Medicine & Health articles from June 2008

Medicine & Health archives from June 2008

HHS handing out big bucks for medical emergencies: $1.1 billion will improve healthcare providers' response to terrorism, pandemics.(Public Health)
June 6, 2008... The Department of Health and Human Services has given a big boost to healthcare organizations' efforts to respond to pandemic influenza, other naturally occurring emergencies, and terrorism. In a June 3 press release, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt...

New CMS regulation clarifies rights of hospice patients: changes in end-of-life care necessitated the overhaul.(Government Action)
June 6, 2008... The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in a June 3 press release announced a new regulation that strengthens terminal patients' rights to control their hospice care. The new Medicare Conditions of Participation will affect the nearly l...

Patients, doctors, pharmacists support bipartisan house resolution on estriol: they claim that removing the drug from the market deprives patients of an effective treatment and intrudes on physicians.(Focus on FDA)
June 6, 2008... The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists joined hundreds of thousands of women and doctors in applauding the introduction of H. Con. Res. 342, a bipartisan resolution stating that "the Food and Drug Administration's new policy...

Survey shows poor health literacy rate: many adult Americans lack the skills to make decisions about their medical care.(National Study)
June 6, 2008... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released a study showing that only 12 percent of America's 228 million adults have the skills to manage their own healthcare proficiently, says a press release from AHRQ. The survey is...

HHS Secretary praises communities that join electronic health record demonstration project: selected practices to get cash rewards of up to $290,000.(Federal Program)
June 6, 2008... Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt applauded more than 30 communities for registering for a new demonstration project that will improve efficiency in healthcare, says a press release from the HHS. The project...

American Physical Therapy Association endorses funding for falls prevention: advocacy groups call on Congress to support a national campaign.(Seniors' Health)
June 6, 2008... The American Physical Therapy Association has joined forces with a national coalition of health and consumer groups to advocate for funding for falls-prevention initiatives, including the recently enacted Safety of Seniors Act, according to a...

Alzheimer's Group demands strategies change: advocacy organization comes up with action plan to eradicate the disease.(Senate Hearing)
June 6, 2008... Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich testified at a special hearing of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging organized by chairman Sen. Herbert Kohl (D-WI) to hear updates on...

Nationwide liability costs are stable for the first time in 9 years: expenses dropped significantly in states that have passed tort reform.(Long-Term Care)
June 6, 2008... The Long-Term Care 2008 General Liability and Professional Liability Actuarial Analysis shows that, for the first time in nearly a decade, liability costs are stable on a national average basis, says a press release from Aon Corporation. Aon...

Hospital lobbyists target Senate bill against physician-owned hospitals: doctors' group calls for fair debate in the Finance Committee to resolve the issue.(Conflict in Washington)
June 6, 2008... Corporate-hospital lobbyists are pushing to put the brakes on a Senate Appropriations Committee bill that would provide money for current military operations and expand some GI benefits, says a press release from Physician Hospitals of America....

American Public Health Association applauds Farm Bill: Congress gets support from various national organizations.(Health and Legislation)
June 6, 2008... For overwhelmingly passing the 2008 Farm Bill, the House and Senate get accolades from the American Public Health Association, a recent press release from APHA says. The association is calling on President George Bush to quickly sign the...

Texas Association warns against $47 million in cuts: healthcare group says changes will harm patient care in state nursing homes and threaten key caregiver jobs.(Medicare)
June 6, 2008... The Texas Health Care Association has warned against proposed regulatory changes that will cut Medicare-financed nursing home care in Texas by $47 million in the year ahead, says a May 13 press release from the association. THCA warned...

HHS proposes $275 million boost for FDA safety programs: agency wants to adapt to the global economy and improve prevention.(Budget Request)
June 20, 2008... Facing a rapidly growing and changing global economy, the Department of Health and Human Services says that the Food and Drug Administration needs a big infusion of cash to improve its safety programs. In a June 9 press release, HHS...

