News release: “For several days this month, Greenland’s surface ice cover melted over a larger area than at any time in more than 30 years of satellite observations. Nearly the entire ice cover of Greenland, from its thin, low-lying coastal edges to its 2-mile-thick center, experienced some degree of melting at its surface, according to… Continue Reading
Accurate, Focused Research on Law, Technology and Knowledge Discovery Since 2002
Monthly Archives: July 2012
Using Electronic Health Records to Improve Quality and Efficiency: The Experiences of Leading Hospitals
S. Silow-Carroll, J. N. Edwards, and D. Rodin, Using Electronic Health Records to Improve Quality and Efficiency: The Experiences of Leading Hospitals, The Commonwealth Fund, July 2012 “An examination of nine hospitals that recently implemented a comprehensive electronic health record (EHR) system finds that clinical and administrative leaders built EHR adoption into their strategic plans… Continue Reading
DOJ Reports to Congress the State Secrets Privilige Report
Via FAS, 2011 DOJ Report released this week: State Secrets Privilege Report – “The Government has invoked the state secrets privilege sparingly and appropriately. At the time of the Task Force review, the privilege had been invoked in a very small number of cases out of the thousands of cases the Department was litigating…In each… Continue Reading
Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future
CRS – Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future, Robert Meltz, Legislative Attorney, July 2, 2012 “Efforts to mitigate climate change that is, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissionshave spawned a host of legal issues. The Supreme Court resolved a big one in 2007 the Clean Air… Continue Reading
CRS – Individual Mandate and Related Information Requirements under ACA
Individual Mandate and Related Information Requirements under ACA, Janemarie Mulvey, Specialist in Health Care Financing – Hinda Chaikind, Section Research Manager, July 2, 2012 “On June 28, 2012, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius, finding that the individual mandate in § 5000A of the Internal… Continue Reading
RAND – How Consumer-Directed Plans Affect the Cost and Use of Health Care
RAND Health, Skin in the Game: How Consumer-Directed Plans Affect the Cost and Use of Health Care. Key findings: “Families that switched from a traditional health plan to a consumer-directed health plan spent an average of 21 percent less on health care in the first year after switching than similar families remaining in traditional plans.… Continue Reading
Report – Report on Federal Expenditures on Children Through 2011
Kids’ Share 2012 – Report on Federal Expenditures on Children Through 2011 – Julia Isaacs, Katherine Toran, Heather Hahn, Karina Fortuny, C. Eugene Steuerle. Urban Institute “…looks comprehensively at trends over the past 50 years in federal spending and tax expenditures on children. Key findings suggest that the size and composition of expenditures on children… Continue Reading
TRAC: FOIA Request Produces Lates ICE Prosecutorial Discretion Program Data
“As of June 28, 2012 a total of 5,684 cases were closed under a special Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) program announced last August. The stated goal of the program is to reduce the backlog of pending cases by identifying those that could be dismissed or put on hold through the exercise of prosecutorial discretion… Continue Reading
USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children
“During the school year, many children receive free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch through the School Breakfast and National School Lunch Programs. What happens when school lets out? Hunger is one of the most severe roadblocks to the learning process. Lack of nutrition during the summer months may set up a cycle for poor performance… Continue Reading
New Study Reports One-Third of Colleges Are on Financially 'Unsustainable' Path
The financially sustainable university – A focused strategy can help colleges and universities reinvent their industry and stop spending beyond their means, by Jeff Denneen and Tom Dretler “Few industries in the United States have achieved unquestioned global leadership as consistently and effectively as our higher education system. US colleges and universities are the cornerstone… Continue Reading
FTC Calls Wireless Phone Bill Cramming a Significant Consumer Problem
News release: “In response to a request by the Federal Communications Commission for comment, the Federal Trade Commission said that the cramming of unauthorized charges on wireless phone bills poses a serious problem for American consumers. The FTC said in its comment that wireless providers should be required to give customers the option to block… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Air Pollution, Children's Health Insurance, Debt Limit, Federal Worker Pay, Financial Literacy
Air Pollution – EPA Needs Better Information on New Source Review Permits, GAO-12-590, June 22, 2012 Children’s Health Insurance – Opportunities Exist for Improved Access to Affordable Insurance, GAO-12-648, June 22, 2012 Debt Limit – Analysis of 2011-2012 Actions Taken and Effect of Delayed Increase on Borrowing Costs, GAO-12-701, July 23, 2012 Federal Workers –… Continue Reading
