Medical News

RSS

Senate Democrats eye August timeline, search for savings

Despite some roadblocks, Senate Democrats are trying to hold true to their pledge to pass health care reform legislation by the August recess, Roll Call reports.

7 Jul 2009

Hospitals, White House reach accord on cuts to pay for reform

Major hospital groups reached an agreement Monday with the White House and Senate Democrats to accept $155 billion in payment cuts over ten years, a concession that would help pay for proposed health care reforms, the Washington Post reports.

7 Jul 2009

Obama administration releases final rules on stem cell research

The Obama administration released final regulations governing stem cell research on Monday. The New York Times reports that the rules will allow many older stem cell lines to be eligible for federally financed research.

7 Jul 2009

Democrats navigate reform - opposition from unions, Liberals

"Unionized workers have fought to preserve their relatively expensive health plans through contract talks, sometimes at the expense of wage increases," CQ Politics reports. "Now, with some unions airing televised ads targeting senators who support the idea of counting some health benefits as taxable income, pressure is increasing on Capitol Hill to look elsewhere to offset the cost of a health care overhaul."

7 Jul 2009

Veterans call for greater improvements for veteran services

Services for veterans have improved recently, but many veterans say more improvements still need to be made.

7 Jul 2009

Insurers open storefronts, raise rates to adjust to new reality

"Buying health insurance has become such a complex decision that Blue Cross and Blue Shield Florida is trying a new sales tactic: storefronts near big malls," the St. Petersburg Times reports.

7 Jul 2009

Seattle-area health cooperative offers alternative health system model

Innovations in care by a Seattle-area cooperative and clinic are shaping debate about what health care reform around America should look like, The New York Times reports.

7 Jul 2009

Alzheimer's patients fight for quicker Medicare coverage

NPR reports on the struggle of Alzheimer's patients who don't have health insurance trying to find ways to pay for their care and lobby for greater protections for themselves.

7 Jul 2009

Short-timer Whitehouse has his say

"While Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) is expected to be on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee only for a short time, he should have a major effect on health reform," Roll Call reports.

7 Jul 2009

Senator Kennedy's absence from health care reform debate looms large

Roll Call reports that lobbyists feel Senator Edward Kennedy's absence: "With the health care reform debate in full tilt, it's fair to assume that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is the key player in producing the final version of the Senate's package.

7 Jul 2009

Children's hospital a model for benefits, struggles of health IT

An Associated Press examination of the "new all-digital Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh" reveals the benefits of electronic health records in action, and the steep climb the hospital took to achieve those improvements.

7 Jul 2009

Need for Federal insurance Czar questioned

"Health care overhaul legislation from President Barack Obama's congressional allies would create a federal insurance czar with sweeping new powers to oversee medical plans nationwide, an idea already drawing fierce criticism," The Associated Press reports. "State insurance commissioners are objecting, saying it would duplicate what they now do without offering any better protection for consumers. Conservatives are calling it a textbook example of a big government mentality."

7 Jul 2009

U.S., Russia to cooperate on health goals

The White House announced on Monday that the U.S. and Russia have signed on to a "memo of understanding" to cooperate on several public health and medical science projects, ModernHealthcare.com reports.

7 Jul 2009

Developing countries need $1 billion by end of year to cope with H1N1, U.N. says

Developing countries will need an estimated $1 billion by year's end to ensure their access to antivirals and vaccines to protect against the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday, AFP/Google.com reports. "Funding had 'not been flowing as expected,' following appeals in recent weeks, [Ban] added," according to the news service (7/6).

7 Jul 2009

Economic crisis already crippling global HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention programs, UNAIDS, World Bank report says

Global HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs are already feeling the effects of the global economic crisis, according to a report (pdf) released Monday by UNAIDS and the World Bank, AFP/Google.com reports (7/6).

7 Jul 2009

Developed countries must address global warming to prevent disease, hunger in developing world

Pollution from the world's wealthiest countries is spreading disease and hunger in developing countries, according to a new Oxfam International report, which calls on developed countries to address global warming when G8 leaders meet in Italy, the Globe and Mail reports.

7 Jul 2009

G8 Summit begins Wednesday; WFP calls for 'twin-track' approach to food security

The G8 summit is scheduled to open Wednesday in L'Aquila, Italy. The World Food Program (WFP) on Tuesday issued a statement praising the G8 leaders' focus on food security and calling for support of its efforts to combat hunger among the world's poorest people, Xinhua reports. In the statement, WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran recommended leaders take a "twin-track" approach to food security, which includes supporting long-term agricultural production along with immediate hunger assistance.

7 Jul 2009

WSJ examines pharmaceutical companies expansion into developing countries

The Wall Street Journal examines the "strategic shift in the $770 billion pharmaceutical industry to target the working poor in the developing world" through the eyes of a Pfizer pharmaceutical representative working in the slums overlooking Caracas, Venezuela.

7 Jul 2009

Multiple session early psychological interventions for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder

Psychological interventions intended to prevent the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the early stages after a traumatic experience have not been shown to be effective, Cochrane Researchers have concluded. This systematic review focused on multiple-session treatments for everyone involved, irrespective of the presence of symptoms. Two previous reviews found single session interventions to be ineffective.

7 Jul 2009

Treatment blood pressure targets for hypertension

Aiming for lower than standard blood pressure targets offers no known clinical benefit, according to a Cochrane Review. In a systematic review of the evidence, researchers found that using antihypertensive drugs to reduce blood pressure below the 140/90 mm Hg standard was not associated with any reduction in death rates or serious morbidity.

7 Jul 2009

Medical News

Senate Democrats eye August timeline, search for savings

Hospitals, White House reach accord on cuts to pay for reform

Obama administration releases final rules on stem cell research

Democrats navigate reform - opposition from unions, Liberals

Veterans call for greater improvements for veteran services

Insurers open storefronts, raise rates to adjust to new reality

Seattle-area health cooperative offers alternative health system model

Alzheimer's patients fight for quicker Medicare coverage

Short-timer Whitehouse has his say

Senator Kennedy's absence from health care reform debate looms large

Children's hospital a model for benefits, struggles of health IT

Need for Federal insurance Czar questioned

U.S., Russia to cooperate on health goals

Developing countries need $1 billion by end of year to cope with H1N1, U.N. says

Economic crisis already crippling global HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention programs, UNAIDS, World Bank report says

Developed countries must address global warming to prevent disease, hunger in developing world

G8 Summit begins Wednesday; WFP calls for 'twin-track' approach to food security

WSJ examines pharmaceutical companies expansion into developing countries

Multiple session early psychological interventions for the prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder

Treatment blood pressure targets for hypertension

Shaping the Future of Neuroscience: A Conversation with Atlas Antibodies on the MolBoolean™ and the Impact of SfN 2024

How the Arts Reshape Brain Function: Susan Magsamen on the Future of Neuroaesthetics

Inside the Alzheimer's Association: Dr. Heather Snyder on Driving Research and Collaboration

Latest News