News Archive
Portrait Of Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics [July 31, 2009]
2009 Life Sciences & Health Care Security Study [July 30, 2009]
Lessons From California On Building A National Health Insurance Exchange [July 27, 2009]
CBO Analysis Of H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009 [July 24, 2009]
States Vary Widely In Providing Quality Health Care [July 23, 2009]
Quality Assurance And The World Conference On Higher Education [July 22, 2009]
An Aging World: 2008 [July 21, 2009]
Side-By-Side Comparison Of Major Capitol Hill Health Reform Initiatives [July 20, 2009]
HealthPROSe Added To Blogosphere [July 17, 2009]
Preparing Health Workers Today For Tomorrow's Jobs [July 16, 2009]
Research Meeting Presentations Available On the Web [July 15, 2009]
State Health Care Briefs [July 14, 2009]
Kellogg Health Scholars Program [July 13, 2009]
Migration Of Care To Non-Hospital Settings [July 10, 2009]
Providing A Safer Environment For Health Care Personnel And Patients Through Influenza Vaccination [July 9, 2009]
Behind The Numbers: Medical Cost Trends For 2010 [July 8, 2009]
HHS Report On Comparative Effectiveness Research [July 7, 2009]
HHS Has Health Reform Website [July 6, 2009]
The Social Life Of Health Information [July 2, 2009]
Initial National Priorities For Comparative Effectiveness Research [July 1, 2009]
Formation Of Commission To Study Future Of Graduate Education [June 30, 2009]
Evaluation Of Evidence-Based Practices In Online Learning [June 29, 2009]
Developing A Strong Primary Care Workforce [June 26, 2009]
Health Coverage And Access To Care For Immigrants [June 25, 2009]
Scientific Foundations For Future Physicians [June 24, 2009]
Older Population In the US: 2007-2008 [June 23, 2009]
Comments Sought On Meaningful Use Of Health Information Technology [June 22, 2009]
Contrasts Among Seven Different 20 th Century U.S. Generations [June 19, 2009]
Health Care Reform And The Federal Budget [June 18, 2009]
Trends In The Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine [June 17, 2009]
Preliminary Analysis Of Major Provisions Related To Health Insurance Coverage Under The Affordable Health Choices Act [June 16, 2009]
Good Teaching: What Is It And How Is It Measured? [June 15, 2009]
Most Staff Not Reporting Medical Errors In Hospitals [June 12, 2009]
Burden Of Chronic Disease On Business And U.S. Competitiveness [June 11, 2009]
Health Care Reform: An Introduction By The Congressional Research Service [June 10, 2009]
Health Reform: Implementing Comparative Effectiveness Research [June 9, 2009]
Thomas Frieden Becomes Director of CDC Today [June 8, 2009]
A First Look At The Volume And Cost Of Comparative Effectiveness Research In The U.S. [June 5, 2009]
Impact of College Rankings on Institutional Decision Making [June 4, 2009]
The Condition Of Education 2009 [June 3, 2009]
How New Health Care Devices And Technologies Aid Clinicians And Consumers [June 2, 2009]
Comparative Effectiveness: Health Care Policy Perspectives For Consideration [June 1, 2009]
Portrait Of Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics
Concern has accelerated without pause in recent years about whether the United States is drawing enough young individuals to study science and technology fields in college. Policy makers have paid comparatively little attention, however, to how the students who enter those disciplines fare, and whether they stay in those fields once they enter them. The report, "Students Who Study Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) in Postsecondary Education," from the Education Department's National Center for Education Statistics, examines three federal databases to follow students who enter those high-demand fields through the higher education pipeline. In addition to largely reaffirming the demographic profile of the 23 percent of students who chose to major in science and technology fields during their undergraduate careers -- disproportionately male, Asian, and of foreign citizenship, and more likely to be of traditional age than older -- the study puts the outcomes of those students side by side with their peers who do not major in science fields, and finds that they compare favorably.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009161.pdf.
