Tag: health news uk

Biden Administration to End Public Health Emergency in May

  • The Biden administration plans to end the COVID-19 state of emergency on May 11
  • Two republican politicians have put forward bills to end these provisions earlier
  • Experts say that now is the time for caution

The Biden administration has announced that it will end the COVID-19 pandemic state of emergency on May 11.

The state of emergency was started under the Trump administration in March 2020. The declaration of an emergency opens up a host of expansive options to combat the outbreak, including expanding access to healthcare, COVID-19 tests and vaccines.

Public healthcare experts who spoke to Healthlinefor this story have concerns about the pace of this change and how ending the state of emergency could affect the US healthcare system moving forward.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine thinks that any stoppage of the state of emergency at this stage is

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Are You Prepared for an Audit?

The Federal Government is constantly auditing healthcare entities. A recent Michigan settlement resulted in prison time and a hefty repayment for violations of the False Claims Act.

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If your compliance plan needs to be updated, now is the time.

You want to make sure that your practice is protected so that you are not faced with a similar situation as a vascular surgeon from Bay City, Michigan.

A vascular surgeon was sentenced to 80 months in prison for defrauding healthcare programs by submitting claims for the placement of vascular stents and thrombectomies that he did not perform. He was also ordered to pay $19.5 million in restitution and up to $43,419,000 to the government to resolve civil allegations.

If you …

Don’t use artificial sweeteners to lose weight, WHO says

At a time when a growing number of fake sugars are being added to foods and beverages, the World Health Organization released new recommendations advising against using non-sugar sweeteners to control weight, citing potential health risks.

The recommendation is based on a systematic review of the scientific literature, the agency said in a news release Monday. Besides not helping with the long-term reduction of body fat, non-sugar sweeteners may — with long-term use — increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and early death, according to the agency.

The agency noted that the guidance isn’t a recommendation to eat more real sugar instead, but to reduce the overall sweetness of the daily diet.

“People need to consider other ways to reduce free sugar intake, such as consuming food with naturally occurring sugars, like fruit, or unsweetened food and beverages,” says Francesco Branca, WHO

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Healthier planet, healthier people – Harvard Health

Five small steps toward better health for you and planet Earth.


A crystal globe with countries etched on, circled by a stethoscope with a red heart; Earth health and our health connect

Everything is connected. You’ve probably heard that before, but it bears repeating. Below are five ways to boost both your individual health and the health of our planet — a combination that environmentalists call co-benefits.

How your health and planetary health intersect

Back in 1970, Earth Day was founded as a day of awareness about environmental issues. Never has awareness of our environment seemed more important than now. The impacts of climate change on Earth — fires, storms, floods, droughts, heat waves, rising sea levels, species extinction, and more — directly or indirectly threaten our well-being, especially for those most vulnerable. For example, air pollution from fossil fuels and fires contributes to lung problems and hospitalizations. Geographical and seasonal boundaries for ticks and mosquitoes, which are carriers of infectious diseases, expand as warm regions.

The concept of planetary health

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Why fennel seeds work on weight loss, keep your heart healthy and your gut happy

Much is talked about the efficacy of seeds as they are nutrient-dense, rich in fiber and low in calories, attributes that are best suited for your sound metabolism and health. And when it comes to heart health and weight loss, use fennel seeds as an add-on for your lifestyle correction, diet and exercise, improving your nutritional profile. Dried fennel seeds are low in calories, high in fiber and packed with both macro and micro nutrients. They are rich in Vitamins C, E and K as well as minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium, selenium and iron. Of course, they come loaded with antioxidants which reduce inflammatory markers in your body, the root cause of many of our chronic illnesses.

GOOD FOR HEART HEALTH

In the Journal of Food Science (2012), researchers from Anna University, Chennai, had shown how nitrites in fennel seeds play an important role in the cardiovascular system.

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Is Your Compliance Plan Protecting You?

Healthcare compliance plans are essential to ensure your practice is following the law. Your compliance plan can keep your practice out of trouble.

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A recent enforcement action highlights the need for an effective and updated compliance plan.

A physician in Arkansas has been sentenced to 102 months of prison time and to pay over $4.63 million in restitution. Following release from prison, he will have three (3) years of supervised release. He also was fined $2,200 for a special assessment.

The physician was found guilty of signing prescriptions for patients that he did not know or treat.

The physician was then found guilty of lying about his actions to the FBI. He claimed he only signed prescriptions for those he

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My Loved One Passed Away – What Do I Need To Do?

Losing a loved one is incredibly hard. We help our clients with the administrative and legal aspects following the death of a loved one.

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When a loved one dies, there are many things to do and many are time sensitive.

First, there are many practical items to consider. These may include:

  • Finding care for any pets;
  • Determining if there are funeral instructions, arrangements, or prepayments;
  • Notifying family and friends;
  • Preparing an obituary;
  • Securing the home, and many other practical items.

After the initial matters have been addressed, it is important to know whether there is an estate plan.

The trustee must be notified so that they can take action, pursuant to the terms of the estate plan.

Even if no

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New research on health risks of coffee




Jonel Aleccia, The Associated Press



Published Wednesday, March 22, 2023 5:50PM EDT



Coffee lovers — and their doctors — have long wondered whether a jolt of java can affect the heart. New research published Wednesday found that drinking caffeinated coffee did not significantly affect one kind of heart failure that can feel like a skipped beat.

But it did signal a slight increase in another type of irregular heartbeat in people who drank more than one cup per day. And it was found that people tend to walk more and sleep less on the days they drink coffee.

Coffee is one of the most common beverages in the world. In the US, two-thirds of Americans drink coffee every day, more than bottled water, tea or tap water, according to the National Coffee Association, a trade group. Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant, which

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What is a Power of Attorney?

Many of our clients have heard of the powers of attorney, but do not know what they actually entail.

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It is important to know that there are different types of powers of attorney, however, they are all legal documents that allow you to pick an agent or attorney-in-fact on your behalf.

Powers of attorney allow another person to make financial, legal, and medical decisions for you, depending on the type.

There are different types of powers of attorney. Some include:

  1. Durable Power of Attorney – A durable power of attorney is one that is effective, even upon incapacitation. It allows the appointed person the power to make decisions on your behalf, whether financial or legal.
  2. Limited Power of Attorney –
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The Government of Canada announced over $7 million to help address harms related to substance use in Ontario

Improving health outcomes for people at risk of substance-related harms and overdose in Ontario

March 14, 2023 | Toronto, Ont. | Health Canada

Every day, families and communities across Ontario are losing loved ones to overdoses from the increasingly toxic illegal drug supply. Collectively, through harm reduction and treatment services, as well as prevention efforts alongside all levels of government, the Government of Canada is working in tandem to try to reduce stigma, save lives, and ensure all people who use drugs have the life-saving substance use services and support they need.

Today, the Honorable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced over $7 million in federal funding for 8 projects in Ontario through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP). The funding today announced will allow Ontarians to access greater prevention, harm reduction and treatment services including access to safer supply

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