News

Government issues strict recommendations on needle safety
Suits accuse HMOs of racketeering
Charity group investigating charges of sloppy medicine
Businesses up in arms over proposed worker protection rules
Thalidomide may be effective in treating bone cancer
33.6 million infected with HIV, AIDS
Ruling makes whistle-blower lawsuits more difficult
New group aims to speed drug approvals
Minnesota claims Medicare discriminates
Congress gives more benefits to more veterans
OSHA issues new bloodborne pathogen directive
Dispute breaks out over organ donation rules
Medicare spending dips slightly for first time ever
Ex-LPN gets 360 years for murdering patients
Pharmacy chains investigated for 'shortfilling'
FDA proposes adding trans fat info to food labels
UnitedHealth gives MDs final say
Plan in the works for Medicare reimbursement increase
United American Nurses announces roster
Visas for foreign nurses aimed at relieving shortage
FDA offers guidelines for recycling medical devices
Medicare, Medicaid newest victims of organized crime
Nurses with asthma often undertreated, study finds
Clinton unveils sweeping new rules to protect medical privacy
Assisted-suicide proponents fear effect of bill
Pharmaceutical mega-merger stalls
Eroding coverage for seniors, rising premiums for all
Circuit court upholds 'partial-birth' abortion bans
Focus on sudden infant death syndrome in blacks
911 now the number for all emergency calls
Campaign afoot to restore billions in provider fees
Americans 'very concerned' about med errors
Bill would let workers with disabilities keep benefits
Illinois sues four online pharmacies for fraud
Managed care for Medicare fails to win Senate support
Concerns raised about psychotropic drugs for 3-year-olds
Irish nurses' strike tentatively resolved
Agency, Congress at odds over organ donations
New coalition seeks to improve nursing's image
Doctors Without Borders wins Nobel
Former LPN convicted on six counts of first-degree murder
Routine screening for domestic violence urged
New guidelines focus on pediatric asthma
New Law on Nurse-Patient Ratios Draws Mixed Reaction
House passes bill to expand patients' rights
Drug maker to pay billions in fen-phen settlement
HMOs hit with class-action lawsuits
Minorities receive inferior care, study finds
Ultrasound delay leads to landmark case before High Court
Does breast-feeding help protect against cancer?
Web pharmacies can be dangerous, study finds
Artificial nails a magnet for bacteria
Japanese still worried about radiation leak
Late-term abortion bans ruled unconstitutional
Bill classifies fetus as second victim of violent crime
Federal government sues tobacco companies
The GAO finds blood supply tight, but not an emergency
New drug OK'd to combat antibiotic-resistant organisms
U.S. launches huge Medicare education campaign
Early discharge appears safe for newborns
Three online pharmacies win endorsement
Health professionals still feeling effects of Hurricane Floyd
States get money to fight bioterrorist threat
New findings on how best to detect hypertension
Study puts a number on the cost of obesity
Controversial pain relief bill wins support
Web site to help speed organ donations
Hospital gunman may have been targeting nurse
Lack of consensus could delay vote on Republican HMO bill
Ex-nurse goes on trial in elderly patients' deaths
Children's health insurance plan goes nationwide
New York reeling from bouts with deadly diseases
Health professionals often fail to follow guidelines
RTs improve Medicare patient outcomes in skilled nursing facilities
Agency gives thumbs down to organ-sharing program
Aetna agrees to cover new Pap test
Measles nearly eliminated in U.S., officials say
Urine test to detect pneumonia bacteria OK'd
Tuberculosis cases drop 8 percent
U.S. tries to head off looming blood shortage
Company may be out $50 million in Norplant settlement
National conference calls for redoubling anti-AIDS efforts
Diabetes criteria may change in the wake of studies
New findings on chronic fatigue, Gulf War syndromes
Methicillin-resistant bacteria a greater health threat
Four states devise organ-sharing plan
U.S. health workers help in aftermath of quake
CDC helps states develop anti-tobacco strategies
Drug use declines in teens, stays steady overall
Patient privacy legislation deadline comes and goes with no bill
New managed care legislation includes right to sue
Council urges states to adopt uniform licensure requirements
Report advises more frequent mammograms for younger women
JCAHO will make unannounced surveys