2009 Life Sciences & Health Care Security Study
A new report from Deloitte indicates that the global economic environment and the ever-changing regulatory landscape have had an impact on life sciences and health care (LSHC) organizations, regardless of sector, size and region. The changing environment has a profound effect on how organizations realize their security and privacy objectives. The lifeblood of any health care or life sciences organization is information, whether patient, intellectual property, or revenue. Organizations are dealing with the challenge of how to protect their information while facing increasingly sophisticated security threats and spiraling regulatory and legislative requirements—all against a backdrop of reduced spending, staff cuts and organizational changes. It is Deloitte's view that the industry is not yet prepared to meet the challenges of managing the risk as this opportunity emerges.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.deloitte.com/assets/Dcom-UnitedStates/Local%20Assets/Documents/AERS%20(us_assur,%20us_risk)/us_risk_sp_2009_LSHC_Global_Security_Study_July09.pdf .
Lessons From California On Building A National Health Insurance Exchange
With the nation's lawmakers pursuing an ambitious timeline for overhauling the U.S. health care system, California's experience could shed light on how best to craft a crucial element of the leading legislative proposals. Bills taking shape on Capitol Hill incorporate the idea of an insurance exchange where consumers can select a health plan from a range of offerings. Over the past 15 years, California gained extensive experience in designing and operating just such an exchange, an effort that ultimately proved unsustainable. An issue brief from the California Healthcare Foundation draws on interviews with eight individuals who played key roles in the California exchange. Among its main findings: (1) Any exchange that actively enters the market for health insurance will have a very difficult time achieving its objectives if it is not the exclusive source of coverage for some populations, such as small employers or individual purchasers. (2) If there is competition for the same customers inside and outside the exchange, the exchange will be unable to offer lower prices on a sustained basis. (3) Without sufficient numbers of health plans, the exchange cannot offer meaningful choice or enhance the portability of coverage.
A copy of the issue brief can be accessed by clicking http://www.chcf.org/documents/insurance/BuildingANationalInsuranceExchange.pdf .
CBO Analysis Of H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act Of 2009
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have completed a preliminary analysis of H.R. 3200, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, as introduced in the House on July 14, 2009. This analysis does not reflect any modifications or amendments made after that date. Among other things, the legislation would establish a mandate for legal residents to obtain health insurance; set up insurance “exchanges” through which some individuals and families could receive subsidies to substantially reduce the cost of purchasing insurance; significantly expand eligibility for Medicaid; make modifications to the Medicare and Medicaid programs; and impose an income-tax surcharge on high-income individuals.
A copy of the analysis can be accessed by clicking http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/104xx/doc10464/hr3200.pdf .
States Vary Widely In Providing Quality Health Care
The annual release of State-by-State quality data by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Qaulity (AHRQ) continues to give States mixed reviews for the quality of care they provide. As in previous years, AHRQ's 2008 State Snapshots show that no State does well or poorly on all quality measures. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is also releasing State-by-State reports on the health care status quo. The 2008 State Snapshots provide State-specific health care quality information, including strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. The state-level information used to create the State Snapshots is drawn from the 2008 National Healthcare Quality Report, which was released in May by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and contributes to a national portrait of health care quality.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.healthreform.gov/ and the State Snapshots Toll can be accessed by clicking http://statesnapshots.ahrq.gov/snaps08/index.jsp
Quality Assurance And The World Conference On Higher Education
Attendees at the July 2009 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Conference on Higher Education (WCHE) on July 5-8 adopted by consensus a Communiqué of 52 statements, many with multiple recommendations, addressing higher education and its future. The document covers topics from the social responsibility of higher education to access and equity in research and innovation. Quality in higher education and quality assurance are prominent in the Communiqué, addressed in 10 of the 52 statements and recommendations and signifying the growing importance of this topic.
The Communiqué can be accessed by clicking http://www.unesco.org/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/ED/pdf/WCHE_2009/FINAL%20COMMUNIQUE%20WCHE%202009.pdf
An Aging World: 2008
In just over 30 years, the proportion of older persons will double from 7 percent to 14 percent of the total world population, according to a new report, "An Aging World: 2008." The publication examines demographic and socioeconomic trends accompanying this phenomenon. It was commissioned by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health, and produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. It was released on July 20 by the Census Bureau.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p95-09-1.pdf.
Side-By-Side Comparison Of Major Capitol Hill Health Reform Initiatives
Achieving comprehensive health reform has emerged as a leading priority of the President and Congress. President Obama has outlined eight principles for health reform, seeking to address not only the 45 million individuals who lack health insurance, but also rising health care costs and lack of quality. In Congress, comprehensive reform proposals have been announced as the debate begins over how to overhaul the health care system. An interactive side-by-side comparison developed by the Kaiser Family foundation examines leading comprehensive reform proposals across a number of key characteristics and plan components.
