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First Edition: January 31, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the retirement announcement by Rep. Henry Waxman and the health policy legacy he will leave behind.

31 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Obama drops 'grand bargain' talk; Mitch Mcconnell in tough spot on health law

What didn't make the cut? ... A "grand bargain": For three years, Obama pursued a big fiscal deal that would have traded higher taxes (a Democratic goal) for cuts in long-term spending on Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security (a Republican goal).

31 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 30, 2014

Today's headlines include stories about a new poll examining how uninsured people -- one of the groups the health law was designed to help -- view the overhaul.

30 Jan 2014

MEDNAX reports revenue growth of 20.4% to $567M in Q4 2013

MEDNAX, Inc., the national medical group specializing in neonatal, anesthesia, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology and other pediatric subspecialty physician services, today reported earnings of $0.78 per share for the three months ended December 31, 2013. MEDNAX's earnings per share data reflect the impact of a two-for-one stock split that was effective December 19, 2013.

30 Jan 2014

State highlights: Will doc cuts like those in Conn. become more common?; Calif. health plans criticized over chronic condition treatment; Vt. drug addiction

A selection of health policy stories from Connecticut, California, Vermont, Minnesota, Virginia and Georgia.

30 Jan 2014

EBRT provides higher breast preservation rate in women with invasive breast cancer

Standard external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) provided a higher breast preservation rate than brachytherapy in women age 66 and older with invasive breast cancer, according to a study published in the February 1, 2014 print edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology ● Biology ● Physics (Red Journal), the official scientific journal of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

30 Jan 2014

UC San Diego Health System named recipient of Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence

UC San Diego Health System is a recipient of Healthgrades' "Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence." Top performing hospitals were selected based on clinical excellence across a broad spectrum of care in specialty areas such as cardiac and neuro surgery and gastrointestinal, pulmonary and critical care.

29 Jan 2014

Therapath signs contract with United Healthcare to provide neuropathology services

Therapath LLC, the leader in comprehensive diagnostic and consultative neuropathology laboratory services, has signed a national contract with United Healthcare, a division of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), to provide the pathology analysis for these specialty services.

29 Jan 2014

Study finds health law offers income boost to poorest people; insurers' experiences are mixed

The Affordable Care Act will "significantly" increase the incomes of Americans who fall in the bottom one-fifth of the income levels, while slightly decreasing - by .8% - the incomes of senior citizens, a new study finds.

29 Jan 2014

CDC survey: One in four American families struggles with health care bills, lack of insurance adds to medical debt burden

The survey, released by the National Center for Health Statistics, also found that one in 10 families face medical costs they can't pay at all. Meanwhile, in another development related to the cost of coverage, SunTrust cancels its health plan for Medicare-eligible retirees and is offering them an alternative.

29 Jan 2014

Contractor got extra $8.7M days before healthcare.gov launch

Politico reports that federal officials made the emergency payment to Verizon Terremark after discovering the federal website was unable to handle sufficient traffic. Also in the news, the Maryland House is scheduled to vote on legislation to provide insurance to people who tried unsuccessfully to buy coverage through the state website.

29 Jan 2014

Frustration over health law launch sets scene for state of union

News outlets analyze the challenges and opportunities in the president's annual address to Congress while assessing his record on fulfilling past proposals.

29 Jan 2014

FDA approves Teva's sNDA for three-times-a-week COPAXONE 40mg/mL

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the Company's supplemental new drug application for three-times-a-week COPAXONE 40mg/mL, a new dose of COPAXONE.

28 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 28, 2014

Today's headlines include the findings of a new poll, which sets the scene for tonight's State of the Union Address by President Barack Obama.

28 Jan 2014

Temple University Hospital to test multilayer stent in patients suffering from aortic aneurysm

Temple University Hospital (TUH) could be among the first U.S.-based hospitals to test a new device known as a multilayer stent in patients suffering from aortic aneurysm, a condition characterized by the formation of a potentially life-threatening bulge in the aorta.

28 Jan 2014

When cut from Medicare advantage plans, doctors face dilemma about patients

In the meantime, Medicare is trying to crack down on habitual overcharging by some doctors.

28 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 27, 2014

Today's headlines include a report about a new Associated Press poll that found some negative views of the health law may be easing.

27 Jan 2014

Active Biotech, Teva remain committed to NERVENTRA clinical development program for multiple sclerosis

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Active Biotech (NASDAQ OMX NORDIC: ACTI) announced today that both companies remain committed to the NERVENTRA® (laquinimod) clinical development program for multiple sclerosis (MS) following the announcement of a negative opinion for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

27 Jan 2014

GAO: Most Medicare advantage plans meet medical expense standard

The federal health law requires the plans to pay out at least 85 percent of their premium dollars on medical expenses, or refund the excess revenue to the government.

25 Jan 2014

Research roundup: Patient safety measure results 'disappointing'

Patient safety poses serious challenges to the health care system in the United States. Since 2001, nationwide efforts have focused on reducing in-hospital adverse events.

25 Jan 2014

Medicare News and Research

First Edition: January 31, 2014

Viewpoints: Obama drops 'grand bargain' talk; Mitch Mcconnell in tough spot on health law

First Edition: January 30, 2014

MEDNAX reports revenue growth of 20.4% to $567M in Q4 2013

State highlights: Will doc cuts like those in Conn. become more common?; Calif. health plans criticized over chronic condition treatment; Vt. drug addiction

EBRT provides higher breast preservation rate in women with invasive breast cancer

UC San Diego Health System named recipient of Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence

Therapath signs contract with United Healthcare to provide neuropathology services

Study finds health law offers income boost to poorest people; insurers' experiences are mixed

CDC survey: One in four American families struggles with health care bills, lack of insurance adds to medical debt burden

Contractor got extra $8.7M days before healthcare.gov launch

Frustration over health law launch sets scene for state of union

FDA approves Teva's sNDA for three-times-a-week COPAXONE 40mg/mL

First Edition: January 28, 2014

Temple University Hospital to test multilayer stent in patients suffering from aortic aneurysm

When cut from Medicare advantage plans, doctors face dilemma about patients

First Edition: January 27, 2014

Active Biotech, Teva remain committed to NERVENTRA clinical development program for multiple sclerosis

GAO: Most Medicare advantage plans meet medical expense standard

Research roundup: Patient safety measure results 'disappointing'

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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