Q And A: Politics And The Academy Channel ABC1 03/07/2008 9.30pm

This week, the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon and her shadow Joe Hockey go head to head. Joining them are leading Indigenous scholar, Marcia Langton, writer and Assoc. Professor Peter van Onselen, and Director of the Center for Policy Development Miriam Lyons.
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Timely insulin pump subsidy

Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 03-07-2008
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NEHTA Exposes What it Is Up To – By Accident?

The following lit up the RSS Feed this afternoon. http://www.nehta.gov.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=-1&Itemid=139 Privacy Blueprint released today! The Privacy Blueprint for the Individual Electronic Health Record has been released for comment. Excited – I went off to the site What' New This section only lists NEHTA's most recent publications. To view all of NEHTA's publications, All Publications. General Privacy Blueprint for the Individual Electronic Health Record new! Hits 5 Published 03/07/2008 Details & Feedback Download Now guess what! The document is also an explanation of the proposal for the IEHR as well as details of the Privacy Proposals. Figures 2 and 3 of this document are invaluable in understanding just how NEHTA is thinking on the Shared EHR. This is vital stuff for discussion and review – and feedback to NEHTA! At a quick scan it really looks to me as just the 2005 HealthConnect with an associated Personal Health Record. I wonder will the Council of Australian Government consider all this without vastly more input from all the interested stakeholders Please go for it and review closely and comment! I will...

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Pathology rebate changes to hit healthcare (ABC)

A pathologist says a reduction in rebates for pathology will have a serious impact on healthcare - particularly for the chronically ill and people in rural areas.
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A Useful Policy Brief on Health Information Privacy and Security.

The following appeared a few days ago. Policy Post 14.9, June 24, 2008 A Briefing On Public Policy Issues Affecting Civil Liberties Online from The Center For Democracy and Technology Privacy and Security Principles for Health Information Technology (1) CDT Calls for the Adoption of a Comprehensive Privacy and Security Framework for Health Information Technology (2) Basics Required in any Health Information Technology Policy (3) CDT's Suggested Implementation A lot more here: http://www.cdt.org/publications/policyposts/2008/9 The document addresses the three areas listed above. Most useful from a very useful document are these two sections. First is the set of Core Privacy Principles from Markle. Privacy and security policies should incorporate "fair information practices" (FIPs) such as those outlined in the Markle Foundation's Connecting for Health initiative: Openness and Transparency: A general policy of openness should be enforced for any new developments, practices, and policies with respect to personal data. Individuals should be able to know what information exists about them, who has access to it, and where it is stored.Purpose...

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New Office of Rurul Health

Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 02-07-2008
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Plan to boost organ donation

Kevin Rudd - Prime Minister Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 02-07-2008
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Independence Day for Telepresence Solutions in Healthcare

Last week I met with two company CEO's here in Redmond who wanted to show me their latest solutions for telemedicine, bedside monitors, and home health remote monitoring.  It should come as no surprise that neither company is based in the United States.  If you've been a follower of this Blog you know that I tend to see much greater use of telepresence technologies in healthcare beyond US boarders and especially overseas.  It's not that we don't have the technology in the United States, it's just that the business model for using it isn't as compelling as it is in countries that have more centrally managed, publicly financed health systems.

The first company I met with was TeleMedCare of Rosebery, Australia.  Professor Branko Celler, TeleMedCare CEO, is a bioengineer by training.  You might assume he was a physician when hearing him speak about the telehealth solutions his company has pioneered.  Throughout the demonstration of TeleMedCare's latest solutions and devices, their clinical rigor shined through.  Professor Branko (he still maintains a professorship at New South Whales University) is passionate about using technology to extend health information and medical services to people with chronic diseases.  He totally understands why such an approach not only saves money, but improves personal health and well being.  He cited numerous examples of this from the many pilots his company has conducted with patients in Australia and the UK.

