States Seek a Middle Ground on Medicaid, 9-18-12, Wall Street Journal
Reporters Louise Radnofsky and Christopher Weaver write that several states are considering only partially expanding their Medicaid programs under the federal health care overhaul.
White House projects $11.1 billion in Medicare pay cuts under deficit law, 9-14-12, Modern Healthcare
Reporter Rich Daly writes that the Obama administration projected that Medicare will be cut by $11.1 billion next year due to requirements of a deficit-reduction law unless overridden by statute.
Where the Candidates Stand on Medicare and Medicaid, 9-14-12, ProPublica
Writer Suevon Lee provides an overview of the presidential candidates’ differing opinions regarding Medicare and Medicaid spending.
The Patient-Centered Medical Home: A Path Toward Health Equality?, 9-13-12, Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine authors published a discussion paper focusing on the concept of patient-centered medical home (PCMH).
Top US Drug Policy Adviser Praises Wilkes County’s Project Lazarus, Raises Awareness of Chronic Pain and Opioid Misuse Programs, 9-14-12, NCAFP Web
The North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians reports that Gil Kerlikowske, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), spoke at a panel discussion at Wilkes Community College hosted by Project Lazarus. Kerlikowske’s visit generated awareness of chronic pain and opioid misuse programs, such as Community Care of North Carolina’s (CCNC) Chronic Pain Initiative (CPI).
US Attorney calls for help in prescription drug abuse epidemic, 9-19-12, Outer Banks Sentinel
Sentinel Staff Neel Keller reports that US Attorney for the eastern district of North Carolina, Thomas Walker, informed town hall meeting attendees that the country is losing approximately seven people a day to overdose deaths caused by prescription drug abuse.
5 reasons solo doc loves going digital, 9-12-12, Government Health IT
Contributing Editor Bernie Monegain writes that Reavis Eubanks, MD, defies the odds when it comes to giving up his paper charts and adopting an electronic medical record system.
Informatics approach helps doctors, patients make sense of genome data, 9-20-12, Medical Express
University of North Carolina Health Care releases a paper in Genetics in Medicine unveiling an analysis framework aimed at helping clinicians spot “medically actionable findings” from genetic tests in an efficient manner.
North Carolina not taking falls lying down, 9-20-12, WECT
Writer Rob Demetrious reports that among all 100 counties, falls were the number one reason seniors visited emergency departments and the top reason they were hospitalized, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).
Some insight into childhood obesity and its costs, 9-10-12, Triangle Business Journal
Staff writer Jason deBruyn reports that according to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) study, overweight children between ages nine and 17 actually consume fewer calories than their healthy weight peers. The study reports that becoming overweight younger than the age of nine results in part to insufficient exercise.
Doctors Discover Dramatic Increase in Peanut Allergies, 9-14-12, Fox News
Writer Kirk Hawkins reports that a new study shows that the population with peanut allergies may have tripled over the last decade.
Duke system holds 24-hour flu vaccination blitz, 9-19-12, The News and Observer/Associated Press
Reporter Martha Waggoner writes that Duke University Health Systems held its second annual flu vaccination blitz this week, hoping to vaccinate 10,000 health care workers as a way to protect staff and patients whose weakened immune systems make them especially susceptible to infection.