CMS lauds program that raises hospital quality: third year of demonstration project shows big improvement in inpatient care.(Medicare)
June 20, 2008... Hospitals that are involved in the Premier Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration have shown vast improvements in inpatient care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says. In a June 17 press release, CMS Acting Administrator Kerry...

Americans say a disabling injury or illness would cripple their finances: most adults admit that even a short-time work stoppage can make them unable to pay bills.(Harris Poll)
June 20, 2008... Most adult Americans say they lack the money to deal with a disabling illness or injury, which would quickly make them unable to pay their bills, including mortgage payments, car payments, credit-card payments, and support for dependents,...

GAO: HSA enrollment climbs to 6.1 million: coverage has increased by a factor of 14 since 2004.(Government Study)
June 20, 2008... Although many people who are eligible for Health Savings Accounts have not enrolled in the tax-advantaged plans, enrollment increased 14-fold between September 2004 and January 2008, a Government Accountability Office report says. The number of...

Researchers: Dutch medical system sets a good example for U.S.: program combines mandatory coverage and market competition.(Universal Healthcare)
June 20, 2008... Two researchers from the Netherlands say their country's system of universal healthcare has worthwhile features that would benefit the United States. Although the Dutch program is relatively new and still developing, the U.S. should consider...

United States loses billions due to mental disorders, study says: NIMH director: cost is 'staggeringly high.'.(National Institute of Mental Health)
June 20, 2008... A study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health says that mental disorders cost the United States billions of dollars a year--a price tag that includes treatment, Social Security payments, homelessness, incarceration and lost...

New bills offer relief for DME suppliers: bipartisan effort seeks to delay the new program and reduce Medicare payment.(Competitive Bidding)
June 20, 2008... Suppliers of durable medical equipment may get a breather on bidding, but it will come at a high price. On June 12, legislators in the House introduced a bipartisan bill to delay DME competitive bidding for 18 to 24 months. Senators...

HHS relaxes Medicare requirements for flood areas: emergency measures affect Iowa and Indiana.(Disaster Relief)
June 20, 2008... Healthcare providers fighting to serve Medicare patients in flooded areas are receiving some much-needed regulatory relief from Washington. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt has designated Iowa and Indiana flood...

House Medicare bill freezes physicians' pay: upcoming 10.6 percent cut is avoided.(Action in Washington)
June 27, 2008... The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 355-59 to support the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008, which will block a July 1 physician pay cut, an article in The Hill says. The bill, HR 6331, maintains the current...

CDC: death rate down, life expectancy up: several major diseases had large declines in mortality.(U.S. Health Statistics)
June 27, 2008... New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that between 2005 and 2006, the death rate for Americans dropped from 799 deaths per 100,000 to 776.4. And Americans are living longer--life expectancy in 2006 hit a record...

What do women want? A patient-centered medical home: many claim to be dissatisfied with the current U.S. healthcare system.(National Poll)
June 27, 2008... American women aren't getting what they want from the U.S. healthcare system, a system they claim is confusing and contradictory, the American Academy of Family Physicians says in a press release. In a poll conducted by Harris Interactive...

Few physicians use electronic health records, survey says: the new method has barely caught on in the United States.(Medicine and Technology)
June 27, 2008... A recent survey of American physicians says they have been slow to adopt electronic health records even though the new technology can improve healthcare services. The survey, "Electronic Health Records in Ambulatory Care--a National Survey of...

Study: number of underinsured adult Americans up sharply: more than 25 million were without coverage in 2007.(National Survey)(Report)
June 27, 2008... From 2003 to 2007, the United States saw a huge increase in the number of adults who are underinsured, according to a Commonwealth Fund study. The number rose 60 percent in that time, reaching a total of 25.2 million adults. Hardest hit...

Cost-cutting strategies enable employers to sustain employee benefits: new survey reveals that benefits remain stable in 2008 despite economic crunch.(Human Resources)
June 27, 2008... A 2008 employee benefits survey reveals that employers are able to maintain a balance in employee benefits despite existing economic challenges, says a June 22 press release from the Society for Human Resource Management. The report was...