I was particularly impressed by seeing the company's latest telehealth monitoring station in action.  The station is about the size of a small, flat screen television.  It can measure temperature, pulse, blood pressure, weight, peak flow, pulse oximetry, and glucose using a variety of attached and Bluetooth compatible devices.  The unit can also handle fall monitoring and social alarms, do health screenings and patient education, and provide medication management and monitoring functions.  With a built in camera and voice over IP setup, it can serve as a real-time telemedicine link to the patient's own healthcare providers.   The monitoring station was remarkably unobtrusive and simple to use.  According to Professor Branko, even elderly patients adapt to the technology with ease.

My second meeting was with a company I've been following for some time.  That company is QualiLife, one that I've written about previously on this Blog.  QualiLife is based in beautiful Lugano, Switzerland.  I've met with QualiLife CEO, Claudio Giugliemma, on several prior occasions here in Redmond and also in Zurich.  In our meeting last week, Mr. Giugliemma updated me on his company's latest technologies including their new patient bedside counsels.  These flatscreen devices provide hospitalized patients with music, television, movies and patient education on demand, Internet access, e-mail, messaging, and voice and video communications.  In a federated network, doctors can do virtual rounding on their patients from anywhere.

QualiLife got its start by developing computer software for people with disabilities.  By applying this discipline to their bedside counsel solutions, the company offers a user interface to its applications that makes them accessible to anyone regardless of age or disability making this the ideal solution for hospitalized patients.

Unified communications technology is now being combined with smart software, affordable base stations, and a full array of connected physiological monitoring devices for use in the home, hospital, and everywhere in between.  This signals the beginning of a revolution in telehealth; an independence day or sorts for telepresence in healthcare.  It's time to celebrate.  And for my US readers, Happy 4th of July!

Bill Crounse, MD   Senior Director, Worldwide Health   Microsoft Corporation

Could Hair be Used to Detect Breast Cancer?

The Australian company Fermiscan is developing a test that can potentially identify a patient with breast cancer using just 20 or so strands of hair. The new test bombards the hair samples with x-rays, which creates a diffraction pattern. The hair from patients with breast cancer more often than not will produce a distinctly different x-ray diffraction pattern than hair from cancer-free patients. The company hopes that their test can supplement the current gold-standards of mammography and ultrasound. In addition, if the test is sensitive enough it can help avoid unnecessary biopsies. Read the press release here... Fermiscan company page... Image: Fermiscan hair x-ray showing ring present in fiber diffraction pattern.... jhbarad
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New health services start today

Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 01-07-2008
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Govt launches new health checks for kids (AAP)

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has announced three new health services for children and teenagers.
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It is Not Clear Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon Knows What She is Doing!

I am not sure if the readers of this blog have appreciated yet just what a fundamental change in our Primary Health Care delivery system is being proposed by the new Health Minister. While I have no strong feelings about the proposals I think it is vital they be carefully thought through. In Australia, the UK, Canada and NZ at present primary care doctors have a very substantial ‘access control’ or gatekeeper function to the rest of the services provided by the health system (especially specialist care, investigations, non-urgent hospital care and allied health services especially). The objective of this approach is to try and ensure ant presenting clinical issue receives an appropriate clinical diagnosis and assessment before the patient is sent on for additional care. Overall the system seems to work pretty well although it is easy to identify occasions when medical involvement in accessing of care may be seen as un-necessary (e.g. physio for minor sports injuries and even –as is done overseas, the management of normal pregnancy). However, with the gradual reduction in the number of GPs – especially outside the major metropolitan areas – clearly access to GP care for diagnosis...

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Aboriginal men's health summit

Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 30-06-2008
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Public hospitals report card

Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 30-06-2008
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Health Workforce Better Skilled Than Ever Before, Australia

The College of Nursing says that the Federal Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, is in a better position than any of her predecessors to take on health reform in Australia, Tracey Osmond, Chief Executive, said. "Australia's health workforce has never been as skilled as it is today," said Osmond.
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Could NEHTA Have Been Done Better and Cheaper?

