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HELP Committee Dems Block Antiabortion Provisions In Health Reform Markup
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on Monday rejected several Republican abortion-related amendments to the committee" health overhaul bill but adopted a Democratic amendment allowing health care providers who oppose abortion to contract with health plans, CQ HealthBeat reports. The committee voted mostly along party lines to reject an amendment by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) that would have prohibited abortion coverage in a health care exchange for participants who receive government-subsidized coverage. Democrats said that the language could have been used to restrict abortion coverage in private insurance plans. The amendment failed in an 11-12 vote, with Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) crossing party lines to support it. The committee also voted 11-12 to reject an amendment by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) that would have specified that federal health reform legislation could not override state laws on parental notification when minors seek abortion services. The committee adopted by voice vote an amendment submitted by Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) on behalf of committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who is battling brain cancer. The amendment states that health care providers could not be excluded from contracting with health plans taking part in a health insurance exchange on the basis that the provider performs abortions or refuses to perform abortions except in an emergency if "performing abortions is contrary to the religious or moral beliefs of the provider or entity." Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) said that he is concerned the amendment might be unconstitutional because Congress cannot legislate on religious issues. Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) expressed concern that the phrase "except in emergency" was not more clearly defined. Dodd declined Enzi"s request to withdraw the amendment until it could be clarified. The committee rejected Coburn"s amendment that was a more sweeping version of "conscience" protections for health care providers with religious or moral objections (Norman [1], CQ HealthBeat, 7/13). Dodd said he expects the committee to complete its work on the bill Tuesday night (Norman [2], CQ HealthBeat, 7/13).According to NPR"s "Morning Edition," abortion is one of the most likely issues to "throw a wrench into the already fragile gears" of health reform legislation. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said, "I take a view that there"s almost anything (that can be compromised) in public affairs except probably the issue of abortion." Nineteen House Democrats recently sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), saying, "We cannot support any health care reform proposal unless it explicitly excludes abortion from the scope of any government-defined or subsidized health insurance plan." Democratic pollster Mark Mellman said any new restrictions on abortion coverage in government-subsidized health plans might be unpopular with the public. "Right now most health care plans cover abortion, cover contraception, cover women"s reproductive health," Mellman said. He added, "To some extent what they"re talking about on Capitol Hill is taking away coverage that people already have. Americans want health care reform. But they will oppose health care reform if it takes away the coverage they now have for things like abortion and contraception." Mellman recently conducted a poll for the National Women"s Law Center that found that 75% of respondents would prefer to have an independent commission of medical experts and citizens, rather than lawmakers, decide what should be covered (Rovner, "Morning Edition," NPR, 7/14).
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Bring On The "Suds": Prototype, 7-Foot-Tall Sanitizer Automates Disinfection Of Hard-to-Clean Hospital Equipment
Johns Hopkins experts in applied physics, computer engineering, infectious diseases, emergency medicine, microbiology, pathology and surgery have unveiled a 7-foot-tall, $10,000 shower-cubicle-shaped device that automatically sanitizes in 30 minutes all sorts of hard-to-clean equipment in the highly trafficked hospital emergency department. The novel device can sanitize and disinfect equipment of all shapes and sizes, from intravenous line poles and blood pressure cuffs, to pulse oximeter wires and electrocardiogram (EKG) wires, to computer keyboards and cellphones.
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Automated 'Artificial Pancreas' Controls Blood Glucose Levels In Diabetes Patients For First Time
UC Santa Barbara and Sansum Diabetes Research Institute scientists have demonstrated for the first time that an automated artificial pancreas system (APS) can safely and effectively maintain desired blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. The clinical study results will be presented today in a late-breaking poster session(1) at the American Diabetes Association"s 69th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.
Cardiovascular

Acute Stroke Centres Promise To 'revolutionise' Stroke Care Services

The growth of acute stroke care centres and systems of care could revolutionise clinicians" ability to treat patients with stroke, according to an analysis of services published ahead of print in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery. The analysis looks at how specialised stroke services across the world have been effective in improving acute and long-term outcomes for patients. Stroke is the third largest cause of death in the US, Europe, Canada and Japan. In England, around 110,000 people experience a stroke every year and 795,000 in the US. Researchers from the University of Texas studied how stroke services are developing and looked in particular at current and emerging therapies in acute ischemic stroke, in which a patient experiences the death of an area of brain tissue resulting from an inadequate supply of blood and oxygen to the brain due to blockage of an artery. In ischemic stroke cases, between 50% and 70% of survivors regain functional independence, while 15-30% are permanently disabled and 20% need institutional care three months after the stroke. Early management of patients with this form of stroke is aimed at minimising disability and improving a person"s functioning, say the researchers. Over the past decade, new therapeutic options have become available for stroke patients, says the analysis, including organised stroke care and primary stroke centres - specialised facilities which coordinate and promote patient access to the full range of treatments and services associated with stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. These centres (similar to specialist stroke centres in the UK) can provide emergency medical services for first-line response and initial stabilisation; emergency department for hyperacute stroke care; acute stroke team availability within 15 minutes; neuroimaging and laboratory services in-house; stroke unit with treatment and secondary prevention; neurointerventional and neurosurgical services available; rehabilitation; primary prevention; community education and continuing medical education; and outcome and quality improvement activities. The authors conclude: "The development of acute stroke centres and systems of care may revolutionise the medical community"s ability to treat patients with stroke. Specialised stroke services have been effective in improving acute and long-term care outcome measures. "Focusing clinical res in neurocritical care units and stroke units provides greater specialist care, enhances knowledge in the field, and may also facilitate data collection and enrollment in clinical trials." "Review of current and emerging therapies in acute ischemic stroke." J NeuroInterv Surg 2009; doi 10.1136/jnis.2009.000117 Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery


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