Health News E-Clips

An electronic healthcare news link service provided by UHA,

Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association

 

Friday, October 24, 2008  

 

Utah Healthcare Headlines

Minority-health worries outlined (Deseret News, October 22, 2008) Utah's ethnic and racial minorities are with the majority when it comes to concerns about medical insurance and their health in general, according to a report released by the Utah Department of Health. http://deseretnews.com/article/0,5143,705257011,00.html

 

Key to breast-milk antibodies found (Deseret News, October 22, 2008) A BYU-led research team has unlocked the secret to how a mother's immunity to intestinal infection is passed to her baby through breast milk. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257065,00.html

  • BYU scientist leads antibody study (Salt Lake Tribune, October 22, 2008) Mothers have known breast-feeding is best for their babies, in part because they pass antibodies to diseases to their nursing infants. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10781324

 

Pharmacies seek an Rx for low reimbursements (Salt Lake Tribune, October 22, 2008) A steady stream of customers filtering through the door usually equates with making money. But for pharmacist Richard Rasmuson, it doesn't always work that way. http://www.sltrib.com/health/ci_10780582

 

Healthy increases / Utahns' wages not keeping up with rising insurance coverage costs (Standard Examiner, October 24, 2008) Clearfield resident Audrey Vinson is one of millions of Americans who has seen her health insurance costs nearly triple in recent years. http://www.standard.net/live/news/146733/

  • Health care 'triple whammy': Insurance premiums spike in Beehive State (Salt Lake Tribune, October 24, 2008) Health insurance premiums are tearing a bigger bite out of Utah families' budgets than ever before. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10803205
  • Health-care costs eclipsing paychecks (Deseret Morning News, October 24, 2008) Long before the economy started tearing at the seams, working family budgets were being frayed by out-of-control medical insurance costs that in Utah are up five times the increases in pay. http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257466,00.html

 

National Healthcare Headlines

Study debunks emergency-room myths (Deseret News, October 22, 2008) The uninsured are not responsible for overcrowding in the nation's hospital emergency departments, despite conventional wisdom to the contrary, a study out Tuesday says. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257138,00.html

 

In Sour Economy, Some Scale Back on Medications (New York Times, October 22, 2008) For the first time in at least a decade, the nation’s consumers are trying to get by on fewer prescription drugs. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/business/22drug.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin

 

Sick economy has patients skimping on medicine (Salt Lake Tribune, October 23, 2008) The ailing economy is leading many Americans to skip doctor visits, skimp on their medicine, and put off mammograms, Pap smears and other tests. And physicians worry the result will be sicker patients who need more expensive treatment later. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10786138 . Also found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/22/AR2008102201938.html (Washington Post, October 23, 2008) and http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257354,00.html (Deseret News, October 23, 2008)

 

How to Take American Health Care From Worst to First (Editorial, New York Times, October 24, 2008) In the past decade, baseball has experienced a data-driven information revolution. Numbers-crunchers now routinely use statistics to put better teams on the field for less money. Our overpriced, underperforming health care system needs a similar revolution. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/opinion/24beane.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&oref=slogin

 

More minorities enrolled in med schools (USA Today, October 22, 2008) Medical schools are having a banner year, at least in terms of enrollment. Last year, they increased their enrollment by nearly 2% to more than 18,000 students, making this the biggest group of doctors-to-be in history, according to new data out Tuesday from the Association of American Medical Colleges. http://blogs.usatoday.com/betterlife/2008/10/more-minorities.html

 

Marshmallow temptations, brain scans could yield vital lessons in self-control (Boston Globe, October 22, 2008) It is a simple test, but has surprising power to predict a child's future. A 4-year-old is left sitting at a table with a marshmallow or other treat on it and given a challenge: Wait to eat it until a grown-up comes back into the room, and you'll get two. If you can't wait that long, you'll get just one. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2008/10/22/marshmallow_temptations_brain_scans_could_yield_vital_lessons_in_self_control/

 

Flu Vaccine for Preschoolers (New York Times, October 22, 2008) New Jersey’s new mandate that all children in preschools or licensed child-care centers must be vaccinated against influenza has generated intense opposition from parents who fear the vaccines will harm their children. Hundreds of protesters rallied at the State House in Trenton in support of a bill that would allow parents to opt out of the mandate and all vaccine requirements. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/opinion/22wed3.html?th&emc=th

 

Parents home-school to avoid vaccinating their kids (USA Today, October 22, 2008) Debra Barnes has a thriving chiropractic practice, a nice home and a family who loves living in the South, but she said she would leave Mississippi in a heartbeat if health officials tried to force her home-schooled children to be immunized. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-21-home-school-vaccinate_N.htm