The following article appeared last week. HITSP works on communication, inside and out By: Joseph Conn / HITS staff writer Story posted: June 25, 2008 - 5:59 am EDT The federally supported Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel (HITSP) has come up with a plan to improve its own internal communications as well as to educate members of the broader healthcare community about its work to promote healthcare IT interoperability. The 43-page plan was presented and accepted Monday during a meeting of the HITSP by its education, communication and outreach committee. The HITSP was created in 2005 by the American National Standards Institute under a $3.3 million contract with HHS to develop a process to select and recommend appropriate healthcare IT standards. "The measure of our success is not just harmonizing the standards, it's actual implementation," said HITSP Chairman John Halamka in a telephone interview after the meeting. "You want all systems to be plug and play. You want e-prescribing to be universal." To do that, Halamka said, will require educating everyone in the healthcare community about HITSP and the availability of the HITSP-vetted standards. And in...

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Sonic buys Hawaii lab for $US121m

SONIC Healthcare, Australia's largest pathology company, has agreed to buy Clinical Laboratories of Hawaii for $US121 million to expand its US business into the Pacific island state.
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Useful and Interesting Health IT Links from the Last Week – 29/06/2008

Again, in the last week, I have come across a few reports and news items which are worth passing on. These include first: Urgent Survey Response Needed! In a comment on the blog this week I had the following comment: “The Deloitte eHealth strategy is available online. Perhaps you should ensure that they receive a good response. https://www.deloittedtermine.com/SPSSMR/ImageCache/ImageCache.aspx?project=NESAUDEL001&file=default.htm” What is actually on line is a short questionnaire. I suggest all those who read the blog quickly make their contribution to the survey. This is despite the fact that I find the survey both very constrained, quite confusing and lacking any apparent discussion of the drivers of the new e-Health Strategy. There are a range of ‘strategic choice’ questions the survey could and should have addressed. Second we have: Behind the Curtain Epic's unwavering commitment to its unique values has created an unusual recipe for success. What's behind Epic's gains in the clinical IT sphere? by Mark Hagland When readers of HCI were asked what vendor they most wanted to read about, respondents picked one company by a wide margin (see graphic on page 28)....

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NHS Scotland eHealth Strategy 2008 - 2011 Launched

The eHealth Strategy for 2008 - 2011 was formally launched by Nicola Sturgeon at this year's NHS Scotland Event. The vision for eHealth supports the goals as set out in the Better Health Better Care Action Plan. This is about exploiting the power of electronic information to help ensure that patients get the right care, involving the right clinicians, at the right time, to deliver the right outcomes. It is therefore as much about transforming traditional processes as it is about technology.
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College Supports Strong Words By Roxon, Australia

The College of Nursing congratulates the Federal Minister for Health, Nicola Roxon, on her no-nonsense response to the Australian Medical Association's claims that they are the gatekeepers of Australian health care, Tracey Osmond, Chief Executive, said. "We are seeing a paradigm shift in the delivery of health care in Australia," said Osmond. "One that is long overdue." "Minister Roxon has seen through the AMA.
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IBA's Lorenzo health system in tests

THE long-awaited Lorenzo clinical software suite by IBA Health will be launched in Australia within four months.
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E-Health and the Terrible Floods in the US MidWest.

The follow press release appeared a day or two ago. FSSA Announces Indiana Flood Victims eHealth Support Center INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced the creation of the Indiana Flood Victims eHealth Support Center (1-877-788-5888) as a part of the relief effort for disaster victims across the state. This support center will provide doctors with medical information of flood victims, to the extent obtainable, for treatment purposes. FSSA is leading the effort between the Regenstrief Institute, Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE), who is handling the calls, and Electronic Data Systems (EDS). “Governor Daniels called upon state government to assist the disaster victims in any and all ways possible. The support center is just one of several initiatives taking place to help Hoosiers get back on their feet,” said FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob. “With the eHealth Support Center, we will be able to give providers all the information we have available in a timely manner, resulting in a higher quality of care for patients.” Medical information is being made available through the Indiana Network for Patient Care...

