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Medicare data highlight variations in hospital charges, increased costs for common ailments

The data, released Monday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, include 2012 prices for the most common inpatient stays at 3,376 hospitals.

4 Jun 2014

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators improve survival among heart failure patients

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are associated with improved survival among heart failure patients whose left ventricles only pump 30 to 35 percent of blood out of the heart with each contraction, according to a study from the Duke Clinical Research Institute.

4 Jun 2014

Medicare to pay for hep C screenings for baby boomers

The decision comes amid controversy surrounding the costs of new drugs to treat the blood-borne virus. Meanwhile, two studies find that Medicare could save billions if doctors switched from an expensive eye medication to a similar, much cheaper one and, also, if Part D plans were selected based on the actual drugs patients take.

4 Jun 2014

Coordinated Health announces inaugural Athlete of the Year, awards college scholarship

Coordinated Health — the popular specialized hospital network — in partnership with The Morning Call, this evening named Catasauqua High School quarterback Zack Bradley the inaugural Coordinated Health Athlete of the Year.

4 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: No return to 'bad-old days' of mental health commitments; fighting over school lunches; doctors' role in reform

It is difficult to read stories about Elliot Rodger, the 22-year-old man who went on a murderous spree in Isla Vista, Calif., last month, without feeling some empathy for his parents. We know that his mother, alarmed by some of his misogynistic YouTube videos, made a call that resulted in the police visiting Rodger.

4 Jun 2014

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries enters into definitive agreement to acquire Labrys

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Labrys Biologics, Inc., a privately-held development stage biotechnology company focused on treatments for chronic migraine and episodic migraine, today announced that Teva has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Labrys, broadening Teva's array of biotechnology assets and capabilities.

3 Jun 2014

Healthcare Trust of America to acquire six MOBs for $200 million

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. announced today that it was under contract to acquire six medical office buildings ("MOBs") located in major east coast markets, including Boston, Miami and Baltimore for a total consideration of $200 million.

3 Jun 2014

Commentary on VA shake-up:Inadequate performance measures; Congress must do its part; similarities to Medicare

Media outlets offer opinions on Gen. Eric Shinseki's departure from the Department of Veterans Affairs and efforts to fix problems in that system.

3 Jun 2014

After controversies, Medicare reimbursement for end-of-life planning again getting consideration

The federal government may reimburse doctors for talking to Medicare patients and their families about "advance care planning," including living wills and end-of-life treatment options - potentially rekindling one of the fiercest storms in the Affordable Care Act debate.

3 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 3, 2014

Today's headlines include coverage of Medicare data released Monday indicating that 2012 charges for some common inpatient hospital procedures dramatically increased over the previous year.

From Medtronic 3 Jun 2014

New editor takes reins at Health Affairs

Key elements of the Affordable Care Act were first previewed in the journal Health Affairs. It's where policy wonks kick the tires on big ideas for reforming Medicare, Medicaid and most every aspect of health care in the United States - before those proposals find their way into legislation on the Hill.

3 Jun 2014

New study reveals central role of physician leadership in ACOs

In spite of early concerns that hospitals' economic strengths would lead them to dominate the formation of Accountable Care Organizations, a new study published in the June issue of Health Affairs reveals the central role of physician leadership in the first wave of ACOs.

3 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: GOP needs to refine its message on health law; battle over school lunches

It was supposed to be so easy this election year for Republican congressional candidates. All they would have to do was shout "repeal Obamacare!" and make a crack about government doctors and broken websites, and they could coast into office on a wave of public fury. ... But it has not quite worked out that way. ... That sentiment conflicts with the Republican playbook, which party leaders are suddenly trying to rewrite. The result has been an incoherent mishmash of positions, as candidates try to straddle a widening gap between blind hatred of health reform and the public's growing recognition that much of it is working (6/1).

3 Jun 2014

Medicare to cover sex-change surgery

The ruling, handed down Friday by a Department of Health and Human Services appeals board, reverses a Medicare policy in place since 1981. It covers surgery, but not other treatments like hormones.

3 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 2, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about state health law implementation activities as well as the next steps regarding the difficulties at the VA health system.

2 Jun 2014

Research roundup: End-of-life preferences; surviving trauma when older; ACA's big waiver for states

Policies and practices that promote advance care planning and advance directive completion implicitly assume that patients' choices for end-of-life (EOL) care are stable over time, even with changes in health status.

31 May 2014

U.S. Court awards Teva favorable decision for generic Celebrex

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced that the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia denied a motion filed by Mylan and issued an opinion and order affirming a decision by the FDA under which Teva should receive sole 180-day "first-to-file" exclusivity for generic Celebrex® (celecoxib) 100, 200 and 400 mg capsules.

31 May 2014

CMS says it won't review billings despite IG report that it overpays doctors

The move comes even as a report points at $6.7 billion in overspending in Medicare. The HHS inspector general also says that the program paid $457 million in 2012 to detect drugs after a sharp increase in prescription drug abuse.

31 May 2014

Actavis signs deal with Cephalon to settle patent litigation related to Nuvigil tablets

Actavis plc today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Cephalon, Inc. to settle all outstanding patent litigation related to Actavis' generic version of Nuvigil® (armodafinil tablets, 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg and 250 mg).

31 May 2014

Medtronic settles whistleblower case for $9.9 million

Suit accused the medical device maker of giving doctors gifts in return for using its products. Elsewhere, a federal judge denied dismissal of a lawsuit against Novartis alleging a kickback campaign to boost its drugs covered by Medicare and Medicaid.

31 May 2014

Medicare News and Research

Medicare data highlight variations in hospital charges, increased costs for common ailments

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators improve survival among heart failure patients

Medicare to pay for hep C screenings for baby boomers

Coordinated Health announces inaugural Athlete of the Year, awards college scholarship

Viewpoints: No return to 'bad-old days' of mental health commitments; fighting over school lunches; doctors' role in reform

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries enters into definitive agreement to acquire Labrys

Healthcare Trust of America to acquire six MOBs for $200 million

Commentary on VA shake-up:Inadequate performance measures; Congress must do its part; similarities to Medicare

After controversies, Medicare reimbursement for end-of-life planning again getting consideration

First Edition: June 3, 2014

New editor takes reins at Health Affairs

New study reveals central role of physician leadership in ACOs

Viewpoints: GOP needs to refine its message on health law; battle over school lunches

Medicare to cover sex-change surgery

First Edition: June 2, 2014

Research roundup: End-of-life preferences; surviving trauma when older; ACA's big waiver for states

U.S. Court awards Teva favorable decision for generic Celebrex

CMS says it won't review billings despite IG report that it overpays doctors

Actavis signs deal with Cephalon to settle patent litigation related to Nuvigil tablets

Medtronic settles whistleblower case for $9.9 million

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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