Health

Additional 35,000 kids on track to register in state health insurance program

November 10, 2009 -- LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear joined Congressman John Yarmuth and Mayor Jerry Abramson today to announce that new federal stimulus money will help enroll more children in Jefferson County in the Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP). One year ago, Gov. Beshear launched a plan to enroll 35,000 KCHIP-eligible children by summer 2010 – a goal the state expects to meet by the end of 2009, six months ahead of schedule.    » read more »

10 November 2009, London UK & Philadelphia US -- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for its unadjuvanted influenza A (H1N1) pandemic vaccine. The approval of the sBLA, which was filed as a strain change supplement to GSK’s FluLaval seasonal flu vaccine, allows the company to manufacture a flu vaccine for use in adults to prevent influenza caused by the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza A strain.    » read more »

10 November 2009, London, UK -- GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) today announced that it has signed an agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to donate 50 million doses of its adjuvanted pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine to WHO for distribution to developing countries most in need. GSK is working with WHO and health authorities to prepare for initial shipments of the vaccine to developing countries by the end of November.    » read more »

Philadelphia, PA (November 11, 2009) – Results from a large, retrospective analysis of inmates with a serious mental illness (SMI) underscores the financial burden of mental illness on the criminal justice and health and human services (HHS) systems, and may provide useful information to policy makers. The results of the analysis, which evaluated patterns of arrest, utilization of services, and corresponding expenditures among nearly 3,800 inmates in a large urban county of Florida, were presented this week at the 137th American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Exposition.    » read more »

Supporters Join Congressman to Support Historic Vote for Reform

10 November 2009 -- (Bristol, PA) – Today, Pennsylvania Congressman Patrick Murphy (D-8th District) joined Bucks County seniors, nurses, and small business owners to laud House passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. Nurses and seniors were on hand to share their experiences on why this critical health insurance reform legislation will help make coverage more accessible and affordable for 8th District residents. Organizing for America (OFA) and Health Care for America Now (HCAN) members joined the Congressman in a show of support for his vote in favor of this historic legislation.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- To reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in stand-alone or same-day surgical centers, the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of up to $9 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to state survey agencies in 43 states. HAIs are infections some patients acquire when they are in a health care setting such as a hospital or outpatient clinic.    » read more »

Announces Obama Administration endorsement of Healthy Families Act

11/10/2009 -- WASHINGTON — Deputy Secretary of Labor Seth Harris today testified before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Children and Families regarding workplace flexibility and paid leave in the context of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic. Harris expressed the administration's strong support for the Healthy Families Act as a way to provide workplace flexibilities and increased economic security.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- (Washington D.C.) –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) attended a Senate hearing examining the problem of H1N1 being spread by workers who can’t afford to miss work when they are sick. Senator Murray gave an opening statement pushing for passage of the Healthy Families Act that would allow workers to earn up to 56 hours of paid leave to care for themselves or their family. This would benefit workers and businesses and help prevent the spread of H1N1 by ensuring that employees have the ability to stay home when they are contagious.

This is especially important for workers who may interact with individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the flu, such as those with underlying health conditions or women who are pregnant.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — At a press conference today, Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and fellow Democratic Senators Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Kay Hagan (D-NC) and Paul Kirk (D-MA) joined a small business owner to discuss how health insurance reform will provide stable, affordable coverage for the middle class.

Under the current system, the cost of health care rises three times faster than wages and continues to eat away the paychecks of hard-working Americans. Reform will lower costs and ensure that middle class families will have the health care coverage that they need.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Roland W. Burris today announced that $98,351.00 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are being allocated to the State of Illinois to combat and reduce health care associated infections (HAIs). HAIs are infections some patients acquire when they are in a health care setting such as a hospital or outpatient clinic.

Senator Burris and the Democratic-led Congress passed the 2009 American Reinvestment and Recovery Act that was signed into law by President Obama in February.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - House Democrats passed an historic bill last week that reforms our nation’s health insurance system, brings down the deficit and expands access to affordable, quality health care to nearly every American. The Affordable Health Care for America Act offers security and stability to all Americans, reduces costs, improves coverage and preserves our choice of doctors, hospitals and health plans.    » read more »

10 November 2009 -- Washington, D.C. Today, United States Representative Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) released the following statement regarding his vote for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

“Nearly forty-five years ago, Congress enacted a comprehensive Medicare and Medicaid plan which, to date, provides poor and low income families in Mississippi with health care coverage. Passage of The Affordable Health Care for America Act will have the same monumental significance that Medicare and Medicaid has provided for many Americans. It is my hope that the Senate will move swiftly to pass a similar version of the House bill to provide quality and affordable health care for all Americans.”    » read more »

Bipartisan Bill Supported by Congressman Space, AARP, AMA

11/10/09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — Fighting to overcome a health care crisis that has crippled Ohio’s seniors, working families, rural health care providers, and small businesses, Congressman Zack Space (OH-18) supported a bipartisan health care bill in the House of Representatives that will save consumers who are legal residents more than $5000 in premiums and will save seniors thousands of dollars in prescription drug costs.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act has been endorsed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the nation’s largest seniors group, as well as the American Medical Association (AMA), the largest association of physicians and medical students in the United States.    » read more »

November 10, 2009 -- Rep. Louise Slaughter, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules applauded the American Association of Retired Persons and joined them in praising the Affordable Health Care for America Act, noting it would greatly help senior citizens.

“I’m proud to see that in the many organizations that have signed on to support this bill, AARP has joined our coalition and endorsed our bill,” said Slaughter. “They represent 40 million seniors nationwide and understand that this bill will do more to protect seniors and bring down their medical costs than any other single piece of legislation in decades. The reason health care will succeed this time around is because we have support from so many important groups like AARP.”    » read more »

"Doesn't Provide Enough Reform"

November 10, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Heath Shuler, D-Waynesville, released the following statement today after voting against H.R. 3962, the House health care reform legislation.

“There is no question that our nation’s health care system is broken. Over the past few months, I have spoken with hundreds of constituents and received thousands of calls, letters and emails about health care reform. I thank everyone in Western North Carolina who so willingly shared their stories and concerns with me. It is clear to me that we, as a country, are failing to provide enough Americans with affordable options to manage their health care, prevent illness and treat existing conditions.”    » read more »