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VA launches new pilot in Indianapolis to improve delivery of Veterans health information

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a new pilot in the Indianapolis region that will improve the delivery of Veterans health information. The Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis will partner with the Indiana Health Information Exchange (IHIE), the largest health information exchange organization in the United States, to securely exchange electronic health record (EHR) information using the Nationwide Health Information Network.

25 Aug 2010

Extend Health ranks No. 94 on 2010 'Inc. 500' list of fastest-growing private companies

Inc. magazine has ranked Extend Health, Inc. No. 94 on its 29th annual Inc. 500, which was released today. This is the first time the company applied for inclusion on this exclusive list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The ranking is based on a 2,579% increase in sales over the past three years, leading to revenue of $36.6 million in 2009. Based on its 2009 revenue, Extend Health would rank No. 14 among the top 100 companies on the 2010 Inc. 500 list.

25 Aug 2010

Harvard Pilgrim CEO works to contain costs, negotiate with state insurance regulators

The Boston Globe: "When an insurance appeals board issued a surprise ruling on June 24 toppling the Patrick administration's cap on Harvard Pilgrim Health Care's premium rates, there was little time for gloating in the health insurer's executive offices. … A week letter, Harvard Pilgrim struck a deal with regulators voluntarily limiting its 2010 rate increases to single digits.

25 Aug 2010

New study finds walking, cycling results in lower levels of obesity and diabetes

Amble, stroll or pedal: it's all good. A new study provides evidence supporting a seemingly obvious − but unproven − link between walking- and cycling-friendly communities and lower levels of obesity.

25 Aug 2010

Intermountain Healthcare chooses Optilink software to enhance nursing productivity management

Intermountain Healthcare, one of the nation's most progressive health systems in leveraging technology to improve care delivery, has chosen OptiLink to enhance nursing productivity management across its health system. OptiLink is a software solution from The Advisory Board Company that captures patient acuity and determines staffing demand.

25 Aug 2010

States look to slow spending, raise money and extend savings for Medicaid

"A plan to cut reimbursement rates to doctors who care for the poor and disabled has led to a tussle between Gov. Bev Perdue and North Carolina physicians. In the current state budget, Perdue and the legislature agreed that Medicaid reimbursement rates would be reduced by $26.6 million or 1.35 percent, if the state found it necessary to close a gap in federal Medicaid funding. Perdue's office says the cut is now necessary. The doctors say the state has access to plenty of federal money and could use a $300 million federal education windfall to avoid cutting the rates".

25 Aug 2010

ITelagen finds place on 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing US companies

ITelagen, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare IT and medical billing solutions, today announced that the company was named to the prestigious 2010 Inc. 5000 list, a compendium of the most entrepreneurial and fastest growing companies in America.

25 Aug 2010

Fewer N.C. physicians seeing Medicare patients; Hospitals try to cut Medicare readmissions

"The national health care reform law, which was was designed to provide insurance coverage and access to physicians to more Americans, has no provision to help a group already having difficulty finding doctors to treat them - senior citizens. According to a report from Cigna Government Services, which processes Medicare claims in North Carolina and 17 other states, more than 80 physicians in North Carolina have opted out of Medicare in the past year. That's in addition to the 100 physicians statewide who stopped seeing Medicare patients in 2008, the report states.

25 Aug 2010

Health law continues to be embroiled in politics, though toned down

In a bid to rally support for the health overhaul among doctors, a White House official underscored both sticks and carrots the federal government is offering the health industry, Reuters reports: "Administration officials said the new law will provide doctors with information technology and incentives to improve the care they deliver, but only if they cooperate.

25 Aug 2010

Some health overhaul policies good for consumers, bad for brokers

As changes mandated by the health law continue to emerge, news outlets are exploring how the measure will alter the landscape for consumers and for insurance professionals.

25 Aug 2010

Study examines movement of pediatric drug testing outside the U.S.

"A law intended to speed up development of new drugs for U.S. kids has ended up financing clinical trials in poor countries, where the medicines might never become available," suggest the authors of a study published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, Reuters reports (Joelving, 8/23).

