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Democrats push three-year Medicare 'doc fix' as part of larger tax bill

A proposal to stop planned payment cuts to Medicare doctors for three years is in a bill extending tax cuts and lengthening unemployment benefits.

21 May 2010

Consumers roundup: More patients choose high-deductible plans; Many neglect doctors medication directions

"The number of Americans enrolled in high-deductible health plans has risen to more than 10 million but still represents a small portion of the insurance market, according to a report from insurance group America's Health Insurance Plans. Enrollments in these high-deductible health plans, which typically are paired with tax-free health savings accounts or health-reimbursement arrangements, are up about 25 percent from last year, the report said" (5/20).

21 May 2010

African-Americans, Hispanics less likely to meet MTM eligibility requirements: Study

Medicare's Part D prescription medication management program, also known as Medication Therapy Management, could be off limits to some of the patients who need it most — older African-Americans and Hispanics — a new study finds.

21 May 2010

Oberthur Technologies, SMART Association to offer smart card-centric ID solution to hospitals in North America

Oberthur Technologies, a global leader in the delivery of high security solutions and the #1 provider of smart credentials to the U.S. Federal government, has teamed up with one of healthcare's leading smart card software providers, SMART Association Inc., to offer a powerful, proven and secure, physical and logical access smart card-based admissions solution to hospitals and clinics throughout North America.

21 May 2010

New England Peptide launches NEPTune line of custom proteomics reagents

New England Peptide (NEP) today introduced NEPTune TM, a new proprietary line of custom proteomics reagents to help its customers to quickly and inexpensively maximize biomarker assay development and produce consistent results.

21 May 2010

China BCT Pharmacy reports 5.2% increase in first-quarter 2010 revenue

China BCT Pharmacy Group, Inc., a leading pharmaceutical distributor, retail pharmacy, and manufacturer of pharmaceutical products in Guangxi Province, China, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

21 May 2010

European researchers define research priorities in biogerontology

The quality of the medical care for geriatric patients is a major investment for society and must imperatively be a research priority in Europe. This is why 50 European researchers, met on May 17 - 19 in Brussels, to define the research priorities in the field of biogerontology for the next 10 to 15 years.

21 May 2010

First Edition: May 21, 2010

In today's headlines, legislation containing a Medicare pay 'fix' and an extension of the COBRA subsidy is moving toward House consideration.

21 May 2010

Researchers propose steps to enhance patient-physician communication to improve depression care

Because people with depression often do not recognize they have a problem or are unable to describe their distress, many do not seek treatment. About a quarter of those with major depression are undiagnosed, according to several studies, and fewer than half receive treatment.

21 May 2010

German states may face healthcare crisis: Study

Within the next ten years, there will be deficiencies in healthcare provision in parts of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania. This is the conclusion reached by Ulrike Siewert of Greifswald University and her coauthors in the current edition of Deutsches -rzteblatt International.

21 May 2010

AFSPP program reduces suicide rates

The U.S. Air Force Suicide Prevention Program (AFSPP) has reduced suicide rates significantly since it was launched in 1996, according to a new study that examined almost three decades of data.

21 May 2010

Clinical Infectious Diseases journal examines new scientific advances to curb HIV, TB epidemics

As US policymakers consider scaling back on its historic initiative to fight AIDS around the world and downsizing goals to combat tuberculosis, next-generation treatment and prevention strategies to significantly reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis are now imminent. New science can dramatically change the trajectory of both deadly epidemics, according to a special new issue of the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

21 May 2010

Americans divided over nation’s drug approval process

Nearly three-quarters of Americans are confident in our system for reviewing the effectiveness and safety of new medicines and medical devices, yet 41% say it takes too long to approve a drug and allow it to be sold to consumers.

21 May 2010

Restaurant Health Care Alliance launched to help restaurant employees gain access to health care coverage

The National Restaurant Association and UnitedHealthcare are launching the Restaurant Health Care Alliance, offering a suite of products that will help nearly 13 million restaurant employees gain easier access to health care coverage and related products and services. Today, 4 million to 6 million of the nation's nearly 13 million food service industry employees are uninsured at any given time.

21 May 2010

African 'green revolution' should focus on small farmers, U.N. report says

Investments in agricultural technology should be directed to Africa's smallholder farmers in an effort to increase food security after decades of low funding, the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said in a report on Wednesday, Reuters reports (Lynn, 5/19).

21 May 2010

Abbott to acquire Piramal's Healthcare Solutions business

Abbott announced a definitive agreement with Piramal Healthcare Limited to acquire full ownership of Piramal's Healthcare Solutions business (Domestic Formulations), a leader in the Indian branded generics market, for an up-front payment of $2.12 billion, plus $400 million annually for the next four years, giving Abbott the No. 1 position in the Indian pharmaceutical market.

21 May 2010

Media examines recent Oxfam report on impact of aid to developing countries

In a recent report, Oxfam "outlines how aid has contributed to economic growth in poor countries by getting 33 million more children into school, boosting access to HIV drugs tenfold, funding tens of millions of anti-malaria bed nets, and building up health services," Reuters AlertNet reports (Rowling, 5/20).

21 May 2010

Studies identify new chemical compounds that could lead to development of new malaria drugs

Researchers have identified thousands of chemical compounds that could be used to develop new malaria drugs, two studies published in the journal Nature on Wednesday show, the Wall Street Journal reports.

21 May 2010

Aetna Foundation grants $331,133 for "Advancing Value-Based Purchasing in the U.S. Health System" project

As a nation we spend nearly $7,300 per person on health care each year - but are we getting the best possible value for our dollars? Exploring promising innovative approaches to getting high quality from health care purchases while ensuring that our annual $2.3 trillion in public and private health care spending is going as far as it should - in terms of top quality care, improved health outcomes and minimal waste - will be part of new work undertaken by the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings and supported by the Aetna Foundation.

21 May 2010

Not all small businesses will get tax benefits promised in health law

Tax credits to help small business pay for employee health coverage fall short of the "broad eligibility" White House officials promoted, The Associated Press reports. The credit was said to apply to firms "with fewer than 25 workers and average annual wages under $50,000 that provide health coverage," like Zach Hoffman's office supply company where 24 employees earn an average of $35,000.

21 May 2010

Health Care News and Research

Democrats push three-year Medicare 'doc fix' as part of larger tax bill

Consumers roundup: More patients choose high-deductible plans; Many neglect doctors medication directions

African-Americans, Hispanics less likely to meet MTM eligibility requirements: Study

Oberthur Technologies, SMART Association to offer smart card-centric ID solution to hospitals in North America

New England Peptide launches NEPTune line of custom proteomics reagents

China BCT Pharmacy reports 5.2% increase in first-quarter 2010 revenue

European researchers define research priorities in biogerontology

First Edition: May 21, 2010

Researchers propose steps to enhance patient-physician communication to improve depression care

German states may face healthcare crisis: Study

AFSPP program reduces suicide rates

Clinical Infectious Diseases journal examines new scientific advances to curb HIV, TB epidemics

Americans divided over nation’s drug approval process

Restaurant Health Care Alliance launched to help restaurant employees gain access to health care coverage

African 'green revolution' should focus on small farmers, U.N. report says

Abbott to acquire Piramal's Healthcare Solutions business

Media examines recent Oxfam report on impact of aid to developing countries

Studies identify new chemical compounds that could lead to development of new malaria drugs

Aetna Foundation grants $331,133 for "Advancing Value-Based Purchasing in the U.S. Health System" project

Not all small businesses will get tax benefits promised in health law

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

How microplastics and bacteria interact to drive antibiotic resistance

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