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Patients should bring up financial concerns with their doctors in view of high health insurance costs

As health insurers require people to base more treatment decisions on out-of-pocket costs, physicians should learn to talk to patients about money, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

6 Nov 2009

Obama to visit House Dems Friday to rally support for Saturday health bill vote

"In a last-minute exercise of presidential hand-holding, President Obama plans to travel to Capitol Hill on Friday morning to meet with House Democrats, one day before they vote on his highest domestic priority: a bill to overhaul the nation's health care system," The New York Times reports.

6 Nov 2009

Malaria experts discuss eradication at MIM conference

In a session at the 5th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan-African Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, experts discussed the tools required to eradicate the disease and highlighted insecticide and drug resistance in some parts of the world, Xinhua reports. Researchers noted that resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) has been documented in western Cambodia and "has now also been reported in the west of Thailand and in eastern Myanmar," the news service writes (Ooko/Zhuoyun, 11/5).

6 Nov 2009

MSF calls for sustained commitment to global HIV/AIDS funding

During a press conference on Thursday, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) warned that the "global economic crisis and calls to commit funds to other health crises" threatened to undermine recent gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Associated Press reports. MSF "says money for other health issues should be given in addition to money for [HIV/]AIDS" (11/5).

5 Nov 2009

Study: Public opinion on health care reform has echoes of 1994

"Americans' opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats," The Boston Globe reports.

5 Nov 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

When Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the revised House Democratic health care bill last week, the Obama White House hailed it as a "critical milestone" in the process. No doubt senior administration officials were relieved to see signs of "momentum" toward passage of something. But if the president really meant what he has said about health care policy throughout this year, his administration would be working to defeat the Pelosi bill, not supporting it (James Capretta).

5 Nov 2009

Thousands protest health bill at Capitol

"Chanting 'Kill the bill,' thousands of conservatives rallied at the Capitol on Thursday against the Democrats' health care overhaul plan, labeling it a government takeover of the nation's medical system," The Associated Press reports.

5 Nov 2009

Doctors scrutinize defensive medicine, surgeons oppose Senate reform bill

Doctors and lawyers are disputing the true costs of defensive medicine, while surgeons oppose provisions being considered by the Senate for health reform.

5 Nov 2009

FDA and FSIS announce joint public meeting to prevent foodborne illness

A joint public meeting focused on improving the system for tracing of food products and ingredients that are causing illness outbreaks or presenting other risks to the health of consumers was announced today by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

5 Nov 2009

William D. Carey Award for Boston University School of Medicine professor

Francis A. Farraye, MD, MSc, FACG, FASGE, a professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and clinical director in the Gastroenterology Section at Boston Medical Center (BMC) recently received the William D. Carey Award from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). The award is reserved for an exceptional individual who has served the Board and the College with distinction.

5 Nov 2009

College students increasingly seek campus health care

More college students are finding health care on campus. The Wall Street Journal reports: "As more parents lose their jobs—and their insurance—in the recession, more college students are having to scramble for health care.

5 Nov 2009

Saturday night vote set on house health reform

The Washington Post reports: "Democratic whips worked their rank and file, while House leaders tried to secure a momentum-building endorsement from the AARP, the nation's largest association of people over 50. President Obama, meanwhile, laid plans to visit Capitol Hill on Thursday or Friday to address House Democrats in a final push for his signature domestic initiative.

5 Nov 2009

GOP lawmakers seek to explore health reform's impact on FEHBP

Government Executive.com: "Sixteen Republican representatives wrote to Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., to demand that he schedule hearings on reform proposals' potential impact on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program."

5 Nov 2009

Also in global health news: Kenya child mortality; DRC rape; Cape Verde dengue outbreak; Guatemala malnutrition; East Africa flooding

"The most current data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics under the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) launched on Wednesday shows mortality among children under five years stands at 7.4 percent, while that of infants is at 5.2 percent," Business Daily reports.

5 Nov 2009

Democrats weigh impact of election results on health reform

While some Democrats seem rattled by election results this week, others say the GOP victories in two races for governor won't change their approach to health overhaul legislation.

5 Nov 2009

CBO: GOP health bill would cut deficit somewhat, do little to expand coverage

"The Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday that the alternative health care bill proposed by House Republicans would have little impact in extending health benefits to the roughly 30 million uninsured Americans, but would reduce average insurance premium costs for people who have coverage," The New York Times reports.

5 Nov 2009

AMA announces support for concurrent passage of health system reform bills

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced support for concurrent passage of H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961, U.S. House of Representatives health system reform bills.

5 Nov 2009

AARP, key retirees' lobby, to endorse Democrats' health bill

AARP, the influential retirees' lobby, is expected to endorse House Democrats' plan to overhaul the health system today, the Associated Press reports, citing unnamed officials. "Backing the 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill is a tricky move for AARP.

5 Nov 2009

Health overhaul outlook: Could delays jeopardize the reform effort?

Kaiser Health News staff writers Mary Agnes Carey and Eric Pianin report on whether current timeline slips may or may not undermine health reform's chances. "Passing a health care overhaul bill might be one of the hardest things Congress has ever attempted. But waiting until next year might jeopardize a top priority for President Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress.

5 Nov 2009

LaserBand signs an agreement for healthcare wristbands and labels with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems

LaserBand, the leading provider of patient identification wristbands and related products, recently signed an agreement for healthcare wristbands and labels with MedAssets Supply Chain Systems, one of the nation’s largest group purchasing organizations (GPO).

5 Nov 2009