The investigators, Dr. Asbjorn Hrobjartsson and Dr. Peter C. Gotzsche analyzed 114 published studies involving about 7,500 patients with 40 different conditions. They found no support for the common notion that about a third of patients will improve if they are given a dummy pill and told it is real. The nation's hospitals will pay more for blood collected by the American Red Cross, which plans to raise its prices by July to help pay debts. Red Cross officials said today that they could not say how much the price would increase nationally. The Red Cross, which supplies about half of the nation's blood supply, is telling hospitals of its plans to raise the cost of a pint of blood.
Officials say the prices are being determined by local blood centers.
Indiana hospitals have already learned that their prices are rising 10 percent to 35 percent. The centers will support health workforce research, analysis and technical assistance with a focus at the state and regional level. Applications for cooperative agreements to establish or continue the centers for a five-year period must be submitted by June 21.