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Minnesota County says state plan to cover costs of health care for the needy is unfair

In Minnesota, Hennepin County officials are saying a plan to charge counties extra to "cover health care for their neediest residents would have an unfair impact on the state's largest county and biggest public hospital."

18 Jan 2010

Federal survey shows more than 6.7 million children in the United States have no health insurance

A recent federal survey of children's health shows more than 6.7 million children in the United States don't have health insurance, and nearly 1 in 4 insured children lack adequate insurance coverage.

18 Jan 2010

'Cadillac' tax deal in the works

"Unions tentatively struck a deal Tuesday to exempt collectively bargained healthcare plans from a tax on high-cost plans expected to be used to help raise revenue for the healthcare overhaul," CongressDaily reports.

18 Jan 2010

Republicans decry Dems' deal with labor

Democrats' breakthrough deal with labor groups on the health overhaul yesterday is now attracting criticism as a handout to special interests, FOX News reports.

18 Jan 2010

Aflac becomes the most preferred carrier for voluntary insurance among brokers

A survey of 358 brokers by business intelligence consulting firm Personified, finds Aflac is the number one preferred carrier for voluntary insurance among brokers.

18 Jan 2010

Major insurers funded Chamber of Commerce ads attacking health bills

"Just as dealings with the Obama administration and congressional Democrats soured last summer, six of the nation's biggest health insurers began quietly pumping big money into third-party television ads aimed at killing or significantly modifying the major health reform bills moving through Congress," The National Journal reports.

18 Jan 2010

Health overhaul might relieve 'job lock' phenomenon

MarketWatch reports that people "may feel emboldened to start businesses or change jobs because they'll no longer fear having to go without health insurance" if a health care reform bill passes. One overlooked price of the health system's current "distortions," MarketWatch terms it, is the phenomena of "job lock" where workers stay in their jobs solely for the medical benefits.

18 Jan 2010

Massachusetts Senate race tightens over health care reform

The Washington Post explores the dynamics of the campaign for the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy. "With polls showing the race a dead heat — a Suffolk University survey released Thursday night had (Republican Scott) Brown up by 4 points (over Democrat Martha Coakley), at the edge of the margin of error — national Democratic organizations are scrambling to hold on to the 60th Senate vote crucial to the health-care overhaul being negotiated in Washington and to every other initiative of President Obama" (Vick, 1/15).

18 Jan 2010

Multiple issues still on the table in House-Senate health bill negotiations

Reports explored contentious policies in the House and Senate versions of the health-overhaul legislation that are part of the final negotiations.

18 Jan 2010

Obama reportedly supportive of House bid to include national exchanges in health bill

The White House wants to include a national health-insurance exchange in the health bill, which would give House Democrats one of their top remaining demands, according to an official involved in the discussions.

18 Jan 2010

Dispute erupts between Reid and Lieberman around 'double-cross' quote

In a preview of a Jan. 24 magazine article, The New York Times reports on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's struggle to keep members of his caucus in line on health reform. In December, for instance, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., told a talk show host he would not support the health overhaul plan without significant changes, surprising the majority leader.

18 Jan 2010

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

States are grappling with budget crises and lost revenues that have affected health programs.

18 Jan 2010

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Los Angeles Times: "The White House and labor leaders agreed Thursday on a formula to tax high-cost insurance plans, removing one of the last obstacles to President Obama's healthcare overhaul, officials said." Organized labor had staunchly opposed the proposed "Cadillac" tax, but as part of the agreement, "reached after an intense round of negotiations this week, union leaders dropped their opposition ... in exchange for concessions to limit its scope."

17 Jan 2010

Shionogi receives approval to develop and commercialize intravenous peramivir in Japan

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its partner, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has received marketing and manufacturing approval for intravenous (i.v.) peramivir to treat patients with influenza in Japan.

13 Jan 2010

Era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding began in 1990's ends

After a decade of remarkable growth, total annual funding for biomedical research in the U.S. has decelerated and may have even fallen when adjusted for inflation. That is the conclusion of a study today published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

13 Jan 2010

Nancy Pelosi: Insurance companies funneled between $10M and $20M to fund deceptive television ads

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on a news report (http://undertheinfluence.nationaljournal.com/2010/01/health-insurers-funded-chamber.php) showing that the nation's largest insurance companies funneled between $10 million and $20 million through the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to fund deceptive television ads opposing health insurance reform.

13 Jan 2010

NCB Capital Impact and MetLife team up to get more capital for community health centers

In an effort to preempt a potential decline in health care services for California’s most vulnerable communities due to the state budget crisis, NCB Capital Impact and MetLife have teamed up to get more capital to community health centers (CHCs) that need it most.

13 Jan 2010

Economist Stuart Butler: Give states maximum flexibility under health reform

In this wide-ranging interview with Kaiser Health News, the Heritage Foundation's Stuart Butler talks about the proposal to have the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have a role in expanding insurance coverage to more Americans; the increasingly heated debate over the roles of the federal government and the states in implementing any legislation: and the merits -- or demerits -- of an individual mandate.

13 Jan 2010

ACP supports equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today was one of 118 organizations that joined to send a letter to House and Senate leaders supporting equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services.

13 Jan 2010

Consumer Watchdog calls for affordability and accountability changes to the health reform legislation

In a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) today, Consumer Watchdog called for strengthened oversight of the health insurance industry and greater affordability protections for consumers in negotiations with the U.S. Senate on final health reform legislation.

13 Jan 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

Minnesota County says state plan to cover costs of health care for the needy is unfair

Federal survey shows more than 6.7 million children in the United States have no health insurance

'Cadillac' tax deal in the works

Republicans decry Dems' deal with labor

Aflac becomes the most preferred carrier for voluntary insurance among brokers

Major insurers funded Chamber of Commerce ads attacking health bills

Health overhaul might relieve 'job lock' phenomenon

Massachusetts Senate race tightens over health care reform

Multiple issues still on the table in House-Senate health bill negotiations

Obama reportedly supportive of House bid to include national exchanges in health bill

Dispute erupts between Reid and Lieberman around 'double-cross' quote

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Shionogi receives approval to develop and commercialize intravenous peramivir in Japan

Era of rapid expansion in biomedical research funding began in 1990's ends

Nancy Pelosi: Insurance companies funneled between $10M and $20M to fund deceptive television ads

NCB Capital Impact and MetLife team up to get more capital for community health centers

Economist Stuart Butler: Give states maximum flexibility under health reform

ACP supports equality of Medicaid and Medicare rates for primary care services

Consumer Watchdog calls for affordability and accountability changes to the health reform legislation

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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