 

Study: Food allergies on the rise in kids (USA Today, October 22, 2008) The number of children with food allergies has increased 18% in the past decade, according to a large national study. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-22-food-allergies_N.htm

  • Food allergies increasing in U.S., Utah kids (Salt Lake Tribune, October 22, 2008) Food allergies in American children seem to be on the rise, now affecting about 3 million kids, according to the first federal study of the problem. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10785844

 

Breaking the cycle of waste in healthcare (Opinion, Boston Globe, October 22, 2008) Imagine what would happen if we learned that a major business was wasting a third of its revenue by grossly overspending while rewarding poor quality and mistakes. Everyone from the company's board members to its shareholders would be outraged. They would demand answers. And they would demand change. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/10/22/breaking_the_cycle_of_waste_in_healthcare/

 

Kennedy focuses from home on health care overhaul (USA Today, October 24, 2008) An ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy is trying to lay the groundwork for a breakthrough on health care reform next year, though many believe the enormous undertaking has been made even more difficult by the troubled economy. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-10-24-kennedy-health-reform_N.htm

 

Socialized medicine answer to U.S.'s problems (Deseret News, October 22, 2008) One of the campaign themes this election cycle is "affordable" health care. Shouldn't we ask ourselves whether we want the politicians who brought us the "affordable" housing, that created the current financial debacle, to now deliver us affordable health care? Shouldn't we also ask how things turned out in countries where there is socialized medicine? http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705256977,00.html

 

Half of Doctors Routinely Prescribe Placebos (New York Times, October 24, 2008) Half of all American doctors responding to a nationwide survey say they regularly prescribe placebos to patients. The results trouble medical ethicists, who say more research is needed to determine whether doctors must deceive patients in order for placebos to work. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/health/24placebo.html?th&emc=th

 

Drug Makers' Sales Climb (Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2008) Fresh from a takeover tussle for ImClone Systems Inc., drug makers Eli Lilly & Co. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. each posted 14% third-quarter sales gains, although special items drove their bottom lines in different directions. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122474676808261933.html

 

Drugmakers post lower third-quarter net income (USA Today, October 23, 2008) Drugmakers Merck & Co., Wyeth and GlaxoSmithKline PLC all posted lower profits for the third quarter on Wednesday, partly due to the intensifying generic competition weighing on the entire pharmaceutical industry. http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2008-10-22-379352682_x.htm

 

Merck Plans to Cut 7,200 More Jobs (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) Merck & Co. posted a 28% drop in third-quarter net income amid broad sales weakness, as the drug maker announced plans to cut another 7,200 jobs and lowered a long-term forecast that it withdrew in July. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122459881115754133.html?mod=testMod

 

Glaxo's Net Income Falls 22% (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC Wednesday reported a lower third-quarter profit amid restructuring charges, while revenue rose 7% with a boost from vaccine sales and the weaker British pound. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122459855555454069.html

 

Eli Lilly Swings to Loss on Zyprexa Probe Charges (Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2008) Eli Lilly & Co. swung to a third-quarter net loss, as charges related to government investigations into the pharmaceutical company's marketing of antipsychotic drug Zyprexa offset strong sales of its Cymbalta antidepressant. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122474680988661935.html

Researchers See More Injuries Linked to Chantix (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) Researchers from a nonprofit drug-safety group said there has been a dramatic increase in the number of serious injuries linked to Pfizer Inc.'s antismoking drug Chantix due to seizures and loss of motor control. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122469442058758861.html

 

Reports of Serious Drug Reactions Hit Record (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) The number of serious problems and deaths linked to medications reported to the government set a record in the first three months of this year, a health industry watchdog group said Wednesday. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122468960642158591.html

 

Side Effects Not Linked to Gardasil (Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2008) Reports of serious adverse events and deaths in young girls and women following administration with Merck & Co.'s Gardasil are likely not related to the cervical-cancer vaccine, federal health officials said Wednesday. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122471132565059959.html

 

Panel Calls for Vaccine for Adult Smokers (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) For the first time, an influential government panel is recommending a vaccination specifically for smokers. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122468412972958285.html

 

Research: Eating quickly until full triples overweight risk (USA Today, October 24, 2008) People who eat quickly and until they're full are three times more likely to be overweight than others, a Japanese study says. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2008-10-23-eating-fast_N.htm

 

