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Website launches today showing drugmakers' payments to doctors

The so-called Open Payments program is intended to shine a light on potential ethical conflicts and allow patients to look up their doctors online. The first batch of data, however, will be incomplete, covering only a few months at the end of 2013. Journalism website ProPublica says it has tracked 3.4 million payments to health professionals since 2009, totaling more than $4 billion.

30 Sep 2014

Federal database on physician quality ratings comes up short, experts say

The database, which was created by the health law, offers only the most basic information, according to USA Today.

30 Sep 2014

Retrospective study finds overuse of colonoscopies for colorectal cancer screening, surveillance

A retrospective study led by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), has found an overuse of colonoscopies for colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.

30 Sep 2014

More insurers change how they pay medical providers

Commercial insurers are moving rapidly from the old system of paying health providers for every test or procedure they do toward payments based on the value rather than volume of services, according to a report by Catalyst for Payment Reform, a business coalition focused on health care costs.

30 Sep 2014

Johnson & Johnson inks definitive deal to acquire Alios BioPharma

Johnson & Johnson today announced a definitive agreement to acquire Alios BioPharma, Inc., a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing therapies for viral diseases, for approximately $1.75 billion in cash.

30 Sep 2014

Luminex gets FDA approval to add three new targets to xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel

Luminex Corporation today announced it has received U.S. FDA clearance to add three new targets to its xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP). The targets include Adenovirus 40/41, Entamoeba histolytica and Vibrio cholerae.

From Luminex 30 Sep 2014

Groups urge Medicare to cover LDCT screening for adults at high risk for lung cancer

More than 60 patient advocacy and medical organizations have joined a coalition headed by the Lung Cancer Alliance, the American College of Radiology and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, in urging Medicare to cover low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for beneficiaries at high risk for lung cancer.

30 Sep 2014

NRA announces exclusive member discounts from UnitedHealthcare on manual medical rates

The National Restaurant Association (NRA) announced exclusive member discounts from UnitedHealthcare on manual medical rates for fully insured business groups with 51 or more eligible employees.

30 Sep 2014

Cancer community joins coalition seeking Medicare coverage for CT lung cancer screening

30 Sep 2014

During first debate, Iowa Senate candidates Ernst and Braley clash on the health law

News outlets offer updates on how the Affordable Care Act is playing in Iowa, Arkansas and Minnesota races.

30 Sep 2014

State highlights: Calif. health insurers and contraception coverage; Alaska sues Xerox over Medicaid payment systems

Health insurance policies in California will have to cover all federally approved contraceptives for women by 2016 without charging co-payments under legislation signed this week by Gov. Jerry Brown, countering trends in other states and the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill, SB1053 by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, expands state laws that required coverage for most birth-control drugs and devices approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The new law mandates coverage for all FDA-approved contraception, prohibits co-payments and includes managed-care Medi-Cal plans, which are not expressly covered by current laws (Egelko, 9/27).

30 Sep 2014

First-in-kind study evaluates health outcomes of women sexual assault survivors

One in 5 U.S. women experience sexual assault during their lifetime, yet little is known about the experiences and health outcomes of sexual assault survivors. A new study seeks to change that.

30 Sep 2014

Majority of Americans find the health law hard to understand, poll finds

An Associated Press-GfK poll finds that nearly 75 percent of Americans find the overhaul "difficult" and nearly half say it is "very hard" to understand. However, health care remains a key issue. In California, there's an effort, for instance, to target messages that include access to health care in outreach to the much-sought-after female voters. Meanwhile, efforts to undo the health law will remain high on the GOP to-do list if Republcans gain control of the Senate.

30 Sep 2014

CFDA clears Elekta's Versa HD radiation therapy system

Following US and European approvals of Elekta's Versa HD™ linear accelerator, the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) has cleared the radiation therapy system for sale and marketing in the country.

From Elekta 30 Sep 2014

Insurers, hospitals hunt for leaders in customer service

It's a great time to be in the hospitality industry ... if you want to go into health care. In case you haven't noticed, health care is becoming more consumer-focused by the day, and in a fight for our business, insurers and health care providers are hunting for executives whose business is customer service -- making sure once we walk through the door, we stay (Gorenstein, 9/26).

30 Sep 2014

Report: Finding care is difficult for some new Medicaid enrollees

State standards for access to care for Medicaid recipients vary widely and are rarely enforced, says a soon-to-be released report by the Health and Human Services Department's inspector general. Meanwhile, Tennessee's governor pursues Medicaid expansion talks, and confusion continues in Pennsylvania about what benefits will be available to enrollees in that state's expansion plan.

30 Sep 2014

Apexus secures HRSA contract, continues to serve as prime vendor of 340B Drug Pricing Program

Apexus, LLC, the prime vendor for the 340B Drug Pricing Program, has announced that it has been selected by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to continue serving in its role as the prime vendor through September 29, 2019.

30 Sep 2014

Novel project to develop new models of care for depression in older adults

UC Davis and the University of Washington are implementing a project to develop innovative new models of care for depression in older adults through a $2.5 million grant from the California-based Archstone Foundation, a private grant-making organization whose mission is to contribute toward the preparation of society in meeting the needs of an aging population.

30 Sep 2014

Health plan narrow networks to continue in 2015

The Los Angeles Times reports that, for Californians, the state's largest insurers are likely to stick with, or even reduce, the size of their doctor networks for the upcoming plan season. Additionally, no comprehensive directory is available to help consumers match their physicians with their health plans. Meanwhile, The Washington Post also explores how the issue is playing out in the context of a ballot initiative.

30 Sep 2014

Specific nurse-to-patient staffing standards lower job-related injuries, illnesses for nurses

A 2004 California law mandating specific nurse-to-patient staffing standards in acute care hospitals significantly lowered job-related injuries and illnesses for both registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, according to UC Davis research published online in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health.

30 Sep 2014

Health Care News and Research

Website launches today showing drugmakers' payments to doctors

Federal database on physician quality ratings comes up short, experts say

Retrospective study finds overuse of colonoscopies for colorectal cancer screening, surveillance

More insurers change how they pay medical providers

Johnson & Johnson inks definitive deal to acquire Alios BioPharma

Luminex gets FDA approval to add three new targets to xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel

Groups urge Medicare to cover LDCT screening for adults at high risk for lung cancer

NRA announces exclusive member discounts from UnitedHealthcare on manual medical rates

Cancer community joins coalition seeking Medicare coverage for CT lung cancer screening

During first debate, Iowa Senate candidates Ernst and Braley clash on the health law

State highlights: Calif. health insurers and contraception coverage; Alaska sues Xerox over Medicaid payment systems

First-in-kind study evaluates health outcomes of women sexual assault survivors

Majority of Americans find the health law hard to understand, poll finds

CFDA clears Elekta's Versa HD radiation therapy system

Insurers, hospitals hunt for leaders in customer service

Report: Finding care is difficult for some new Medicaid enrollees

Apexus secures HRSA contract, continues to serve as prime vendor of 340B Drug Pricing Program

Novel project to develop new models of care for depression in older adults

Health plan narrow networks to continue in 2015

Specific nurse-to-patient staffing standards lower job-related injuries, illnesses for nurses

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