NPs prescribing more than ever
For-profit hospitals cost Medicare more, study says
FDA issues rule on direct-to-consumer drug ads
Cardiovascular disease death rate drops
Gunshot injury treatment costs billions each year
Drug companies can promote off-label use
Government pushes to curb illegal online drug sales
New emergency contraceptive approved
Presidential veto threatens $792 billion tax cut plan
Report urges improvement for HCFA hospital oversight
Mexican-American caregivers more prone to depression
Changes recommended for organ allocation system
Nurses and physicians believe patients lose in managed care
Shifting population indicates need for regional health planning
First Texas milk bank opens in Austin
Patients' bill of rights draws mixed response
CDC calls for suspension of infant vaccine
Panel issues privacy guidelines for healthcare organizations
Cheap drug regimen reduces fetal HIV transmission
Nonprofit HMOs score higher on quality
Patients are happier with nonprofit HMOs
U.S. asking manufacturers to remove mercury from vaccines
Accreditation group to evaluate PPOs
Jury finds against tobacco companies in class-action suit
Report offers good news, bad news on children's health
Atorvastin as effective as angioplasty
Inhaled drug can help prevent flu
CT scan improves lung cancer survival
Bill would reduce cuts in Medicare reimbursement
Columbia execs found guilty
Hospitals win help with Y2K complaints
Medicare HMOs cut programs nationwide
House OKs controversial medical records provision
Bill would penalize transporting minors for abortions
New government rules restrict use of restraints
Shorter waiting times for some liver transplants
Medicare recipients may get prescription drug coverage
FTC targets Internet health fraud
Supreme Court narrows definition of 'disabled'
ANA delegates create national labor entity
Health insurance help may be ahead for workers with disabilities
NIH funding priorities on track, study says
Breast implants don't cause serious illness, government panel finds
Labeling changes for Rezulin
FDA says many devices endangered by millennium bug
Bill would make insurers pay for contraceptives
U.S. making progress on Healthy People goals
Federal employees' health plans must cover mental illness
Changes urged for research safety office
Lower coverage for HIV treatment ruled legal
'Mad cow' worries prompt donor restrictions
Birth control pill to become available in Japan
Restrictions on Medicare rehab benefits may be eased
U.S. clarifies services available to immigrants
Senate debates patient privacy legislation
CDC recommends chickenpox vaccine for all children
New staph vaccine passes animal tests
Proposed law would mandate safety-engineeered sharps
Presidential panel to urge government funds for stem cell research
U.S. eases restrictions on medical marijuana research
FDA issues dialysis machine safety alert
Vitamin firms fined $750 million in price-fixing conspiracy
Most livers donated by children go to adults
Patient Safety Act gets another chance in Congress
Coalition seeks to reduce adverse drug events
House passes measure to limit Y2K liability
FDA issues warning about new arthritis drug
Prozac gets its own infomercial
Medicare HMO disenrollments prove costly
Pennsylvania may pay for organ donors' funerals
FDA proposes plan to reduce adverse drug reactions
Kaiser posts first profit since 1997
Police seeking assault charges against phlebotomist
JCAHO issues infant abduction alert
Hepatitis C 'look-back' program on schedule
RN appointed to head California Department of Health Services
Tornadoes kill dozens, injure hundreds in Oklahoma and Kansas
Teen pregnancy rate at lowest level in decades
First at-home test for hepatitis C approved
Fraud trial begins for four Columbia/HCA executives
Study finds drop in heart attack rates
Some AIDS patients may be able to discontinue preventive drugs
Shooting highlights need for more school nurses, experts say
ER nurses fired after refusing to care for an ICU patient
HIV-positive woman promises not to breast-feed baby
Improper lab techniques for drawing blood cause scare
New diabetes medication should carry warning about competitor
GAO finds Medicare HMOs often mislead beneficiaries
Studies prompt re-evaluation of breast cancer treatments
Company settles fen-phen suit after claims of heart damage
Painkiller's name leads to confusion
New federal rules lead to increase in organ donations
Registered veterinary technicians may be dubbed 'nurses'
Aetna sued under anti-racketeering law
Kevorkian sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison
