Health News E-Clips

An electronic healthcare news link service provided by UHA,

Utah Hospitals and Health Systems Association

 

Friday, October 3, 2008  

 

Utah Healthcare Headlines

U.S. health care improved in 2007; mixed results in Utah (October 3, 2008) A new report scrutinizing America's health plans shows that health care quality continued to improve in 2007, with significant advances in the treatment of high blood pressure, one of the leading causes of death and disability. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10619562

 

U.S., Utah hospitals 'average' at caring for seriously ill, dying (Salt Lake Tribune, October 3, 2008) The nation's hospitals do an average job of caring for seriously ill and dying patients, according to a report released Thursday. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10620857 Also found at http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10626972 .

 

Report highlights urgency of health-care reform (Deseret News, October 3, 2008) The chief authors of Utah's strategy for reforming its health-care system say the most important set of figures to keep in mind as the project goes along is 1-3-6-10. http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700263315,00.html

 

Foundation lists issues in health care reform (Salt Lake Tribune, October 2, 2008) Hurdles for health care reform include dealing with restrictions in federal laws and defining what "affordable" means for families, according to a new report from the Utah Foundation. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10614515

 

Guv presses for 'true' health reform (Salt Lake Tribune, October 3, 2008) Even with the country embroiled in economic turmoil, Utah must keep its eye on health reform - and work harder to make it happen, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Thursday. http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_10621351

 

U. scientist: Adolescent brains still developing (Salt Lake Tribune, October 1, 2008) In adolescents, food engages the primal brain, a lower part of the cerebrum associated with immediate gratification and base urges. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10604819

 

Stem cell study tackles potential complications of major surgeries (Deseret News, October 1, 2008) Researchers at Intermountain Medical Center have launched a safety study of an investigational adult stem cell treatment that may repair kidney damage suffered during heart surgery. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700262991,00.html

 

Settlement to yield $438,000 for Utah (Salt Lake Tribune, October 2, 2008) Utah has joined a national settlement that penalizes pharmaceutical manufacturer Cephalon Inc. for inflating capabilities of three of its products. http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10614523

 

Health department to study prescription drug deaths (Deseret News, October 3, 2008) Utahns died of prescription drug overdoses at a rate of nearly one a day last year, leaving behind a host of unanswered questions in what the state medical examiner has called an "epidemic." http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700263649,00.html

 

National Healthcare Headlines

State get $10.6 billion for health care (Boston Globe, October 1, 2008) Massachusetts will receive roughly $10.6 billion dollars from the federal government over the next three years to help keep its landmark health care law and many other health programs afloat. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/09/state_gets_106.html

  • Mass. obtains extension of Medicaid waiver (Washington Post, October 1, 2008) Massachusetts has reached an agreement with the federal government on a three-year extension of a Medicaid waiver needed to provide critical funding for the state's landmark health care law. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/01/AR2008100100359.html
  • Financing for Massachusetts Preserves Health Plan (New York Times, October 1, 2008) Massachusetts received the Bush administration’s seal of approval for its universal health care plan on Tuesday when it reached agreement with federal officials on financing a three-year continuation of the landmark experiment. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/us/01insure.html?ref=us

 

Why doctors still balk at electronic medical records (Opinion, USA Today, October 1, 2008) Despite the fact that we can complete our taxes and perform complex financial transactions digitally over the Internet, medical records have faced an impasse preventing a transition to the digital age. Patient charts are still paper-based in most doctors' offices across the country. http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/10/why-doctors-sti.html

 

States Act to Reduce Insurance Costs (New York Times, October 1, 2008) In the last two years, at least three states have included health improvement in new programs intended to make health insurance more affordable for small employers. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/smallbusiness/01healthbar.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

 

Nebraska 'safe haven' debate exposes families' struggles (USA Today, October 1, 2008) The 14 children abandoned at Nebraska hospitals last month have been placed with relatives, put in foster care or admitted to hospitals as debate grows over whether struggling families can get enough help. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-30-left-kids_N.htm

 

Building Better Bodies (New York Times, October 1, 2008) In this factory town in south-central Michigan, hard hit by the decline of the auto industry and home to a population whose health grimly lags well below national averages, several dozen small-business owners have joined forces in a wellness campaign that rivals those of the country’s giant corporations. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/business/smallbusiness/01HEALTH.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

'Superbugs' That Strike the Sickest Patients (Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2008) In hospitals' war against drug-resistant superbugs, a class of bacteria once thought to be fairly benign is emerging as a deadly threat to the sickest and most vulnerable patients. The scourge -- known as gram-negative bacteria -- is throwing a new wrench into efforts to contain the spread of deadly infections. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122281865543792411.html?mod=article-outset-box

 

