The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched a nationwide public outreach campaign – including a letter to doctors and a new public service announcement – to raise awareness about the preventive benefits now covered at no charge to Medicare beneficiaries as a result of the Affordable Care Act. The campaign will run throughout the summer, with online ads and community events all over the country starting in July. As part of the Share the News, Share the Health campaign, CMS recently upgraded its dedicated caregivers’ website Ask Medicare, including a link to prevention information for caregivers’ reference.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/cms/49739/
Delivering a healthy dose of good news to Midwest families, Meijer announced today that its free pre-natal vitamins prescription program has filled its 1,000,000th prescription, at a cost savings of nearly $14 million to Midwest families.
The announcement, made by Hank Meijer, Co-Chairman and CEO, came as the Midwest retailer reported that its pharmacies had hit the million-mark milestone earlier this week.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/meijer/50770/
New data revealed that nearly 100 percent (99%) of 200 U.S. primary care physicians surveyed agree that heart disease and stroke are the number one cause of death and disability among type 2 diabetes patients; however, almost 40 percent (36%) of these physicians underestimate the number of patients who die from cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, while people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease than people without diabetes, the survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and supported by Merck, found only one out of five (21%) patients (n=664) listed heart attack or heart failure as their biggest worry regarding diabetes complications, and even fewer patients (7%) listed stroke.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/merck/50638/
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today introduced the HomeLox portable liquid oxygen system. The innovative system enables oxygen users to generate and store the liquid form of oxygen in the home setting. The HomeLox system offers users the long-lasting and lightweight characteristics of traditional liquid systems, while freeing them from difficulties of filling and dependence on deliveries associated with conventional systems.
Home oxygen is a critical, life-sustaining medical treatment prescribed to nearly 1.5 million Medicare patients annually who suffer from respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/philips/45648/
With Arizona facing its share of tragedies lately – economically, politically and most recently the wildfires which have impacted thousands of residents – the community has found comfort in rallying together to celebrate the grand opening of the new Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The campus of Arizona’s only hospital 100 percent for children grew from 345 licensed beds to 465, and will ultimately house 626 licensed beds at full build-out, expected in 2013.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/phoenixchildrenshospital/50358/
“The smallest moments can have the biggest impact on a child’s life. Take time to be a dad today.” That’s the campaign message of new public service advertisements (PSAs) launching today nationwide in recognition of Father’s Day. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 24 million children (34%) in the U.S. live apart from their fathers. The PSA campaign is an effort between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance and the Ad Council to show fathers the unique and irreplaceable role they play in their children’s lives.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/50580/
A new photo exhibit raising awareness of prominent global health topics debuts at the annual LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph in Charlottesville, VA. The BD Hope for a Healthy World photography competition offers photographers an opportunity to submit images on a wide variety of global health topics. The winners’ work is part of the Hope for a Healthy World traveling photo gallery that will be on display at the LOOK3 Festival from June 9-11, 2011.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/bd/50624/
Join P&G and the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) to provide clean drinking water to children in need.
GIVE HEALTH partners with the non-profit P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) to provide PUR packets in developing countries. These packets, developed by P&G and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, use some of the same ingredients as municipal water systems to remove pollutants from contaminated water. Since 2004, CSDW has provided more than 3 billion liters of water to children in need in over 60 countries.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49448-PG-myGive-Campaign/
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTR) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s antibacterial drug DIFICID™ (fidaxomicin) tablets for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults 18 years of age and older. CDAD is a significant medical problem in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and is beginning to emerge in the community among people previously at low risk for the disease. In the largest Phase 3 clinical studies ever conducted in CDAD, DIFICID had clinical response rates at the end of treatment that were non-inferior to oral vancomycin. DIFICID was superior to vancomycin in sustaining clinical response through 25 days beyond the end of treatment. DIFICID is the only FDA-approved antibacterial drug proven to be superior to vancomycin in sustained clinical response for CDAD.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/optimerpharma/50177/
As many as one in five U.S. teens suffers from disabling mental illness. Throughout Mental Health Awareness Month in May, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights the issue of mental illness in teens and tells the stories of two teens who moved from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.
What does mental illness look like in teens? It looks like Colleen, who’s battled depression and anxiety since she was 13, and Katie, who struggled with addiction in her early teens. Mental illness in teens looks just like the kid next door – studies show nearly half of all youth will experience a mental disorder at some point in their lives.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/besmartbewell/50033/
Landmark public health campaign DRIVE4COPD announced today that Tim Wright was chosen from more than 150 entries as the winner of the Tune Up for COPD Songwriting Competition. DRIVE4COPD Celebrity Ambassadors Billy Ray Cyrus and Patty Loveless were among the judges for the competition, launched in partnership with the Country Music Association (CMA), which challenged Americans to create a new DRIVE4COPD song to help raise awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/48274-boehringer-ingelheim-tuneupforcopd/
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, called on government leaders to increase their investments in vaccines and to hold themselves accountable for extending the benefits of vaccines to every child.
In a keynote address at the 64th World Health Assembly, an annual gathering of health ministers and global health leaders, Gates laid out his vision for the impact that broadening access to vaccines can have on the world. “Strong immunization systems will put an end to polio and help us reach all children with five to six new vaccines,” Gates said. “We can save four million lives by 2015, and 10 million lives by 2020.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/gatesfoundation/49363/