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Fixin' chronic care

An outfit called NewTalk is hosting a 3-day on-line roundtable (today was day 2) on the following question: Chronic care: Do we need an entirely new model of delivery?  The all-star panel includes:

Troy Brennan, Aetna Inc.
Lawrence Casalino, University of Chicago
Susan Dentzer, Health Affairs
Philip Howard, Common Good
Brent James, Intermountain Healthcare
Nancy Johnson, Baker Donelson
Timothy S. Jost, Washington and Lee University School of Law
David B. Kendall, Progressive Policy Institute
Mark McClellan Engelberg, Center for Health Care Reform
Peggy O Kane, National Committee for Quality Assurance
Carol Raphael, Visiting Nurse Service of New York
Arnold Relman, Harvard Medical School
John Rother, AARP
Bruce Vladeck, Ernst & Young's Health Sciences Advisory Services
John E. Wennberg, The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice

The key issues under discussion include both delivery models and payment models.  Seems to me there also needs to be more of a focus on population health and on primary care and prevention, since so much of the disease (and cost) burden is due to preventable conditions.

I heard the following description of an alternative payment system at a recent New England School of Acupuncture function:  In a traditional Chinese village, the local acupuncturist is paid a monthly fee by each of his patents -- unless they are sick.  Some version of a system incentivizing providers to keep patients healthy would be a vital component of any reform in this realm.

-- David Harlow

$190M boost for autism care

Jenny Macklin - Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Brendan O'Connor - Minister for Employment Participation Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing Bill Shorten - Media Statement - 25-06-2008
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The New England Journal of Medicine Assesses the Real EHR Use in the USA

The following abstract is from a full article published in last week’s NEJM. Electronic Health Records in Ambulatory Care — A National Survey of Physicians Catherine M. DesRoches, Dr.P.H., Eric G. Campbell, Ph.D., Sowmya R. Rao, Ph.D., Karen Donelan, Sc.D., Timothy G. Ferris, M.D., M.P.H., Ashish Jha, M.D., M.P.H., Rainu Kaushal, M.D., M.P.H., Douglas E. Levy, Ph.D., Sara Rosenbaum, J.D., Alexandra E. Shields, Ph.D., and David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P. ABSTRACT Background Electronic health records have the potential to improve the delivery of health care services. However, in the United States, physicians have been slow to adopt such systems. This study assessed physicians' adoption of outpatient electronic health records, their satisfaction with such systems, the perceived effect of the systems on the quality of care, and the perceived barriers to adoption. Methods In late 2007 and early 2008, we conducted a national survey of 2758 physicians, which represented a response rate of 62%. Using a definition for electronic health records that was based on expert consensus, we determined the proportion of physicians who were using such records in an office setting and the...

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Media release: Leaps and bounds in health, but some groups lag behind (Tuesday 24 June 2008) (AIHW)

Australia is one of the healthiest nations in the world, taking great strides in many health areas-but there are groups whose health still lags behind, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's latest national report card on health. The report, Australia's health 2008 , launched today by Health Minister Nicola Roxon at the 'Australia's health 2008' conference in Canberra, shows falling death rates for cancer, heart disease, strokes, and injury. Australia's Health 2008 selected highlights (by chapter).
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Govt blames Libs for alcopops tax delays (AAP)

The Liberals are to blame for any delayed approval of the alcopops tax, federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says.
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Roxon defends super clinics plan (AAP)

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has mounted a spirited defence of the government's GP super clinics plan which has been criticised by doctors.
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Nurses willing and able

The Government should recognise primary healthcare extends beyond the services of a general practitioner.
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Health Information Exchange – Some Really Sound Thoughts and Why NEHTA might be Off Course.

The following post appeared on the e-CareManagement blog a day or two ago. Untangling the Electronic Health Data Exchange Posted by Vince Kuraitis on June 19, 2008 by David C. Kibbe MD, MBA The purpose of this post is to help a non-technical audience untangle some of the confusion regarding health data exchange standards, and particularly come to a better understanding of the similarities and differences between the Continuity of Care Record (CCR) standard and the CDA Continuity of Care Document (CCD). But what I’m most interested in is getting beyond the technical, political, or economic positions and interests of the proponents of any particular standard to arrive at some principles that demonstrate in plain language what we are trying to achieve by using such standards in the first place. Frankly, I don’t give a hoot about what standardized XML format for capturing clinical data and information about a person becomes the norm in the health care industry over the next several years. I do care that the decision is made by the people, institutions, and companies who use the standards, and not made by a quasi-governmental...

