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Notre Dame Controversy, Supreme Court Selection Test Obama's 'Balancing Act,' NYT Reports
The New York Times on Friday examined how two events -- controversy surrounding President Obama"s upcoming commencement speech at University of Notre Dame on Sunday and the selection of a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter -- are testing the "delicate balancing act" the president has pursued on abortion rights. Notre Dame"s invitation to Obama to deliver the commencement speech and receive an honorary degree has sparked ongoing protests from abortion-rights opponents, and Obama is now forced to decide whether he will recognize this opposition in his address on Sunday. According to Anita Dunn, the president"s communication adviser, Obama likely will "make reference to the controversy" in his speech but will not "allow it to become the focus of a day that"s actually supposed to be about the graduates." Meanwhile, the pending Supreme Court vacancy has "galvanized backers of abortion rights," according to the Times. Although both sides expect that Obama will select a nominee who supports abortion rights, advocates "are taking no chances," the Times reports.Obama has attempted to present a nuanced approach to abortion-rights issues and expressed that he intends to form consensus around reducing unintended pregnancies and promoting adoption. In addition, his policy moves to date have attempted "to straddle the abortion divide" by creating a dialogue with religious conservatives, avoiding contentious legislative fights and taking a gradual approach to reversing the policies of former President George W. Bush, the Times reports. Obama has named abortion-rights supporters to head jobs, such as his nomination of Dawn Johnsen, a former legal director of NARAL Pro-Choice America, to lead the Justice Department"s Office of Legal Counsel. He also repealed the "Mexico City" policy, which prohibited federal funding for international groups that provide abortion services or information; lifted some limits on embryonic stem cell research; proposed decreasing funding for abstinence-only sex education; and took action to rescind the Bush administration"s HHS provider "conscience" rule allowing health care workers to refuse to provide services they find morally or religiously objectionable. However, the president has stepped away from some abortion-related issues, including the Freedom of Choice Act, which would effectively codify Roe v. Wade. Although Obama said in a 2007 speech to Planned Parenthood that he would sign the bill if elected president, he said in a press conference last month that it is not his "highest legislative priority."Meanwhile, Obama"s top domestic policy adviser, Melody Barnes, is convening a series of meetings with leaders from both sides of the abortion rights debate to discuss policy ideas, with an aim of drafting recommendations by late summer. David Gushee, a Christian ethics professor at Mercer University who has participated in the talks, said the president is signaling to moderate Catholics and evangelicals that "he clearly knows what the bright red lines are and is trying to avoid stepping over them." However, some religious conservatives and abortion-rights opponents who have not been included in the discussions contend that "Obama is trying to have it both ways," according to the Times. Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, said coming to a consensus would entail the president advocating for restrictions such as parental consent requirements for minors and bans on certain abortion procedures. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who opposes abortion rights, called Obama"s strategy "[m]oderate rhetoric, hard-left policies."Polls show that U.S. residents remain "deeply conflicted" over abortion rights, with support declining over the years, the Times reports. About 60% of U.S. residents believed abortion should be legal in all or most cases in a 1995 poll; a recent Pew Research Center poll showed the number declined to 46% (Stolberg, New York Times, 5/15).

NovImmune Successfully Completes NI-0801 Phase I Clinical Study
NovImmune, an immunology-focused biotech company
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Research In The Bolivian Rainforest Suggests Ancient, Shared Roots Of Feeding Behaviours In Monkeys And Humans
Behavioural ecologists working in Bolivia have found that wild spider monkeys control their diets in a similar way to humans, contrary to what has been thought up to now. Rather than trying to maximize their daily energy intake, the monkeys tightly regulate their daily protein intake, so that it stays at the same level regardless of seasonal variation in the availability of different foods.
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Medicaid Health Plans Provide Cost Savings To States And High Quality And Value To Beneficiaries, New Analysis Shows