The Financial Crisis Takes a Toll on Hospitals (Wall Street Journal Health Blog, October 2, 2008) Hospitals traffic in debt. They borrow money for big construction projects, and they effectively lend money to patients when they treat people without requiring payment upfront. So we checked in with a couple of hospital industry experts to see what the financial crisis means for the sector. http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/10/01/the-financial-crisis-takes-a-toll-on-hospitals/

 

Hospitals move to phase out chemical (USA Today, October 3, 2008) Newborns in hospital intensive care units are vulnerable in so many ways. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-08-14-dehp_N.htm

 

New tests find melamine in 31 Chinese milk batches (USA Today, October 1, 2008) An additional 31 batches of Chinese milk powder were found contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, China's government said Wednesday, further broadening a scandal affecting products ranging from baby formula to chocolate. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-01-china-taintedmilk_N.htm

  • More tainted Chinese milk products found in Russia, Asia, U.S. (USA Today, October 3, 2008) According to reports, food inspectors and health officials in Russia, the Philippines and Vietnam have discovered milk supplies to be contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-03-china-contaminatedmilk_N.htm
  • Made in China: Melamine-tainted candy still on shelves in Utah stores (Salt Lake Tribune, October 3, 2008) A popular Chinese-made candy suspected of being contaminated with an industrial chemical remained on shelves of some Asian food stores in Salt Lake County on Thursday even though state agents have ordered the product pulled. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10626959

 

FDA: No quick decision on cold medicines for kids (Deseret Morning News, October 2, 2008) A top government health official rejected the idea of an immediate ban on cough and cold medicines for young children, saying it might cause unintended harm. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700263526,00.html 

  • FDA Will Rewrite Rules For Marketing for Children (Wall Street Journal, October 3, 2008) The Food and Drug Administration will rewrite decades-old federal regulations governing how over-the-counter cold and cough medicines are marketed to children amid concerns over whether the products are safe and effective. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122295403205798163.html?mod=
  • FDA: No quick decision on cold medicines for kids (Washington Post, October 3, 2008) A top government health official Thursday rejected pediatricians' calls for an immediate ban on over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for young children, saying it might cause unintended harm. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100200251.html?hpid=sec-health
  • Despite recall and warnings, Utah parents cling to cold medicines for babies (Salt Lake Tribune, October 3, 2008) Drug companies withdrew cough and cold medicine for infants and toddlers under 2 last year. And the Food and Drug Administration has warned against using them for such young children. http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10619537

 

Exposure to chemical may affect genitals of baby boys (USA Today, October 3, 2008) Baby boys are more likely to have changes in their genitals — such as undescended testicles and smaller penises — if their mothers were exposed to high levels of a controversial chemical during pregnancy, a new study shows. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-02-Boy-genitals_N.htm

 

HPV vaccine mandated for green card applicants (USA Today, October 3, 2008) A new requirement that girls as young as 11 be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus before they can become legal U.S. residents is unfair, immigration advocates say. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-02-hpv-green-card_N.htm

 

Lawmakers make a final push for mental health bill (Washington Post, October 2, 2008) Solving the nation's economic crisis may also help Americans struggling with getting treatment for mental illness. These patients often face an added burden: limited insurance coverage compared with people whose ills are physical. The massive economic bill coming before the House addresses that problem. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100202558.html

  • Oh So Close to Mental Health Parity (Editorial, New York Times, October 1, 2008) Congress is within a whisker of passing a sound and fair-minded bill to require that group health insurance coverage for mental illness and substance abuse be provided on the same terms as coverage for physical illnesses. It would be a shame if the legislation, which caps more than a decade of struggle to achieve mental health parity in insurance coverage, were allowed to die while Congressional energies are focused on the all-consuming economic crisis. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/opinion/01wed3.html?th&emc=th

 

Genetic test approved to identify flu strains faster (USA Today, October 1, 2008) The U.S. government approved a new genetic test for the flu virus Tuesday that will allow labs to identify flu strains within four hours instead of four days. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-30-flu-genetic_N.htm

Food now gets label of origin (USA Today, October 1, 2008) Coming soon to an apple, a pound of hamburger or a head of lettuce near you will be a label that says what country the item came from. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-10-01-food-labeling_N.htm

 

California to Cover Cost of Screening for H.I.V. (New York Times, October 1, 2008) California came closer than any other state to instituting routine H.I.V. screening as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed into law a bill requiring private health insurance providers to cover the cost of the testing regardless of a primary diagnosis. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/02/us/02hiv.html

 

Calif. Requires Menus To Detail Nutrition (Washington Post, October 1, 2008) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Tuesday requiring chain restaurants to put calorie counts on their menus and indoor menu boards, making California the first state to enact such a law in the battle against America's expanding waistline. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR2008093002620.html?wpisrc=newsletter

 

San Francisco's universal health plan upheld (Deseret News, October 1, 2008) San Francisco's landmark universal health care program can continue to operate, after an appeals court ruled Tuesday that it does not violate federal law. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700263189,00.html

