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Coercing Congress members to vote for healthcare plan: Physicians' file lawsuit

On Thursday, March 18, lawyers from the U.S. Department of Justice will appear in Federal District Court for oral argument in opposition to a request by physicians opposed to President Barack Obama's healthcare bill for an injunction barring his Administration "from undertaking in the future to intimidate or coerce any member of Congress" to vote for the plan.

19 Mar 2010

Babies born with severe cleft palates: Promising breakthrough without complex surgery

Scientists working on a treatment for babies born with cleft palates have made a promising breakthrough and the first clinical trials are planned for early next year. Clefts are the most common birth defect in Britain, with one in every 700 babies affected; currently in severe cases radical surgery is required to correct the problem, and in addition future complications can occur as the child grows into an adult.

18 Mar 2010

Costs almost double for health care for Pennsylvania poor; New study finds percentage of people taking insurance through work declines

Facing a sharp rise in costs, Pennsylvania has almost doubled the monthly bill for a state health insurance program for poor people who do not qualify for Medicaid and are on a waiting list for a less costly option. On March 1, the cost of the plan rose to about $600 a month, up from $313 a month, for the roughly 2,400 state residents on the waiting list.

18 Mar 2010

Massachusetts hospital costs not connected to quality of care, report finds

A new report from Massachusetts finds that the price of hospital care there is not necessarily related to quality.

18 Mar 2010

FDA approves Envoy Medical's prosthetic hearing restoration device

On March 17, 2010 the FDA gave approval to Envoy Medical Corporation to market a "First of its Kind" prosthetic hearing restoration device. The approval follows a December 18, 2009 unanimous 15 to 0 vote by an independent advisory panel in favor of approving the Esteem® for moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss. The FDA chose an expedited review process, noting that they believe the Esteem® "represents a breakthrough technology."

18 Mar 2010

Esteem hearing system receives FDA approval for treatment of sensorineural hearing loss

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the approval of the Esteem – an implanted hearing system used to treat moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss, a type of permanent hearing loss.

18 Mar 2010

Sonic Innovations' moisture-resistant hearing aids outlast competition

Sonic Innovations, the U.S.-based hearing aid manufacturer, recently conducted moisture-resistance tests using two of its products and eight from major competitors. The results? Sonic outlasted its nearest competitor by 44 percent.

17 Mar 2010

Pew Prescription Project statement: Protect Americans from unsafe drugs made overseas

Two years after dozens of Americans lost their lives to contaminated heparin, we are still not able to protect U.S. consumers from many of the risks of pharmaceuticals manufactured in foreign factories. It is time for Congress to take action to better protect health.

17 Mar 2010

Pathway Genomics' personal Genetic Health Report now available

Pathway Genomics Inc., a U.S. based genetic testing company, announced the immediate availability of its personal Genetic Health Report. This customized and innovative personal genetic health report contains information on more than 70 health conditions, including pharmacogenetics (prescription medication response), propensity for complex disease, and carrier status (pre-pregnancy health).

17 Mar 2010

Experts discuss PEPFAR funding in congressional hearing

At a recent hearing of the House Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, "[i]nternational health organisations working to help check the spread of AIDS in Africa said meagre increases in funds from the U.S. government this year would be a step backwards. Some experts also emphasised that prevention must get appropriate attention in any fight against the disease," Inter Press Service reports.

15 Mar 2010

CPF, PFF applaud PF patients' efforts to plead with FDA Advisory Panel regarding lack of treatment options

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis and the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation are applauding the efforts of Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) patients and family members for their work to convey to the FDA and an FDA Advisory Committee the sense of urgency and desperation regarding the disease and the lack of treatment options.

15 Mar 2010

Children with cleft lip or cleft palate more likely to receive age-appropriate health care when provided by team

Children with a cleft lip or cleft palate are more likely to receive recommended age-appropriate health care when that care is provided by an interdisciplinary team rather than an individual provider. In a study encompassing three states, Arkansas, Iowa and New York, 24% of participants were not receiving team care.

