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Who are the uninsured and where do they live?

"The nation's uninsured — a growing class of people whose recession-fed ranks have swelled to 46.3 million — are central to the health care debate in Washington and the questions about how and whether to get them covered are as vexing and emotional as they come," USA Today reports. "While the nation waits for Congress and the White House to come up with answers, those who live without insurance say they are waiting scared."

24 Sep 2009

Opinions: Reforming U.S. aid; delivering health care in developing countries

To change the U.S. foreign aid system, we must "[d]o what the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) did: break the rules and then rewrite them," Mark Dybul, former U.S. global AIDS coordinator, writes in a Foreign Policy opinion piece examining the development and implementation of the program.

24 Sep 2009

Analyzing the Baucus bill: Individual mandate, tax provisions

One of the biggest points of contention in Senate Finance Committee's consideration of Max Baucus' health bill is the "individual mandate" requirement.

24 Sep 2009

Baucus bill doesn't bend cost curve enough, experts say

Kaiser Health News reports that "President Barack Obama and his congressional allies such as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus have repeatedly vowed to 'bend the curve' on health care costs, and Baucus' new bill makes good on some of those promises."

23 Sep 2009

Obama aides say media blitz helps; polls show majority of Americans unworried by costs, quality

White House advisers believe the strategy of blanketing the airwaves with President Obama's live speeches has been an effective one in gaining a foothold in the health care debate, Roll Call reports. After a particularly media-heavy month for the president, critics have said Obama is "overexposed." His aides, however, call that "dominating news cycles," a welcome change after an August in which harsh criticism of the president's plans stole headlines.

23 Sep 2009

Insurers, GOP react to criticism of letters to seniors

Insurers and Republicans react to the Obama administration's criticism of letters about health care reform from insurance companies, including Humana, to seniors. The Associated Press reports: "Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers about proposed health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order."

23 Sep 2009

Some Medicare benefit cuts, increasing premiums could create 'political nightmare'

News outlets examine Medicare costs and long-term financing while the budget chief contradicts the president's repeated claim that seniors wouldn't see their Medicare benefits cut under health care reform.

23 Sep 2009

Trial lawyers push back on medical malpractice reform

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23 Sep 2009

Comparing U.S. health insurance to other developed nations: Some surprises

USA Today reports on "how other developed countries provide and pay for health care compared with the U.S. system, based on the most recent information available." For example, they report that "Germany requires people making less than about $70,000 a year to have health insurance, which is operated by more than 200 competing, non-profit insurance companies."

23 Sep 2009

Myths surrounding the hybrid model of concierge care

With an estimated 50 million people potentially entering the healthcare system if coverage for the uninsured is expanded, industry leaders nationwide are concerned about how to provide primary care coverage to new and existing patients. Research indicates that many areas of the country already have severe shortages of primary care physicians (PCP); many in primary care are moving to other specialties or limiting new patients; and the number of medical students entering primary care programs continues to dwindle.

23 Sep 2009

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses to host 4th Annual Community Health Breakfast

On September 24, 2009, the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses will continue their tradition of direct community involvement by hosting its 4th Annual Community Health Breakfast at So Others Might Eat (SOME) from 7 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., 71 O Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

23 Sep 2009

OMA's first ever media campaign to focus on the issue of patient safety

The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) Section on General & Family Practice (SGFP) held a media conference today to announce the launch of its first ever media campaign.

23 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 23, 2009

Today's headlines mark the opening day of the Senate Finance Committee's health bill mark up as well as a new round up of changes to the chairman's mark.

23 Sep 2009

Clinical informatics solution for health care providers and pharmaceutical firms

Humedica, a next-generation health care informatics company, today announced the company’s official launch, along with the previous completion of its $30 million round of venture capital and the roll-out of its ground-breaking clinical analytics platform.

23 Sep 2009

Dr. John Clarke polls more than 50,000 votes to win the 2009 H1N1 PSA contest

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius and Department of Education (ED) Secretary Arne Duncan today announced that Dr. John Clarke of Baldwin, N.Y., is the winner of the 2009 H1N1 PSA Contest. More than 50,000 votes were cast by Americans across the country on YouTube. Dr. Clarke will receive a $2,500 cash prize and his ad will be broadcast on national television.

23 Sep 2009

Breach notification regulations take effect, HIPAA-covered entities to notify affected individuals if PHI is breached

Today breach notification regulations take effect under the HITECH Act. HIPAA-covered entities, including healthcare providers and business associates, are now required to notify affected individuals, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and sometimes the media, if a patient's unsecured protected health information (PHI) is breached.

23 Sep 2009

New York State enacts a law to make affordable healthcare available to freelancers

Based on a health insurance model pioneered by Freelancers Union, New York State has enacted a law that will create a demonstration program to provide independent workers – a third of the country’s workforce – with the same quality of health care traditionally offered by employer insurance plans.

23 Sep 2009

DMAA Awards for Beaumont Hospitals and Independence Blue Cross

Health Dialog, a leading provider of healthcare decision programs, today announced that two of its customers received DMAA Awards for excellence in improving overall population-based healthcare.

23 Sep 2009

Aetna selected as sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees

Aetna (NYSE:AET) announced today that it has been selected by the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund (PEBTF) as the sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees. Aetna will be one of three health plans providing Medicare Advantage HMO plans. The contract takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.

23 Sep 2009

Statement from David Kears regarding Legislative Bill AB 1422

I would like to thank my fellow commissioners, Executive Director Kris Perry and the First 5 California staff for stepping forward with other like-minded partners to ensure the Healthy Family Program's survival in the coming year.

23 Sep 2009

Healthcare News

Who are the uninsured and where do they live?

Opinions: Reforming U.S. aid; delivering health care in developing countries

Analyzing the Baucus bill: Individual mandate, tax provisions

Baucus bill doesn't bend cost curve enough, experts say

Obama aides say media blitz helps; polls show majority of Americans unworried by costs, quality

Insurers, GOP react to criticism of letters to seniors

Some Medicare benefit cuts, increasing premiums could create 'political nightmare'

Trial lawyers push back on medical malpractice reform

Comparing U.S. health insurance to other developed nations: Some surprises

Myths surrounding the hybrid model of concierge care

Congressional Black Caucus Spouses to host 4th Annual Community Health Breakfast

OMA's first ever media campaign to focus on the issue of patient safety

First Edition: September 23, 2009

Clinical informatics solution for health care providers and pharmaceutical firms

Dr. John Clarke polls more than 50,000 votes to win the 2009 H1N1 PSA contest

Breach notification regulations take effect, HIPAA-covered entities to notify affected individuals if PHI is breached

New York State enacts a law to make affordable healthcare available to freelancers

DMAA Awards for Beaumont Hospitals and Independence Blue Cross

Aetna selected as sole provider of Medicare Advantage PPO plans to retired state employees

Statement from David Kears regarding Legislative Bill AB 1422

Exploring the G:Box and for high-quality imaging

Shaping the Future of Neuroscience: A Conversation with Atlas Antibodies on the MolBoolean™ and the Impact of SfN 2024

How the Arts Reshape Brain Function: Susan Magsamen on the Future of Neuroaesthetics

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