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First Edition: December 16, 2009

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey explores some of the key issues within current health reform proposals related to Medicare and cost. "In an effort to rein in health costs, Senate Democrats are proposing steps that would give federal agencies more power to overhaul how Medicare pays for medical care - and thus reduce Congress' own role in running the giant program for the elderly" (Kaiser Health News).

16 Dec 2009

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

HealthLeaders-InterStudy and Fingertip Formulary find that 70 percent of surveyed pharmacy directors expect to cover Pfizer's tanezumab if it is approved for the treatment of chronic pain. Tanezumab, which is expected to be the first biologic approved for chronic pain and is administered intravenously under medical supervision, will likely be covered as a medical benefit rather than a pharmacy benefit according to surveyed pharmacy directors.

16 Dec 2009

Consumer Watchdog calls for preserving state authority, ban on annual benefit limits and effective rate regulation

Consumer Watchdog condemned the removal of the Medicare buy-in provision for those over 55 and the public option from the U.S. Senate health reform bill. But the group said that the Senate must still make three essential fixes to the greatly weakened bill to prevent ceding the entire health care system to the insurance industry.

16 Dec 2009

Challenges U.S. and U.K. cancer patients face in gaining access to expensive treatments

Cancer patients in both the United States and the United Kingdom face challenges in gaining access to expensive treatments, according to research published in the December issue of The Milbank Quarterly.

16 Dec 2009

New York Times highlights shortfalls in transplant patient immunosuppressive drug coverage

Today's New York Times article by Kevin Sack, "Plan for Kidney Drugs Spurs Division," illustrates an internal renal community reimbursement debate that may result in kidney patients continuing to be deprived of their life-saving immunosuppressive medications beyond the current 36-month Medicare program limit.

16 Dec 2009

Thirty indicted over $61M Medicare fraud

Thirty people have been charged in three cities for their alleged roles in schemes to submit more than $61 million in false Medicare claims as part of the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division announced today.

16 Dec 2009

Our Lady of Lourdes Health Care Services to pay U.S. $7.95M for resolving Medicare fraud allegations

Our Lady of Lourdes Health Care Services Inc., the parent company of two New Jersey hospitals, has agreed to pay the United States $7.95 million to resolve allegations that the hospitals defrauded Medicare, the Justice Department announced today. The two hospitals are Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center (OLL) in Camden, N.J., and Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County (LMC) in Willingboro, N.J.

16 Dec 2009

Pharmaceutical manufacturers controlling health reform debate, Senate disallows prescription drug import

The failure of the U.S. Senate to allow importation of prescription drugs to cut costs, much less the more effective direct bulk purchasing of prescription drugs, is just the latest example of how big industry controls the health reform debate, according to Consumer Watchdog.

16 Dec 2009

Prostate cancer tests promised but not delivered

Men's Health Network calls on Congress to ensure that healthcare reform does not override the prostate cancer testing benefit currently required of insurance companies in 37 states.

16 Dec 2009

Nebraska Medicare beneficiaries to make important decisions about their health coverage

Through the end of the year, thousands of Nebraska Medicare beneficiaries will be making important decisions about their health coverage. This is when the state's 268,000 Medicare beneficiaries get to decide which health benefits they will sign up and pay for in 2010.

16 Dec 2009

MU researcher says older American women face unique barriers in healthcare

For Americans living in rural areas, obtaining and maintaining health care can be challenging. Aside from common barriers, including shortages of care providers and facilities, older women face additional challenges, according to Kay Libbus, a public health researcher at the University of Missouri. Libbus says that women ages 50-65 living in rural areas are at-risk for inadequate health care coverage and limited access to health information.

16 Dec 2009

Results from five new studies on Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer test announced

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced results from five new studies on its Oncotype DX® breast cancer test, a multi-gene expression test that physicians currently use to predict the likelihood of chemotherapy benefit and recurrence risk for patients with early-stage breast cancer.

16 Dec 2009

Vangent to implement SSO and Context Management capability in Military Health System

Vangent, Inc., a leading global provider of information management and strategic business process solutions, announced today it was awarded a $20 million contract by the Department of Defense (DoD) to implement an integrated Single Sign-On (SSO) and Context Management capability throughout the Military Health System.

15 Dec 2009

Lieberman ready to support health bill without Medicare buy-in or public option

CNN: "Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman said Tuesday he is prepared to back a comprehensive health care reform bill if it excludes both a public health insurance option and a provision allowing 55- to 64-year-olds to buy into Medicare."

15 Dec 2009

Hoyer: House could pass health bill without public option

"Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday the House can pass a healthcare bill without a public option," The Hill reports.

15 Dec 2009

Patient advocate to discuss provisions in current health bills

Patient advocate Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D., will be cautioning the Republican Women Members of Congress that, "it doesn't matter whether there's a public option.

15 Dec 2009

White House report says health reform will cut cost growth

The New York Times: The chair of the White House Council of Economics Advisers said Monday that the Senate health care reform bill would slow the grown of spending by 1 percent each year. "I want to tell you that what's going on on the floor of the Senate right now is probably the most important thing we can do for the long run fiscal health of this country," said Christina Romer, according to the Times.

15 Dec 2009

A selection of opinions and editorials

In the Senate debate over health care reform, our priority should be to lower costs for American families and small businesses (Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, 12/14).

15 Dec 2009

Obama urgently pushes lawmakers to pass reform bill

President Barack Obama will meet with Senate Democrats at the White House today and urge them pass legislation as a last chance opportunity for comprehensive health care reform.

15 Dec 2009

Democrats say victorious Lieberman flip-flopped on Medicare buy-in

CNN: Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., "an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, has emerged as the majority party's main obstacle to its efforts to get a health care bill through the Senate before Christmas. He ratcheted up his public opposition to the bill Sunday by threatening to join a Republican filibuster if the legislation contains either a government-run public health insurance option or a proposed alternative that would expand Medicare to people as young as 55" (Bash and Cohen, 12/14).

15 Dec 2009

Medicare News and Research

First Edition: December 16, 2009

Pharmacy directors willing to cover tanezumab at lower prices

Consumer Watchdog calls for preserving state authority, ban on annual benefit limits and effective rate regulation

Challenges U.S. and U.K. cancer patients face in gaining access to expensive treatments

New York Times highlights shortfalls in transplant patient immunosuppressive drug coverage

Thirty indicted over $61M Medicare fraud

Our Lady of Lourdes Health Care Services to pay U.S. $7.95M for resolving Medicare fraud allegations

Pharmaceutical manufacturers controlling health reform debate, Senate disallows prescription drug import

Prostate cancer tests promised but not delivered

Nebraska Medicare beneficiaries to make important decisions about their health coverage

MU researcher says older American women face unique barriers in healthcare

Results from five new studies on Genomic Health's Oncotype DX breast cancer test announced

Vangent to implement SSO and Context Management capability in Military Health System

Lieberman ready to support health bill without Medicare buy-in or public option

Hoyer: House could pass health bill without public option

Patient advocate to discuss provisions in current health bills

White House report says health reform will cut cost growth

A selection of opinions and editorials

Obama urgently pushes lawmakers to pass reform bill

Democrats say victorious Lieberman flip-flopped on Medicare buy-in

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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