A comparison of major initiatives can be accessed by clicking http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/healthreform_sbs_full.pdf.
HealthPROSe Added To Blogosphere
The Association of Academic Health Centers (AAHC) recently announced the launch of HealthPROSe , a blog by seasoned health and policy professionals that can provide a new and trusted voice on health policy and related socioeconomic issues. The new addition brings creative thinking to the health debate with engaging, focused commentaries on national and global health policy concerns.
HealthPROSe can be accessed by clicking http://www.healthprose.org .
Preparing Health Workers Today For Tomorrow's Jobs
A new report from the President's Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) presents a projection of potential developments in the U.S. labor market over the next five to ten years and discusses preparations necessary to develop the 21 st century workforce. Skills that will likely be most relevant in growing occupations, the value and limitations of current post-high school education and training systems, and the characteristics of a more effective education and training structure are discussed. Health care employment is a focus.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/Jobs_of_the_Future.pdf .
Research Meeting Presentations Available On the Web
For 26 years, AcademyHealth's Annual Research Meeting (ARM) has convened health services researchers, providers, and key decision makers to address critical challenges confronting the nation's health care delivery system. Attendees gathered in June 2009 to hear about the latest health research, discuss health policy implications, sharpen research methods, and network with colleagues from around the world. An example of a presentation during an afternoon session on June 29 on the topic of Accounting for the Cost of U.S. Health Care: A New Look at Why Americans Spend More can be accessed by clicking http://www.academyhealth.org/files/2009/monday/Jensene.pdf .
A list of all sessions and presentations can be accessed by clicking http://www.academyhealth.org/events/content.cfm?ItemNumber=882&navItemNumber=529 .
A set of State Health Care Briefs from the AARP provides a one-page overview of facts on health care data for each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Information is provided about each state's older population, the uninsured, Medicare beneficiaries including those who fall into the “doughnut hole,” hospital re-admissions among Medicare beneficiaries, the distribution of Medicaid long-term care funds, and prescription drug spending.
The briefs can be accessed by clicking http://www.aarp.org/research/health/carefinancing/state_hcb_09.html .
Kellogg Health Scholars Program
The Kellogg Health Scholars Program (KHSP), a two-year postdoctoral fellowship, develops new leadership in the effort to reduce and eliminate health disparities and to secure equal access to the conditions and services essential for achieving healthy communities. The program consists of two tracks at eight training sites. The Community Track highlights community-based participatory research and relationships between academe, community, and public health practice. The Multidisciplinary Track highlights a multi-disciplinary approach to studying the social determinants of health disparities. Scholars will pursue their research at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, Morgan State University, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the University of California-San Francisco, the University of Michigan, the University of Pittsburgh, and the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Additional information about the program and application materials can be accessed on the Web by clicking http://www.kellogghealthscholars.org/ .
Migration Of Care To Non-Hospital Settings
A growing number of increasingly complex procedures are moving from the inpatient to the outpatient environment and out of hospital settings into physicians' offices and free-standing ambulatory surgery or diagnostic facilities. Many of these care settings involve physician ownership and self-referral. An American Hospital Association item in its publication TRENDWATCH explores the impact these trends have on health care utilization and costs, quality of care and patient safety, access to care, and the health care system overall. It also addresses whether oversight of these facilities to ensure quality and safety has, or has not, responded to the shift in care from the hospital outpatient department (HOPD) to non-hospital settings.
The issue of TRENDWATCH can be accessed by clicking http://www.hospitalconnect.com/ahapolicyforum/trendwatch/content/TW706SinglesFINALTOWEB.pdf .
Providing A Safer Environment For Health Care Personnel And Patients Through Influenza Vaccination
The Joint Commission is releasing “Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients through Influenza Vaccination: Strategies from Research and Practice,” a free monograph, to help health care organizations of all types improve seasonal influenza vaccination rates in health care personnel. The monograph: (1) Highlights strategies submitted from health care organizations through the Strategies for Implementing Successful Influenza Immunization Programs for Health Care Personnel Project, a collaboration with leading infection prevention and control professional organizations, and (2) Provides an overview of evidence-based guidelines, published research studies, legislative and regulatory efforts, and accreditation considerations related to improving seasonal influenza vaccination rates in health care personnel.
