MedWorm: American Health

Business Leaders Back Early Education as Economic Development

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:43:35 +0100

Jim Clair says four years ago he was probably the least likely person to become involved in early childhood education. That all changed when he was appointed by then-Gov. John Baldacci to participate in a business roundtable discussion about early childhood investment. Clair says he accepted the invitation "out of a sense of civic duty," but what he learned turned him into an advocate. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

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HealthOne parent HCA posts $1.9B Q4 profit

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:31:06 +0100

HCA Holdings Inc. -- parent of the Denver area's HealthOne hospitals -- saw earnings jump to $1.9 billion in the fourth quarter, thanks largely to a pretax gain of $1.5 billion stemming from its October purchase of the Colorado Health Foundation’s interest in the HealthOne system. Nashville-based HCA (NYSE: HCA) posted earnings of $4.25 per share on revenue of $7.8 billion. Excluding one-time items, earnings were 94 cents per share. Analysts, on average, had anticipated earnings of 76 cents per share on revenue of 8... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Bread, Bologna, and Cheese Top List of Salty Foods

MedPage Today Public Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:13:10 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Just 10 types of food account for nearly half of the nation's excessive sodium intake, government researchers found. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Obama Addresses Ire on Health Insurance Contraception Rule

NYT — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:15:01 +0100

Facing criticism from religious-affiliated institutions, the Obama administration promised on Tuesday to explore ways to make a new health insurance requirement more flexible. (Source: NYT)

After Outcry, Karen Handel Resigns From Komen

NYT — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 06:04:06 +0100

Karen Handel’s resignation came just days after the cancer foundation reversed its decision to cut funds to Planned Parenthood. (Source: NYT)

Obama Addresses Ire on Health Insurance Contraception Rule

NYT Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:39:12 +0100

Facing criticism from religious-affiliated institutions, the Obama administration promised on Tuesday to explore ways to make a new health insurance requirement more flexible. (Source: NYT Health)

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The Consumer: New Weight Watchers Plan Leaves Some Grumbling

NYT — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:27:39 +0100

An overhaul to Weight Watchers' diet plan has caused many longtime members to complain about slow weight loss. (Source: NYT)

Well Blog: Phys Ed: Does Foot Form Explain Running Injuries?

NYT — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:01:16 +0100

Researchers combed through four years' worth of data about Harvard runners to produce the surprisingly controversial finding that how a person runs may affect whether he or she winds up hurt. (Source: NYT)

Obama increases Alzheimer's funding

Health News - UPI.com — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:47:45 +0100

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 (UPI) -- The Obama administration officials said Tuesday in Washington it is immediately allocating an additional $50 million for cutting-edge Alzheimer's research. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

White House defends contraception rules as criticism mounts

Reuters: Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:50:55 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is willing to work with Catholic universities, hospitals and other church-affiliated employers to implement a new policy that requires health insurers to offer birth control coverage, a top adviser to the president's re-election campaign said on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Obama Seeks Deal on Birth Control

WSJ.com: Health — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:32:10 +0100

The White House is looking for a way to address the concerns of religious leaders upset by President Obama's decision to require religious employers to cover contraceptives in employee health plans. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)

Gingrich rally draws hundreds downtown

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:10:58 +0100

Mitt Romney may raise more money, but Newt Gingrich told supporters in Dayton that he’s a stronger conservative candidate with more “people” power to attract voters to the polls. Gingrich was greeted by hundreds of supporters Tuesday afternoon who packed the front lobby of Memorial Hall downtown. The stop was one of three in Ohio he was schedule to make during the day. Gingrich also took a jab at President Barack Obama for touting the recent drop in unemployment, citing the large numbers of people no longer looking for work but not including in the statistic... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

White House defends contraception rules as criticisms mount

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:49:42 +0100

HCA to break ground on Poinciana hospital

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:38:06 +0100

Osceola Regional Medical Center will break ground Feb. 7 on a $65 million hospital project in Poinciana. The project will start with a 12-bed, one-story, 11,000-square-foot freestanding emergency department with a helicopter pad, laboratory, pharmacy and imaging. The second phase includes a $33.7 million, 30-bed, two-story, 94,000-square-foot hospital. Phase 3 is a medical office building. Once completed, the complex is expected to have 200 full-time employees. Click here to read about the state agreeing to scale down the project... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Integro brokerage names Marc Kunney to head new USA unit

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:30:02 +0100

Integro, a New York-based international insurance brokerage and risk management firm with a significant footprint in the San Francisco Bay Area, said Tuesday it is creating an Integro USA unit and putting San Francisco leader Marc Kunney in charge of it. Kunney, “operations leader” and managing principal in San Francisco, will head the division as president, but will continue to head up operations in the Bay Area, Integro said. Integro USA will house the firm’s U.S. insurance brokerage operations, and focuses on clients in the United States that face complex insurance risks, according to a spokesman... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

