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GOP Senate may not be able to repeal health law, but it could cripple key provisions

News outlets examine what the future could hold for the health law especially as the Senate increasingly appears to be within GOP reach.

16 Sep 2014

Health clinics getting new $295 million for primary care through health law

The money will go to expanding primary care services, as well as helping health centers stay open longer and provide expanded services not always available at the clinics across the United States.

16 Sep 2014

Gilead to boost price of new hepatitis c drug

Gilead Sciences says its next generation drug to combat hepatitis C, slated to launch next month, will be more expensive than $1,000-a-pill Sovaldi, in part because the new treatment will be shorter and simpler. Gilead also struck a deal with Indian generic drugmakers to sell lower-cost versions of Sovaldi in poor countries.

From Baxter International Inc. 16 Sep 2014

Obamacare boosts bottom lines of Washington hospitals

Hospitals attribute the 30 percent reduction in uncompensated care to the expansion of Medicaid and private coverage under the federal health law.

15 Sep 2014

USM Studios to air series dedicated to business health solutions

America's employers, small and large, are taking better care of their employees with managed healthcare partnerships. Many organizations offer wellness options for workers including health screenings for various diseases, fitness programs to help people get in shape, and on-call health and wellness coaches.

15 Sep 2014

Appeals court considers Texas abortion clinic law

The law, which was ruled unconstitutional last month, would allow Texas to close more than half the state's abortion facilities.

15 Sep 2014

Advocates to refine health enrollment message

When sign-ups begin in November, advocates and those giving enrollment assistance will use lessons from last fall to help attract new customers and help those re-enrolling. Also, several news outlets look at the challenges for consumers.

15 Sep 2014

State highlights: States want home care worker wage changes delayed; Ga. delays nursing home rate hike

State officials that argued against providing overtime and minimum wage protections to the nation's 2 million home care workers are asking the Department of Labor to push back a Jan. 1 start date for the policy to take effect. State Medicaid officials concerned that their costs will rise are asking for a delay and tweaks to the policy, even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the rule a year ago.

15 Sep 2014

Viewpoints: Ebola takes us to 'uncharted waters'; the failure of workplace 'wellness' programs

There have been more than 4,300 cases and 2,300 deaths over the past six months. Last week, the World Health Organization warned that, by early October, there may be thousands of new cases per week in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria. What is not getting said publicly, despite briefings and discussions in the inner circles of the world's public health agencies, is that we are in totally uncharted waters and that Mother Nature is the only force in charge of the crisis at this time (Michael T. Osterholm, 9/11).

15 Sep 2014

Report: State decisions determine how residents fare under Obamacare

The report by a Yale University economist found it difficult to generalize about the health law's impact because it varies greatly state by state.

15 Sep 2014

Research roundup: Prevention services for seniors; drug shortages

This policy brief reports the findings of a systematic review conducted by the Community Health Innovations in Prevention for Seniors (CHIPS) project. ... Clinical preventive services such as colorectal cancer screening and pneumococcal immunization can help reduce rates of premature death and disability. Yet, many older adults are not receiving the full set of clinical preventive services that have been proven effective and are considered "high value" in terms of their costs per life saved. Rates are particularly low among racial and ethnic minority older adults compared to national goals.

15 Sep 2014

Health value of Apple's Watch questioned

Health care professionals say there is little evidence the new watch surpasses gadgets already on the market, although more health features may be in store, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, The Associated Press examines tensions between Silicon Valley tech giants and government regulators.

15 Sep 2014

House approves bill to extend some plans that don't meet health law standards

The legislation would allow people to use the once-canceled policies through 2018. However, the measure is not expected to get a vote in the Senate.

15 Sep 2014

Health costs inch up as coverage expands

According to the Census Bureau's Quarterly Services Survey, total revenue at health care and social-assistance firms rose 3 percent in the second quarter of the year. But analysts described the increase as modest.

15 Sep 2014

Danaher signs definitive transaction agreement with Nobel Biocare

Danaher Corporation has entered into a definitive transaction agreement with Nobel Biocare Holding AG pursuant to which Danaher Corporation or one of its direct or indirect subsidiaries ("Danaher") will commence a tender offer for all publicly held registered shares of Nobel Biocare in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.2 billion.

From Danaher 15 Sep 2014

Study: High-dose prescribing increases by 23% in Canada

High-dose opioid prescribing increased by 23 per cent in Canada between 2006 and 2011, despite clinical guidelines recommending that most patients should avoid high-doses of these drugs, according to new research.

15 Sep 2014

Groups get $3.2 million to enroll minorities in Obamacare

Federal health officials award grants to 13 community organizations to sign up racial and ethnic minorities in health plans through online insurance marketplaces. Meanwhile, a group of South Florida hospitals raises money to help low-income patients pay their insurance premiums, and Massachusetts details plans to re-enroll 450,000 residents.

15 Sep 2014