In the News This Week…

Stage 2 meaningful use rules sharply criticized by physicians, 5-14-12, amednews
Writer Charles Fiegl reports that physicians are objecting to proposed Medicare and Medicaid guidelines for demonstrating the next stage of electronic health record meaningful use.

Settlement over NC mental health could cost state millions, 5-15-12, WRAL
Reporter Bruce Mildwurf reports that the NC Department of Health and Human Services could end up paying millions of dollars to avoid a lawsuit over alleged violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Lawmakers recommend spending for Medicaid, eugenics victims, 5-15-12, WRAL
Reporter Laura Leslie writes that North Carolina lawmakers, in their first day of the “short session,” filed bills to pay reparations to victims of the state’s eugenics program and to patch a hole in Medicaid funding.

Senate passes Medicaid fix, 5-16-12, WRAL
Reporter Laura Leslie writes that the state Senate voted 47-0 to fill a shortfall in North Carolina’s Medicaid health insurance program for the poor and disabled.

BCBSNC, SAS Harness the Power of Analytics to Improve Health Outcomes, Personalize Health Plans, 5-10-12, Business Wire
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and SAS announced their collaboration to help health plans provide better, more personalized care and service to customers while holding down costs for individuals and employers.

Forsyth Medical Center Announces The Maya Angelou Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, 5-15-12, PR Newswire
Forsyth Medical Center announced the establishment of the Maya Angelou Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, the region’s first center to coordinate comprehensive healthcare and wellness services specifically designed to meet the unique needs of women through every stage of life.

Mission makes new case for Fletcher endoscopy center, but public opposition remains, 5-16-12, Mountain Xpress
Writer Caitlin Byrd reports that less than one year after the state rejected their first request to relocate an endoscopy center from Asheville to Fletcher, Mission Health and Pardee Hospital are trying again.

Lexington Medical partners with Duke for cancer care, 5-15-12, The Item
The Item reports that Lexington Medical Center is strengthening its affiliation with Duke Medicine, adding a cancer treatment collaboration to the current heart connection between the two.

Health-care partnerships vary, 5-15-12, The Clayton News-Star
Reporter Colin Campbell writes that North Carolina’s biggest players in health care have a variety of partnerships with community hospitals and in exchange for cash they demand a major role in governing their small counterparts.

Physician driven to prevent child abuse, 5-7-12, Winston-Salem Journal
Reporter Michael Hewlett writes about Meggan Lee Goodpasture, MD, and her efforts as director of the child abuse and neglect team at Brenner Children’s Hosptial, which is part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

Why America is Not Prepared to Treat Our Obesity Crisis, 5-15-12, policymic
Writer Rajiv Narayan reports that 44 percent of doctors report not feeling qualified to treat obesity.

FDA panel backs first pill to block HIV infection, 5-10-12, WRAL
AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone reports that the first drug shown to prevent HIV infection won the endorsement of a panel of federal advisers clearing the way for a landmark approval in the 30-year fight against the virus that causes AIDS.

Clock ticking with new plan to fight Alzheimer’s, WTVD-TV/ Associated Press
The Associated Press reports that the first national Alzheimer’s Plan sets a deadline of 2025 to finally find effective ways to treat, or at least stall, the mind-destroying disease.

 

 

 
 

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