Medicaid health plans are producing cost savings for states, increasing access to services for individuals covered by Medicaid, improving quality of care, and earning high satisfaction ratings from enrollees, according to a Lewin Group report released today by America"s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Twenty-four existing studies were analyzed by the Lewin Group to determine the savings achieved when states have implemented private Medicaid health plans. "This study provides validation that Medicaid health plans are improving quality and access while also containing costs," said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP. "During these difficult economic times, Medicaid health plans provide states with tools that work and on which they can depend." Since the early 1990s, state Medicaid programs have turned increasingly to private health plans because of their potential to provide high-quality, cost-effective care. According to Lewin, health plans offer an opportunity for Medicaid programs to stretch their dollars and achieve cost savings without cutting eligibility, benefits, or already-low provider payment levels as states look at ways to alleviate the economic pressure faced by their budgets. Some highlights of the Lewin analysis of 24 studies include: -- The studies strongly suggest that Medicaid health plans typically yields cost savings -- savings across the studies range from half of 1 percent to 20 percent. -- The studies provide some evidence that Medicaid health plan savings are significant for the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and SSI-related population while improving quality and value for beneficiaries. For example, Arizona saw that 60 percent of the $102.8 million savings achieved from 1983 to 1991 is from the SSI population. -- Various studies demonstrated that states" Medicaid health plan cost savings are largely attributable to changing patterns in unnecessary inpatient utilization such as those in a study of preventable hospitalizations in California, which found that the rates of preventable hospitalization were 38 and 25 percent lower in health plans than in fee-for-service (FFS) programs for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and SSI populations, respectively. -- Pharmacy was also an area where Medicaid health plans yielded noteworthy savings -- a comparison of drug costs under FFS programs vs. Medicaid health plans in multiple states found that the costs per-member per-month (PMPM) were 10 to 15 percent lower for health plans than for FFS programs. -- The studies also suggest that health plans with responsibility for certain populations or services are especially likely to generate savings in a health plan delivery system while providing and coordinating comprehensive care for beneficiaries. -- The Lewin analysis found that Medicaid health plans were found to have improved Medicaid beneficiaries" access to services and earned high satisfaction ratings from enrollees in addition to containing costs. "As stewards of public funds, quality accreditation ensures our state administrators that one of America"s most financially vulnerable populations is receiving the quality care and service it needs and deserves," said J. Mario Molina, M.D., President and CEO of Molina Healthcare, Inc. "At Molina, we demonstrate this by ensuring all of our eligible health plans are quality accredited by NCQA." "Medicaid managed care works -- it"s that simple," said Daniel J. Hilferty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies. "Medicaid recipients are among the most sick and vulnerable people in the United States. Using an integrated, proactive approach to health care, AmeriHealth Mercy has improved outcomes for our members and saved taxpayers millions of dollars. As the nation searches for high-quality, cost-effective health reform options, we offer a model that is proven to increase access to care and control costs." "This study demonstrates what we see every day: that Medicaid managed care helps our most vulnerable citizens get the healthcare they need and, at the same time, saves money for State governments," said James G. Carlson, Chairman and CEO of AMERIGROUP Corporation. "At AMERIGROUP, our unique programs for people with disabilities and long-term illnesses help our members lead more independent lives by receiving proactive care to prevent unnecessary hospital stays or institutionalization. This approach helps them lead healthier and fuller lives and in the long run lowers the cost of Medicaid." The study also noted that the FFS setting model makes coordination of care and cost-containment difficult, while health plans create savings opportunities without reducing eligibility and benefits. America"s Health Insurance Plans - Providing Health Benefits to More Than 200 Million Americans About AMERIGROUP Corporation AMERIGROUP Corporation, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, improves healthcare access and quality for the financially vulnerable, seniors and people with disabilities by developing innovative managed health services for the public sector. Through its subsidiaries, AMERIGROUP Corporation serves approximately 1.7 million people in Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. About the AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies The AmeriHealth Mercy Family of Companies is the industry leader in the delivery of quality health care to low-income populations covered by publicly funded programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and State Children"s Health Insurance Programs. The company"s five lines of business -- health plans, management and administrative services, pharmacy management, care management, and behavioral health -- touch the lives of 6.7 million people in 14 states. About Molina Healthcare Molina Healthcare, Inc. is a multi-state managed care organization that arranges for the delivery of health care services to persons eligible for Medicaid, Medicare, and other government-sponsored programs for low-income families and individuals. Altogether, Molina Healthcare"s 10 licensed health plan subsidiaries in California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, and Washington currently serve approximately 1.2 million members. America"s Health Insurance Plans


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