Amid talk of another recession, health care employment rates are rebounding to a level comparable those seen in 2007 prior to the start of the economic downturn, according to data released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), slamming a proposed HIPAA rule that would allow patients to request reports that identify any party or entity that accesses their electronic health records.

Administrative costs incurred by U.S. physicians far exceed those incurred by physicians in Canada, reveals a survey published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a rule that re-establishes its Medical Drugs Advisory Committee. The rule becomes effective today, with committee authority remaining in force until May 18, 2013 unless the FDA Commissioner formally determines that renewal is in the public interest.

Merge Healthcare (NASDAQ: MRGE), a Chicago, Ill.-based provider of enterprise imaging and interoperability solutions, has acquired Ophthalmic Imaging Systems (OIS) (OTC/BB: OISI), a provider of digital imaging and informatics solutions for ophthalmology and other medical specialties. Ophthalmic Imaging Systems is headquartered in Sacramento,

Total U.S. health care spending will increase at an annual average rate of 5.8% to nearly $4.64 trillion for the period 2010 through 2020--1.1% faster than expected growth in the gross domestic product (GDP).

Such techniques as lower tube current, automatic exposure control, and reduced tube voltage rank among keys to significantly reducing radiation dose from CT of the head, paranasal sinuses, and spine, according to a study published in the current issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is soliciting public comments regarding last week's report on its 510(k) process for regulating medical devices.