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Australian Government, Department of Defence

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAS HEALTH 2008. Australian Defence Force (ADF) is fit and well thats the picture that has emerged from the publication Australias Health 2008. Nicola Roxon, Australias Health is the nations premier health report card, provided by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare every two years.
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Roxon uses GP shortage to attack AMA (AAP)

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has used a speech to a medical conference to pour fuel on her stoush with the Australian Medical Association (AMA).
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Microsoft teams with AT&T, Covisint for e-health exchange

Microsoft continues to sign up partners to support its mission to create an online repository for patient information. On Monday the company announced a partnership with AT&T and Compuware subsidiary Covisint to set up an Internet-based information exchange between the companies' e-health systems.
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Study: Physician adoption of EHRs continues to lag

Fewer than one in five U.S. physicians are using electronic health records, and just 8.6 percent of those in small, office-based practices have adopted the technology, according to a federally funded survey published in the online version of the New England Journal of Medicine. A slim majority of those in large practices-with 50 or more doctors-reported using EHRs in the survey, conducted by the Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital. Cost, as usual, was the No. 1 reason cited for not migrating from paper, and many respondents blamed the lack of financial incentives for providers to adopt technology.

Among the small share of doctors who actually have EHRs in place, their take on the technology was overwhelmingly positive: 82 percent said EHRs improved the quality their clinical decisions, 86 percent they can reduce medication errors and 85 percent said EHRs enhanced delivery of preventive care.

For more details:
- check out the Med Headlines brief
- see how the New York Times covered this story (reg. req.)
- read the full New England Journal of Medicine article

Chief Nursing Officer

Nicola Roxon - Minister for Health and Ageing - Media Statement - 23-06-2008
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Just Why are NEHTA’s Plans for the Shared EHR a Secret?

The following is adapted from the NEHTA web site (captured 22/06/2008) http://www.nehta.gov.au/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=130&Itemid=139 Shared Electronic Health Record NEHTA is working to develop specifications and requirements for a national approach to shared electronic health records. These records will enable authorised healthcare professionals to access an individual's healthcare history, directly sourced from clinical information such as test results, prescriptions and clinician notes. The shared electronic health record will also be able to be accessed by individuals who have received healthcare services. Specifically, NEHTA will focus on developing: Operating concepts for a national approach to establishing and maintaining shared electronic health records;Policies, requirements, architecture and standards for a national approach to shared electronic health records; andA business case to substantiate and validate the proposed approach. For the health system within Australia to reap the full benefits from the IT, governments and healthcare providers need to make the case for undertaking further investment including the...

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Australia's Chief Nursing Officer Announced

Health Minister Nicola Roxon today congratulated Rosemary Bryant for her appointment as Australia's chief nursing officer. There has been a Chief Medical Officer since 1985 - it's time nurses got the recognition they deserve, too. She was previously the Director of Nursing Policy and Planning in the Victorian Government, and the Director of Nursing at Royal Adelaide Hospital.
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Useful and Interesting Health IT Links from the Last Week – 22/06/2008

Again, in the last week, I have come across a few reports and news items which are worth passing on. These include first: CBO director stands by criticized IT report By: Joseph Conn / HITS staff writer Story posted: June 17, 2008 - 5:59 am EDT The director of the Congressional Budget Office has rallied to the defense of his troops, one current and one former CBO researcher, who in a report last month criticized two older and oft-cited studies touting the macroeconomic benefits of widespread, national deployment of healthcare information technology systems. Peter Orszag, director of the congressional watchdog agency, took to his blog earlier this month to answer criticisms of the CBO report sent to him in a letter and an attachment from officials at the RAND Corp. To paraphrase, the RAND folks wrote to the CBO people saying, "You done us wrong," and the CBO boss blogged back, answering, "We stand by our men." "Nothing in the RAND letter would cause us to modify our previous conclusions," Orszag wrote on his blog. "The RAND study estimated potential savings of approximately $80 billion per year from health IT if it were widely adopted," Orszag continued. As the "CBO...