15 Mar 2010

Prioritizing end of life care for cancer patients

Despite the advances and groundbreaking research being performed in the area of cancer treatment, sometimes cancer cannot be cured. In this situation, patients and their families are faced with complex emotions and a variety of end of life issues and decisions.

15 Mar 2010

Grants available for families in need of financial assistance to pay for their child’s health care treatments

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is seeking grant applications from families in need of financial assistance to pay for their child’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered by their commercial health insurance plans.

12 Mar 2010

Study shows 95% of healthcare enterprises rely on smartphones for work

“Managing and Securing Mobile Healthcare Data and Devices,” a commissioned technology adoption profile conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Fiberlink Communications Corporation was released today with findings on the top needs of healthcare IT leaders. With 95% of healthcare enterprises relying on smartphones for work, this industry is one of the most mobile across all verticals.

12 Mar 2010

Former President Clinton, Bill Gates encourage U.S. global health investment at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

Former President Bill Clinton and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said Wednesday at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing "that U.S. investments in fighting [HIV/]AIDS, malaria and other diseases in underdeveloped nations save lives and play a vital role in improving America's image abroad," the Associated Press reports.

12 Mar 2010

Auditory cortex development becomes vulnerable if it does not receive appropriate stimulation at right time

Hearing scientist Daniel Polley, Ph.D., an investigator at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary's Eaton-Peabody Laboratories of Auditory Physiology, has gained new insight into why a relatively short-term hearing deprivation during childhood may lead to persistent hearing deficits, long after hearing is restored to normal.

11 Mar 2010

Fewer injections to treat neutropenia in childhood cancer patients

For patients like 10-year-old Sabrina Jo Spence, new research led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators meant fewer injections to combat the drop in white blood cells following her recent chemotherapy.

11 Mar 2010

Cellectis’ 1485475 European patent: EPO confirms revocation of previously granted claims

Precision BioSciences, Inc., today announced that the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office has issued a written decision confirming its November 18, 2009 revocation of the previously granted claims of Cellectis’ European Patent No. 1 485 475.

11 Mar 2010

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Harvey Rosenfield, author of California's landmark insurance regulation Proposition 103—recognized as the most successful insurance regulation in the country—was joined today by people struggling to pay for health insurance in calling on President Obama and Congress to impose a national freeze on health insurance rates as part of the final round of votes on reform. Consumers must have a breather from yearly premium hikes like the 39% increase planned by Anthem Blue Cross, said Consumer Watchdog, which Rosenfield founded.

11 Mar 2010

Hearing News and Research

Coercing Congress members to vote for healthcare plan: Physicians' file lawsuit

Babies born with severe cleft palates: Promising breakthrough without complex surgery

Costs almost double for health care for Pennsylvania poor; New study finds percentage of people taking insurance through work declines

Massachusetts hospital costs not connected to quality of care, report finds

FDA approves Envoy Medical's prosthetic hearing restoration device

Esteem hearing system receives FDA approval for treatment of sensorineural hearing loss

Sonic Innovations' moisture-resistant hearing aids outlast competition

Pew Prescription Project statement: Protect Americans from unsafe drugs made overseas

Pathway Genomics' personal Genetic Health Report now available

Experts discuss PEPFAR funding in congressional hearing

CPF, PFF applaud PF patients' efforts to plead with FDA Advisory Panel regarding lack of treatment options

Children with cleft lip or cleft palate more likely to receive age-appropriate health care when provided by team

Prioritizing end of life care for cancer patients

Grants available for families in need of financial assistance to pay for their child’s health care treatments

Study shows 95% of healthcare enterprises rely on smartphones for work

Former President Clinton, Bill Gates encourage U.S. global health investment at Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing

Auditory cortex development becomes vulnerable if it does not receive appropriate stimulation at right time

Fewer injections to treat neutropenia in childhood cancer patients

Cellectis’ 1485475 European patent: EPO confirms revocation of previously granted claims

National freeze on health insurance rates needed

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

Exploring the G:Box and for high-quality imaging

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