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Nonprofit, subject of scandal, to merge

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:06:01 +0100

An organization that nearly shut down after its executive director embezzled more than $100,000, Boston Living Center, will merge into Victory Programs, according to a news release. Both organizations work in the realm of HIV/AIDS. When the merger is complete on March 1, Boston Living Center will be considered a program of Victory Programs. All Boston Living Center staff have been offered jobs, said Alison Merrill, spokeswoman for Victory Programs. Since July 2011, the two organizations have been collaborating under a management agreement... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

5 Flawed Arguments Against Medicare Premium Support

The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:51:00 +0100

The introduction of the bipartisan Wyden–Ryan premium support plan for Medicare ensures that reform of the government’s largest health entitlement program will continue to be a major topic of debate in 2012. (Source: The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care)

New Mexico First Town Hall to focus on state’s future

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:46:53 +0100

The Centennial version of New Mexico First’s Town Hall will take place in Albuquerque March 22 to 23. The statewide public policy organization is releasing its New Mexico Progress Report this month, which focuses on education, the economy, health and energy. Heather Balas, NM First’s president and executive director, said it most likely will inform much of the town hall, which will ask participants to develop their best public policy ideas for the future of New Mexico. During the two-day gathering, participants will explore the state’s strength’s and weaknesses, its opportunities and threats, and identify urgent needs that will have the greatest influence on the future of the state, according to the organization’s news release... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician P...

Six Key Elements of Medicare Premium Support Proposals

The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:43:00 +0100

Premium support proposals to reform the Medicare program would provide beneficiaries with a financial contribution to purchase Medicare coverage (Source: The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care)

Obama boosts funds for Alzheimer's research

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:42:33 +0100

(Reuters) - The Obama administration plans to spend an additional $156 million over the next two years to help find an effective treatment for Alzheimer's, a fatal brain-wasting disease that affects more than 5 million Americans. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Alzheimer's research in U.S. gets extra $50 million in funding

Health News: CBSNews.com — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:33:11 +0100

Obama administration wants an effective treatment for the disease developed by 2025 (Source: Health News: CBSNews.com)

Cerner tops Wall Street estimates for fourth quarter

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:30:59 +0100

Continued strong demand for electronic health record systems helped Cerner Corp. beat Wall Street financial estimates in the fourth quarter. The North Kansas City-based company (Nasdaq: CERN) on Tuesday reported earning $91.2 million, or 52 cents a share, during the three months that ended Dec. 31. By comparison, the company earned $70.6 million, or 41 cents a share, during the same period a year earlier. Not counting share-based compensation expenses, Cerner said it would have earned 55 cents a share versus 44 cents during the year-ago period... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Komen VP quits after Planned Parenthood funds restored

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:26:50 +0100

Karen Handel, vice president for public policy of the Dallas-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast-cancer charity, has resigned in protest of the group's restoration of funding to Planned Parenthood, according to a Fox News report. In a letter, Handel said that she supported the charity's move last week to cut off funding to Planned Parenthood. The decision was later reversed after a firestorm of protest erupted across the nation. "I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it,” Handel said in her letter... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Obama Plans To Combat Alzheimer's

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:00:00 +0100

A statement released by The Obama Administration claims there are going to be new measures taken against battling Alzheimer's disease. One of these efforts includes a $50 million increase in the amount of money that will be used towards new, advanced research. Also, the administration says their Fiscal Year 2013 budget will increase by $80 million for Alzheimer's exploration. The announcement adds that a $26 million increase will be made in terms of provider education, public awareness, advances in data infrastructure, and care-giver support... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

KBA auditors hand ex-CEO’s laptop to Johnson County District Attorney’s office

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:57:34 +0100

The accountants that performed a forensic audit of the Kansas Bioscience Authority said Tuesday that they’ve given former CEO Tom Thornton’s laptop computer and copies of their analysis of the device to the Johnson County District Attorney’s office. In a supplemental report to the audit delivered Jan. 23, BKD LLP said its auditors stand by their findings that virtually all of the files on the computer were wiped before Thornton handed it to them in April and that no other hard drives or computers containing documents belonging to Thornton exist... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

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Pulmonx raises $10M

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:44:08 +0100

Pulmonx has raised $10 million, according to a regulatory with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday. The Redwood City-based company sold equity to raise the funds. It makes what it says are minimally invasive medical devices and technologies for diagnosing and treating pulmonary disorders. The filing lists the following related parties as directors: Howard Palefsky, Annette Campbell-White, Rich Ferrari, Rodney Perkins, Steve Salmon, Michael Baker, Staffan Lindstrand and Dana Mead... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

All Sides Agree: Tax Law Doesn't Apply to ACA

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:43:20 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The Obama administration and plaintiffs suing the federal government over the Affordable Care Act at least see eye-to-eye on one thing: A federal tax law shouldn't bar the Supreme Court from ruling on case. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

The New Old Age: Drinking in Assisted Living

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:32:44 +0100

A surprising number of residents in assisted living facilities may be drinking alcohol, a new report finds. (Source: NYT)

Global Update: Did Malaria Kill 655,000 People in 2011 or Twice That?