California bill on acute care staffing ratios gains support
Experts identify new virus in Malaysia
Proposed federal guidelines governing stem cell research raise controversy
RNs in the armed services get waivers
Texas legislature considers multi-state nurse licensing compact
Two RNs indicted on charges of stealing morphine
Toddler immunization rates very low in Houston
Advocates attack plans for spending tobacco settlement
Survey finds 'alarming' shortage of pharmacists
Nurses in pediatric ER study follow wide variations in protocol
New treatment option approved for hard-to-treat hemophiliacs
Report shows decline in child abuse cases
Last leprosy facility in continental U.S. to close
HCFA to limit data collection for home health agencies
Research suspended at VA hospitals in Los Angeles
Baby born from sperm harvested postmortem
VA nurses salary hikes may be linked to federal employees
FDA OKs use of diabetes drug
Kevorkian is convicted of murder
Reductions in charity care reflect new era in managed care
Bill would extend health coverage to children of working poor in Texas
Methodist, St.Luke's hospitals buy medical group in Texas
GAO report finds widespread nursing home problems
Report finds marijuana beneficial for certain ailments
HMOs must offer independent appeal review
New law bars nursing homes from dumping patients
Old antidepressants are as effective as new drugs
Minority children at higher risk for heart disease
Report details frequent understaffing at St. Joseph Hospital
Legislators in California eye windfall from tobacco settlement
California senate panel approves whistle-blower legislation
AIDS vaccine trial set to begin in San Francisco
FDA seeks easier-to-understand labels for OTC drugs
ANA releases plan to fix Medicare
HMOs launch campaign to increase Medicare reimbursement rates
Proposed law would keep donated organs in Texas
Texas Children's Hospital announces $345 million expansion
Texas bill stresses hepatitis C education
Blood banks to implement new test for HIV, hepatitis C
Survey finds nationwide shortage of specialized nurses
AAP changes its position on circumcision
Nurses in North Dakota curtail meningitis outbreak
St Joseph Hospital reports earlier incidents of staff errors
Kaiser opens its books for CalPERS audit
Pharmacy systems may not catch serious errors
Home health agencies must collect more information on health progress
HMOs do a good job of detecting breast cancer
CDC panel urges Hepatitis A vaccinations for some children
Medicare beneficiaries asked to join battle against healthcare fraud
Activists warn against IV bags made of PVC
Florida nurse says he was fired because he has AIDS
15 chose assisted suicide under Oregon's Death and Dignity Act
Deaths from AIDS decline in Texas
Managed care plans encouraged to cover participation in drug trials
Board plans to certify online pharmacies
Weight-loss firms agree to disclose costs, risks of dieting
Patient records exposed on medical center web site
HIV vaccine to be tested in Thailand
Nurses fired in baby mix-up
Kaiser plans to shut facility in Oakland, California
Jury issues $51.5 million award against Philip Morris
Researchers examine new developments in AIDS research
NCQA proposes new performance measures
Two Dallas HMOs decline Medicaid patients
Studies find no ethnic disparities in cardiac care
Nursing school at University of Texas-Houston to expand
More gay men are having unsafe sex
Scientists trace HIV to chimpanzees
Nursing school enrollment declines
Six California HMOs to restore some drugs to formularies
Survey finds healthcare costs up, HMO enrollment down
Kaiser works toward 'financial turnaround' in 1999
Orange County cannabis club founder sentenced to six years
Noncompliant TB cases will go to psychiatric facility
Officials in Texas take over 13 nursing homes
Waiting times for organs differ by region
Government approves federal funds for stem cell research
Hand transplant recipient is doing well
Supreme Court allows consumers to sue insurers under federal law
Diabetes drug scheduled for FDA review
Clinical trial raises ethical questions
Study finds prophylactic mastectomies reduce cancer risk for some women
Medicare HMOs to get more money for sicker patients
Anti-abortion counseling leads a Kaiser facility to end referrals
Scientists discover source of brain cells
NIH launches data base on dietary supplements
No long-term ill effects from the contraceptive pill
Medicare hospital stays are too long
Study finds new estimates of heart disease
