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Precision for Medicine announces acquisition of Hobart Group Holdings

Precision for Medicine, Inc., formed in 2012 to support next generation approaches to drug development and commercialization, announces the acquisition of Hobart Group Holdings, LLC, a leading market access firm. With this addition, Precision for Medicine has established the foundation for its next phase of growth in providing integrated solutions focused on demonstrating value in the era of precision medicine.

25 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 25, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories previewing today's Supreme Court action regarding the health law's contraception coverage mandate.

25 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Mcconnell, Wasserman Schultz, Barasso on Obamacare's 4th anniversary; defending surgeon general nominee

The promises that were made to sell Obamacare - that it wouldn't disrupt people's previous health care arrangements and that premiums would go down - are now being exposed for the cheap and deceptive sales pitch they were. It may be tempting for some to brush all this aside as standard politics.

25 Mar 2014

Democrats launch new messaging offensive on law's 4th anniversary

Democrats gear up a social media campaign as part of "health care strike teams." In the meantime, the GOP and tea party members use the law in their campaign messaging.

25 Mar 2014

State highlights: Fla. employees' unequal premiums; abuse by Calif. doctor alleged

The Florida Cabinet, state agency managers and legislative staff are among 30,000 top-ranked state workers who will continue to pay ultra-low health insurance premiums in the coming year. In a reverse of the Robin Hood principle, the state charges lower-paid workers six times more than those who have the highest earnings pay. ... [B]oth the House and Senate this week released initial budgets that would keep premiums at the same rate (3/22).

25 Mar 2014

March 31 health law deadline questions answered

Some might be surprised that if they don't sign up for health insurance by the March 31 deadline, they'll owe more than $95.

25 Mar 2014

Even while traveling overseas, Obamas are plugging health enrollment

With just a week to go before the sign-up deadline, the Washington Post looks at the White House's systematic effort to get more people signed up for insurance.

25 Mar 2014

Enrollment push is tough in Mississippi

Politico reports on efforts to sign people up for health care as Humana sends a lime green bus through some of the state's poorest areas. Other outlets look at enrollment campaigns in Maine, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Oregon and Colorado.

25 Mar 2014

Va. lawmakers back to Richmond, Medicaid expansion hangs in the balance

Vice President Joseph Biden believes that GOP officials in every state will have to accept the expansion. And Florida's Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said he's talked with federal officials about a plan to go around the GOP-controlled state legislature.

25 Mar 2014

Certain drugs in Obamacare plans carry hefty pricetags

Insurers selling Obamacare plans have set drug prices according to a tiered system that in some cases requires consumers to pay as much as 50 percent of the cost, The Associated Press writes.

24 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 24, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations examine the final week for health law enrollment, the Supreme Court case this week about the law's contraceptive mandate and the fourth anniversary of the enactment of the controversial overhaul.

24 Mar 2014

Gov. Kitzhaber sweeps out Cover Oregon leadership, promises reforms

An analysis of the state marketplace by First Data released Thursday found serious problems with management and communications.

24 Mar 2014

Pelosi on Obamacare anniversary: The law is 'a winner' for Democrats

The house minority leader marks the anniversary of the law's passage by expressing confidence that the law will help Democratic candidates this fall.

24 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Predictions of rising premiums in 2015; anniversary of health law

No one challenges reality like Kathleen Sebelius, who assured the world on Sept. 30, 2013 that the Affordable Care Act website would be open for business the next day. "We're very excited about tomorrow," Sebelius said. "Shutdown or no shutdown, we're ready to go."

24 Mar 2014

Calif. marketplace reports half of callers hang up before getting help

Officials also said that the online insurance exchange is attracting more Hispanic customers, a key constituency for the marketing effort. Also, in Minnesota, officials announce an effort to boost enrollment of young adults.

24 Mar 2014

Obama presses campaign for health law enrollment

The president continues his many media appearances to help draw attention to the enrollment deadline at the end of March. Meanwhile, a new Pew poll finds that younger Americans are somewhat more interested in the law but support among Hispanics has dropped.

24 Mar 2014

Research roundup: New medical coding system; choosing a hospice; revamping Medicare

On October 1, 2014, all health plans, health data clearinghouses, and health care providers that transmit health information electronically must use a new, significantly broader, coding system, called ICD-10, for diagnoses and inpatient procedures.

21 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 21, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a new examination of Ezekiel Emanuel's book about the crafting of the health law and President Obama's latest push to boost enrollment.

21 Mar 2014

Treat or eat: Many people forced to choose between food or medicine

Chronically ill adults who reported food insecurity in their household (not having consistent access to food due to lack of financial stability) were significantly more likely to report cost-related medication underuse, according to a new study in The American Journal of Medicine,. The term cost-related medication underuse refers to taking less medication than prescribed, or not taking it at all due to financial concerns.

21 Mar 2014

Health care reform increases emergency department use in Massachusetts

The implementation of health care reform in Massachusetts - principally the expansion of health insurance coverage to nearly everyone in the state - was associated with a small but consistent increase in emergency department use, according to the findings of a study to be published online today in Annals of Emergency Medicine ("Increased Use of the Emergency Department After Health Care Reform in Massachusetts").

21 Mar 2014