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$9M ARRA funds to reduce healthcare-associated infections in ambulatory surgical centers

To reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in stand-alone or same-day surgical centers, the HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced the availability of up to $9 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to state survey agencies in 43 states. HAIs are infections some patients acquire when they are in a health care setting such as a hospital or outpatient clinic.

11 Nov 2009

Lack of health insurance leads to death of 2,266 U.S. military veterans in 2008

A research team at Harvard Medical School estimates 2,266 U.S. military veterans under the age of 65 died last year because they lacked health insurance and thus had reduced access to care. That figure is more than 14 times the number of deaths (155) suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008, and more than twice as many as have died (911 as of Oct. 31) since the war began in 2001.

11 Nov 2009

Poor access to interpreters can compromise doctor-patient communication in cancer care

In a new survey of physicians who treat breast cancer patients, only one-third said they had good access to trained medical interpreters or telephone language-interpretation systems when they needed it. Poor access to interpreters can compromise physician-patient communication that is critically important in cancer care.

11 Nov 2009

Researchers discuss imaging techniques for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

With about 35 million people around the world suffering from Alzheimer's disease (AD) by the year 2010 and an expectation that these numbers will double every twenty years with approximately 115 million cases by 2050, pressure on healthcare systems worldwide will be intense. In a special issue of the journal Behavioural Neurology, twelve contributions from an international group of researchers discuss imaging techniques that may contribute to early diagnosis and advancements in treatment for this devastating disease.

11 Nov 2009

Chronic kidney disease on the rise; preventive testing is critical for diabetic patients

New data confirms the rate of chronic kidney disease is inching upward, keeping pace with the rising rates of diabetes. In late September, the U.S. Renal Data System published its 2009 Annual Data report, which shows the incidence of chronic kidney disease in the U.S. Medicare population is now 9.8%, up from 8.7% reported in last year’s data analysis.

11 Nov 2009

Palin resurrects 'death panel' claims, controversy is decades-old

Sarah Palin has returned to the battle over health care reform with a familiar refrain, slamming what she and others dubbed 'death panels' over the summer. Following passage of the health care overhaul in the House on Saturday night, Palin took to her Facebook page to register her well-known opposition to the Democratic plan.

11 Nov 2009

Anemia-reducing medications linked to deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients

Medications frequently given to cancer patients to reduce their risk of anemia are associated with an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, according to new research led by Dawn Hershman, M.D, M.S., co-director of the breast cancer program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center. The findings will be published online on Nov. 10, 2009 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (ahead of the Dec. 2, 2009 print edition).

11 Nov 2009

Ingenix to acquire CareMedic Services, a revenue cycle management company

Ingenix, a leading health information, technology and consulting company, today announced it will acquire CareMedic Services Inc., an industry leader in revenue cycle management (RCM) solutions for hospitals and health systems, in a cash transaction.

11 Nov 2009

Medicare Advantage plans are largely unpopular in rural states

Kansas Health Institute examines Medicare Advantage plans, which are less popular in rural areas, in a series of reports.

11 Nov 2009

Abortion restrictions in House health reform bill triggering outrage from the Left

ABC News reports that the abortion amendment to the House health reform bill has reignited a fiery debate on one of the most controversial issues in the country." Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, "said in a statement that the restrictions the amendment would place on a woman's right to choose 'sets a terrible precedent and marks a significant step backwards.'

10 Nov 2009

Recent 'death panel' uproar echoes age-old controversy

Kaiser Health News staff writer Christopher Weaver details events similar to this summer's "death panel" controversy, but that happened decades ago. "It was early summer. A senior federal health official wrote a memo suggesting that living wills -- documents that can convey patients' wishes about when to end life support -- could help curb health-care costs.

10 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 10, 2009

As the focus of health overhaul efforts move to the Senate, abortion issues have become hot topics.

10 Nov 2009

Non-invasive test to determine risk of sudden cardiac arrest in heart bypass surgery patients

Years after heart bypass surgery, Jim Miller was symptom free. Several measures of his heart’s functioning did not show that he was in danger of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). But Miller’s doctor decided to make sure and the quick, non-invasive test he performed may have saved Miller’s life.

