The Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Treasury have begun the next steps to establish health insurance exchangesmarketplaces where consumers can choose a private health insurance plan that fits their health needs, similar to the kind of insurance choices as members of Congress. Among other policies, the proposed rules describe how middle-class families will gain access to tax relief to potentially reduce the cost of coverage.

The patient history and clinical examination often sufficed for patients presenting to the emergency department, according to a study published as a research letter online Aug. 8 in Archives of Internal Medicine. The authors suggested that the decision to order advanced imaging studies, such as CT, be based on clinical data for this population.

Concord Medical Services and GE Healthcare have signed a memorandum of understating (MOU) to form a preferred strategic partnership in China.

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback and Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, MD, have announced that the State of Kansas is returning its Early Innovator Grant distributed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in February for early implementation of portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).

The American Medical Association (AMA) and 81 physician organizations recommended that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) proposed Medicare data for performance measurement rule should ensure that public reports on Medicare and private payor data are valid, reliable and actionable.

An integrated public-private partnership has the potential to improve access, quality and efficiency in healthcare, according to an article published in the August edition of Health Affairs.

Providing portable computed radiography chest studies in the homes of elderly patients provided satisfactory image quality and lowered delirium among patients, according to a small pilot study published as a research letter Aug. 8 in Archives of Internal Medicine.

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has launched the state's health information organization, as stated by the agency in a news release.