The monograph can be accessed by clicking http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/814E02F2-1E1C-4D76-9043-DBB3E12A205A/0/Flu_Monograph.pdf .
Behind The Numbers: Medical Cost Trends For 2010
Even after the US economy recorded its worst contraction in a quarter-century in late 2008 and early 2009, medical costs continued to grow. Key findings from a new report by PriceWaterhouseCoopers include:
• Growth in medical costs for 2010 is expected to be 9 percent, slightly lower than in previous years.
• The recession and the prospect of health reform will help temper medical costs, with an impact on pricing.
• As the recession pounded corporate profits in early 2009, employers surveyed said they were ready to push more of the costs of health insurance to their workers in 2010 while expecting more responsibility from workers for managing their personal health.
• Although health reform will have a major impact on the industry, its effect on medical costs likely will not be felt until 2011 or later.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://pwchealth.com/cgi-local/hcregister.cgi?link=reg/Behind_the_numbers_Medical_cost_trends_for_2010.pdf .
HHS Report On Comparative Effectiveness Research
The Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (FCCCER) June 30 published its "Report to the President and Congress." The document provides the definition of CER that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has said will guide allocation of $700 million in ARRA CER funds for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The council also fulfilled its ARRA-mandated responsibilities to describe current Federal activities in CER and to make recommendations on how the HHS Secretary should spend an additional $400 million in ARRA funding to accelerate the development and dissemination of CER.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/cer/cerannualrpt.pdf .
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius released data on health care costs, insurance coverage rates, and other statistics for each of the
50 states, notting that these indicators highlight the need for health system reform. According to a release from HHS, the statistics for each state include the following:
- Percent increase in family premiums since 2000,
- The hidden tax individuals and families pay as a result of subsidizing care for the uninsured,
- Percent of state residents without insurance,
- Overall quality ratings for health care in each state, and
- The impact of failing to invest adequately in preventive measures that could prevent disease and illness.
Statistics for each state can be accessed by clicking http://www.healthreform.gov/.
The Social Life Of Health Information
The Internet has joined doctors and family members as one of the top three sources that individuals use to find answers to their health questions. A survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project and the California HealthCare Foundation describes how American adults use the Internet to gather and share health information and how trends have shifted in the last decade. Based on a national telephone survey conducted in December 2008, the study showed that 61% of American adults look online for health information. A smaller subset (20%) has actively contributed comments, reviews, and updates to online content. The study noted that increased use of wireless devices and increased participation in social applications by adults aged 18 to 49 indicate that the trend toward online health information exchange should continue to increase. According to the study, in 2000, 46% of American adults had access to the Internet, 5% of U.S. households had broadband connections, and 25% of American adults looked online for health information. Today, 75% of American adults go online, 57% of American households have broadband connections, and 61% of adults look online for health information. Furthermore, many adults now have wireless access to the Internet.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2009/PIP_Health_2009.pdf.
Initial National Priorities For Comparative Effectiveness Research
Clinical research presents health care providers with information on the natural history and clinical presentations of disease as well as diagnostic and treatment options. Consumers, patients, and caregivers also require this information to decide how to evaluate and treat their conditions. All too often, information necessary to inform these medical decisions is incomplete or unavailable, resulting in more than half of the treatments delivered today lacking clear evidence of effectiveness. Congress, in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, assigned a task to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to recommend national priorities for research questions to be addressed by comparative effectiveness research (CER) and supported by ARRA funds. In its 2009 report, Initial National Priorities for Comparative Effectiveness Research , the authoring committee establishes a working definition of CER, develops a priority list of research topics to be undertaken with ARRA funding using broad stakeholder input, and identifies the necessary requirements to support a robust and sustainable CER enterprise.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12648#toc .
