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Hualapai Mountain Medical Center receives licensure by the Arizona Department of Health Services

MedCath Corporation, a healthcare provider focused on high acuity healthcare services, today announced it has received licensure by the Arizona Department of Health Services and accreditation by The Joint Commission for its new 70-bed Hualapai Mountain Medical Center in Kingman, Ariz, which opened October 15th.

12 Nov 2009

South Florida man inspires "Ian's Law," fights against discriminatory health insurance practices

McClatchy/The Miami Herald reports on Ian Pearl, a South Florida man born with muscular dystrophy who is drawing attention to discriminatory health insurance practices against the disabled. Pearl is the "inspiration for 'Ian's Law,' legislation being introduced by two New York state legislators that would require insurance companies to get approval from the state before dropping coverage plans for existing clients."

12 Nov 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

"Traditional" infectious diseases — those, like flu and tuberculosis, that are caused by viruses or bacteria — are not the only aspects of health that can spread from one person to another. Taking up smoking is contagious; so is quitting. Obesity is contagious. So is happiness (Olivia Judson, 11/10).

12 Nov 2009

Psychiatrist delivers high-risk meds, poor care in Chicago nursing homes

ProPublica/The Chicago Tribune examine the case of a controversial psychiatrist who delivered an anti-psychotic medication to thousands of Medicaid patients in Chicago's nursing homes. "Dr. Michael Reinstein is one of the most prolific providers of psychiatric care in Chicago-area nursing homes and mental health facilities. But he is trailed by lawsuits and complaints while getting government reimbursement for seeing a large number of patients."

12 Nov 2009

Lawmakers call for emergency sick-leave requirement

Lawmakers are calling for new legislation that would require businesses to provide paid emergency sick-leave because of the swine flu pandemic.

12 Nov 2009

Health care legislation not fair to Hispanic small businesses and families

A number of Hispanic organizations have united to address major problems with the health care legislation passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and urge the Senate to come up with a bipartisan solution for real healthcare reform. They are especially concerned the health care legislation will create a greater tax burden and unfair government mandates on Hispanic small businesses and families. During this critical health care debate, these organizations want their voices to be heard and believe that the current approach will lead to loss of jobs and reduced wages for Hispanic workers.

12 Nov 2009

Tentative agreement reached with Oklahoma lawmaker stalling veterans' health bill

Congressional Quarterly: "Senate Democratic leaders reached a tentative agreement with Tom Coburn, R-Okla., on Tuesday night that averted the necessity of filing cloture on a veterans' health care omnibus measure and could lead to passage of the bill early next week. ... On Monday, Coburn said he objected to the bill because its five-year, $3.7 billion cost was not offset" (Oliveri, 11/10).

12 Nov 2009

Health reform has fiscal, political burdens for states

"Bills in both the Senate and the House of Representatives would make more people eligible for Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor that states administer with reimbursements from the federal government," Reuters reports.

12 Nov 2009

AARP urges U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961

The U.S. House of Representatives' historic vote on health care reform was a decisive step to fix our broken health care system - but for millions of Americans struggling with soaring health care costs the Senate must take the next step, and pass the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) and the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (H.R. 3961). Over 3 million Illinoisans stand to particularly benefit from key provisions in the bill.

12 Nov 2009

Hoyer: House could be in session until late December

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) today said "he is prepared to extend the House healthcare schedule into late December in order to pass healthcare reform," The Hill reports. "Two weeks ago, Hoyer said that the House could work as late as Nov. 24 in order to pass healthcare reform. Now he says that the House could be in session as late as Dec. 22 to vote on a final bill should it emerge from conference" (Fabian, 11/11)

11 Nov 2009

Health debate breaks uneasy peace on abortion policy

Politico: "After months of dodging high-profile confrontations over abortion, Democrats — including President Barack Obama — find themselves faced with a stark set of alternatives: Support a bill that imposes limits on access to abortion or demand one that might, however indirectly, fund the procedure with taxpayer money. It's the kind of decision point the White House and Democratic leaders have consistently attempted to avoid.

11 Nov 2009

CHF commends the passage of health reform bill; disapproves move to eliminate CHIP

Children's Health Fund (CHF), a national organization that advocates for and provides clinical care to disadvantaged and medically underserved children, today issued a Report Card that graded the child health provisions in the Congressional Health Reform bill that was passed in the House of Representatives on November 7.

11 Nov 2009

New robotic surgical systems from El Camino Hospital

El Camino Hospital, the hospital of Silicon Valley, expands its minimally invasive surgical program to three da Vinci® Si HD Surgical Systems. Physicians performed more than 500 robotic surgeries over the past year and expect the number to increase in 2010 as more physicians undergo training with the enhanced equipment that allows for more minimally invasive procedures.

11 Nov 2009

Health care sector leaves small environmental footprint

The Associated Press reports that the first estimate of health care's carbon footprint has found that the industry "emits less than its share of the gases that promote global warming, compared to its size in the economy."

11 Nov 2009

Young adults don't welcome health insurance mandate

Young people who don't view health insurance as a priority are wary of health-overhaul legislation now in Congress that would require them to buy it or face a penalty. For instance, "Poor and bludgeoned by debt accrued over four years of college - but otherwise healthy - medical insurance just isn't in the cards for aspiring-artist Joanna Zobjeck," the Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern reports.

11 Nov 2009

Online patient support program for ADHD patients taking Vyvanse Capsules CII medication

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the re-launch of FOCUS (http://www.vyvanseFOCUS.com), a free, online patient support program for adults taking once-daily Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and the only online, branded personalized patient support program providing tips and tools for adults diagnosed with ADHD taking a prescription medication.

11 Nov 2009

Disability plan could be another roadblock to health reform bill

The Washington Times reports that an "insurance plan championed by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy that would help elderly or disabled people avoid nursing homes ironically adds yet another sticking point to the comprehensive health care reform plans" in Congress.

11 Nov 2009

Clinton rallies Senators to pass health reform, timeline becomes key

The New York Times: "Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said Tuesday that he expected to bring major health care legislation to the floor next week and to complete work on the bill before Christmas." Others said that timeline is unlikely as the Senate waits for a score on the bill by the Congressional Budget Office. Aides told The Times that much uncertainty remains but that Reid "was aiming to vote on bringing the bill to the floor before the Senate leaves for Thanksgiving" (Herszenhorn, 11/10).

11 Nov 2009

Cost control issues take center stage in health care reform

Cost issues continue to receive attention as bipartisan support emerges on the Hill for a commission to control health care costs. Kaiser Health News reports:

11 Nov 2009

Health overhaul proposals test limits of Democrats' unity

Politico reports that votes on a health care bill are subjecting some Democrats to fierce attacks - from other Democrats. "For some of 39 House Democrats who opposed the bill, there are protests outside their offices and promises of retribution.

11 Nov 2009