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Death rates are higher in zip codes with more fine particulate air pollution

A new study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that death rates among people over 65 are higher in zip codes with more fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) than in those with lower levels of PM2.5.

5 Jun 2015

Cyberonics announces results for fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015

Cyberonics, Inc. today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 24, 2015.

4 Jun 2015

Keeping blood sugar levels under control can help protect hearts from diabetes-related damage

Day in and day out, for years on end, millions of people with diabetes prick their fingers to test their blood sugar level. And many may wonder if all the careful eating, exercise and medication it takes to keep those levels under control is really worth it.

4 Jun 2015

CDS systems fail to identify relevant appropriateness criteria for ordering of advanced diagnostic imaging

An analysis of the use of computerized clinical decision support systems regarding orders for advanced diagnostic imaging found that the systems failed to identify relevant appropriateness criteria for the majority of orders, according to a study in the June 2 issue of JAMA.

3 Jun 2015

Tools that help decide use of expensive imaging studies can reduce ordering of unnecessary tests

Using tools that help physicians decide whether to use expensive imaging studies such as MRI scans can help reduce the ordering of unnecessary tests, but implementation of the tools in real-world settings has many challenges, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

3 Jun 2015

Decipher genomic analysis platform predicts tumor responsiveness to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in MIBC patients

GenomeDx Biosciences today announced that the robust Decipher genomic analysis platform, successfully classified various subtypes of bladder cancer based on the genomic expression of certain biomarkers, including one type associated with resistance to cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Importantly, this unique genomic signature has potential as a tool to predict tumor responsiveness to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancers (MIBC).

2 Jun 2015

Medicare physician reimbursement data could be confusing to the public

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services today released to the public data relating to 2013 Medicare payments made to physicians and other providers. In response, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is providing necessary context for the reimbursement data, which in its raw form are often complex and difficult to understand.

2 Jun 2015

ACA urges NINDS to include recommendations for use of conservative forms of pain management

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA), in recent comments submitted to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Office of Pain Policy on the draft National Pain Strategy, strongly urges the agency to include recommendations encouraging patients and health care providers to first exhaust conservative forms of pain management, when appropriate.

1 Jun 2015

Precision medicine helps improve patient health and reduces risk of side effects, says Penn Medical School dean

The rapidly emerging field of precision medicine is a "disruptive innovation" that offers the possibility of remarkably fine-tuned remedies to improve patient health while minimizing the risk of harmful side effects, says J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System, in this week's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

1 Jun 2015

Decipher Prostate Cancer Classifier predicts metastasis in patients treated with salvage radiation therapy

GenomeDx Biosciences today announced that data presented at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting demonstrate that the Decipher® Prostate Cancer Classifier is a significant predictor of metastasis in patients treated with postoperative salvage radiation therapy.

30 May 2015

BioDelivery Sciences calls for new treatment options for opioid addiction

As the rate of opioid abuse soars to new levels, growing recognition of the problem is garnering unprecedented media attention—as well as motivating innovative new approaches to better treatment.

30 May 2015

AlloSource's AlloWrap DS amniotic membrane moved to high-cost reimbursement category

AlloSource, one of the nation's largest providers of cartilage, cellular, bone, skin and soft-tissue allografts for use in surgical procedures and wound care to advance patient healing, today announced that AlloWrap DS, its double-sided human amniotic membrane allograft, has been moved to the high-cost reimbursement category.

29 May 2015

Study points to new health service delivery models for homebound older adults

There is an enormous hidden population of older adults in America suffering behind closed doors largely because they aren't strong or well enough to leave their homes, for healthcare or anything else. This is among the worrisome findings of a study being published this week in JAMA Internal Medicine.

27 May 2015

Emergency medicine faces special challenges with changeover in medical diagnosis codes

Emergency medicine faces special challenges during this fall's changeover in how medical diagnoses are coded. Nearly a quarter of all ER clinical encounters could pose difficulties.

27 May 2015

Spouses of patients receiving hospice care report reduced depression symptoms

Spouses of patients receiving hospice for three or more days more frequently reported reduced depression symptoms, compared to surviving spouses of patients who did not receive hospice, according to a study led by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai published online today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

27 May 2015

West Tennessee Healthcare, HealthSouth partner to jointly operate inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Jackson

West Tennessee Healthcare and HealthSouth Corporation have signed an agreement to form a joint venture to own and operate a 48-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Jackson, Tennessee.

27 May 2015

Many Americans unclear whether domestic health insurance plan works outside the US

A surprising number of Americans are unclear whether their health insurance works outside the US, according to a new InsureMyTrip survey. Over twenty-five percent polled were not sure whether their domestic health insurance plan would cover any doctor or hospital visits while traveling outside the country.

25 May 2015

Omeros receives EMA CHMP positive opinion for Omidria for cataract, IOL replacement surgery

Omeros Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing small-molecule and protein therapeutics for both large-market as well as orphan indications targeting inflammation, coagulopathies and disorders of the central nervous system, today announced that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA's) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion for Omidria® (phenylephrine and ketorolac injection) 1%/0.3%.

22 May 2015

Mayo Clinic hospitals earn top-tier High Performing distinction in U.S. News & World Report ratings

Mayo Clinic Hospitals in Rochester, Minn, and Phoenix earned the top-tier High Performing distinction in all five common care categories in the latest ratings by U.S. News & World Report.

21 May 2015

Avalere Health study finds that even largest home healthcare providers face very low overall margins

Reflecting the impact of deep reimbursement cuts that have been implemented in recent years, a new study by Avalere Health finds that even the largest home healthcare providers are facing very low overall margins.

21 May 2015

Medicare News and Research

Death rates are higher in zip codes with more fine particulate air pollution

Cyberonics announces results for fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015

Keeping blood sugar levels under control can help protect hearts from diabetes-related damage

CDS systems fail to identify relevant appropriateness criteria for ordering of advanced diagnostic imaging

Tools that help decide use of expensive imaging studies can reduce ordering of unnecessary tests

Decipher genomic analysis platform predicts tumor responsiveness to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in MIBC patients

Medicare physician reimbursement data could be confusing to the public

ACA urges NINDS to include recommendations for use of conservative forms of pain management

Precision medicine helps improve patient health and reduces risk of side effects, says Penn Medical School dean

Decipher Prostate Cancer Classifier predicts metastasis in patients treated with salvage radiation therapy

BioDelivery Sciences calls for new treatment options for opioid addiction

AlloSource's AlloWrap DS amniotic membrane moved to high-cost reimbursement category

Study points to new health service delivery models for homebound older adults

Emergency medicine faces special challenges with changeover in medical diagnosis codes

Spouses of patients receiving hospice care report reduced depression symptoms

West Tennessee Healthcare, HealthSouth partner to jointly operate inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Jackson

Many Americans unclear whether domestic health insurance plan works outside the US

Omeros receives EMA CHMP positive opinion for Omidria for cataract, IOL replacement surgery

Mayo Clinic hospitals earn top-tier High Performing distinction in U.S. News & World Report ratings

Avalere Health study finds that even largest home healthcare providers face very low overall margins

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