Formation Of Commission To Study Future Of Graduate Education
A 19-member commission of corporate and university leaders has been formed to study how the graduate education community will meet the challenges of the 21 st century. It will focus its attention on maintaining the preeminence of U.S. graduate schools in the face of rising global competitiveness. The Commission on the Future of Graduate Education in the United States was formed with support from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS). It seeks a greater understanding of the political, demographic, socioeconomic, educational, and financial trends that have an impact on participation in graduate education. A report on the status of graduate education in the U.S. will be released at the Council of Graduate Schools' annual legislative conference in April 2010. The commission plans to examine projections for degree recipients from both domestic and international talent pools to address U.S. competitiveness. Other topics will include:
• Graduate pathways
• Demographic changes in the next 20 years
• Workforce needs projections
• International competition
• Efforts of universities to increase graduate participation
• The role of industry
• The role of government
• How graduate education is financed
Evaluation Of Evidence-Based Practices In Online Learning
Online learning has definite advantages over face-to-face instruction when it comes to teaching and learning, according to a new meta-analysis by the U.S. Department of Education. The study found that students who took all or part of their instruction online performed better, on average, than those taking the same course through face-to-face instruction. Further, those who took "blended" courses -- those that combine elements of online learning and face-to-face instruction -- appeared to do best of all. That finding could be significant as many colleges report that blended instruction is among the fastest-growing types of enrollment.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/eval/tech/evidence-based-practices/finalreport.pdf .
Developing A Strong Primary Care Workforce
On April 20, 2009, the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation convened a small meeting in Washington, DC that focused on the future of the nation's primary care workforce. Among those in attendance were individuals from four organizations with expertise in primary care and prevention. Participants expressed their concern that most of the health care reform discussion has focused on financial issues, with too little attention on the workforce that will provide health care. They unanimously agreed that if health care reform is to achieve the goal of providing access and improving health, then significant changes will be needed in both the educational and reimbursement systems. The group articulated seven recommendations that should be implemented to advance the health of the nation. The attached brief document presents these recommendations with a discussion about the rationale for each.
The recommendations can be accessed by clicking http://www.macyfoundation.org/documents/jmf_primarycare_summary.pdf .
Health Coverage And Access To Care For Immigrants
While overall, immigrants have a high uninsured rate and face greater access barriers relative to U.S.-born residents, many of them eventually gain health insurance and improved access to health care as they acquire language and job skills, improve their economic standing, and become more familiar with the U.S. health care system, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). The research examines how health coverage and access to care for non-elderly adults vary based on immigrants' length of time in the U.S. and between immigrants, second-generation Americans, and third-generation and higher Americans. The study also identifies the primary factors contributing to lower health coverage rates and greater access barriers among immigrants.
It can be accessed by clicking http://www.kff.org/uninsured/upload/7916.pdf .
Scientific Foundations For Future Physicians
Biomedical research is rapidly transforming our understanding of health and disease, with major implications for medical practice. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute released a report that addresses this issue. Entitled, Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians , it emphasizes that physicians must have a firm grounding in the biomedical sciences and understand their relation to the physical sciences and mathematics.
The report can be accessed by clicking https://services.aamc.org/publications/showfile.cfm?file=version132.pdf&prd_id=262&prv_id=321&pdf_id=132 .
Older Population In the US: 2007-2008
The Census bureau has produced a series of detailed tables with data on a wide range of demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of individuals 55 and older. Topics covered include marital status, educational attainment, nativity and citizenship status, labor force and employment status, occupation, earnings, poverty and housing tenure. The data, collected by the Current Population Survey, pertain to the non-institutionalized population and are shown for selected age groups.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/age/age_sex_older.html.
Comments Sought On Meaningful Use Of Health Information Technology
The Health IT Policy Committee will make recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (HIT) on a policy framework for the development and adoption of a nationwide health information infrastructure, including standards for the exchange of patient medical information. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is seeking comments on the preliminary definition of “Meaningful Use,” as presented to the HIT Policy Committee on June 16, 2009. Comments on the draft description of Meaningful Use are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Saving Time on June 26, 2009 and should be no more than 2,000 words in length. Electronic responses to the draft description of Meaningful Use are preferred and should be addressed to: MeaningfulUse@hhs.gov with the subject line “Meaningful Use.”
The Meaningful Use Preamble can be accessed by clicking http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_11113_872720_0_0_18/Meaningful%20Use%20Preamble.pdf . The Meaningful Use matrix can be accessed by clicking http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_11113_872719_0_0_18/Meaningful%20Use%20Matrix.pdf .