Panel proposes big changes for Medicare program
Winter storms, holidays take toll on nation's
blood supply
JAMA editor fired over research article
Discovery of gene mutation may help prevent some cancers
Proposed law will limit liability for Good Samaritans
Health collaborative to focus on nutrition
Texas hospital to help improve cancer care in Latin America
Seven surviving octuplets holding on
Kaiser has to cover Viagra in California
New arthritis treatment wins approval
Formal charges filed against nurses in Massachusetts
VA commits $50 million for nurse education
Aetna to acquire Prudential in merger
ANA blames flat revenue for cuts and deficit
Some California HMOs set up outside appeals process
More RN care results in fewer surgical complications
Watchdog group criticizes FDA on drug approvals
Scientists find no link between silicone implants and diseases
Clinton announces plan to fight Medicare waste
Ultrasound is a powerful tool to detect prostate cancer
CDC plans fight against STDs
Health care providers in Texas must report HIV-positive patients
Increase in Hepatitis C cases taxes prisons in Texas
Hospitals warned about patient 'dumping'
Medicare pays too much for drugs
New ANA director is not a nurse
STD epidemic may be bigger than thought
Fighting mosquitoes is a priority after Hurricane Mitch
Vaccine has nearly eradicated Hib
New warnings to appear on Viagra labels
Healthcare workers to be retrained in Los Angeles
Researchers propose testing live HIV vaccine
Officials undecided on how to spend California's tobacco 'money'
Black women face greater risk of early death from heart disease
Nonprofit-to-profit trend in hospital conversion may be overstated
Drugs target hidden levels of HIV
Dow Corning offers payments to breast implant recipients
FTC issues warning about bogus health claims online
FDA approves painkiller 'lollipop'
Dengue vaccine looks promising
UCSF Stanford Health Care cites financial success
Scientists isolate human stem cells
Tamoxifen OK'd to prevent breast cancer
Earlier HIV treatment for women suggested
Physicians unaware of medication costs
Patient dies after equipment demonstration during surgery
New treatment plan for HIV-infected TB patients
High incidence of diabetes found in native Americans
FDA endorses new arthritis treatment
Web site grades hospitals across country
Nitroglycerine shortage is over
Nurses should return to basics, British report says
Kaiser announces third-quarter losses
Ruling shuts down cannabis club
Jury fines Humana Health Plan $13 million
Woman to head FDA
Nurses accused of home health scam
Family sues Texas HMO under new law
Texas HMOs plan large premium hike
Transplant patient gets abortion
Federal budget has big increases for health programs
Pregnant women should be tested for AIDS
INS ends freeze on green cards for foreign nurses
FDA limits the use of quinacrine
CDC recommends testing for hepatitis C
Six nurses run for Congress
Home health agencies expect Medicare reprieve
Long-term care facility recognized for exemplary nursing
New hepatitis treatment stirs up controversy
Vaccination injury claims total one billion dollars
HHS to create a new center on elder abuse
Americans win Nobel Prize in medicine
Texas ties with Arizona for highest rate of uninsured people
Judge blocks start of national organ donor policy
HMOs plan to drop thousands of Medicare patients
HCFA cracks down on mental health centers
Alaska faces measles outbreak
WHO to try eliminate seven diseases
Congress considers compensation for transfusion recipients
HMO rankings vary widely
Study finds a decline in heart disease deaths
More drop coverage as premiums increase
Deal would pay HMO to favor some medications
Court upholds patient's right to sue HMOs
New drug may change treatment for AIDS patients
Medicaid patients would be protected under 'bill of rights'
Late-term abortion ban fails
Women are at high risk for workplace hazards
Miss America to focus on diabetes education
Clinic develops sex-selection technique
Nation's medical bills expected to double
CDC wants $200 million a year to fight disease
Mother wins custody of HIV-positive son
Baby mix-up gets two nurses fired
Report criticizes nonprofit conversions
Jury finds Norplant's maker not negligent
Prison officials turn down organ donation request
Remains of missing nurse identified
New breast cancer treatments move closer to approval
FDA approves 'morning after' pill
Popular diet supplement may be contaminated
Possible link found between pancreatitis and cystic fibrosis gene
Did many hospitals deny patients epidurals?
