News and Events from the Department of Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov/news/ Tue, 15 May 2012 21:30:52 EDT Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released an ambitious national plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease. The plan was called for in the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (NAPA), which President Obama signed into law in January 2011. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120515a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120515a.html Tue, 15 May 2012 00:01:00 EST Starting with Mother’s Day, May 13, we are observing National Women’s Health Week; the theme this year is “It’s Your Time.” We can all celebrate the women in our lives during National Women’s Health Week by encouraging them to make the time to address their own health. Healthy, strong women are essential to having healthy strong children and communities, but too often women place the needs of others before their own needs. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120511a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120511a.html Fri, 11 May 2012 00:01:00 EST Last year, 45.9 million adult Americans had a mental illness, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. These conditions affect individuals, their families and loved ones, and communities. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120511b.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120511b.html Fri, 11 May 2012 00:01:00 EST Today, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced significant steps to reduce unnecessary, obsolete, or burdensome regulations on American hospitals and health care providers. These steps will help achieve the key goal of President Obama’s regulatory reform initiative to reduce unnecessary burdens on business and save nearly $1.1 billion across the health care system in the first year and more than $5 billion over five years. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120510a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120510a.html Thu, 10 May 2012 00:01:00 EST During her remarks at a Healthy Schools Campaign and Trust for America’s Health event, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the availability of funding for the construction and renovation of school-based health centers. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120509a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120509a.html Wed, 09 May 2012 00:01:00 EST Primary care physicians serving Medicaid patients would see their Medicaid payments rise under a proposed rule announced today by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120509b.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120509b.html Wed, 09 May 2012 00:01:00 EST Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the first batch of organizations for Health Care Innovation awards. Made possible by the health care law – the Affordable Care Act – the awards will support 26 innovative projects nationwide that will save money, deliver high quality medical care and enhance the health care workforce. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120508a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120508a.html Tue, 08 May 2012 00:01:00 EST During National Nurses Week, we recognize the tremendous contributions that nurses make to keeping America healthy. As passionate advocates, leaders and innovators for better health, America’s nurses have demonstrated their commitment to meeting the public’s health care needs. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120504a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120504a.html Fri, 04 May 2012 00:01:00 EST Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder announced today that a nationwide takedown by Medicare Fraud Strike Force operations in seven cities has resulted in charges against 107 individuals, including doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $452 million in false billing.  http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120502b.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120502b.html Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EDT May is National High Blood Pressure Education Month and Stroke Awareness Month. It makes sense to observe both in the same month because when you control your blood pressure, you reduce your risk of stroke —the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. Unfortunately, 1 in 3 U.S. adults—an estimated 68 million of us—have high blood pressure, also called hypertension. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120502a.html http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2012pres/05/20120502a.html Wed, 02 May 2012 00:01:00 EST