Contrasts Among Seven Different 20 th Century U.S. Generations
By virtue of when they were born, members of each generation live through unique times shaped by unexpected historical events, changing political climates, and evolving socioeconomic conditions. Generations also come in different sizes and changing mixtures of ethnicity, helping to shape the choices individuals will make in life. A generational perspective offers fresh insights into contemporary society by emphasizing both the distinctiveness of each generation in its particular historical context and the persistence of such distinctions across an individual's life. When different generations respond in unique ways to common problems and choices, businesses, governments, and individuals need to recognize and understand such distinctions. A Population Bulletin from the Population Reference Bureau highlights seven contrasting American generations of the 20th century, showing how each one influenced and reacted to the social and economic landscape over which all must travel over a lifetime.
The Bulletin can be accessed by clicking http://www.prb.org/pdf09/64.1generations.pdf.
Health Care Reform And The Federal Budget
Because the Congress is considering major legislation affecting health care and health insurance, the possible effects on the federal budget have received significant attention. To elucidate those effects, an analysis from the Congressional Budget Office (CB)) examines the budget outlook under current law, the likely budgetary effect of efforts to expand the scope of insurance coverage, the potential for reducing health care spending, the likely impact of specific changes in the health system, and mechanisms for engendering efficiency gains in health care over time.
The analysis can be accessed by clicking http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/103xx/doc10311/06-16-HealthReformAndFederalBudget.pdf.
Trends In The Use Of Complementary And Alternative Medicine
A videocast from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the topic of Trends in the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Data from the National Health Interview Survey was presented on June 1, featuring Richard Nahin from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
The videocast can be accessed by clicking http://videocast.nih.gov/PastEvents.asp?c=0&s=31.
Preliminary Analysis Of Major Provisions Related To Health Insurance Coverage Under The Affordable Health Choices Act
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have completed a preliminary analysis of the major provisions related to health insurance coverage that are contained in Title I of draft legislation called the Affordable Health Choices Act, which was released by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) on June 9, 2009. A letter was sent to Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the HELP Committee, examining the proposal's budgetary effects.
The letter can be accessed by clicking http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/103xx/doc10310/06-15-HealthChoicesAct.pdf.
Good Teaching: What Is It And How Is It Measured?
The Spring 2009 issue of Peer Review published by the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) addresses specific challenges faculty are facing in the classroom today. It explores issues related to developing collaborative and hands-on learning opportunities, research on the relationship between expectations and achievement, and ways to teach about controversial subjects and issues that challenge students' deeply held beliefs. One article is entitled, “ Becoming an Effective Teacher Using Cooperative Learning: A Personal Odyssey .”
It can be accessed by clicking http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-sp09/pr-sp09_millis.cfm.
Most Staff Not Reporting Medical Errors In Hospitals
According to the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ),on average, over half (52 percent) of hospital staff surveyed did not report any medical errors in their hospital over a 12-month period, according to a report based on data from nearly 200,000 hospital staff from 622 hospitals nationwide. The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture: 2009 Comparative Database Report is an update that summarizes the latest results from hospitals that have administered the AHRQ Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture . Teamwork within hospital units and supervisor and manager support for patient safety are areas of strength for most hospitals, but non-punitive response to error and handoffs continue to be main areas for improvement in patient safety culture. Trend analyses found that hospitals with improvements over time in non-punitive response to error had slight increases in event reporting.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/hospsurvey09/hospsurv091.pdf and http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/hospsurvey09/hospsurv092.pdf .
Burden Of Chronic Disease On Business And U.S. Competitiveness
The current economic reality offers a reminder that now more than ever, investment is needed in the backbone of the U.S. economy: the American workforce, according to a report by The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) and the United States Workplace Wellness Alliance (USWWA). Without question, the single biggest force threatening U.S. workforce productivity, as well as health care affordability and quality of life, is the rise in chronic conditions. As the largest providers of health insurance in the United States, America's businesses are uniquely situated to help provide leadership in finding solutions to reduce chronic diseases and their contribution to rising health care costs.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.fightchronicdisease.org/pdfs/PFCDReport_BurdenofChronicDiseaseonBusiness.pdf .
Health Care Reform: An Introduction By The Congressional Research Service
The topic of health reform is at the top of news stories currently. A report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a resource of Congress, provides an introduction to this important policy area. It focuses on three predominant concerns—coverage, cost and spending, and quality—along with some legislative issues within which they likely will be debated—the scope of reform (particularly whether Medicare and Medicaid should be included); the choice between public and private coverage; whether employment-based insurance should be strengthened, weakened, or left alone; and what role states might play. The report does not attempt to identify, let alone discuss, all the relevant concerns about health care in the United States, even though others may also be important and will likely contribute to the complexity of the reform debate. The report may be updated to include other health care reform issues as the debate in Congress unfolds.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R40517_20090414.pdf .
