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FTC works to crack down on health care 'discount' plans

Reuters: "The Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday it is working with 24 states to crack down on sellers of medical discount plans that market them as health insurance that covers doctors, hospitals and other services." The prevalence of such plans has increased since March, when Congress passed its health overhaul.

13 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Health law's effect for Democrats; Canadians' view; Cutting Medicare costs; The health issue in Tenn. Governor's race

Despite lofty predictions that a broad-based Democratic constituency would be activated by the health care reform bill, recent polling shows that the bill has been a disaster for the party — with near 60 percent of voters saying that they oppose the measure (Douglas Schoen, 8/11).

13 Aug 2010

Interleukin Genetics, University of Michigan to conduct landmark clinical study on periodontal disease

Interleukin Genetics, Inc. announced today that the Company has signed an agreement with the University of Michigan to conduct a landmark clinical study on risk factors predictive of periodontal disease progression to tooth loss using a new version of Interleukin Genetics' PST genetic test.

12 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 12, 2010

Some of today's headlines highlight how the new health reform law is playing beyond Washington, D.C.'s beltway.

12 Aug 2010

CHA supports FTC's efforts to eliminate fraudulent marketing of discount health care programs

CHA supports the FTC's efforts to eliminate fraudulent and misleading marketing of discount health care programs. Discount health care programs provide millions of members with access to substantial savings on health care products and services. It's important that consumers have continued access to legitimate discount programs which make health care more affordable while also being protected against fraudulent outfits that misrepresent these programs.

12 Aug 2010

Health Net Foundation, Health Net of California to provide $7M to keep Central Valley clinics open

With the State of California's budget situation threatening to again halt payments to the state's health clinics, the Health Net Foundation and Health Net of California, Inc., together, are prepared to provide up to $7 million in zero-interest financing to help prevent Central Valley clinics from shutting their doors.

12 Aug 2010

ER visit rates increase at twice growth rate of population

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that emergency visit rates have increased at twice the rate of growth of the U.S. population from 1997 to 2007; Medicaid patients accounted for a large proportion of the increase, often coming with more severe illnesses and complications.

12 Aug 2010

HFMA identifies seven competencies for promoting integration between hospitals, physicians

As the nation moves toward healthcare reform, one of the key strategies that healthcare providers will deploy in order to succeed in a reform environment is clinical integration. The Healthcare Financial Management Association recently released a new whitepaper Integration in a Reform Environment: Strategies for Success.

12 Aug 2010

NAMI calls for $20 billion relief fund to cover mental health needs resulting from oil spill

The National Alliance on Mental Illness has called on Kenneth Feinberg, the independent claims administrator for the $20 billion relief fund created by BP Oil Company, to cover mental health needs resulting from the company's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

12 Aug 2010

Some Mass. residents fight individual mandate for health insurance, N.J. delays implementation of law requiring outpatient mental-health treatment

A former hospital executive has accused Naples-based Health Management Associates of offering money, free rent and private jet trips to entice doctors to refer Medicare patients to the company's hospitals. ... In a whistleblower lawsuit unsealed Aug. 2 by a federal judge, former hospital CEO J. Michael Mastej also accused his former employer of filing fraudulent claims on services HMA's facilities provided the ill-gotten Medicare patients.

12 Aug 2010

Alliance Surgical Distributors aligns surgeons, promotes orthopedic implant negotiation to reduce healthcare cost

Alliance Surgical Distributors has seen a surge not only in interest to form surgeon owned distributorships but also in groups completing set-up. Current distributorships under Alliance include Inland Spine and Orthopedics, Mesa Surgical, Vista Orthopedics, Rocky Mountain Trauma, Alpine Surgical Technologies, Alpine Implant Alliance, JAB Spinal Systems, North Idaho Surgical Cooperative, Restorix Technologies, with many other groups under development.

12 Aug 2010

Pulse Therapeutics receives fund to develop novel magnetics technique to destroy blood clots

BioGenerator, a non-profit, seed-stage economic development funding group, today announced that it has led a round of early-stage financing for Pulse Therapeutics, Inc., a St. Louis company headquartered at the Center for Emerging Technologies. Pulse Therapeutics develops innovative magnetism-based technology to safely destroy blood clots related to ischemic stroke and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Other investors who participated in the round were Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC), Washington University's Olin School of Business Skandalaris Student Venture Fund, and Integrated Magnetics, of Culver City, California. The funds will be used for further pre-clinical development.