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:30:07 +0100

The numbers are being quietly fought over in e-mails among malaria specialists at the World Health Organization and the University of Washington. (Source: NYT)

Well Blog: Parents, Coaches and Youth Sports

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:57:46 +0100

Outspoken parents may be keeping good coaches away from youth sports. (Source: NYT)

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Merck Drug Cuts CV Risk, Increases Bleeds

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:38:22 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- The investigational anticoagulant vorapaxar significantly reduced cardiovascular events, but at the expense of intracranial hemorrhage, according to top-line results announced today by drugmaker Merck. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

White House says open to compromise over contraception

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:30:16 +0100

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration is willing to work with Catholic universities and hospitals in implementing new rules that require health insurance to cover birth control, a top adviser to the president's re-election campaign said on Tuesday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

Assisted Suicide Law in Georgia Is Overturned

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:10:06 +0100

The Georgia Supreme Court ruled that a law outlawing the promotion of assisted suicide was unconstitutional, a decision likely to shape the national debate over the practice. (Source: NYT)

Ovarian Cancer Screening Common Despite Lack of Proof (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:44:38 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- More than 90% of primary care physicians reported ordering ovarian cancer screening tests not recommended for women with a low or average risk for the disease, a national survey showed. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

House and Senate at Impasse on Medicare

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:36:22 +0100

Lawmakers in both parties say they want to give doctors a small increase in Medicare payments, but they cannot agree on how to pay for it. (Source: NYT)

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Komen Official Quits After Controversy

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:23:16 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- A vice-president at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has resigned in the wake of the controversy surrounding the organization's decision -- since reversed -- to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer programs. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Obama Administration Makes Greater Investment in Alzheimer's Obama Administration Makes Greater Investment in Alzheimer's

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:54:24 +0100

The US government today announced a commitment of $156 million over the course of the next 2 years to fight Alzheimer's disease. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Well Blog: A Better Way to Spend Breast Cancer Funds?

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:43:25 +0100

We must move breast cancer advocacy to the next level, beyond screening for cancers that are already there, even beyond the cure, to finding the cause, writes Dr. Susan Love. (Source: NYT)

White House proposes raise for Alzheimer's research

CTV Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:41:37 +0100

The Obama administration is increasing spending on Alzheimer's research -- planning to surpass half a billion dollars next year -- as part of a quest to find effective treatments for the brain-destroying disease by 2025. (Source: CTV Health)

Obama administration to spend $50 million more immediately

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:29:51 +0100

(Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it plans to spend an additional $50 million this year and will seek an extra $80 million in fiscal 2013 to bolster research for Alzheimer's disease, a fatal brain-wasting condition that affects more than 5 million Americans. (Source: Reuters: Health)

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Study Quantifies Families Without Health Insurance

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:28:58 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- More than half of poor families and a third of middle-income families had no health insurance during the preceding year, according to a new survey by the Commonwealth Fund. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Personal Health: Giving City Streets Built-In Safety Features

NYT — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:25:57 +0100

Safer road designs can slow motor vehicles and separate them from pedestrians and cyclists, and also enhance the physical activity and health of residents. (Source: NYT)

EARLY RELEASE: Vital Signs: Food Categories Contributing the Most to Sodium Consumption — United States, 2007–2008

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:10:07 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Surveys: Catholics want birth control coverage

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:16:00 +0100

Pundits, bishops say Obama's contraception option for insurance plans will offend Catholic voters. Catholics disagree, new surveys find. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

Catholics want birth control coverage: Survey

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:16:00 +0100

Pundits, bishops say Obama's contraception option for insurance plans will repell Catholic voters. Catholics disagree, new surveys find. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

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Obama to boost Alzheimer's research funding

CNN.com - Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:06:11 +0100

The Obama administration will push for a $156 million increase in funding for Alzheimer's research over the next two years, the Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday. (Source: CNN.com - Health)

Obama administration to spend $50 million more on Alzheimer's

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:24:06 +0100

(Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Tuesday it will spend an additional $50 million immediately to bolster research for Alzheimer's, a fatal, brain-wasting disease that affects 5 million Americans. (Source: Reuters: Health)