Health Reform: Implementing Comparative Effectiveness Research
The economic stimulus bill invested $1.1 billion in federal initiatives to begin the important and necessary work of comparative effectiveness research (CER), a key building block in health care reform. The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform and The Hamilton Project at The Brookings Institution host a forum today, featuring remarks from Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and OMB Director Peter Orszag to address many of the key questions surrounding CER.
PowerPoint slides used at today's forum can be accessed by clicking http://newmediamill.com/webcasts/brookings/20090609/?emc=lm&m=226182&l=13&v=1081025 .
Thomas Frieden Becomes Director of CDC Today
Thomas Frieden is scheduled to will take over as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today after completing a seven-year tenure as New York City's health commissioner. While serving in that position, he was active in spearheading a campaign to increase taxes on cigarettes and ban smoking in restaurants and bars. He supported needle exchange programs and condom distribution to help prevent AIDS, producing condoms with the city's NYC logo and the slogan “Get Some.”
A First Look At The Volume And Cost Of Comparative Effectiveness Research In The U.S.
Currently, there is a limited understanding of the capacity for conducting comparative effectiveness research in the United States. A report from AcademyHealth is intended to help fill this gap by providing an environmental scan of the volume and the range of cost of recent comparative effectiveness research. For purposes of this project, comparative effectiveness research is defined as, “Comparison of the effectiveness of the risks and benefits of two or more health care services or treatments used to treat a specific disease or condition (e.g. pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical procedures, and other treatment modalities ) in approximate real-world settings.” Studies that only compare an intervention to placebo or usual care are not included.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.academyhealth.org/files/publications/CERMonograph09.pdf .
Impact of College Rankings on Institutional Decision Making
A recent issue brief entitled Impact of College Rankings on Institutional Decision Making: Four Country Case Studies issued by the Institute for Higher Education Policy seeks to understand the role that rankings play in institutional decision making and how institutions in various countries use rankings in ways that might benefit higher education in the United States. The study is based on interviews at institutions in Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan—countries that have their own national ranking systems as well as a presence in the international systems.
The issue brief can be accessed by clicking http://www.ihep.org/assets/files/publications/g-l/ImpactofCollegeRankings.pdf.
The Condition Of Education 2009
A new report from the national Center for Education Statistics entitled, The Condition of Education 2009 summarizes important developments and trends in education using the latest available data. The report presents 46 indicators on the status and condition of education. The indicators represent a consensus of professional judgment on the most significant national measures of the condition and progress of education for which accurate data are available. The indicators are in five main areas: (1) participation in education, (2) learner outcomes, (3) student effort and educational progress, (4) the contexts of elementary and secondary education, and (5) the contexts of postsecondary education.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2009/2009081.pdf.
How New Health Care Devices And Technologies Aid Clinicians And Consumers
Recent decades have seen a remarkable change in the delivery of health care services. Nurse practitioners now have much greater prescribing authority, consumers can purchase more than 700 over-the-counter medications once available only by prescription, and numerous devices have become available to diagnose or monitor a medical condition. A report from the California HealthCare Foundation discusses technologies, regulatory trends, and market forces that are reshaping the way health care is delivered and what these trends means.
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.chcf.org/documents/policy/HealthCareWithoutTheDoctor.pdf .
Comparative Effectiveness: Health Care Policy Perspectives For Consideration
A new Deloitte study that profiles comparative effectiveness systems in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Germany concludes that, if implemented correctly, comparative effectiveness has the potential to improve care and reduce health care costs for Americans. The study, “Comparative Effectiveness: Perspectives for Consideration” by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions illustrates the complexity and usefulness of comparative effectiveness to identify the benefits and limitations that can help the U.S. health care system learn from other systems as health care reform and comparative effectiveness programs are further developed and funded in the United States. The study examined how comparative effectiveness studies in these four countries are applied to: a diagnostic screening technology (to detect colon cancer), pharmaceutical medication (the use of statins for treatment of elevated cholesterol), and a surgical procedure (treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia).
The report can be accessed by clicking http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_chs_ComparisoneffectivenessStudy_may2009%281%29.pdf