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NCPA releases unbiased, detailed analysis of health care reform costs and benefits

The first detailed and objective consumer's guide on the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has just been released by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), titled "What Does Health Care Reform Mean To You? A Detailed Analysis"

26 Aug 2010

Transparency needed in administration of drug benefits by pharmacy benefit managers

According to a new AARP report, the average retail price of the most popular brand-name drugs increased by 8.3 percent in 2009 and by 41.5 percent over the past five years – rates well in excess of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index. At the same time, major pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) like CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc., hired by employers and other health plan sponsors to negotiate lower prices from drug manufacturers, experienced record profits, in some cases increasing five-fold over the past decade.

26 Aug 2010

N.C. Dept. of Corrections could cut inmate health care costs by requiring hospitals to bill Medicaid; Minn. lawmakers urge governor to seek enhanced Medicaid funds

WRAL: "The [N.C.] state Department of Correction could cut the health costs for inmates by $11.5 million a year by requiring hospitals and other medical service providers to bill Medicaid for eligible expenses, according to a state audit released Tuesday. The amount of potential savings would increase in 2014, when health care reform expands Medicaid eligibility, auditors said.

26 Aug 2010

UNC Hospitals receives NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award

UNC Hospitals has received the American College of Cardiology Foundation's NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award for 2010 - one of only 26 hospitals nationwide to do so.

26 Aug 2010

Baxa ranked 3,494 on Inc. 5000 list of US fastest-growing private businesses

Baxa Corporation today announced its rank of 3,494 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private businesses in the United States. This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Baxa, a leading provider of medical devices and systems that automate pharmacy operations, has been listed on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list.

26 Aug 2010

Rep. Gerry Connolly sees strong shift in public view of health reform

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey talks with first term Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., who says the health care debate has changed dramatically since the combative town hall meetings of last August when some protesters across the country said passage of sweeping overhaul legislation would amount to a government takeover of the health care system (Carey, 8/25).

26 Aug 2010

TRT receives patent rights for procedure of reattaching damaged soft tissue to bone

Tissue Regeneration Technologies, LLC (TRT), a Woodstock, Georgia medical technology company, recently received the rights to a new patent to bolster its SoftWave technology portfolio. The patent covers a method of reattaching damaged soft tissue to bone.

26 Aug 2010

Sysmex announces 3-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with Novation

Sysmex, a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology, today announced a three-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with group purchasing organization Novation. Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances, and 5,500 members of Provista, LLC, representing 28,000 sites.

From Sysmex America, Inc. 26 Aug 2010

Medicare drug plan changes and prices could surprise seniors

The Associated Press: An effort to streamline the entangled field of Medicare drug plans could mean as many as 3 million seniors "could force 3 million seniors to switch plans next year whether they like it or not, says an independent analysis," by Avalere Health: "beneficiaries will see their prescription plan eliminated as part of a new effort by Medicare to winnow down duplicative coverage and offer consumers more meaningful choices. Seniors would not lose coverage, but they could see changes in their premiums and copayments."

26 Aug 2010

Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT acquires $14.75M inpatient rehabilitation facility in Dallas

Cornerstone Real Estate Funds, and its strategic alliance partner and sub-advisor Servant Healthcare Investments, announced that the Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT has acquired an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) for a purchase price of $14,750,000. The 42-bed, 40,000 square foot property is located in Dallas, Texas and is leased under a long-term lease to GlobalRehab LP.

26 Aug 2010

D.C. in front of the health reform curve, officials say

In this Kaiser Health News short take, staff writer Jessica Marcy reports: "As states across the country scramble to meet the requirements for national health reform, the nation's capital is 'way ahead,' according to Dr. Julie Hudman, director of the Department of Health Care Finance and a member of the city's Health Reform Implementation Committee.

26 Aug 2010

Battle for public opinion of health overhaul continues in states

The (Portland) Oregonian: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited Oregon Tuesday, where state officials -- unlike their counterparts in many capitals around the country -- broadly back the health overhaul plan. "Sebelius is reaching out to governors and state officials, whose cooperation is crucial in implementing the federal health reform law passed in March. The law makes states responsible for accomplishing much of the overhaul work."