White House open to compromise over contraception: adviser

Reuters: Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:22:46 +0100

Top Obama adviser defends divisive birth control rule

CTV Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:44:51 +0100

A political adviser to President Barack Obama said Tuesday the administration didn't intend to "abridge anyone's religious freedom" with its regulation requiring church-affiliated employers to cover birth control for their workers. (Source: CTV Health)

Referral rates for physicians nearly double in 10 years

American Medical News - PROFESSION — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:24:02 +0100

Study authors attribute the rise to increased specialization of medicine and high patient demands. (Source: American Medical News - PROFESSION)

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Being insured is no guarantee unemployed will seek care

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:24:02 +0100

Research suggests they may be unable to cover co-pays and deductibles, or fear they cannot afford the expenses that result. (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

Wal-Mart Debuts 'Great for You' Seal

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:09:40 +0100

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. adds a new green icon that reads "Great for You" to packaging of some of its house-brand foods, part of a multiyear campaign to promote healthier products and fight childhood obesity. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Benefit of Bone Drug in Prostate Cancer in Doubt

MedPage Today Public Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00:00 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- FDA reviewers have questioned whether expanding the indication for Amgen's denosumab (Xgeva) to prevent the spread of prostate cancer to the bones would provide much added benefit. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Some Say New York City Health Ads Should Inspire, Not Scare

NYT — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:10:06 +0100

The city health department’s campaign to jolt New Yorkers out of their bad habits has drawn some criticism for its negative approach. (Source: NYT)

'Heart Team' Key for Medicare TAVI Coverage

MedPage Today Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:37:10 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Highly skilled "heart teams" from high-volume centers are part of the requirements for Medicare reimbursement for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) proposed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

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New, free e-biography released

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:51:00 +0100

Always There: the Remarkable Life of Ruth Lillian Kirschstein, M.D., a new biography released Feb. 6, tells the rare story of a woman who was as comfortable conversing with lawmakers on Capitol Hill as she was bringing science to children in inner-city classrooms. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

Kidney Ca Drugs Worked Better Inside Trials

MedPage Today Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:59:41 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO (MedPage Today) -- Metastatic kidney cancer patients deemed ineligible for targeted therapy clinical trials, but who still received the trial treatment protocol, faced a higher mortality risk, researchers found. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

UAMS: 'World-Renowned' Neurosurgeons Study at Little Rock

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:41:24 +0100

About 30 neurosurgeons from 10 countries are at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for a hands-on anatomy course focusing on the white matter of the brain. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Healthy People Co. Dietary Supplements: Recall - Undeclared Drug Ingredient

FDA MedWatch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0100

Recalled products pose significant risk to patients with a history of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, or stroke. (Source: FDA MedWatch)

New website: NIH Clinical Research Trials and You

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:12:00 +0100

The National Institutes of Health has created a new website, NIH Clinical Research Trials and You to help people learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

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It's fiscally irresponsible not to address liability reform

American Medical News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice (Source: American Medical News)

Do you read news on a smartphone?

American Medical News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

If so, there is a version of the American Medical News site that is optimized for your device. Bookmark it today. (Source: American Medical News)

Become an informed tech shopper

American Medical News — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The AMA's latest tutorials on information technology can help physicians figure out how their practices run now -- and how technology can make them run better. (Source: American Medical News)

Arkansas court rejects expert witness provision in medical liability cases

American Medical News - PROFESSION — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The 2003 rule required experts to practice in the same specialty as defendant physicians. (Source: American Medical News - PROFESSION)

Outcry over disabled girl's transplant care renews eligibility debate

American Medical News - PROFESSION — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Physicians struggle to make the most of scarce organ resources. "You have to take a larger view of it," a transplant surgeon says. (Source: American Medical News - PROFESSION)

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The limits of treating loved ones

American Medical News - PROFESSION — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Physicians who provide medical care for themselves or family risk losing objectivity and letting their personal feelings interfere with what is best for the patient. (Source: American Medical News - PROFESSION)

ACP drafts list of 37 commonly misused screenings and tests

American Medical News - HEALTH — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Physicians are encouraged to stop ordering tests for nonspecific low back pain and MRIs as the breast cancer screen of choice in average-risk women. (Source: American Medical News - HEALTH)

Comparative effectiveness research plan seeks input from all sides

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute expects the public to help shape its mission to determine the most effective medical care. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

AMA calls on Congress to block ICD-10 mandate on doctors

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Switching to new diagnosis codes would create a significant administrative burden to physician practices at a very inopportune time, the Association says. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

Medicare PQRS: Quality reporting or else

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The Medicare physician quality reporting system will use participation in 2013 to determine who will be penalized starting in 2015. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

