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Abortion issues will take center stage this week in the House

Two House subcommittees are scheduled to hold hearings on separate pieces of legislation that would expand restrictions on federal funding for abortions.

7 Feb 2011

State Roundup: Setting up health insurance exchanges; Community-based clinics cuts; Autism legislation; End-of-life care

The board of the Health Benefit Exchange is going to be small and mighty. ... This exchange will concentrate the health insurance buying power of millions of Californians, and will be the central force in implementing national health care reform in California (Gorn, 2/4).

7 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: (Still) Debating health law's constitutionality; Food labels; Lawmakers' abortion divide

For state governments, the bill presents huge new costs, as we are required to enroll 15 million to 20 million more people in our Medicaid systems. ... Perhaps worse, the law expects to conscript the states as its agents in its takeover of health care. It assumes that we will set up and operate its new insurance "exchanges" for it (Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, 2/7).

7 Feb 2011

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania announces name change to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania, based in Monroeville, has joined its Philadelphia-based sister company, AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania, under the name UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. The combined plans serve more than 280,000 health plan members in Pennsylvania.

7 Feb 2011

UHS announces acquisition of Emergent Group and PRI Medical

Universal Hospital Services, Inc. ("UHS"), a leading provider of medical equipment management and service solutions, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement whereby UHS will acquire Emergent Group Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, PRI Medical Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of mobile medical lasers and surgical equipment, for $8.46 per Emergent Group share in an all-cash transaction.

7 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 7, 2011

Today's headlines focus on how states face major budget challenges -- with health policy at the heart of the issue.

7 Feb 2011

BAI releases 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report

The Black AIDS Institute ("BAI"), the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on the Black community in the US, today released its 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report, Deciding Moment. 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic in America and presents unique opportunities to curtail the HIV/AIDS pandemic, but key challenges remain to moving forward in the AIDS response in Black America.

7 Feb 2011

Humana fourth quarter diluted EPS decreases to $0.63

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 (4Q10) of $0.63, compared to $1.48 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 (4Q09).

7 Feb 2011

UHS to acquire Emergent Group/PRI Medical for $70 million

Emergent Group Inc, a leading provider of mobile medical lasers and surgical equipment through its wholly owned subsidiary, PRI Medical Technologies, Inc., today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Universal Hospital Services, Inc., whereby UHS will make a cash tender offer of $8.46 per share for all outstanding shares of Emergent Group after a customary "go-shop" period of 21 days.

7 Feb 2011

Health reform law court decision sparks more political maneuvering

As some news outlets cover the fallout from the Florida court decision on the legality of the health law, others examined aspects of the law, including the provision about "mini-med" insurance plans.

6 Feb 2011

Article examines new challenges Federal Government will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014

A new article released in the February 2011 issue of Health Affairs, co-authored by Benjamin Sommers, MD, PhD, of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health, and Sara Rosenbaum, JD, Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Hirsch Professor of Health Law and Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, examines new challenges that States and the Federal Government will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

5 Feb 2011

Patient need to share medication side effects with health care team: Retired family doctor

"I had a wonderful gentleman patient who had resistant blood pressure," recalls Vicki Koenig, M.D., a retired family doctor in Exmore, VA. "When he came for a blood pressure check on the latest new med and it was great, I was ecstatic. Then he said, 'But I notice my urine's a little dark.' His was one of the first cases of fatal liver complications from this medication."

5 Feb 2011

NQF annual conference to focus on population health

The passage of sweeping healthcare legislation and the recent election of the 112th Congress make these exciting but uncertain times for American healthcare. The National Quality Forum's annual conference, "Achieving Health of Individuals and Populations Within Their Communities," will focus on population health and bring together policymakers and key public- and private-sector stakeholders, each representing their own perspectives for improving health and healthcare throughout the country.

5 Feb 2011

TRICARE may choose to direct TriWest's contribution to provide healthcare for military families

TRICARE West Region beneficiaries can assist military families and help save the environment with a simple click of a mouse. February 4 through March 31, 2011, when a TRICARE beneficiary chooses to "Go Green" and opts-in for paperless statements, TriWest will contribute $5 to a military support organization. The beneficiary may choose to direct TriWest's contribution to Armed Services YMCA, Operation Homefront, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors or the USO.

5 Feb 2011

FDA approves Makena injection to reduce risk of preterm delivery

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) injection to reduce the risk of preterm delivery before 37 weeks of pregnancy, in pregnant women with a history of at least one spontaneous preterm birth.

5 Feb 2011

General Cannabis subsidiaries show expected success, growth in January 2011

The General Cannabis, Inc. subsidiaries are already showing expected success and growth in the year's first quarter.

5 Feb 2011

BCNEPA chooses Diversified to help insurer streamline group enrollment processes

Diversified Information Technologies today announced a three-year agreement with Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania to help the insurer streamline its group enrollment processes.

5 Feb 2011

USCA endorses decision of Judge Vinson holding health care reform law unconstitutional

The U.S. Citizens Association has endorsed the January 31 decision of U.S. District Court Judge Roger Vinson (Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services) holding the President's health care reform law unconstitutional because it exceeded the limits of the commerce clause.

5 Feb 2011

Vascular birthmarks can cause concern for parents: Dermatologists

Vascular birthmarks, which occur in nearly 10 percent of all infants at birth or within the first few weeks of life, can cause concern for parents particularly if they are large or in a cosmetically important area. The decision to treat a birthmark is one that parents should make with a dermatologist, who can determine the type of birthmark and whether or not it poses any potential risks in the future.

5 Feb 2011

Free web-based networking solution for health care professionals to be presented at AAD meeting

PPN, a free and web-based networking and collaborative solution for health care professionals, will be presented at the AAD 69th Annual Meeting, February 4-8, 2011, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans, LA.

5 Feb 2011

Health Care News and Research

Abortion issues will take center stage this week in the House

State Roundup: Setting up health insurance exchanges; Community-based clinics cuts; Autism legislation; End-of-life care

Viewpoints: (Still) Debating health law's constitutionality; Food labels; Lawmakers' abortion divide

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania announces name change to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

UHS announces acquisition of Emergent Group and PRI Medical

First Edition: February 7, 2011

BAI releases 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report

Humana fourth quarter diluted EPS decreases to $0.63

UHS to acquire Emergent Group/PRI Medical for $70 million

Health reform law court decision sparks more political maneuvering

Article examines new challenges Federal Government will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014

Patient need to share medication side effects with health care team: Retired family doctor

NQF annual conference to focus on population health

TRICARE may choose to direct TriWest's contribution to provide healthcare for military families

FDA approves Makena injection to reduce risk of preterm delivery

General Cannabis subsidiaries show expected success, growth in January 2011

BCNEPA chooses Diversified to help insurer streamline group enrollment processes

USCA endorses decision of Judge Vinson holding health care reform law unconstitutional

Vascular birthmarks can cause concern for parents: Dermatologists

Free web-based networking solution for health care professionals to be presented at AAD meeting

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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