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Issue No 2 of [Pulse+IT] eNews Available

Pulse+IT eNews Edition 2: 20th June, 2008 Click here to download this edition Contents - Simon James - 1800-Skype: Free phone calls for all. - Dr David More - What is Big Blue up to in E-Health in Oz? - Dr Sam Heard - Guest commentary: Why is it taking so long? - In other news... Events calendar Edition Sponsors - GPA Accreditation Plus - eVisit Enjoy! David.

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Roxon hopeful for DrinkWise campaign (AAP)

A new government advertising campaign will make parents think about their drinking habits, Health Minister Nicola Roxon says.
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Obesity figures staggering: Roxon (ABC)

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has described new statistics about obese Australians as staggering and alarming and has asked for urgent advice on how to combat the problem.
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The USA Plans to Prove Ambulatory EHRs Really Make a Difference!

The following release appeared a few days ago: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2008pres/06/20080610a.html HHS Secretary Announces 12 Communities Selected to Advance Use of Electronic Health Records in First Ever National Demonstration FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, June 10, 2008 HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today named 12 communities that will participate in a national Medicare demonstration project that provides incentive payments to physicians for using certified electronic health records (EHR) to improve the quality of patient care. The five-year, first-of-its-kind project is expected to improve the quality of care provided to an estimated 3.6 million Americans. “The use of electronic health records, and of health information technology as a whole, has the ability to transform the way health care is delivered in our nation,” Secretary Leavitt said. “We believe that EHRs can help physicians deliver better, more efficient care for their patients, in part by reducing medical errors. This project is designed to demonstrate these benefits and help increase the use of this technology in practices where adoption has been the slowest – at the individual physician and small practice...

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Hill fends off no confidence motion (ABC)

Health Minister John Hill has survived an Opposition no confidence motion in the South Australian Parliament.
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Spin watch: To Roxon, wine is good, Bundie is evil

Welcome to Health Minister Nicola Roxon's confected moral universe, writes Trevor Cook.
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Close examination of the Health Budget

It is disappointing to see lost opportunities in the budget to progress the agenda on prevention and primary healthcare reform.
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Roxon's rum rebellion

NEVER, ever, ever criticise a Queenslander's choice of window display. And don't overreach yourself in question time.
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Pain prolonged

NICOLA Roxon should proceed with health sector reform that would improve access to practitioners.
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A Correspondent Wonders About the Ethics of Some Advertising.

This e-mail arrived today! I quote: “Crash of a shocking bunch of cowboys - long awaited by many of my mates in learning difficulties/child psychologists. Just six months ago they were hiring marketing people to go out and sell their program - which costs $$$thousands per child - throughout Australia. Just snake oil Unfortunately they were very greatly helped by many news media that wanted to say doctors are drugging kids, let's try this nice non-drug treatment. Several appearances on TV of "happy customers" delighted with the program's results were made by staff members and people associated with the company… http://www.dore.com.au/Home.aspx” I hope we can all learn from this sort of behaviour and presentation of false hope! David.

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Microsoft and Kaiser Join Forces to Refine Personal Health Records.

The following article appeared a few days ago: Kaiser, Microsoft to test PHR data exchange Story posted: June 9, 2008 - 5:59 am EDT Kaiser Permanente and Microsoft Corp. will test the capabilities of their personal health records to exchange data in a pilot program, the companies announced. The organizations, which have partnered in the past, said that they hope the exchange will expand consumer access to online health management tools. Kaiser’s 156,000 employees are eligible to opt into the voluntary project, which will test the reliability of secure data exchange, according to Kaiser. “In the early stages, we’re very interested in testing industry standards,” said Anna-Lisa Silvestre, vice president of online services for the insurer, during a news conference announcing the pilot. During the pilot the PHRs will exchange immunization records, information on allergies and medications, and demographic data under standards outlined in the standard organization Health Level 7’s Continuity of Care Document, Silvestre said. If the pilot is successful, Kaiser will open the program to its 8 million members. More here (free registration required) ...

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No advice to pollies on demon grog

HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has denied she is a wowser in the face of criticism from medical groups and the Opposition over tight new drinking guidelines.
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