  • Judges Say San Francisco Can Charge Employers for Its Health Plan (New York Times, October 1, 2008) In a decision that could set the stage for a test of the supremacy of a longstanding federal labor law, a panel of federal judges found Tuesday that San Francisco had the right to charge employers to help pay for its universal health care plan, the first in the nation. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/us/01frisco.html?ref=us
  • Court upholds legality of SanFran health care plan (USA Today, October 1, 2008) San Francisco's landmark universal health care program can continue to operate, after an appeals court ruled Tuesday that it does not violate federal law. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-30-1754815178_x.htm

 

The media's role in healthcare (Opinion, Boston Globe, October 1, 2008) While the pharmaceutical industry plays a vital role in the healthcare system, company profit motives can corrupt medical decision-making. In particular, company-funded research may be biased in favor of products made by the sponsors, making it difficult for doctors to accurately interpret new findings. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/10/01/the_medias_role_in_healthcare/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Today%27s+paper+A+to+Z

 

Medicare Won’t Pay for Medical Errors (New York Times, October 1, 2008) If an auto mechanic accidentally breaks your windshield while trying to repair the engine, he would never get away with billing you for fixing his mistake. On Wednesday, Medicare will start applying that logic to American medicine on a broad scale when it stops paying hospitals for the added cost of treating patients who are injured in their care. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/01/us/01mistakes.html?partner=MOREOVERNEWS&ei=5040

 

Lack Of Medical Workers Plagues Developing World (New York Times, October 1, 2008) When her baby turned blue, Nivetha Biju rushed the child to the emergency room of an Indian hospital and watched helplessly as the baby lost consciousness because the nurses on duty had no idea what to do. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-us-braindrain.html Also found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR2008093002568.html (Washington Post, October 1, 2008)

 

Group calls for free malaria treatment in Africa (USA Today, October 1, 2008) Making tests and treatment for malaria free dramatically increases the number of people who seek treatment for the disease that kills 1 million people a year, an international medical aid group said Tuesday. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-09-30-africa-malaria_N.htm Also found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/30/AR2008093000821.html?hpid=sec-health (Washington Post, October 3, 2008)

 

J&J Wins $1.2 Billion in Stent Case (Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2008) A federal judge in Delaware awarded a final judgment of $1.2 billion to Johnson & Johnson's cardiac device unit Tuesday in long-running patent-infringement cases against Boston Scientific Corp. and Medtronic Inc. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122283237224093129.html

 

A Time When Listening Is ‘Sacred’ (New York Times, October 2, 2008) It is Dr. Diane E. Meier’s goal to make palliative care “part of the genome of American medicine,” as she put it this week when she was named one of 25 recipients of the so-called “genius awards” presented each year by the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/a-time-when-listening-is-sacred/

 

The Body as Bacterial Landlord (Wall Street Journal, October 3, 2008) When scientists discovered that bacteria, not stress, caused most stomach ulcers, the insight overturned a century of medical dogma, transformed clinical practice and garnered a 2005 Nobel Prize for the two researchers who made the connection so many others had missed. After people adopted antibiotics to treat gastric distress, though, microbiologist Martin Blaser and his colleagues at New York University began to document an odd medical trend. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122297443409199201.html?mod=article-outset-box

 

Health websites merger to challenge WebMD (Washington Post, October 3, 2008) Privately held online health sites Revolution Health Network and Waterfront Media agreed to merge in a deal that could challenge WebMD Health Corp's dominance in the health care space. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/03/AR2008100301109.html

 

Bayer Unit Looks for Health-Care Deals (Wall Street Journal, October 3, 2008) The chief executive of Bayer AG's health-care unit said the German company will be on the prowl for acquisitions in the coming months, believing that it is in a strong position to take advantage of other companies' weaknesses amid the financial turmoil. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122294835871597999.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace

 

Healthcare on the Campaign Trail

McCain Is Right On Interstate Health Insurance (Opinion, Wall Street Journal, October 1, 2008) Let's hope Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama understands more about financial markets than he does about health-insurance markets. But the initial evidence isn't promising. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122282743245193057.html?mod=todays_us_opinion

 

Elizabeth Edwards ties health care to economy (USA Today, October 1, 2008) Elizabeth Edwards tied the nation's lagging economy to its struggling health care system Tuesday as she joined an effort in battleground states to discredit the health care proposals of Republican presidential candidate John McCain. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-09-30-2143894637_x.htm

 

Obama's health plan may help more uninsured: report (Washington Post, October 3, 2008) An analysis of the two starkly different approaches to reforming the U.S. health care system offered by John McCain and Barack Obama suggests Obama's plan has the best chance of making health care more affordable, accessible, efficient and higher in quality. (You must register to view this link—no fee) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/02/AR2008100200122.html  Also found at http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-us-usa-politics-health.html?_r=1&oref=slogin (New York Times, October 3, 2008)