active lifestyle for the whole family.

1 Oct 2009

Electronic medical records may help doctors spot or predict abuse

As the data stored in electronic medical records grow, the technology may be able to help doctors predict domestic abuse and other medical conditions, a new study in the British Medical Journal finds, Reuters reports. Patients with injuries, poisoning and alcoholism were more likely than others to report domestic abuse.

1 Oct 2009

Democrats shoot down Republican abortion amendment, others pass

Members of the Senate Finance Committee wrangled Wednesday over proposed amendments to tighten abortion restrictions to the panel's health reform bill, with Democrats ultimately defeating the effort.

1 Oct 2009

CBO estimate left out hospital exemption; Baucus savings likely lower

The Congressional Budget Office "did not consider that hospitals would be exempt from a Medicare cost-cutting commission in Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus' healthcare overhaul mark, an omission that will slash a conservative $11 billion from $23 billion in savings the commission was expected to produce," CongressDaily reports.

1 Oct 2009

Capitol Hill personalities play a key role in how health bills are taking shape

A number of news organizations are detailing the conflicts and positions of certain lawmakers in the ongoing health overhaul effort.

1 Oct 2009

Baucus: Complete committee action on health bill 'by nightfall'

The Associated Press reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., said today as he began the panel's seventh day of mark-up that he "wanted to complete work on a sweeping health care bill by nightfall, opening the way for Democratic leaders to bring the historic legislation to the floors of both the House and Senate as early as mid-October." Once the Finance Committee finishes its deliberations on the measure, "Senate leaders can work to finalize a package to bring to the Senate floor."

1 Oct 2009

ZOLL Medical wins U.S. Defense defibrillator contract

ZOLL Medical Corporation, a manufacturer of resuscitation devices and related software solutions, announced today that it has been awarded a follow-on contract for Airworthy CCT defibrillators by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency. If fully exercised, the potential revenue from the contract could approximate $30 million. The services that can order units against this contract are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and federal civilian agencies.

1 Oct 2009