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Unspent war funds eyed to avoid years of Medicare doctor pay cuts

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The budgetary shift from winding down military actions in Afghanistan and Iraq could offset the large price tag associated with eliminating the SGR. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

How your practice can get the most from tech support

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Technically Speaking - A practical look at information technology issues and usage (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

Arizona internist puts on a show that welcomes hisses

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Buyers and sellers come to the annual event "to promote reptiles throughout the community." (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

New York health plans rapped over out-of-date physician directories

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

In some cases, patients paid out-of-network fees to doctors who were actually part of a network. (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

More people use mobile devices to look for health information

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The increased popularity of smartphones has led more patients to proactively manage their care while on the go. (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

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Rite Aid clinics place new twist on "doc-in-a-box"

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The pharmacy chain is operating in-store clinics in Michigan where doctors and patients interact only through an online video screen. (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

Birth-control fight unlikely to hurt Obama, his strategists say

Los Angeles Times - Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Democratic strategists think that most U.S. Catholic women believe birth control should be available and that people who oppose Obama because of a new rule for employers would not vote for him anyway.Even as angry Catholic leaders vow to fight a new federal requirement that most employers include contraceptives in their health insurance coverage, the Obama administration believes any political damage will be limited because it's on the side of women's rights. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)

Mercy Plans Fall Opening for New Fort Smith Clinic

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

$4.4 million project will have exam rooms, lab and more. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Super Mover: Dr. Robert L. Saylors III

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Dr. Robert L. Saylors III, an oncologist at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, recently was installed in the Jaxon C. Lee-Dr. Robert L. Saylors III Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Movers & Shakers (Feb. 6, 2012)

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

New hires, promotions and awards for the week of Feb. 6, 2012. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

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Consumers Interested in Preventive Care

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

As part of National Wise Health Consumer Month, these 10 tips are offered as a way to reduce cost and improve health. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Too Many Kids Are Breathing Secondhand Smoke in Cars

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

In the first national estimate of its kind, a report from government researchers says more than one in five high school students and middle schoolers ride in cars while others are smoking. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Study: Child Abuse Affects More U.S. Kids than SIDS

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The rate of hospital admissions related to SIDS is actually lower than the rate of child abuse — 50 per 100,000 children under age 1 for SIDS, compared with 58.2 per 100,000 births, according to research published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin Signs Order to Ban Tobacco Use on State Property

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Tobacco products at all state-owned and leased properties and in state-owned and leased buildings and vehicles will be banned effective July 1 under an executive order signed Monday by Gov. Mary Fallin. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Smoking May Be Especially Tough on Men’s Brains

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Smoking appears to speed declines in memory, thinking, learning and processing information in men, but not in women, new research suggests. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

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Less Smoke Exposure in Teens' Cars (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Public Health — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:01:00 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Fewer teens are being exposed to secondhand smoke in cars, as efforts continue to limit youth exposure to the potential harms of tobacco, a nationwide survey found. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

35 Cases of Illness Tied to Pa. Farm’s Raw Milk

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:44:57 +0100

The confirmed cases of campylobacter bacterial infection include 28 people in Pennsylvania, four in Maryland, two in West Virginia, and one in New Jersey. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

St. Vincent, Heart Clinic Arkansas Pushed Out of Saline Memorial

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:44:36 +0100

St. Vincent Health System of Little Rock and Heart Clinic Arkansas started the cardiac program for Saline Memorial Hospital in 2008 and unwillingly left the hospital in December. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Planned Parenthood holds Arizona fundraiser after Komen flap

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:42:25 +0100

Planned Parenthood’s political arm in Arizona will hold a fundraising event next month with Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Cecile Richards. The event comes on the heels of the abortion-fueled national controversy involving Planned Parenthood and whether it will receive funding from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The March 15 annual luncheon and fundraiser will benefit Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, the political advocacy arm of the women’s health group and abortion provider... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

FDA Okays Another Diabetes Combo Agent

MedPage Today Public Health — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 10:13:09 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- The FDA has approved an extended-release version of a combination sitagliptin and metformin for adults with type 2 diabetes. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

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ACLU sues Obama over drone killings of U.S. citizens

NaturalNews.com — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

You may remember that lawyers for the Obama administration have advised the president that using drones to target and kill American citizens without a trial is perfectly legal. If you were outraged by this so-called legal opinion and convinced it was made without any... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

The Texas Tribune: Texans Lead Battle for Women’s Health

NYT — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:26:23 +0100

In the skirmish between Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood that intensified over the past week, all roads led to Texas. (Source: NYT)