Medi-Cal HMOs have room for improvement
Shorter appeals process proposed
Medicare glitch may cost elderly
Bill will try to improve healthcare quality
Consolidation will close eight clinics
Increase in neural tube defects mystifies officials
10 Oregon patients request lethal medication
AHA tries to cut costs but executive pay increases
FDA questions needle device
Hospitals prepare for high patient census
Kaiser cited for use of unlicensed operative assistants
Court restricts FDA's regulatory powers
Questions surround new hepatitis C drug
Dengue fever scare in Puerto Rico
United - Humana deal called off
Medicare HMOs must provide immediate hearings on denials
Legislators lobby for mental health task force
Hospital defends newborn identification procedures
FDA issues warning on blood glucose monitors
Unique healthcare identifier on hold for now
Clinton extends health coverage for working poor
Updated DTP vaccine causes fewer side effects
Texas gets $ 17.3 billion in tobacco settlement
Did Kaiser delay emergency medical treatment ?
Clinton proposes nursing home reforms
Controversial ID system brings up privacy issues
U.N. revises breast-feeding guidelines
Two nonprofit hospital systems may merge
Federal health plans may cover birth control
Thalidomide approved for leprosy treatment
CDC asks states to track people with HIV
Foreign health care workers may increase under new bills
Acid attacks investigated at abortion clinics
Dow Corning agrees to pay $3.2 million
Physicians don't stay current with information
Health industry spends big bucks lobbying
CDC gets a new director
Nurse manager wins Medal of Honor
Research casts doubt on tamoxifen
Medicaid must cover Viagra
Whooping cough hits the San Francisco area
Healthcare bills advancing in California
Hospital apologizes after epidural incident
Alternative care coverage is required in Washington
Michigan lawmakers ban assisted suicide
Is Viagra too easy to get?
New FDA commissioner nominated
Raw oysters turn stomachs in Texas
Kinesiotherapists lose bid for recognition
State nurses associations form labor coalition
Disability law extends to people with AIDS
Republicans propose plan to regulate managed care
Drug-resistant HIV reported at AIDS conference
Hospitals vow to reduce waste
Intestinal disease kills children in Taiwan
New rules would increase organ donation
Can birth videos be used as malpractice evidence?
Kaiser refuses to pay for Viagra
New TB drug is easy to take
Health insurance complaints available online
Researchers warn diabetes rate is rising
HHS urges stronger protection for trial participants
Woman says she was denied painkillers during childbirth
Hormone injections: a cure for obesity?
California bill may mandate nurse-patient ratios
Emergency TV shows violate victims' privacy
Health plans may not be shielded from lawsuits anymore
Human trials begin for AIDS vaccine
Oregon physicians can give lethal meds to terminally ill
Information on the Web can be inaccurate
Pennsylvania nurses divide into labor and nonlabor
New system will try to prevent elder abuse
Murder of social worker prompts outcry
Congress debates funding for health, nursing
Meds to counteract allergies are scarce
Nurse wins wrongful imprisonment suit
Gene-based therapy successful against cancer
Mixing Viagra and heart disease meds may be dangerous
Is drinking during pregnancy child abuse?
Fires in Mexico lower air quality in Texas
Changes in organ donor policy suggested
Study says second opinions are worth every cent
WHO reports some increase in life expectancy
Substance abuse in nurses varies by specialty
Dr. Death: Does the public support Kevorkian?
Stamping out breast cancer
San Francisco's public nursing home is under fire
New tips on managing pain in the elderly
HIV testing in pregnancy should be voluntary
Possible cancer cure raises hope
Hospitals try to curb government's fraud frenzy
U.S. study proves abortion drug is effective
Polio could be wiped out by 2000
A boost for birth defects prevention program
Surgeons are successful with heart 'reimplant'
Nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists butt heads
Prop. 226 could change political landscape
FDA issues new rules on diet supplements
Government slows Medicare reimbursement
Multiple births spark controversy
Breast cancer false alarm rate is high
New impotence drug is a hot item
Needle exchange ban shocks advocates
Respiratory care practitioners' role grows
Can elephants give humans TB?
Efren Saldivar says he lied about killing patients
LA County defends care of pregnant women
Drug reactions are a leading cause of death
Tamoxifen reduces risk of breast cancer
Men and women feel pain differently
Financial incentives for physicians nixed
Texas tick carries mystery bacteria
Magazines give good nutrition advice
Tamoxifen reduces incidence of breast cancer
Federal lawmakers busy with health-related bills
British docs say no smoking in public places
Officials baffled by confession of 'mercy killings'
Hospitals to drop Columbia from their name
California's plan to insure kids wins approval
Changes in organ allocation spark debate
Does genetic testing for breast cancer work?