26 Aug 2010

Device firms skid as health IT looks to bright future

As companies look forward to a bright future in some areas of health technology--namely, electronic medical records--other parts of the med-tech industry are watching sales slip.

26 Aug 2010

Europe's pharma sector faces increasing challenges

The Wall Street Journal: "After a healthy second quarter, Europe's pharmaceutical sector may find itself in trouble in the months ahead as companies face patent expiries, tougher regulation and burdensome health care reforms.

26 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Applying comparative effectiveness research to a range of health indicators; Australia's model health care system; What about blocked stem cell research?

Significant comparative effectiveness research (CER) efforts should be dedicated to understanding the effectiveness of investments across broad determinants of health instead of focusing primarily within the health care domain alone (David Kindig and John Mullahy, 8/25).

26 Aug 2010

Improvement of postoperative care decreases myocardial ischemia and major cardiac events

A study published in the October 2010 issue of Anesthesiology is among the first to show that the quality of immediate postoperative care of orthopedic surgery patients has important effects on patients' long-term cardiac outcomes.

25 Aug 2010

PTCB CPhTs to play critical role in immunization efforts at retail pharmacies nationwide

With flu season fast approaching, PTCB Certified Pharmacy Technicians will again play a critical role in immunization efforts at retail pharmacies across the country. For example, last year Walgreens successfully immunized over 7.4 million patients against H1N1 and seasonal influenza with the direct support of PTCB CPhTs.

25 Aug 2010

Health Net receives Merit Award in 19th annual National Mature Media Awards Program

Health Net, Inc. today announced that it was named a winner in the 19th annual National Mature Media Awards Program. The program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for the senior market, recognizes the nation's finest advertising, marketing and educational materials designed and produced for older adults.

25 Aug 2010

HCCS releases new online compliance training course for nursing facilities

Health Care Compliance Strategies, Inc. (HCCS), the leading provider of online healthcare compliance and competency training, today announced the release of a new online compliance training course designed specifically for nursing facilities including nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities and other long term care providers.

25 Aug 2010

Employers see greater health care savings through dependent eligibility audits: Ceridian

Ceridian Corporation, a leading provider of managed human resource and employee benefits administration services, announced today that employers are seeing greater health care savings through dependent eligibility audits as the cost of providing medical coverage for their employees and their dependents continues to rise.

25 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

NCPA releases unbiased, detailed analysis of health care reform costs and benefits

Transparency needed in administration of drug benefits by pharmacy benefit managers

N.C. Dept. of Corrections could cut inmate health care costs by requiring hospitals to bill Medicaid; Minn. lawmakers urge governor to seek enhanced Medicaid funds

UNC Hospitals receives NCDR ACTION Registry-GWTG Silver Performance Achievement Award

Baxa ranked 3,494 on Inc. 5000 list of US fastest-growing private businesses

Rep. Gerry Connolly sees strong shift in public view of health reform

TRT receives patent rights for procedure of reattaching damaged soft tissue to bone

Sysmex announces 3-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with Novation

Medicare drug plan changes and prices could surprise seniors

Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT acquires $14.75M inpatient rehabilitation facility in Dallas

D.C. in front of the health reform curve, officials say

Battle for public opinion of health overhaul continues in states

Device firms skid as health IT looks to bright future

Europe's pharma sector faces increasing challenges

Today's Opinions: Applying comparative effectiveness research to a range of health indicators; Australia's model health care system; What about blocked stem cell research?

Improvement of postoperative care decreases myocardial ischemia and major cardiac events

PTCB CPhTs to play critical role in immunization efforts at retail pharmacies nationwide

Health Net receives Merit Award in 19th annual National Mature Media Awards Program

HCCS releases new online compliance training course for nursing facilities

Employers see greater health care savings through dependent eligibility audits: Ceridian

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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