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Mayo leaps into social media marketing

The Mayo Clinic is opening a school of social media for health providers, the (Minneapolis-St. Paul) Star Tribune reports. The new "Center for Social Media… [will] train other health care organizations to use Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to connect patients and doctors.

29 Jul 2010

FRC Action, pro-life groups urge FDA to reject approval of Ella

Today FRC Action joined 19 pro-life groups in a letter sent to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg requesting that Ella, a drug under consideration for FDA approval that can cause abortions but is misleadingly labeled as an "emergency contraceptive," not be approved.

29 Jul 2010

Expanded Kindred Hospital Sacramento opened in Folsom, California

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced the opening of the newly constructed and expanded Kindred Hospital Sacramento in Folsom, California, and the expansion of its Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice business in Boston, Massachusetts, and Denver, Colorado.

29 Jul 2010

IBM, UPMC partner to provide redesigned SmartRoom solution with service-oriented architecture

IBM and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) are teaming up to bring "smarter" hospital rooms to patients nationwide. Created by UPMC three years ago to bring the right patient information to the bedside when it's needed, the high-tech "smart room" now features new capabilities, namely a system for automatically organizing and prioritizing the work of nurses and other caregivers. Under a new agreement, IBM will be the exclusive sales channel for the SmartRoom solution and will help to implement the technology for customers.

29 Jul 2010

Senate Subcommittee approves HHS funding bill, other health care bills readied

CongressDaily: The Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee approved a draft funding bill Tuesday for HHS, "moving a bill that would provide $170 billion in discretionary spending to related federal agencies, nearly $1 billion under the president's request." The bill gives $732 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services, $306 million more than the administration requested. "The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee gave the health agency a similar boost in funding."

29 Jul 2010

Mapping NTDs is critical for controlling, treating diseases

Mapping neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is vital for efforts to control and treat diseases, write the authors of an editorial published Tuesday in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, ANI/Sindh Today reports (7/28).

29 Jul 2010

Insurers post strong earnings, but may hold back on bragging rights

Two leading insurers reported second-quarter earnings with rising profits this week.

29 Jul 2010

FDA approves Cuvposa Oral Solution for chronic severe drooling in children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cuvposa (glycopyrrolate) Oral Solution to treat chronic severe drooling caused by neurologic disorders in children ages 3 years to 16 years.

29 Jul 2010

GOP continues call for health law repeal; Census releases uninsured data

The Washington Post: New census data reveal big differences among states in the rate of uninsured people under age 65. Massachusetts has the lowest rate, 7.8 percent, and Texas the highest, 26.8 percent. "The statistics are for 2007 and show health insurance coverage by state and for each of the country's roughly 3,140 counties. The numbers do not include the impact on millions of people who lost their jobs and health insurance after the recession began in December 2007."

29 Jul 2010

Rite Aid agrees to pay $1 million to settle medical privacy questions

The Wall Street Journal: "Rite Aid Corp. agreed to pay $1 million to settle potential violations of government privacy rules after regulators said it failed to protect customers' and employees' financial and medical information. The drug-store chain's agreement with the Federal Trade Commission requires the company to establish an information-security program and obtain a third-party audit of its compliance to that effect every two years for the next 20 years."

29 Jul 2010

Hospitals focus on forming ACOs, resolving insurer disputes

News outlets report on hospital issues, including forming accountable care organizations and disputes with insurers.

29 Jul 2010

Assurant second-quarter net operating income increases 53% to $152.2 million

Assurant, Inc., a premier provider of specialty insurance and insurance-related products and services, today reported results for the second quarter and first six months of 2010.

29 Jul 2010

Anti-fraud efforts backed by AARP; Seniors cautioned about rebate cons

AARP on Tuesday "threw its influence" behind a number of plans to reduce Medicare fraud, including the bipartisan Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act, which would increase penalties on nabbed fraudsters and supply more claims data to enforcers, The Hill reports. Separate legislation, "the Fighting Fraud with Innovative Technology Act, would bolster Medicare's claims screening process before payments are sent out" (Lillis, 7/27).

29 Jul 2010

States continue push for extension of extra Medicaid funds

News outlets report on state budget gaps and lobbying for extra Medicaid funds from the federal government.

29 Jul 2010

CVS Caremark second-quarter net revenues decrease $864 million to $24.0 billion

CVS Caremark Corporation, today announced revenues, operating profit, and net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

28 Jul 2010

ViroPharma second-quarter net sales increase 33% to $109.0 million

ViroPharma Incorporated reported today its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

28 Jul 2010

Allos reports net loss of $20.0 million for second-quarter 2010

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today reported its financial results and business highlights for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

28 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 28, 2010

Today's headlines reflect developments regarding the health insurance marketplace and the implementation of the new health law.

28 Jul 2010

Water Pik launches advertising campaign to introduce consumers to new Waterpik Water Flosser

Water Pik, Inc., a leading developer and manufacturer of innovative personal healthcare products, today announced the launch of the "Say No To String" advertising campaign to introduce consumers to the new Waterpik Water Flosser and to promote it as an easier and more effective alternative to traditional string floss.

28 Jul 2010

DaVita releases second annual corporate social responsibility report

DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today released its second annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, which highlights the company's philanthropic, sustainability and community-building efforts through 2009.

28 Jul 2010