Insights

<p>It’s a phrase only a bureaucrat could love: “assurance of compliance.”</p> <p>The federal government uses the term frequently. When an agency is considering giving money to state or local government or to a private organization, it often makes them fill out an assurance of compliance asserting that they are following<a href="http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ads/300/303mac.pdf">civil rights</a> laws, <a href="http://ori.dhhs.gov/documents/PHS-6315.pdf">research guidelines</a>, and other restrictions.</p>

<p>Here’s what we’re reading today:</p> <p><strong>ADHD:</strong> Researchers find the first evidence that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is genetic, a finding that could lead to better treatment. Reuters’ Kate Kelland <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68S5UD20100930">has the story</a>.</p>

<p>I've been criticized in the past for focusing on criticism of bad health reporting, rather than aiming some positive reinforcement at the good pieces. &nbsp;Well,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68S3TM20100929">here you go</a>.</p>

<p>Here’s what we’re reading today:</p> <p><strong>Sabotage:</strong> Science noir, indeed: Nature’s Brian Maher reports on <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100929/full/467516a.html">a jaw-dropping case of medical research sabotage</a> at the University of Michigan.</p>

<p>Prior to 2007, a clinic like <a href="../../../../../../../../blogs/shadow-practice-part-11-joint-commission-overlooks-risky-practices-led-patient-death">Anaheim Hills Surgery Center</a> could have been penalized or even shut down by the state of California. One court ruling changed that, allowin

<p>The “medical home” is one of those elements of health reform that seems like a classic DBI story: dull but important. It doesn't have to be.</p> <p>In this post, I’ll talk about what medical homes are, why is everyone talking about them in the context of health reform and how can you cover this topic in your community in a compelling way.</p>

<p>Here’s what we’re reading today:</p> <p><strong>Health Insurance:</strong> Ugh. A new Hewitt Associates report shows just how much our health premiums are expected to rise next year. The Los Angeles Times’ Duke Helfand <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/27/business/la-fi-healthcare-costs… the details</a>.</p>

<p><strong>Cook Stoves Save Lives: Why Hillary Clinton's new indoor stove initiative will help stop global warming</strong></p><p>Last week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $50 million in seed money to supply fuel efficient indoor stoves for women in Africa. When you think of the mega-billions that are spent on endless wars, it's refreshing to see that what the DOD would consider chump change is being earmarked for a worthy project that will save tens of millions of lives, improve the health of millions more—and drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.</p>

<p>Here’s what we’re reading today:</p> <p>Journalists’ Pfriend? Gary Schwitzer and Andrew Holtz weigh in on <a href="http://www.healthnewsreview.org/blog/2010/09/pfizer---a-pfriend-of-jour…’s sponsorship of a National Press Foundation education program about Alzheimer's</a>, a disease for which Pfizer makes medications.</p> <p>Medical Loss Ratios: If you’re wondering what these are, check out <a href="http://www.gooznews.com/node/3449">Merrill Goozner’s analysi</a>s of some recent proposed regulations on this key element of health reform.</p>

<p>The heart of Helena, the capital city of Montana, is called Last Chance Gulch, named after the chance prospectors took panning for gold in the creek that used to run wild through the area.</p> <p><a href="http://fnweb.mt.gov/IDMWS/custom/BSD/BSD_FN_Home2.asp?FileNumber=136963…. Stanley Robert Schure</a> could certainly relate. He has had about a dozen “last chances” courtesy of the <a href="http://bsd.dli.mt.gov/license/bsd_boards/med_board/phy.asp">Montana Board of Medical Examiners</a>.</p>