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Today's opinions and editorials

Democracy and representative government are a lot messier than the progressives and their heirs, including Obama, want to admit. No wonder they are so often frustrated (David S. Broder, 9/24).

25 Sep 2009

Mayo Clinic survey physicians regarding health care reform measures

Results of a Mayo Clinic survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that while physicians are open to being involved in health care reform discussions, some opposition may exist.

25 Sep 2009

Free electronic medical records software for physicians

The Obama administration has set aside $19B for physicians to adopt electronic medical record systems. Today, 75% of doctors practice in offices with 10 doctors or fewer. For them, the investment is cost-prohibitive: the technology costs from $25,000 to over $75,000. Not surprisingly, only 17% of physicians use computerized records, according to the New York Journal of Medicine. Yet, one service provider allows physicians to switch to electronic medical records -- free -- and make their practice more profitable.

25 Sep 2009

Partnership focused on improving health and reducing poverty in Haiti

Fonkoze, BRAC, BRAC USA, Partners In Health/Zanmi Lasante, CGAP, CHF partners in rural development and Linked Foundation have joined forces to commit $50 million towards a two-year effort to implement a proven, replicable, cost-effective approach to improving health and reducing extreme poverty in Central Haiti.

25 Sep 2009

Procedural amendments take on political weight as Finance Committee debates health bill

Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee considered, and then rejected, a Republican amendment that would have required legislative language of a health reform bill be posted for three days before the panel could vote on the bill. Democrats will post conceptual language instead.

25 Sep 2009

Plan USA's project for girls in West Africa to be given recognition at CGI

Plan USA's "Commitment to Action" media project for girls in West Africa will be given special recognition at the 5th Annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 in New York City.

25 Sep 2009

Congress urged to offer an above-the-line deduction for LTC insurance premiums

As the Senate Finance Committee (SFC) resumes work this week on the health care reform bill, The National LTC Network urges Congress to consider two ideas.

25 Sep 2009

New videos for consumers to better understand how health insurance works

Humana Inc. has released seven new videos in its popular “Stay Smart, Stay Healthy” series. These videos – designed to help health care consumers better understand how health insurance works, and what factors affect the costs they pay – are now available on YouTube and at www.StaySmartStayHealthy.com.

25 Sep 2009

Living Proof Project showcases U.S. government's efforts to improve health around the world

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today launched the Living Proof Project: U.S. Investments in Global Health are Working, a multi-year awareness campaign to highlight the extraordinary success of the U.S. government's efforts to improve health around the world.

24 Sep 2009

Trade groups to church groups share evolving views on health reform

Many groups fear, or are fiercely advocating for, provisions in Democratic health care reform proposals. Others are softening their stances on certain parts of the bills. Here's a sampling from today's clippings.

24 Sep 2009

Health reform ads confusing public, news outlets try to dispel the fog

Advertising on the health care debate, more than $100 million of it spent so far, is offering little understanding on the issue as the dueling sides and media look to dispel myths about what's true and what's not.

24 Sep 2009

Democrats woo AARP, seniors to support health reform bills

"Though AARP hasn't endorsed Obama's health care drive, many of its priorities are reflected in Democratic bills, including reducing gaps in Medicare prescription drug coverage and eliminating Medicare patients' costs for preventive care. This has led some Republicans to question AARP's true loyalties" (Fram, 9/23).

24 Sep 2009

Issues in shared decision-making

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine which opened today in Torino, Tom Sensky, Professor of Psychiatry at the Imperial College in London, raised some very controversial issues as to the participation of patients in medical decision.

24 Sep 2009

Commitments announced at the Clinton Global Initiative

The second day of the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) came to a close with a special session on Northern Ireland, following afternoon plenary and breakout sessions that focused on harnessing innovation for development.

24 Sep 2009

Doctor from Dallas files civil case in the U.S. Supreme Court against BCBS

Dr. Dralves Edwards, a board-certified family physician in Dallas, today filed a civil case in the U.S. Supreme Court against Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, the contractor for Medicare.

24 Sep 2009

FRPAA supported by liberal arts colleges

The Presidents of 57 liberal arts colleges in the U.S., representing 22 states, have declared their support for the Federal Research Public Access Act (S. 1373) in an Open Letter released today. The letter is the first from higher education administrators to be issued in support of the 2009 bill, and further reinforcement that support for the Act exists at the highest levels of the higher education community. The presidents' letter notes, "Adoption of the Federal Research Public Access Act will democratize access to research information funded by tax dollars. It will benefit of education, research, and the general public."

24 Sep 2009

Green Family Foundation announces commitments for the betterment of Haiti at the Clinton Global Initiative

The Green Family Foundation (www.greenff.org), a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving global health and elevating socio-economic conditions, announced today dual commitments benefiting Haiti at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative.

24 Sep 2009

Clinton Global Initiative to raise awareness and funding for NTD control and elimination

At the Clinton Global Initiative today, the Inter-American Development Bank joined with the Global Network for Neglected Tropical Diseases to announce their commitment to mobilize $30 million from the public and private sectors to raise awareness and funding for NTD control and elimination in the Americas, supported by technical assistance from the Pan American Health Organization, regional office of the World Health Organization for the Americas.

24 Sep 2009

BCLC recognizes HCSC for its outstanding work with community service

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) is recognizing Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) for its outstanding work with community service. The BCLC has named HCSC as a finalist for its Corporate Citizenship Award in the category of U.S. Community Service. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation and HCSC is the country's largest customer-owned health insurer operating Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

24 Sep 2009