25 Aug 2010

UT Southwestern University Hospital - St. Paul earns distinction as Primary Stroke Center

The Joint Commission has certified UT Southwestern University Hospital - St. Paul as a Primary Stroke Center, a distinction for hospitals fostering specialized stroke care for patients.

25 Aug 2010

Virginia Attorney Gen. approves stricter oversight on abortion clinics; Indiana fails to follow up inspection reports on nursing homes

The Washington Post: "Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II has concluded that the state can impose stricter oversight over clinics that perform abortions, a move immediately decried by abortion-rights organizations and others as an attempt to circumvent the General Assembly, which has repeatedly rejected similar measures.

25 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Ryan's roadmap; Beware rising cost of workers comp

Your road map would turn the federal contribution to health care into a voucher (which I don't view as a dirty word). But the vouchers it would offer … are at levels so far below current insurance premiums as to make it likely you'd be shifting costs to millions who can't afford them (Matt Miller, 8/23).

25 Aug 2010

HHS releases new web tool for searching insurance coverage options

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the release of a new HealthCare.gov web tool available for download that makes searching for coverage options even easier than before.

24 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 24, 2010

In today's headlines, a federal court judge blocks the Obama administration's stem cell policy. Meanwhile, state action related to health reform and health policy continues.

24 Aug 2010

Abilities Expo to be held August 27-29, 2010 in Houston, Texas

Thousands of people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, veterans with disabilities and healthcare professionals are expected to attend Abilities Expo on Friday, August 27, through Sunday, August 29, 2010 at Reliant Center. Admission is free and show hours will be Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.

24 Aug 2010

2010 Summit to focus on developing roadmap for personalized health care

The Forum on Personalized Health Care today announced its third annual National Summit on Personalized Health Care, "Creating the Roadmap for Personalized Health Care." The 2010 Summit will give participants the singular opportunity to collaborate in creating a core short- and long-range roadmap to align, coordinate and accelerate delivery of personalized health care technologies and practices.

24 Aug 2010

Canadian government to match private donations for Pakistan flood aid

Donations for flood aid in Pakistan through cbm Canada will be matched dollar for dollar by the federal government until September 12.

24 Aug 2010

Consumer Driven Health Plans grow at 18.1%

Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHPs) in the U.S. experienced continued growth this year – albeit at a slower rate than in 2009 – according to preliminary results released by United Benefit Advisors (UBA) from its 2010 UBA Health Plan Survey, the nation's largest health plan benchmarking survey, with 17,113 plans from 11,413, employers.

24 Aug 2010

Health Care News and Research

VA launches new pilot in Indianapolis to improve delivery of Veterans health information

Extend Health ranks No. 94 on 2010 'Inc. 500' list of fastest-growing private companies

Harvard Pilgrim CEO works to contain costs, negotiate with state insurance regulators

New study finds walking, cycling results in lower levels of obesity and diabetes

Intermountain Healthcare chooses Optilink software to enhance nursing productivity management

States look to slow spending, raise money and extend savings for Medicaid

ITelagen finds place on 2010 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing US companies

Fewer N.C. physicians seeing Medicare patients; Hospitals try to cut Medicare readmissions

Health law continues to be embroiled in politics, though toned down

Some health overhaul policies good for consumers, bad for brokers

Study examines movement of pediatric drug testing outside the U.S.

UT Southwestern University Hospital - St. Paul earns distinction as Primary Stroke Center

Virginia Attorney Gen. approves stricter oversight on abortion clinics; Indiana fails to follow up inspection reports on nursing homes

Today's Opinions: Ryan's roadmap; Beware rising cost of workers comp

HHS releases new web tool for searching insurance coverage options

First Edition: August 24, 2010

Abilities Expo to be held August 27-29, 2010 in Houston, Texas

2010 Summit to focus on developing roadmap for personalized health care

Canadian government to match private donations for Pakistan flood aid

Consumer Driven Health Plans grow at 18.1%

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