12 Aug 2010

Report: Top insurance execs pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year

The Los Angeles Times: "The top executives at the nation's five largest for-profit health insurance companies pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year — while their businesses prepared to hit ratepayers with double-digit premium increases, according to a new analysis conducted by healthcare activists. The leaders of Cigna Corp., Humana Inc., UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint Inc. each in effect received raises in 2009, the report concluded, based on an analysis of company reports filed with the Security and Exchange Commission.

12 Aug 2010

Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

Politico: "Republicans are continuing to telegraph their opposition to health care reform by filing another petition that would force the House to vote on repealing the legislation. Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) filed a discharge petition Tuesday that would get rid of the Democrats' health care reform and replace it with a Republican alternative. His push follows Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) petition to simply repeal the reform without replacing it with new legislation" (Aujla, 8/10).

12 Aug 2010

Obama signs bill giving states $16 billion in enhanced Medicaid payments

President Obama signed a bill Tuesday that gives states an extra $16 billion in Medicaid funding.

12 Aug 2010

Nurses increasingly the target of violence; Texas nurse case settled

The Associated Press: "Violence against nurses and other medical professionals appears to be increasing around the country as the number of drug addicts, alcoholics and psychiatric patients showing up at emergency rooms climbs. Nurses have responded, in part, by seeking tougher criminal penalties for assaults against health care workers.

12 Aug 2010

Oral sex becomes common activity among young women: Study

University of Alberta researcher Brea Malacad says results from a study on oral sex indicate there is little doubt that oral sex is becoming a more common activity for young women. Study results show the act has become a fundamental part of what Malacad calls the "sexual revolution of the 21st century". And she concludes that researchers, sex educators and marketers of safer-sex paraphernalia need to catch up with the trend.

12 Aug 2010

States consider how best to spend extra Medicaid funds

In light of the $26 billion aid package passed by Congress Tuesday, states are considering their next steps.

12 Aug 2010

Merging hospitals irk locals in Boston, Orlando

Boston Catholics have asked Pope Benedict to intervene in the sale of Caritas Christi Health Care, a nonprofit Catholic hospital, to Cerberus Capital Management, a private equity firm, despite pledges that the hospital will retain its "religious identity," The Boston Globe reports.

12 Aug 2010

More Medicare Part D checks in the mail

The Department of Health and Human Services has mailed out a third round of $250 checks to help seniors who enter the Medicare Part D coverage pay gap for prescription drugs, WCAX [in Vermont] reports. "The one-time payment aims to close a gap in coverage for prescription medication. The rebates will go to about 9,000 Vermonters whose out-of-pocket expenses already total more than $940 for the year" (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

FTC works to crack down on health care 'discount' plans

Today's Opinions: Health law's effect for Democrats; Canadians' view; Cutting Medicare costs; The health issue in Tenn. Governor's race

Interleukin Genetics, University of Michigan to conduct landmark clinical study on periodontal disease

First Edition: August 12, 2010

CHA supports FTC's efforts to eliminate fraudulent marketing of discount health care programs

Health Net Foundation, Health Net of California to provide $7M to keep Central Valley clinics open

ER visit rates increase at twice growth rate of population

HFMA identifies seven competencies for promoting integration between hospitals, physicians

NAMI calls for $20 billion relief fund to cover mental health needs resulting from oil spill

Some Mass. residents fight individual mandate for health insurance, N.J. delays implementation of law requiring outpatient mental-health treatment

Alliance Surgical Distributors aligns surgeons, promotes orthopedic implant negotiation to reduce healthcare cost

Pulse Therapeutics receives fund to develop novel magnetics technique to destroy blood clots

Report: Top insurance execs pulled in nearly $200 million in compensation last year

Latest health overhaul repeal petition gains GOP leadership backing

Obama signs bill giving states $16 billion in enhanced Medicaid payments

Nurses increasingly the target of violence; Texas nurse case settled

Oral sex becomes common activity among young women: Study

States consider how best to spend extra Medicaid funds

Merging hospitals irk locals in Boston, Orlando

More Medicare Part D checks in the mail

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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