Washington Watch: SGR Action Starts Up Again

MedPage Today Public Health — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:01:44 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- This week in Washington marked the resumption of a congressional committee tasked with fixing the problem with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula for Medicare physician reimbursement. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Komen Reverses Stance on Planned Parenthood Grants

NYT — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:11:47 +0100

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation apologized for its decision to cut grants to Planned Parenthood for cancer screening and said it would restore the funding. (Source: NYT)

First lady's push-ups raise fitness bar

USATODAY.com Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:15:54 +0100

Michelle Obama and Ellen DeGeneres put on an impressive push-up demonstration -- setting a great example for other women their age. (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Former Little Rock Business Owner Sent to Prison for Medicare Fraud

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:08:49 +0100

Archibong Edem-Effiong, 58, now of Houston, who owned Joshua Medical Link Corp. in Little Rock, had pleaded guilty in October. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Gris-PEG (griseofulvin ultramicrosize): Health Advisory - Risk of Product Mix-Up

FDA MedWatch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:18:00 +0100

During packaging and labeling, tablets from one product type may have carried over into packaging of another product. (Source: FDA MedWatch)

Notifiable Diseases and Mortality Tables

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:59:12 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule — United States, 2012

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:58:42 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

QuickStats: Rate* of Nonfatal, Medically Consulted Fall Injury Episodes,† by Age Group

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:58:16 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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Errata: Vol. 60, No. 48

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:57:50 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Errata: Vol. 60, No. 50

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:57:18 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Announcement: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day — February 7, 2012

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:57:06 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Notes from the Field: Outbreak of Salmonellosis Associated with Pet Turtle Exposures — United States, 2011

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:56:53 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Progress in Global Measles Control, 2000–2010

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:56:39 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

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Adult Vaccination Coverage — United States, 2010

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:56:25 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Recovery of a Patient from Clinical Rabies — California, 2011

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:56:08 +0100

(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)

Well Blog: Kale for Everyone!

NYT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:08:10 +0100

A recent trip to the neighborhood farmers' market inspired Martha Rose Shulman to spend the next six days cooking with kale. (Source: NYT)

White House Begins to Map Course toward Bio-Based Economy

Washington Watch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:26:34 +0100

Politicians and pundits clogged the airwaves last year with rhetoric about the state of the nation's economy. Amid this noise, a few economic policy initiatives did begin to take shape. For instance, last fall, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a request for comments on a draft policy to stimulate the bioeconomy. Scientists have long asserted that research is an investment that yields economic prosperity. A growing number of scientists and engineers have more recently advised that the biological sciences are poised to inspire transformative discoveries that can solve persistent problems while stimulating new economic opportunities. Indeed, in 2009, the National Research Council (NRC) released a 112-page report, A New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuri...

National Briefing | Health: Officials Recommend the HPV Vaccine for All Boys

NYT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:20:07 +0100

Federal health officials recommended on Thursday that all boys be routinely vaccinated against infection with human papillomavirus, or HPV. (Source: NYT)

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Gene regulator in brain's executive hub tracked across lifespan -- NIH study

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:01:00 +0100

For the first time, scientists have tracked the activity, across the lifespan, of an environmentally responsive regulatory mechanism that turns genes on and off in the brain's executive hub. Among key findings of the study by National Institutes of Health scientists: genes implicated in schizophrenia and autism turn out to be members of a select club of genes in which regulatory activity peaks during an environmentally-sensitive critical period in development. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

Michelle Obama to Tour Little Rock Air Force Base

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:41:04 +0100

The White House says first lady Michelle Obama will visit the Little Rock Air Force Base next week to promote the second anniversary of her "Let's Move!" initiative geared at reducing childhood obesity. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Adults Still Slow to Get Their Shots (CME/CE)

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:23:49 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- With three exceptions, coverage with adult vaccines remained steady -– and low -- in 2010, the CDC reported. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Memo Reveals Obama Thinking on Malpractice

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:54:33 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- A memo from two White House aides to President Obama reveals the administration's thinking on medical malpractice reform and its role in passage of the Affordable Care Act. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

The New Old Age Blog: The Pet Problem

NYT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:14:30 +0100

A pet trust offers owners some assurances that after they die, their pets will be cared for. (Source: NYT)

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Well Blog: Think Like a Doctor: Sleeping Wife Solved!

