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Today's opinions and editorials

Taxing high-cost insurance plans to fund health care reform is a bad idea. In fact, it could threaten the medical insurance plans of middle-class workers who obtain coverage from their employers (Gerald W. McEntee, 9/28).

28 Sep 2009

Government plans intense monitoring for swine flu vaccine side effects

Although health officials say they have no reason to expect any unusual problems with the vaccine that will likely be available next month, the government is establishing an extensive tracking system to watch for possible side effects, the Associated Press/Washington Post report.

28 Sep 2009

Administration officials court key lawmakers on health care

Administration officials are increasingly courting key stakeholders on health care. The New York Times reports: "After months of cutting deals and stroking drug makers, hospitals and doctors, the president's aides are laying the groundwork for a final round of Congressional arm-twisting. ... One Democrat who consults frequently with the White House said that a main goal of the administration has been to prevent any Democrat from publicly declaring opposition to the measure."

28 Sep 2009

Nuance launches eScription version 9 for for computer aided medical transcription

Nuance Communications, Inc., a leading supplier of speech solutions, today announced the availability of version 9 of its eScription on-demand platform for computer aided medical transcription (CAMT), a solution used by healthcare organizations to increase productivity and save costs associated with medical transcription (MT).

28 Sep 2009

Private health system takes root in British Columbia

The Los Angeles Times reports that consumers in Canada are "beginning to flirt with private-sector medicine."

28 Sep 2009

The Children’s Hospital implements Eclipsys’ integrated decision support and analysis solution

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, today announced that pediatric hospitals are emerging as a key client base for its Sunrise EPSi™ integrated suite of business performance management solutions. In face of declining reimbursements, both acute and specialty care organizations are seeking the decision support solution as an effective means to become more efficient and improve productivity without sacrificing quality.

28 Sep 2009

First edition: September 28, 2009

A look at today's headlines reveals that specific issues regarding the health overhaul effort continue to get significant attention and trigger debate.

28 Sep 2009

Programme trains 3,500 Bristish therapists in CBT

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine which opened today in Torino Lord Richard Layard, Professor at the London School of Economics, has provided data on the British experience concerned with Improved Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT).

28 Sep 2009

WellPoint covers administration costs for H1N1 vaccines

Each year, influenza causes illness, hospitalizations and deaths, and severely strains the health care delivery system. This year, seasonal flu is complicated by the emergence and rapid spread of the H1N1 virus. In an effort to ensure that individuals and their families can take the appropriate actions to help protect themselves against the H1N1 virus, WellPoint's affiliated health plans will cover the administration of the H1N1 vaccine without co-pay or deductible for all health plan members. Plans also are encouraging self-insured employers to cover the cost of the vaccination for their employees.

28 Sep 2009

AET-GPB educate Americans on the risks of childhood obesity

Aetna and Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) have kicked off a 12-month statewide multi-media campaign to raise awareness of the increased risks of childhood obesity.

28 Sep 2009

Maternal Health Task Force and Ashoka to create international fellowship program for young professionals

The Maternal Health Task Force at EngenderHealth and Ashoka will partner to create the first international fellowship program that links committed young professionals with seasoned social entrepreneurs to improve maternal health in developing countries.

28 Sep 2009

American Lung Association in Indiana holds flu panel discussion

In an effort to educate Indianapolis area residents about the importance of annual seasonal influenza vaccination, the American Lung Association in Indiana is kicking off the 2009-2010 influenza season by holding a flu panel discussion at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School on September 24 at 6:30 p.m. to educate the community about the dangers of influenza.

28 Sep 2009

Pelosi tries to unite divided Democratic factions in House

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is facing a difficult task in the House: herding the different Democratic factions to fashion a single health care bill.

28 Sep 2009

Health inequalities linked to socioeconomic status

Prostate cancer patients of low socioeconomic status are more likely to die than patients with higher incomes. That is the finding of a new study from Swiss researchers to be published in the December 1, 2009 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

28 Sep 2009

Quintiles opens an expanded regional facility

To enhance service offerings throughout Europe, Quintiles Transnational Corp. today announced the opening of an expanded regional facility near Edinburgh, Scotland. The purpose-built facility consolidates three buildings into a single state-of-the-art complex.

28 Sep 2009

AMA President: Alberta's health care system needs change

Alberta's health care system needs change, but change must be planned with proper consultation and true feedback from physicians, the public and other health professionals. This was the message of outgoing Alberta Medical Association (AMA) President Dr. Noel W. Grisdale.

28 Sep 2009

Progress on the Baucus Bill is in the eye of the beholder

The New York Times: "Senate Democrats on Friday preserved the guts of their proposal to reinvent the health care system, but Republicans scored political points on several issues, like the effects of the bill on older Americans. The Democrats beat back Republican attacks on the legislation as the Senate Finance Committee deferred some of the most contentious issues to next week."

28 Sep 2009

Fresh from G-20, Obama renews health care push

President Barack Obama on Saturday resumed his push to overhaul the health care system, telling a Congressional Black Caucus conference that there comes a time when 'the cup of endurance runs over.

28 Sep 2009

INFORMS annual meeting in San Diego from October 11th to 14th

When 4,000 experts in everything from problems with California's hospitals to a perpetual game of Monopoly come to San Diego on October 11, the city will find itself deluged not only by smart people who use math for a living but also problem solvers who tackle America's greatest threats.

26 Sep 2009

ProSperus, Genesis Physicians Group launch GenPro Practice Management Solutions

ProSperus, a Mequon, Wis.,-based, full-service practice management company, and Genesis Physicians Group, a Dallas-based independent physicians association (IPA), today announced the launch of GenPro Practice Management Solutions.

26 Sep 2009