Drug industry spends $13 million on thank-you ads (Boston Globe, October 24, 2008) The pharmaceutical industry is underwriting one of the biggest issue ad campaigns of the election season -- a $13 million televised thank-you to 28 lawmakers, most of them Democrats, who supported legislation last year to expand a children's health insurance program. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2008/10/23/drug_industry_spends_13_million_on_thanks_ads/ Also found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102302788.html (Washington Post, October 24, 2008)

  • Drug Industry Adapts to Democrats' Mounting Clout (Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2008) The pharmaceutical industry is paying $13.2 million to run advertisements supporting 28 politicians, all but three of them Democrats, in an example of how interest groups are already adjusting to the prospect of stronger Democratic control of Congress in 2009. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122480762067065051.html

 

FDA Is Faulted for Oversight of Foreign Drugs (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) The Food and Drug Administration is failing to keep accurate data about foreign drug facilities it is supposed to oversee and often doesn't follow up warning letters with inspections, according to a report by the investigative arm of Congress. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122463804562757099.html

 

One Big Antibiotic Dose Fights MRSA, Study Says (Wall Street Journal, October 22, 2008) Powerful antibiotic drugs are normally injected once a day -- a problem for patients who contract infections in hospital wards and are sent home. Many don't finish their treatment. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122464153143157457.html

 

Medical costs still burden many despite insurance (Boston Globe, October 23, 2008) Although far more Massachusetts residents have health insurance coverage than residents nationwide, a significant portion of Bay Staters are still struggling to pay for needed healthcare, a new survey shows. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/10/23/medical_costs_still_burden_many_despite_insurance/

 

Physician, heal thy heart (Editorial, Boston Globe, October 23, 2008) A recent study found that physicians displayed empathy to lung cancer patients in only 10 percent of opportunities. Published last month in the Archives of Internal Medicine, the study found that doctors missed the vast majority of chances to recognize, much less ease, the worries of their patients. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/10/23/physician_heal_thy_heart/

 

Depression during pregnancy linked to preterm delivery (USA Today, October 23, 2008) Depression in pregnant women could help explain the growing problem of preterm delivery, scientists suggest. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-23-postpartum_N.htm

 

Scientists try to stop hunger with retooled foods (USA Today, October 23, 2008) Want to lose weight? Try eating. That's one of the strategies being developed by scientists experimenting with foods that trick the body into feeling full. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-23-hunger-stoppers_N.htm

 

Science-laws overhaul in Britain widens scope for stem-cell research (Deseret News, October 23, 2008) British plans to allow scientists to use hybrid animal-human embryos for stem-cell research won final approval from lawmakers Wednesday in a sweeping overhaul of sensitive science laws. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257368,00.html

 

How Technology Can Improve The U.S. Health Care System (New York Times, October 24, 2008) "The United States is far behind other countries when it comes to health care," Deb Levine (Founder, ISIS), told the audience this week at the Health 2.0 Conference in San Francisco, CA. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/external/readwriteweb/2008/10/24/24readwriteweb-us_health_care_system_technology.html

 

 

Healthcare on the Campaign Trail

On Health Plans, the Numbers Fly (New York Times, October 22, 2008) Economics, it is said, is the dismal science. Anyone paying close attention to the campaign debate over the economics of health care might wonder about the science part. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/22/us/politics/22health.html?th&emc=th

 

Obama's Iffy Numbers On McCain Health Plan (Washington Post, October 22, 2008) Barack Obama has been telling seniors that their hard-won Medicare benefits are at risk if his rival wins the election. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102650.html

 

Health care plans: Obama vs. McCain  (USA Today, October 22, 2008) Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee John McCain have dramatically divergent visions of how to reshape the health insurance system. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-21-health-plans_N.htm

 

Bailout seen hitting Obama, McCain health plans (Boston Globe, October 22, 2008) The U.S. government's $700 billion plan to bail out Wall Street will likely take a toll on both presidential candidates' plans to reform health care in America, Lancet Oncology reported on Tuesday. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/10/21/bailout_seen_hitting_obama_mccain_health_plans/?rss_id=Boston.com+--+Latest+news

 

Health-Care Fixes: Plan vs. Plan (Wall Street Journal, October 23, 2008) Forget Joe the plumber. Many Americans are wondering what the presidential candidates' health-care plans would mean for them. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122470511751259445.html?mod=article-outset-box

 

The Election Choice: Health Care (Wall Street Journal, October 24, 2008) In few policy arenas are the choices as fundamental as they are for health care. Barack Obama favors increased federal control to build a "universal" system in stages. John McCain prefers to maximize the incentives for individuals and families to buy private health insurance on their own. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122480836492564419.html