NYT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:06:33 +0100

Readers solve the mystery of a 43-year-old healthy and active woman who suddenly falls asleep and can't be awakened. (Source: NYT)

Komen Reverses Planned Parenthood Funding Cut

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:31:57 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has reversed its decision to cut funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screening and education. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Acetylcysteine Solution, USP (Roxane Laboratories, Inc.): Recall - Visible Glass Particle

FDA MedWatch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:06:00 +0100

Use of an inhaled product with glass particles has the potential to cause choking which could be life-threatening. (Source: FDA MedWatch)

Well: What Doctors Can Learn From Musicians

NYT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:18:04 +0100

Could a coach bring back the intellectual vibrancy from medical-school days for one doctor, the way a music teacher inspires constant growth? (Source: NYT)

Enforcement Report for February 1, 2012

Food and Drug Administration--Enforcement Report — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:10:00 +0100

(Source: Food and Drug Administration--Enforcement Report)

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FDA Rejects OJ Imports

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:56:10 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- The FDA has turned away or detained at the border just under a quarter of foreign orange juice imports because they have contained trace amounts of the pesticide carbendazim, the agency said. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

U.S. religious groups outraged over law on contraception

CTV Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:51:19 +0100

The Obama administration's decision requiring church-affiliated employers to cover birth control was bound to cause an uproar among Roman Catholics and members of other faiths, no matter their beliefs on contraception. (Source: CTV Health)

U.S. Economy Adds 243,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.3 Percent

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:33:27 +0100

The U.S. economy added 243,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January, according to a report Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

CDC deflates public health threat of mysterious skin condition

American Medical News - HEALTH — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:07:47 +0100

Doctors are still urged to keep an open mind when patients voice concerns about having Morgellons. (Source: American Medical News - HEALTH)

Kansas Medicaid reform plan wins points with state's medical society

American Medical News - GOVERNMENT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:07:47 +0100

The proposal won't cut physician pay but will set quality goals and establish medical homes. (Source: American Medical News - GOVERNMENT)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Tiny Turtles Again Tied to Salmonella

MedPage Today Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:59:00 +0100

(MedPage Today) -- Small turtles are once again the source of a Salmonella outbreak that has sickened more than a hundred people in the U.S., most of them youngsters, government researchers said. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

Molecules to Medicine: Plan B: The Tradition of Politics at the FDA

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:39:00 +0100

Morning After The Morning's Trash In my last post , I focused on flaws in the medical device approval process. The Union of Concerned Scientists FDA at a Crossroads meeting also covered problems with drug approval. This is perhaps no better illustrated than by the disappointing decision by Secretary of Health Kathleen Sebelius to deny the emergency contraceptive, Plan B, over-the-counter status for women under the age of 17 . This was a particular disappointment to many because President Obama had promised that decisions at the FDA would be made based on science, rather than politics. Some of us, naively, hoped that change we can believe in was real, having forgotten that the Tooth Fairy wasn t. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Health Insurance Stocks For a Republican Win

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:16:03 +0100

Investors busy assessing how the state of the global economy will affect their stock portfolios should start thinking about how the presidential race will weigh in. In particular, investors may want to look at how to play the health insurance space. Health care remains a subject of divide between the two parties, with Republicans trying to repeal Obama's nationwide health care reform since 2010. And, while it is unlikely they can overturn the entire law, they can certainly chip away at parts of it. Related Links (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

Obama's economic policies have created a nation of jobless citizens dependent on government handouts

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

It's no secret that the U.S. national debt is poised to increase by more than $6 trillion during President Obama's first four years in office. All of this additional spending, he has often said, was needed to "stimulate the economy", curtail unemployment and get Americans... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Minn. Food Company Recalls About 1 Million Eggs in 34 States

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A Minnesota food company said Friday it is recalling more than a million hard-cooked eggs distributed to 34 states after testing revealed some may be contaminated with listeria. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

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Advocates Say Flu Vaccine Should Be Mandatory for Health Workers

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Consumer and business groups met in Washington Thursday to show their support for a recommendation from the National Business Group on Health that hospitals require all health care workers to be vaccinated annually against the flu. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Many Hits, Rather than One Big One, Pose Greatest Concussion Risk

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

High school football players have changes in their brain function long before they have recognizable signs of a concussion, according to a new study. The more hits a player got, the more brain function changed. The findings support the growing belief that a concussion comes as the result of a succession of insults, not just one bad hit. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Vaccines: They’re Not Just for Kids (But Too Few U.S. Adults Are Getting Immunized)

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Shots are never fun no matter what your age, but according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults may dread them (almost) as much as children. Each year, 45,000 Americans die from vaccine-preventable diseases. Despite that, U.S. adults are not getting the immunizations they need. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Why 2 new studies represent important breakthrough in Alzheimer's disease research

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(AHAF-American Health Assistance Foundation) Two separate research findings have the potential to give us a much more sophisticated understanding of what goes wrong in Alzheimer's disease and what can be done to prevent or repair damage in the brain. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Well: HPV Vaccine Now Recommended for Boys, Hepatitis B Vaccine for Diabetes