Flu vaccine evolves to keep up with hardy bugs
Study shows success of meningitis vaccinations
Policy makers differ on needle-exchange programs
WHO issues warning about TB
Film about medical volunteers wins Oscar
Nosocomial infections show dangerous rise
California's plan to insure kids is in jeopardy
RN Lois Capps wins House seat
Report finds incidence of cancer on the decline
Group A Strep disease rate doubles
Digital TV signals interfere with heart monitors
Hospital could lose accreditation
Bill will protect whistleblowers in health care
Vaginal birth may repair precancerous cells
Study finds medication errors can be fatal to outpatients
Former ANA president is senior adviser to HHS
RN to run for Sonny Bono's congressional seat
El Nino causes surge in infectious diseases in Peru
New antibiotic combats deadly bacteria
Feds raid Columbia El Paso office
Group A strep infection rate is high in Texas
Meridia: New diet drug hits the market
FBI seizes nondeadly version of anthrax
One size doesn't fit all wheelchair users
Miscarriages linked to chemicals in tap water
Kaiser to scale back spending in '98
After three years, a new surgeon general
Californians support 'sin taxes' on cigarettes
Generic drugs are as good as brand name
AIDS origins traced to Africa in 1959
Secret health tests are illegal
New technology in ambulances will help stroke patients
Surgical glue: an alternative to stitches?
Kaiser, CNA do battle via radio and TV
New drug to lead fight against Parkinson's
Clinton budget is generous to NIH, NIS
L.A. County changes policy of avoiding cesareans
Smugglers plead guilty to nursing scam
RN injured in abortion clinic bombing
Are hospitals hiring more workers...?
Clinton outlines patient rights
AIDS organization calls for monitoring HIV infection
HCFA proposal would allow CRNA reimbursement without MD supervision
Texas to get $14.5 billion for smokers' health care
Nurse smuggling ring was based in Texas
Aetna to change fertility benefits package
Hospice liable for organ donation mistake
Uterine monitoring may not prevent premature births
Repetitive strain injuries are on the rise in California
Healthcare workers reminded to get their shots
Clinton proposes expanding Medicare to the 'near elderly'
Court fines Clinton's healthcare reform task force
All military personnel to get anthrax vaccine
Employers must comply with mental health parity law
Medicaid enrollment urged for eligible children
Children may get disability benefits back after review
Chickens in Hong Kong killed to stop 'bird-flu' virus
Researcher warns of increase in disease because of El Niño
Healthcare professionals concerned about profits in healthcare
FDA approves new drug for fighting osteoporosis
Child abuse laws apply to viable fetuses
Supreme Court to consider if HIV is an ADA disability
Use of herbal medications worries researchers
Civil War nurse Clara Barton's memorabilia found
Boards may make RN licenses valid across state lines
ANA executive director declines a new contract
President backs healthcare rights
CDC recommends AZT and 3TC for healthcare workers exposed to HIV
Fen-phen users urged to get examined
Columbia to regroup into smaller units
Governments urged to step up HIV prevention efforts
Children with depression can benefit from Prozac
Employers can afford to offer generous mental health benefits
Extremists restrict Afghan women's access to hospitals
Researchers build a better blood vessel
New benefits to help veterans with Gulf War illnesses
Patient surviving with two hearts
CNA to get data on quality of care
Diabetes rates rise due to overweight, sedentary and aging population
Nursing education funds in limbo
Oregonians vote to keep assisted suicide
Study finds that senior citizens benefit from preventive occupational therapy
Clintons announce campaign to improve quality of and access to mammograms
Military personnel convicted of domestic violence may face loss of weapons
New rules could limit insurance coverage for the mentally ill
Columbia hires specialist to lead ethics reform
OSHA proposes standards to protect employees against TB
End-of-life care varies across the country
New memorial honors military nurses
Morning-after pill to be sold in U.S.
