Hearing News and Research

RSS

Strong support from AARP members for Affordable Health Care for America Act

A new poll of AARP members released today finds strong support across party and ideological lines for elements of health care reform included in the Affordable Health Care for America Act, which recently passed the House of Representatives. The AARP-backed bill limits how much more insurance companies can charge based on age and will close the Medicare prescription drug doughnut hole.

16 Nov 2009

Recent releases in Global Health

As a follow-up to a survey conducted in May 2009, this poll examines Americans' attitudes toward U.S. global health investments and priorities.

16 Nov 2009

Timeline, vote counting continue to be central To Senate health overhaul

The Associated Press reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is considering higher payroll taxes on "upper-income earners to help finance health care legislation.

13 Nov 2009

CDC expected to revise estimated number of U.S. H1N1 deaths

Ahead of the anticipated CDC release of revised U.S. H1N1 (swine flu) death toll estimates, Reuters examines how the agency and WHO measure the impact of the virus, after both organizations "stopped trying to count actual cases months ago, once it became clear that H1N1 was a pandemic that would infect millions."

12 Nov 2009

CDC expected to revise H1N1 mortality figures

The New York Times: "About 4,000 Americans - rather than about 1,200 - have died of swine flu since the disease emerged in April, according to new figures being calculated by [CDC] epidemiologists" - an estimate that combines the number of "deaths from laboratory-confirmed cases of the flu and deaths that appear to be brought on by flu, even though the patient may have ultimately died of bacterial pneumonia, other infections or organ failure."

12 Nov 2009

Jonathan Richman to present at FDA public hearing on promoting medical devices using the Internet

Bridge Worldwide announced today that Jonathan Richman, Director of Strategic Planning, will present at the public hearing on "Promotion of FDA-Regulated Medical Products Using the Internet and Social Media Tools," to be held on November 12 and 13, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the National Transportation Safety Board Conference Center in Washington, D.C. Richman is scheduled to speak on Friday, November 13, at 11:40 a.m. and 2:40 p.m. for 10 minutes per time slot. To listen to a free, live webcast of the hearing, go to: www.capitolconnection.net/capcon/fda/111209/FDAlive.htm.

12 Nov 2009

ORC Guideline's recent research on the impact of social media and pharmaceutical marketing

Chief Research Officer Morris S. Whitcup, Ph.D., of ORC Guideline (an infoGROUP company) (NASDAQ: IUSA) will present findings of the company’s recent research on the impact of social media on fair balance and pharmaceutical marketing at a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) public hearing later this week. The hearing will address the issue of fulfilling requirements for fair balance and risk disclosure in internet and social media promotions. The ORC Guideline study examined consumer habits in researching information about pharmaceutical products online.

12 Nov 2009

NMO patients are misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, says Mayo Clinic neurologist

Thousands of Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) patients are potentially being misdiagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), according to Mayo Clinic Neurologist Sean Pittock, M.D., largely due to lack of awareness of NMO within the medical community.

12 Nov 2009

Children with developmental dyslexia have difficulties separating relevant auditory information from irrelevant noise

The vast majority of school-aged children can focus on the voice of a teacher amid the cacophony of the typical classroom thanks to a brain that automatically focuses on relevant, predictable and repeating auditory information, according to new research from Northwestern University.

12 Nov 2009

Video to improve patient-doctor communication

Amid growing concerns about racial, ethnic and language disparities in health care, The Joint Commission and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights have released a video, entitled “Improving Patient-Provider Communication,” which supports language access in health care organizations.

12 Nov 2009

Obama nominates Senior USDA official to lead USAID

President Barack Obama Tuesday announced the nomination of Rajiv Shah - a medical doctor who is currently a senior official at the Department of Agriculture focusing on food security - to lead USAID, the Boston Globe reports (Smith, 11/11).

12 Nov 2009

Lawmakers call for emergency sick-leave requirement

Lawmakers are calling for new legislation that would require businesses to provide paid emergency sick-leave because of the swine flu pandemic.

12 Nov 2009

NASDAQ grants InfoLogix's request for exception to stockholder approval requirements

InfoLogix, Inc., a leading technology provider of enterprise mobility solutions for the healthcare and commercial industries, today announced that NASDAQ has granted the Company's request for an exception to NASDAQ's stockholder approval requirements, in accordance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(f).

11 Nov 2009

Researchers identify cause that leads to age-related hearing loss

Age-related hearing loss is the most common sensory disorder among the elderly. But scientists are still trying to figure out what cellular processes govern or contribute to the loss.

11 Nov 2009

Medicare Advantage plans are largely unpopular in rural states

Kansas Health Institute examines Medicare Advantage plans, which are less popular in rural areas, in a series of reports.

11 Nov 2009

Sonova Group achieves year-on-year sales growth of 18.2%

The Sonova Group achieved sales of CHF 709.2 million in the first half of 2009/10, representing year-on-year sales growth of 18.2% in Swiss francs. Organic sales growth of 17.5% in local currencies was well above the estimated market growth of around 3% in units. Numerous smaller acquisitions in Europe, Asia/Pacific and North America contributed a total of 4.3% to sales growth.

10 Nov 2009

Mouse with "golden ears"

What do you get when you cross a mouse with poor hearing and a mouse with even worse hearing? Ironically, a new strain of mice with "golden ears" - mice that have outstanding hearing as they age.

10 Nov 2009

Sonova Holding to acquire Advanced Bionics

Advanced Bionics (AB), the only U.S.-based manufacturer of cochlear implants (or “bionic ears”), announced today that it has entered into a definitive merger agreement with Sonova Holding AG, the world’s leading provider of hearing systems.

9 Nov 2009

Nasdaq grants Anesiva's request for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market

Anesiva, Inc. today announced that on November 5, 2009, it received a letter from The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC stating that the Nasdaq Hearing Panel has granted Anesiva's request for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market subject to the condition that Anesiva shall have completed on or before December 31, 2009, the proposed merger (the "Merger") contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated August 4, 2009, among Anesiva, Arca Acquisition Corporation ("Arca"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Anesiva, Arcion Therapeutics, Inc. ("Arcion") and, with respect to Articles V and IX only of the agreement, each of the Arcion stockholders listed on Schedule I thereto.

9 Nov 2009

Speaker Pelosi remarks after passage of the health care bill

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders held a press conference following the House passage of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The bill passed by a vote of 220 to 215.

9 Nov 2009