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Stakeholders, GOP lawmakers focus efforts against Medicare spending panel

News outlets report on how the health law's Independent Payment Advisory Board is the focus of negative attention from numerous vantage points.

27 Jan 2011

U.S. FDA announces link between breast implants and ALCL

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced a possible association between saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a very rare type of cancer.

27 Jan 2011

ASPS, FDA collaborate to establish national breast implant registry

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) is establishing a national registry for breast implants in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The registry is being developed in response to reports of a rare lymphoma--Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL)—in a very small number of women with breast implants.

27 Jan 2011

FAQ: Selling health insurance across state lines

"A day after voting to repeal the federal health law, a group of more than 60 House Republicans introduced a bill reviving an idea long popular with conservatives: allowing consumers to buy health insurance across state lines so that residents of a state with expensive health plans could find cheaper options"

27 Jan 2011

Abbott fourth quarter worldwide sales increase 13.4% to nearly $10 billion

Abbott today announced financial results for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2010.

27 Jan 2011

It may not be the end for employer-sponsored insurance

A new study finds the effects of health care reform to be minimal on employer-sponsored insurance, despite criticism that changes to how insurance premiums are calculated will force employers to stop offering coverage.

27 Jan 2011

Highly-caffeinated energy drinks with no alcohol may pose threat to individuals

Highly-caffeinated energy drinks - even those containing no alcohol - may pose a significant threat to individuals and public health, say researchers at the University of Maryland School of Public Health and Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

27 Jan 2011

WSJ: Biotech generics battle heats up

A battle is heating up over the meaning of a single word in the health overhaul that could mean billions of dollars to the makers of biotechnology drugs (Mundy, 1/26).

27 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Trying to regulate insurance premium rates, fighting Medicare fraud

Big, powerful industries facing tougher government oversight — the health insurance industry, say — know that the legislative battle in Congress or state capitals is just the first skirmish. The more important fight is over the regulations that implement legislative policies (Michael Hiltzik, 1/25).

26 Jan 2011

Medica Health Plans grants $6.5 million to Research Institute

The Medica Research Institute has received a contribution from Medica Health Plans in the amount of $6.5 million. This contribution will be used by the Research Institute to further its mission.

26 Jan 2011

Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital, Aetna reach agreement on new four-year contract for LVHN

Aetna announced that it has reached agreement on a new four-year contract for Lehigh Valley Health Network with Lehigh Valley Physician Hospital, DBA Valley Preferred.

26 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 26, 2011

Reporting for KHN, in collaboration with Politico, Bara Vaida writes: "Lobbyists for doctors, hospitals and drug companies are urging lawmakers to derail a planned government panel that health industry officials fear will sharply curb Medicare spending -- a critical revenue source for them".

26 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 25, 2011

Today's health policy headlines include speculation about what President Barack Obama will say during tonight's State of The Union address and how the GOP will respond to it.

25 Jan 2011

IRIS International places 40 iQ200 Elite Automated Urine Microscopy Analyzers in Mexico in 2010

IRIS International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of automated in-vitro diagnostics systems and consumables, and a provider of high value personalized diagnostics testing services through its CLIA certified molecular diagnostics laboratory,has begun to significantly penetrate the Mexican healthcare market with the initial placement in 2010 of 40 iQ®200 Elite™ Automated Urine Microscopy Analyzers within one of the largest social security healthcare systems in Mexico.

25 Jan 2011

EDIWatch enters 3-year contract with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

EDIWatch, Inc., a leading provider of anti-fraud solutions to the healthcare industry and The Arizona Medicaid Agency, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Office of Inspector General are pleased to announce the signing of a three-year contract. The contract will provide a software system that will enable investigators and auditors to analyze detailed claims in order to spotlight patterns of suspicious behavior.

25 Jan 2011

Rodman & Renshaw announces Healthcare Reform Panel Discussion

Rodman & Renshaw, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group, Inc., a leading full service investment bank for growth oriented companies today announced that on Thursday, February 3rd, 2011, Rodman will host a Healthcare Reform Panel Discussion

25 Jan 2011

Study results presented at ASCO-GI reinforce value of Genomic Health's Oncotype DX Colon Cancer test

Genomic Health, Inc. today announced presentation of three studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium, including one finding that high tumor grade was not a marker of higher recurrence risk in stage II colon cancer, suggesting that other markers, such as the Oncotype DX® Recurrence Score® (RS) test as well as T-stage and mismatch repair (MMR) status, should be considered by physicians during the treatment decision-making process.

25 Jan 2011

ASCO urges physicians, medical schools to improve quality of life for people with cancer

The American Society of Clinical Oncology today called on physicians, medical schools, insurers, and others to help improve quality of life for people with advanced cancer.

25 Jan 2011

Majority of Americans unaware of law mandating equal coverage of mental health benefits

An overwhelming majority of Americans remain unaware of a law mandating equal coverage of mental health benefits by insurance companies, a cause for concern by psychologists at a time when one-quarter of Americans are reported to have a mental health disorder and only a minority are receiving treatment.

25 Jan 2011

Government's health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recover over $4 billion in FY 2010

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli today announced a new report showing that the government's health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.

25 Jan 2011