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Deals on health reform in jeopardy as support from drugmakers, senior groups is tested

The pharmaceutical industry's support for a health care reform bill in the Senate is in jeopardy as Senate Democrats ponder squeezing more cost savings out of drug makers to help pay for the overhaul, The Associated Press reports.

7 Dec 2009

Some progress on health bill, Senators prepare for long December

"Senate Republicans and Democrats are digging in for a long December, vowing they have no objection to the possibility of a working Christmas to debate healthcare reform," The Hill reports. "From GOP rank-and-file to Democratic leaders, senators say they regret but recognize the need to put public duty ahead of their families and follow a schedule tentatively laid out by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). Reid has said he may call the chamber back into session in between the Christmas and New Year's holidays" (Rushing, 12/6).

7 Dec 2009

Advocates worried about health insurance affordability push for more subsidies

The Boston Globe: "President Obama has promised that the nation's health care overhaul will make medical insurance available - and affordable - for everyone. But while bills in Congress would make insurance more accessible for millions of Americans, advocates worry that the Senate bill would impose significant financial burdens on some of the families who will now be required to buy coverage."

7 Dec 2009

Medicare fraud 'rampant' in Miami, spreads among different ethnic communities nationally

"Medicare fraud runs rampant in Miami-Dade" while federal experts examine how the crime spreads among different ethnic communities in different cities, The Associated Press/Miami Herald reports

7 Dec 2009

New report shows U.S. citizens are ready to make hard choices on fiscal and economic priorities

Hoping to protect their children and grandchildren from a dismal economic future, concerned citizens across the country are prepared to make the difficult choices necessary to put government finances on a more responsible path.

7 Dec 2009

VELCADE based regimens are cost-effective for payers and patients, finds study

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that two studies presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting found that VELCADE based regimens are more cost-effective for payers and reduced out-of-pocket costs for patients than other commonly used multiple myeloma treatments.

7 Dec 2009

Deal time? Key Senate Dems meet on public option in health bill

Politico: "President Barack Obama will meet Sunday with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill, as a group of moderate and liberal senators weighed a new public option compromise in hopes of striking a deal by early in the week.

6 Dec 2009

Combative health debate continues: Senate considers insurance executives' pay, cost controls

News coverage is focusing on Senate consideration of amendments to the massive health reform bill.

6 Dec 2009

Health experts available to discuss health care reform

Edward D. Miller was named chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, the 13th dean of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and vice president for medicine of The Johns Hopkins University in January 1997.

5 Dec 2009

Genomic Health to present its Oncotype DX multi-gene expression test studies at the 32nd SABCS

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced that the company will present results from five studies at the 32nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), taking place December 9-13, 2009, at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.

5 Dec 2009

Partners HealthCare System's series 2009J fixed-rate revenue bonds rated 'AA'

Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA' to Partners HealthCare System's approximately $475 million Massachusetts Health and Educational Facilities Authority revenue bonds (Partners HealthCare System), fixed-rate revenue bonds, series 2009J, which are expected to be sold as two sub series. Fitch also affirms its 'AA' long-term rating on all of Partners' outstanding debt and affirms its 'F1+' rating on approximately $485 million of Partners HealthCare System's debt that is backed by self-liquidity.

5 Dec 2009

Humana introduces senior-friendly dance pad video game at Kissimmee Guidance Center

What: Humana (http://www.humana.com), Florida's largest Medicare health benefits provider, is introducing Dancetown (http://humanagames.com), a senior-friendly dance pad video game at its Kissimmee Guidance Center on Tues., Dec. 8 at 1 p.m.

5 Dec 2009

ACP pleased with affordable coverage for all Americans, expresses concern regarding several provisions

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today sent a letter to Senate leaders sharing the College's views on key issues in H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

5 Dec 2009

Health experts available to speak about health care reform

Garson helped originate and draft the "Health Partnership Act" (S. 325 and H.R. 5606), which funds grants to states for innovations to improve coverage for the uninsured, quality and efficiency.

5 Dec 2009

Congress will not let the full SGR cuts take effect

Despite claims that the pending health reform bills aren't really paid for because Congress never lets Medicare savings take effect, Congress has allowed the vast majority of Medicare cuts that it enacted in the past two decades to take effect and produce significant savings, a new study from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows.

5 Dec 2009

Aetna Medicare Advantage members now have access to MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital

Aetna (NYSE:ΑET) announced today that beginning January 1, 2010, its Medicare Advantage members will have access to MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital as part of Aetna’s Medicare network of participating health care facilities in Connecticut.

5 Dec 2009

Senators offer cost-constainment amendment; Senate continues to discuss abortion, public option

The Associated Press: "Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, along with Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., unveiled a package of amendments Friday that would reward Medicare patients for picking efficient doctors, require insurance companies to make public more information about claims denials and speed up programs shifting from paying providers for services to paying them for performance

4 Dec 2009

Senate rejects amendment to strip proposed Medicare cuts from Senate health bill

The Washington Post: "Senate Republicans lost their first major challenge to a Democratic plan to overhaul the health-care system, as the chamber voted Thursday to reject a GOP proposal to strip the package of nearly $500 billion in Medicare cuts, its most important source of financing."

4 Dec 2009

Health Policy Research Roundup

UCLA Center For Health Policy Research: Health Disparities Among California's Nearly Four Million Low-Income Nonelderly Adult Women - Using data from the 2007 California Health Interview Survey, the authors of this policy brief compare low-income women, ages 18-64, to others. The report finds the low-income women are four times more likely to report fair or poor health and are more likely to report a health condition that interferes with basic physical activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.

4 Dec 2009

Democrats stress 'doughnut hole' provisions to woo senior support for reform

The Associated Press: "Lawmakers have wooed seniors skeptical of the health care overhaul by emphasizing the plan would close the 'doughnut hole' — a gap in Medicare drug coverage that can cost thousands of dollars a year. But getting support for the entire overhaul from this powerful voting bloc has been difficult, despite Democrats repeated town hall meetings, interviews and congressional hearings."

4 Dec 2009

Medicare News and Research

Deals on health reform in jeopardy as support from drugmakers, senior groups is tested

Some progress on health bill, Senators prepare for long December

Advocates worried about health insurance affordability push for more subsidies

Medicare fraud 'rampant' in Miami, spreads among different ethnic communities nationally

New report shows U.S. citizens are ready to make hard choices on fiscal and economic priorities

VELCADE based regimens are cost-effective for payers and patients, finds study

Deal time? Key Senate Dems meet on public option in health bill

Combative health debate continues: Senate considers insurance executives' pay, cost controls

Health experts available to discuss health care reform

Genomic Health to present its Oncotype DX multi-gene expression test studies at the 32nd SABCS

Partners HealthCare System's series 2009J fixed-rate revenue bonds rated 'AA'

Humana introduces senior-friendly dance pad video game at Kissimmee Guidance Center

ACP pleased with affordable coverage for all Americans, expresses concern regarding several provisions

Health experts available to speak about health care reform

Congress will not let the full SGR cuts take effect

Aetna Medicare Advantage members now have access to MidState Medical Center and Windham Hospital

Senators offer cost-constainment amendment; Senate continues to discuss abortion, public option

Senate rejects amendment to strip proposed Medicare cuts from Senate health bill

Health Policy Research Roundup

Democrats stress 'doughnut hole' provisions to woo senior support for reform

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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