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CCHIT awards 2014 ONC HIT Certification to Mirth Connect version 3.0.1

Mirth, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a global leader in health information technology, announced today that Mirth® Connect version 3.0.1 is compliant with the ONC 2014 Edition criteria and was certified as an Electronic Health Record (EHR) Module on May 1, 2014 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ACB, in accordance with the applicable Eligible Providers (Ambulatory) certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

19 May 2014

Umbian announces outcome of new study for U-Sleep automated messaging system

Umbian Inc., a ResMed (NYSE: RMD) company, and leading provider of cloud-based healthcare compliance solutions, today announced the outcome of a new study that shows significant, measurable efficiency gains when using the automated messaging capabilities of its U-Sleep compliance management solution.

19 May 2014

TEVA presents results from real-life, observational study of QVAR at ATS 2014 International Conference

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., (NYSE: TEVA) today announced that results from a real-life, retrospective, observational study of QVAR- will be presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2014 International Conference in San Diego on May 18, 2014.

19 May 2014

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield hails Gov. Pence's proposal to enhance Healthy Indiana Plan

The leaders of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Medicaid business are hailing Governor Mike Pence's proposal to enhance the state's Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP).

17 May 2014

First Edition: May 16, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Indiana governor's alternative plan to expand Medicaid. Kaiser Health News staff writer Sarah Varney, working in collaboration with PBS Newshour, reports: "Men and women involved in the criminal justice system are more likely to be sicker than the general population, with higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, depression, mood disorders and alcohol and drug addiction.

16 May 2014

Standard & Poor's upgrades HTA's investment grade credit rating to BBB

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. (NYSE: HTA) announced today that Standard & Poor's ("S&P") has upgraded HTA's investment grade credit rating to BBB, with a stable outlook.

16 May 2014

State highlights: 700 nurses needed for health care help in Calif. county; Missouri abortion wait period; nursing home funding in Maine

A selection of health policy stories from California, Missouri, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas and Georgia.

16 May 2014

Viewpoints: GOP attacks on health law; challenging assumptions about Obamacare politics; is employer mandate worth it?

A crucial component of the Republican Party's assault on the Affordable Care Act always has been ignorance -- that is, the promotion of ignorance about the ACA's benefits among the general population. Now, from the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., comes hard evidence that the campaign worked, bigtime. In its latest national survey to determine how the healthcare reform act has been working, McKinsey found that the perceived cost of health insurance still was the No. 1 reason given by respondents for not enrolling (Michael Hiltzik, 5/14).

16 May 2014

Three large health plans join forces to advance health care price transparency

A partnership was announced Wednesday between insurers UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Humana and the Health Care Cost Institute to create a payment database that will be available at no cost to the public.

16 May 2014

Lung cancer screening guidelines could cost Medicare billions

A study of Medicare beneficiaries with a history of heavy smoking found that new lung cancer screening guidelines would likely double the proportion of lung cancers found at an early stage, but at a steep cost of more than $9 billion over five years.

16 May 2014

Confirmation path appears smooth for Obama pick to take the helm at HHS

Sylvia Mathews Burwell received a friendly reception from both sides of the aisle during her second confirmation hearing, during which she pledged to try to recoup any taxpayer funds that may have been misused on flawed state websites and defended the "unilateral" changes the Aministration has made to the health law.

16 May 2014

Medica, Mayo Clinic Health System partner to make care available at lower cost in northwestern Wisconsin

Medica and Mayo Clinic Health System announced today a new relationship that will make care available at a lower cost and provide a seamless consumer experience. It is available in northwestern Wisconsin through Medica's market-leading private health exchange, My Plan by Medica.

15 May 2014

Actavis reaches agreement to continue supplying authorized generic version of JPI's Concerta

Actavis plc today announced that it has reached an agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to continue supplying the authorized generic version of JPI's Concerta (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release tablets).

15 May 2014

In-office treatment using balloon sinus dilation is as effective as FESS for chronic sinusitis

New results from a randomized trial published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy demonstrate the benefits of in-office balloon dilation for sufferers of chronic sinusitis.

15 May 2014

First Edition: May 15, 2014

Today's headlines include highlights from Wednesday's Senate confirmation hearing -- the second one -- for Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the White House pick to become the next Health and Human Services Secretary.

15 May 2014

State highlights: Budget surplus in Calif., but higher Medi-Cal costs; court-ordered mental health care in Calif.; nurses' authority in Minn.

A selection of health policy stories from California, Minnesota, Georgia, Washington state, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Illinois and Maryland.

15 May 2014

Medicare fraud strike force strikes again, arresting 90 people

A federal task force on Tuesday charged 90 people, including 16 doctors, with generating $260 million of false Medicare billings following raids in cities across the country.

15 May 2014

Eyeing presidential run, Rubio outlines Medicare plans

Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), considered a likely presidential candidate in 2016, on Tuesday called for structural changes to Social Security and Medicare as a way to control spending for both programs, which are growing steadily as the U.S. population ages.

15 May 2014

First Edition: May 14, 2014

Today's headlines include stories about consumer frustrations about cost and coverage issues that are emerging with the health law's implementation.

14 May 2014

Financially weak hospitals continue to struggle, say health researchers

The recent economic recession affected hospitals across the nation, regardless of financial status, but following the rebound, financially weak and safety-net hospitals continue to struggle, according to health researchers.

14 May 2014

Medicare News and Research

CCHIT awards 2014 ONC HIT Certification to Mirth Connect version 3.0.1

Umbian announces outcome of new study for U-Sleep automated messaging system

TEVA presents results from real-life, observational study of QVAR at ATS 2014 International Conference

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield hails Gov. Pence's proposal to enhance Healthy Indiana Plan

First Edition: May 16, 2014

Standard & Poor's upgrades HTA's investment grade credit rating to BBB

State highlights: 700 nurses needed for health care help in Calif. county; Missouri abortion wait period; nursing home funding in Maine

Viewpoints: GOP attacks on health law; challenging assumptions about Obamacare politics; is employer mandate worth it?

Three large health plans join forces to advance health care price transparency

Lung cancer screening guidelines could cost Medicare billions

Confirmation path appears smooth for Obama pick to take the helm at HHS

Medica, Mayo Clinic Health System partner to make care available at lower cost in northwestern Wisconsin

Actavis reaches agreement to continue supplying authorized generic version of JPI's Concerta

In-office treatment using balloon sinus dilation is as effective as FESS for chronic sinusitis

First Edition: May 15, 2014

State highlights: Budget surplus in Calif., but higher Medi-Cal costs; court-ordered mental health care in Calif.; nurses' authority in Minn.

Medicare fraud strike force strikes again, arresting 90 people

Eyeing presidential run, Rubio outlines Medicare plans

First Edition: May 14, 2014

Financially weak hospitals continue to struggle, say health researchers

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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