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Hospital officials report job cuts, concern about possible effects of reform

Several news outlets find that hospital executives are worried about their facilities' finances, and for a Chicago hospital the prospect of health care reform brings even more concerns.

24 Nov 2009

Public ponders fairness of 'Cadillac' tax, affordability issues

BusinessWeek: "In chasing revenue to help pay for health-care reform, Democrats have managed to rally two groups that tend to oppose each other—unions and Big Business. The focus of their ire: a proposed 40% excise tax on high-premium or so-called Cadillac health plans."

24 Nov 2009

Senate personalities shape, debate health reform bill

The New York Times Prescriptions Blog reports on a ripple in "the Senate's predominant history as an old-boys' club." It notes that "to move the bill forward for full debate, the Democrats' last two crucial votes came from women: Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

24 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health news: Home HIV treatment; voluntary testing in Kenya; women/HIV scorecard; Global Fund Zimbabwe grant; contraceptives in Tanzania

The New York Times reports on a Lancet study that found treating Ugandan HIV patients at home is cheaper and just as effective as treating them in a clinic.

24 Nov 2009

Senate Democrats brace for heavy health reform work

The Hill reports that "Democratic leaders sent out a notice Monday morning alerting senators that when the chamber returns to session after the Thanksgiving holiday, 'roll call votes could occur at any time during the day and evening, with weekend sessions likely.'" The health bill is also likely to affect work on a climate change bill and some senators' plans to go to the climate summit in Copenhagen (Bolton, 11/23).

24 Nov 2009

Medical advances abound while surgeons report concerns about medical errors

The Wall Street Journal reports on "20 health-care advances to give thanks for this Thanksgiving." Among the most key: "Life expectancy in the U.S. reached an all-time high of 77.9 years in 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, continuing a long upward trend. (That's 75.3 years for men and 80.4 years for women.) ... Death rates dropped significantly for eight of the 15 leading causes of death in the U.S., including cancer, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, accidents, diabetes, homicides and pneumonia, from 2006 to 2007."

24 Nov 2009

HIV peaked in 1996, according to the United Nations

The number of HIV cases worldwide — 33 million — has remained steady during the last two years and the epidemic peaked in 1996, according to the United Nations, The Associated Press reports. The disease looks stable in most regions, except for Africa, according to the UN. "

24 Nov 2009

KHN column: Answers from Iowa

In this Kaiser Health News column, Michael L. Millenson writes about insights one could gain from paying attention to what's happening in Iowa. "The Des Moines home of the Chicago Cubs' AAA farm team boasts of being 'one of the top minor league facilities in the country.' This might also be an accurate description of the State of Iowa's political status, in which its quadrennial presidential caucuses help determine who advances to the Big Show."

24 Nov 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

If this were a presidential election year, a recent report by the Iowa Committee for Value in Healthcare would be reaping a lot of attention. Its sponsors say they know the "secret sauce" that allows Iowa to care for one of the highest percentage of "old old" in the country on modest Medicare reimbursement and yet still score near the top of the nation on a slew of quality indicators (Michael Millenson, 11/24).

24 Nov 2009

Ad audit: Congress' former fiscal expert attacks health overhaul effort

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau examines an ad advanced by the Employment Policies Institute.

24 Nov 2009

Insurers under fire for denials of care, inadequate coverage

When people talk about revamping the health care system, among the often-mentioned reasons for change are unfair denials of care by insurance companies and medical debt, both of which are in the news today.

24 Nov 2009

New Medicare rules on home-oxygen affect patients, businesses

The Wall Street Journal: "New Medicare rules designed to reduce waste and fraud in medical-equipment reimbursements are driving some home-oxygen suppliers out of business and leaving patients scrambling to find new providers." The rules - scheduled to go into effect January 1, apply to people "who rely on Medicare to pay for oxygen services, which relieve the symptoms of conditions such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."

24 Nov 2009

Groups on both sides of abortion issue revived in Senate reform fight

The Wall Street Journal reports that abortion-rights groups are mobilizing to keep a provision that would toughen abortion restrictions out of a Senate health care reform bill. "Activists hope to flood Washington to rally and lobby on Dec. 2, during the week that Senate floor debate begins." Ads are running to criticize the restrictions and a new coalition — the Coalition to Pass Health Care Reform and Stop Stupak — is being formed, The Journal reports.

24 Nov 2009

Poll: Women in their 40's will still get mammograms, despite new guidelines

USA Today reports that "[a] vast majority of American women plan to ignore controversial new recommendations about mammograms, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll shows. The poll also shows that most women sharply overestimate their risk of developing the disease."

24 Nov 2009

National certification for interpreters initiated to ensure accurate communication and prevention of medical errors

Patients in the United States with limited English proficiency (LEP) continue to face language barriers that threaten their health and undermine their well-being. But they are one step closer to equitable healthcare with the launch of the first National Certification for Medical Interpreters in October 2009. A culmination of an over 23-year effort, this first-of-its-kind national interpreting standard certifies that those interpreting are tested and competent as "Certified Medical Interpreters" (CMIs).

24 Nov 2009

VHA to participate in U.S. DOE's Hospital Energy Alliance initiative

VHA Inc., the national health care network that represents more than 1,400 not-for-profit hospitals across the country, has joined the U.S. Department of Energy's Hospital Energy Alliance. The HEA's mission is to promote evidence-based information on successful strategies for integrating technologies and processes that will reduce hospital energy consumption and operating costs.

24 Nov 2009

National Alliance for Hispanic Health to support Hispanic students interested in STEM fields

"Mr. President, you can count us in. With our community, foundation, and corporate partners the Alliance is proud to be a part of Educate to Innovate," said Adolph P. Falcon, Senior Vice President of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, after attending a White House meeting today where President Obama announced the commitment of companies and nonprofit groups nationwide to encourage students in the STEM fields.

24 Nov 2009

Americans with hepatitis C are at increased risk of developing liver cancer, says NVHR

New peer-reviewed data finding that fewer than one-fifth of the nearly 4 million Americans infected with chronic hepatitis C virus have received anti-viral therapy in recent years should be a wake-up call that Congress needs to move urgently on bipartisan legislation to support new state-based detection, research, and surveillance efforts, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) said today.

24 Nov 2009

Hallmark Insights to provide incentive rewards for TriZetto’s Value-Based Benefits Solution

The TriZetto Group, Inc. today announced that Hallmark Insights, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, Inc., will provide incentive rewards as an integrated component of TriZetto’s Value-Based Benefits Solution for healthcare payer organizations. Available in early 2010, TriZetto’s software solution will enable health plans using TriZetto’s enterprise administration systems to offer employers automated benefit programs that incent members to adopt healthier lifestyles and effectively manage chronic conditions.

24 Nov 2009

ProVation EHR and MD software to be implemented at North Shore Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Centers

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that North Shore Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Centers has selected its ProVation® MD software for procedure documentation and coding, and its ProVation® EHR electronic health record and patient charting solution. The software will be used at locations in Westlake and Garfield Heights, OH.

24 Nov 2009