Oregon’s assisted suicide initiative upheld
FDA says all latex products must include warning labels
HMOs team up with consumer groups to promote standards in managed care
Can one liver be used to save two recipients? New transplant technique will try to save more lives
Increased use of morphine reflects care providers’ attention to pain relief
Surveys reveal consumers are dissatisfied with managed care
Pesticides and pollution are suspected to cause higher rates of childhood cancer
Congress considers speeding up FDA drug approval process
Healthcare groups applaud nomination of CDC director to the post of surgeon general
Diet pills downed by med journals
Home visits by nurses improve mom and kids' health
ER data shows domestic violence vastly underreported
Pilot program in San Francisco will provide post-HIV-exposure treatment
FDA panel recommends approval of thalidomide for leprosy treatment
CDC confirms two more cases of drug-resistant staph infection
Court rules that charge nurses are not supervisors and can participate in union activities.
Did Columbia officials destroy subpoenaed documents?
EEOC charge courts with disregarding psych guidelines
Changes continue to rock Columbia
Outcomes on drive-through deliveries
Employers consider cost and access, not quality, when health plan shopping
Nurses push for minimum staffing levels
Court rules arbitration delay grounds for suit against HMO
New liver transplant guidelines proposed
Nursing schools receiving more applications but accepting fewer students
Staph infection evades most potent antibiotic
Epidemiology group splits with CDC on policy for HIV-infected employees
Phase-out of CFC inhalers worries some patients
Group calls HIV study unethical
Kaiser Permanente agrees to pay fine to Texas Department of Insurance
Cancer drug manufacturer will begin managing Salick centers
Court rules pregnant drug abuser cannot be detained to protect unborn child
Second largest health insurance purchaser increases premium payments to HMOs
Battle over OT designations might be resolved in court
New York puts licensing info on Web
Columbia/HCA defends plan to expand home care division
JAMA proposes standards for Internet health care sites
Californians experiment with electronic medical cards
Columbia's El Paso facilities searched by FBI agents
Organizers want to leave NLRB out of union plans
JCAHO weaves outcomes measurements into accreditation program
Mandatory HIV testing of newborns in New York
Clinton administration comes out in support of needle exchange programs
Oxford Health Plans launches program to pay NPs directly... and at same rate as MDs
When should routine mammograms begin?
Fines levied against 43 health plans in California
First U.S. airlines set to carry automatic defibrillators on board
Prescription drugs will soon come with user-friendly info
AACN survey finds decline in enrollment in nursing programs
FTC settles charges with maker of Ensure protein drink
IOM committee: Telemedicine needs further study

Politics
Hospitals and providers prepare for Medicare cuts
Lobbyists battle over Medicare
White House miffed about APTA ad
Guidelines on protease inhibitors published
Medicare beneficiaries promised speedy decisions on appeals to HCFA
Bill tightening Medicare spending scheduled for vote in House
White House and Texas governor battle over welfare privatization
The EEOC rules put psych disorders on par with physical disabilities
HCFA promises Medicare beneficiaries swift decision on appeals
Providers expected to feel sting of Medicare cuts
Clinton apologizes to men of Tuskegee syphilis study
Bill would require states to report HIV test results
Health care investigators crackdown on fraud
Bill requiring providers to disclose RN staffing levels is introduced
Clinton names three RNs to federal healthcare commission
Clinton gets tough on Medicare scam artists
Welfare reform cuts SSI benefits to 135,000 children
Britain's national healthcare system an issue in upcoming general elections
Clinton's budget proposal: What does it mean to health professionals?

Research
Effectiveness of alternative medicine studied
Research suggests link between fen-phen and heart disease
Estrogen alternative shows promise
Genes may not determine breast or ovarian cancer risk
Midwives save money and use fewer medical interventions on low-risk moms
Percentage of elderly with disabilities is on the decline
Allergy-free latex alternative is promising, researchers say
Criteria designed to assist in pneumonia patients' care
Blood transfusions may not be needed in some surgeries
Cancer rates high among Hispanics near Texas-Mexico border
AHCPR funds research on referrals in managed care and on improving primary care
Estrogen therapy and alcohol: a bad mix?

International
New HIV saliva tests hit UK Cuba allows group to launch AIDS program
Red Cross pledges to feed thousands of starving North Koreans
Children seized from hospital in Rwanda
Law allowing voluntary euthanasia struck down in Australia
Nurse is first person in South Africa to die of Ebola virus

Regulatory
FDA approves new regs for drug ads
FDA approves implant devices
FDA approval expected for knee cartilage process
Ephedrine regulation proposed by FDA
SmithKline pays millions to settle charges of fraudulent Medicare billing
HCFA says agency reorganization will meet new needs in health care