House Subcommittee To Consider Bill Expanding Breast Cancer Coverage For Hospital Stay

The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Wednesday is scheduled to vote on a bill (HR 758) that would require health coverage providers to expand hospital-stay coverage for women undergoing breast cancer surgery, CQ HealthBeat reports.

Studies Examine Increasing Efficiency In Physician Care, Costs, Benefits Of Health IT;

"Beyond the Efficiency Index: Finding a Better Way To Reduce Overuse and Increase Efficiency in Physician Care, " Health Affairs: In the Web exclusive, Robert Greene, a former associate medical director at the Rochester Individual Practice Association and a vice president for clinical analytics at U.

Annual Report Finds Racial Health Disparities In Anne Arundel County, Md.

In comparison with whites, blacks in Anne Arundel County, Md., have higher infant higher uninsured rates, according to a report released this week, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Eliminating Medicaid Dental Benefits Could Lead To More Costly Treatment For California Residents, Report Finds

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) proposal to eliminate dental benefits for nearly three million state residents as part of a plan to address the state budget deficit would result in a loss of about $115 million in federal matching funds and lead to more costly medical treatment, according to a report released Monday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Advocates Call For Creation Of National Strategy To Fight HIV AIDS In U.S.

Advocates at a congressional briefing on Tuesday called for a comprehensive strategy to address HIV/AIDS in the U.S., CQ HealthBeat reports. According to the advocates, the plan should focus on boosting coordination between stakeholders, targeting high-risk populations -- such as blacks, Hispanics and men who have sex with men -- and reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma.

Kansas Governor Signs Bill To Expand Health Care Services, Funding; New Hampshire Governor Signs Bill To Create Plan To Lower Insurance Premiums

Summaries appear below of news about health care bills that recently were signed into law by the governors of Kansas and New Hampshire.Kansas: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) on Sunday signed into law a bill that implements nine of 21 policy reforms sought by the Kansas Health Policy Authority, the AP/Kansas City Star reports.

Bush Administration Launches Advertising Campaign To Promote Hospital Compare Web Site

CMS on Wednesday launched a national advertising campaign to promote its Hospital Compare Web site, which provides data on the quality of care in hospitals across the U.S., USA Today reports. The Web site, which was launched in 2005 and expanded in March, allows consumers to compare quality data on up to three hospitals at a time (Appleby, USA Today, 5/21).

Archbishop Tutu Calls On Governments To Address Health Issues In Africa, Including HIV AIDS

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Tuesday at the World Health Assembly in Geneva called on governments to increase their efforts to fight diseases -- including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria -- in Africa, the Associated Press reports. "We cannot lose Africa, " Tutu said, adding that the "cradle of humankind" is threatened by "disease, conflict and destruction.

Insurers Urge Gov. Rell To Veto Legislation That Would Expand State Employee Health Insurance Pool

Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell (R) on Monday released letters from two insurance companies that raised concerns about the cost of legislation that would allow workers at small businesses, municipalities and not-for-profit groups to join the state employee health insurance pool, the Hartford Courant reports.

Ukranian Doctor Lengthens Limbs

On March 15, 2008, the Ukranian Dr. Vitaliy Veklich called together anumber of his young patients in treatment for achondroplasia. This wasdone in hopes of sharing community results of his limb lengtheningtreatment using the Ilizarov-Veklich apparatus.