ACU SPONSORS CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING ON BUDGET CUTS

On July 15th, ACU sponsored a Congressional briefing on the ongoing impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on critical federal programs, including the National Health Service Corps.

ACU RECEIVES NEW FEDERAL FUNDING

ACU has been awarded a 3-year National Cooperative Agreement from HHS' Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) to assist Health Centers across the country with their clinical workforce needs. With this new federal funding, ACU will be able to provide technical assistance and training directly to Health Centers experiencing the greatest recruitment and retention issues.

We are honored to be chosen to help with health centers' workforce needs and we are very excited to get started on this important project. Recruiting and retaining clinicians of all types is critical to increasing access to care and decreasing the disparities in access across our country. You can read more about the new ACU program on our website.

FORMER P&G CHIEF TO BE OBAMA'S VA NOMINEE

President Obama will nominate Bob McDonald, a West Point graduate who served as chief executive of Procter & Gamble, to take over as head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, according to White House officials. Read more here.

HOBBY LOBBY RULING COMPLICATES OBAMACARE BIRTH CONTROL

The U.S. Supreme Court has recently ruled that for-profit companies can opt out of providing birth control benefits because of religious beliefs. Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare, insurers and employers offering health benefits are required to cover all U.S.-approved forms of birth control with no out-of-pocket costs. Read more here.

FIRST YEAR MAY BE CRITICAL FOR LOWERING ASTHMA AND ALLERGY RISK

Childhood exposure to allergens and germs is generally believed to protect against the development of asthma and allergy, but new research suggests that this effect happens only with exposure in the first year of life. Read more here.

OBESITY LINKED TO TYPE 2 DIABETES BY AN ABSENT PROTEIN

While the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes is statistically evident, biological explanations are less so. Scientists have recently discovered that a key protein that helps the body control glucose is missing in obese people. Read more here.

FOOD ALLERGY TREATMENTS FOR CHILDREN SHOW PROMISE

Researchers are working on a way to desensitize patients who suffer from some of the most common allergens in the U.S.: peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. Read more here.

ASPIRIN MAY REDUCE PANCREATIC CANCER RISK

A new study adds to existing evidence that low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of pancreatic cancer risk, in addition to reducing the risk of heart disease. Read more here.