10 Nov 2009

1,000 GeckoSystems' CareBots can be produced per month, says a first tier manufacturer

GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. announced today that during their first annual "Mobile Robots in Motion" conference last week, a first tier contract manufacturer after viewing numerous demonstrations, examining and discussing GeckoSystems' first product, the CareBot™ is confident that within six months they could produce GeckoSystems' CareBot at the rate of one thousand (1,000) per month.

10 Nov 2009

Baxter International lauds new Medicare education benefit for chronic kidney disease patients

Baxter International Inc. commends the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on announcing implementation plans for a new Medicare benefit that will provide Stage 4 chronic kidney disease patients with coverage for up to six sessions explaining their treatment options, such as transplantation, home peritoneal dialysis (PD), home hemodialysis (HHD) or clinic-based hemodialysis (HD).

From Baxter International Inc. 10 Nov 2009

Lesser rates of kidney/pancreas transplants for African Americans: Is physician bias the reason?

Physician bias might be the reason why African Americans are not receiving kidney/pancreas transplants at the same rate as similar patients in other racial groups. Dr. Keith Melancon, director of kidney and pancreas transplantation at Georgetown University Hospital and associate professor of surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center, and colleagues explore this phenomenon in the November issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

10 Nov 2009

ikaSystems' enterprise-wide systems help lower administrative costs for health plan members

The United States moved a step closer to major healthcare reform this weekend as the House of Representatives voted 220 to 215 to approve a plan that will, among other goals, extend coverage to an estimated 36 million people without insurance, create a government health insurance option and prohibit such contentious insurance company practices as denying coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and rescinding coverage without clear and convincing evidence of fraud.

10 Nov 2009

Speaker Pelosi praises H.R. 3962 that will improve Medicaid access to HIV/AIDS-affected people

"Effective drug treatments have improved both health and quality of life for thousands of Americans living with HIV/AIDS. However, many uninsured, low-income HIV-positive individuals still do not have access to these life-saving medications because they generally do not meet Medicaid requirements until becoming disabled by full-blown AIDS.

10 Nov 2009

Health bill triggers some complaints from industry, though some will benefit

Health care companies stand to gain from legislation that would expand their market to millions of new consumers, but many are also complaining about specific provisions of the House health care overhaul bill, the New York Times reports.

10 Nov 2009

Diabetic Care Services responds to NRF's updated “Buyer Beware” list

Diabetic Care Services responds to the National Retail Federation’s updated “Buyer Beware” list with tips on avoiding fraudulent diabetes supplies. The NRF updated its list of common household items, including diabetes supplies, sold on online auction sites that are at risk of being stolen or tainted.

10 Nov 2009

Medicare News and Research

$9M ARRA funds to reduce healthcare-associated infections in ambulatory surgical centers

Lack of health insurance leads to death of 2,266 U.S. military veterans in 2008

Poor access to interpreters can compromise doctor-patient communication in cancer care

Researchers discuss imaging techniques for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Chronic kidney disease on the rise; preventive testing is critical for diabetic patients

Palin resurrects 'death panel' claims, controversy is decades-old

Anemia-reducing medications linked to deep vein thrombosis in cancer patients

Ingenix to acquire CareMedic Services, a revenue cycle management company

Medicare Advantage plans are largely unpopular in rural states

Abortion restrictions in House health reform bill triggering outrage from the Left

Recent 'death panel' uproar echoes age-old controversy

First Edition: November 10, 2009

Non-invasive test to determine risk of sudden cardiac arrest in heart bypass surgery patients

1,000 GeckoSystems' CareBots can be produced per month, says a first tier manufacturer

Baxter International lauds new Medicare education benefit for chronic kidney disease patients

Lesser rates of kidney/pancreas transplants for African Americans: Is physician bias the reason?

ikaSystems' enterprise-wide systems help lower administrative costs for health plan members

Speaker Pelosi praises H.R. 3962 that will improve Medicaid access to HIV/AIDS-affected people

Health bill triggers some complaints from industry, though some will benefit

Diabetic Care Services responds to NRF's updated “Buyer Beware” list

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