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Music therapy can reduce pain and anxiety in hospice pateints

Add guitars and other musical instruments to the tools caregivers can use to help patients in hospice care. That's what University of Alabama senior Sarah Pitts found when she brought her music therapy skills to patients in Hospice of West Alabama.

1 Dec 2009

Women's insurance amendment slated for Senate's first health bill vote

As the Senate debates the health reform legislation, amendments are being advanced and Senators are reacting to the bill.

1 Dec 2009

Stem Cell Therapy International and Histostem sign distribution agreement

Stem Cell Therapy International Inc. (OTCBB: SCII) announced that it has signed an agreement with Histostem Ltd. of South Korea ("Histostem"), for the exclusive, worldwide rights to the distribution of the Company's existing SteMixx line of stem cell based cosmetic products, as well as future products under development. Previously available for purchase only in Korea, SteMixx received approval last month from the Korean FDA as an effective cosmetic for the treatment of aging skin.

1 Dec 2009

Uninsured cancer patient gives human face to health care debate

The Sacramento Bee has a three-part profile of an uninsured cancer patient, which is tracked alongside the progressing health care reform debate.

1 Dec 2009

Op-eds on World AIDS Day: Research, funding, hunger, Uganda

The "National Institutes of Health - perhaps our best hope for funding a cure for AIDS - has been underfunded since 2003," Kate Krauss, director of the AIDS Policy Project, writes in a Philadelphia Inquirer opinion piece.

1 Dec 2009

Sperm genes may have a detrimental effect on longevity, says new study

Researchers in Japan have found that female mice produced by using genetic material from two mothers but no father live significantly longer than mice with the normal mix of maternal and paternal genes. Their findings provide the first evidence that sperm genes may have a detrimental effect on lifespan in mammals.

1 Dec 2009

Swine flu cases appear to have peaked

The current wave of pandemic H1N1 appears to have peaked, with four weeks of declines in several key indicators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. Despite the decrease, the outbreak is continuing to take a heavy toll of hospitalizations and deaths, especially among children.

1 Dec 2009

Seniors can be reluctant to switch Medicare drug plans

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz, in collaboration with The Washington Post, writes about the decisions seniors face regarding their health coverage.

1 Dec 2009

CDEX to showcase its ValiMed MVS at the ASHP Conference

CDEX Inc. will demonstrate its ValiMed™ MVS with new onsite data collection options at the ASHP Conference (Venetian Hotels & Sands Expo Center) in Las Vegas on December 7-9, 2009. Dennis Quaid, representing the Dennis Quaid Foundation, will provide a keynote address at the Conference.

1 Dec 2009

Political squabbles mark opening day of Senate health debate

The Senate on Monday began its health bill debate amid speculation regarding how long the floor consideration would last and how much the bill will change before a final vote is taken.

1 Dec 2009

Nationwide 'Medicare Fraud Strike Force' focuses on driving down cost

A "Medicare Fraud Strike Force," which started in south Florida, has now expanded across the country to indict more than 300 on fraudulent Medicare billing charges, The Washington Times reports. Officials say the strike force has broken up operations that attempted to defraud Medicare of more than $700 million.

1 Dec 2009

Chembio Diagnostics donates over 4,500 HIV test kits for the 2009 Testing Millions Global Campaign

Chembio Diagnostics, Inc., a NY-based company that develops, manufactures, licenses and markets proprietary rapid diagnostic tests, is donating more than 4,500 rapid HIV test kits to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation's 2009 Testing Millions Global Campaign, based in Los Angeles, to commemorate World AIDS Day 2009 on December 1st.

1 Dec 2009

With health reform, Reid faces political challenges on the Hill and at home in Nevada

While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., is busy trying to gather all the Senate Democrats into supporting health care reform, Nevada Republicans are seizing on the opportunity to try to take control of his seat, USA Today reports.

1 Dec 2009

Medicaid funding subject of lawsuits in Massachusetts, Idaho

Some hospitals are suing Massachusetts' Medicaid program for underpaying. Idaho health agencies are broadening their own lawsuit against the state on Medicaid payment rules.

1 Dec 2009

Imaging Diagnostic Systems showcases its CTLM system at the 2009 RSNA meeting

Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc., a pioneer in laser optical breast imaging, announced today that it is exhibiting its CTLM system and clinical case studies at the 95th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2009, November 29th – December 3rd in Chicago, Illinois.

1 Dec 2009

To influence Senate health debate, lobbyists' public voices getting louder

As the Senate commences its health care debate, lobbyists are lining up, Roll Call reports. Tactics include television ads, memos, factsheets, abortion-rights activists' "DC Lobby Day," and signs in Washington's subway stations.

1 Dec 2009

Mystery surrounds possibilities for public option compromise in Senate health bill

Controversy regarding the public option provision in the Senate's health bill remains fierce, leading many to wonder what a compromise would look like, The Christian Science Monitor reports. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs to win a majority of centrist votes for health care reform in the Senate to get to a filibuster-proof 60 votes.

1 Dec 2009

CHS introduces the Optic onsite health care solution

Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. (CHS), a leading national workforce health management company specializing in onsite health care solutions, announced today the successful deployment of Optic™, the next iteration of its wireless, paperless technology platform that provides electronic health record and enterprise practice management functionality, predictive modeling, clinical reporting, evidence-based medicine compliance reporting, and advanced financial outcome reporting.

1 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Every debate in health care would benefit from more transparency about what things really cost and who gets paid what (Steven Syre, 12/1).

1 Dec 2009

Abortion-rights group gear up for Senate debate

Abortion-rights groups are holding a lobby day on Wednesday to fight language in the House healthcare bill that would impose greater restrictions on access to the controversial procedure. The amendment by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), adopted before House passage on Nov. 21, would prohibit women who receive government subsidies for healthcare from purchasing insurance that covers abortions, and it would prohibit coverage of the procedure in government-run health plans.

1 Dec 2009