NYT — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:29:32 +0100

Federal health officials recommended this week that all boys be routinely vaccinated against human papillomavirus, or HPV, and that people with diabetes be vaccinated against hepatitis B. (Source: NYT)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

The Truth About Contraception, Obamacare And The Church

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:45:58 +0100

Image by AFP/Getty Images via @daylife Much has been misunderstood about what the Affordable Care Act requires when it comes to religious institutions and contraception. Recently, the Catholic Church lashed out at the Obama Administration, including HSS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, for handing down regulations that fail to exempt certain operations of the (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

AMA, AHIMA at odds on ICD-10

Healthcare IT News — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:01:04 +0100

While the American Medical Association (AMA) is calling for a halt to ICD-10, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is countering by urging all to stay the course toward the Oct. 1, 2013 deadline. In the letter sent Thursday to Department of Health and Humans Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius., AMA CEO James Madara, MD urged HHS “to make good on its commitment to improve the regulatory climate for physicians.” read more (Source: Healthcare IT News)

Understanding Medicare Premium Support and its Key Features

The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:31:00 +0100

For the next generation of taxpayers and retirees, there is no better option than premium support. (Source: The Heritage Foundation Papers: Health Care)

The New Old Age Blog: How Alzheimer's Disease Spreads

NYT — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:07:47 +0100

Two new studies provide clues to how Alzheimer's disease spreads in the brain. (Source: NYT)

"Honey Bunny" Infant Terry Bib with Pocket

Government of Canada News - Health Canada — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:45:00 +0100

Health Canada's sampling and evaluation program has revealed that the front pocket and back lining of the bib contains phthalates, specifically DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) and DBP (Dibutylphtalate), which exceed the allowable limit. (Source: Government of Canada News - Health Canada)

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Well: Today's Teens Better Behaved Than Their Parents

NYT — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:09:35 +0100

In fact, today's teenagers are misbehaving a lot less than their parents did. (Source: NYT)

NCCAM's Advisory Council welcomes six new members

National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:36:00 +0100

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) welcomes six new members to the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The council serves as the principal advisory body to NCCAM, the lead federal agency for research on complementary medicine, and a component of the National Institutes of Health. (Source: National Institutes of Health (NIH) News Releases)

U.S. Advisors Explain Call to Censor Bird Flu Research

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:44:30 +0100

The U.S. National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity’s (NSABB) main concern "is that publishing these experiments in detail would provide information that could help some person, organization or government to develop similar mammal-adapted influenza A/H5N1 viruses for harmful purposes," the advisers said in a statement Tuesday. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

UPMC adds hundreds of doctors, boosts hospital admissions

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:41:48 +0100

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center strengthened its grip on the region’s health care market during the six-month period ending Dec. 31 by adding nearly 400 doctors to its payroll, boosting hospital admissions and squeezing more revenue from outpatient services - all in a shrinking market. An aging population and ongoing shift to outpatient services is decreasing hospital admissions in western Pennsylvania by 2.5 percent annually, according to CFO Robert DeMichiei. The rate of decline is expected to continue through 2012... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Enrollment Up, Premiums Down in Medicare Advantage Plans

MedPage Today Public Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:43:10 +0100

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) -- Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans has risen by 10% in the past year and premiums have dropped by 7%, despite billions of dollars in reimbursement cuts to the program, HHS officials announced Wednesday. (Source: MedPage Today Public Health)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Obama Administration Announces Pilot Program to Help Rural Borrowers Refinance Mortgages, Get Lower Interest Rates

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a pilot program to help rural borrowers refinance their mortgages to reduce their monthly payments. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Heat from Farmers Results in Rethinking of Youth Labor Limits

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Washington Times, (DC) article reports that bowing to an angry backlash from agriculture groups and family farmers across the country, the Obama administration Wednesday said it would scale back proposed new rules that would have sharply limited the amount of work young people can do on farms. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

UPMC Health Plan membership rises 14.5%

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:01:03 +0100

UPMC Health Plan has been racking up membership gains since July while battling rival health insurer Highmark Inc. over member access to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center doctors and hospitals, the health system reported on Wednesday. Total UPMC insurance division membership rose 14.5 percent to 1.78 million during the six-month period ending Dec. 31, including an 11.1 percent, or 373,621, gain in commercial health plan members, CFO Robert A. DeMichiei said. Boosting the increase was the acquisition of Hamot Medical Center in Erie, which employs nearly 3,000 people, and Erie Physicians Network, the county’s biggest multispecialty group... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines)

Analysis: “Restaurant A” Revealed to be Taco Bell

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

On Wednesday, Food Safety News editor Dan Flynn broke news of the identity of "Restaurant Chain A" as Taco Bell in the 10-state outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis that sickened at least 68 individuals in October and November 2011. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)