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Union members push hard for health care reform

The Worchester [Massachusetts] Telegram reports: "Two members of the state's congressional delegation appealed to local union members this morning to unite behind President Barack Obama's efforts to reform health care. They said if health care reform does not happen now, it could be years before it comes up for discussion again."

9 Sep 2009

House Democrats split on health reform options

Conservatives are still leery of supporting a government-funded, or public, insurance option. Freshman lawmakers from suburban districts remain fearful of increasing taxes for their wealthy constituents to pay for the new measure and await alternatives from moderate Senate Democrats.

9 Sep 2009

Health care reform without curbing medical costs will make Americans suffer: Concord Coalition Leaders

Concord Coalition Co-Chairs Warren B. Rudman and Bob Kerrey today called on President Obama to push for concrete measures, including a federal health care budget, to curb runaway medical costs.

9 Sep 2009

Individuals with upper-GI symptoms visit general practitioners often

Patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) complaints visit their general practitioner (GP) more often than patients with other conditions. Researchers writing in the open access journal BMC Family Practice found that people with dyspepsia, heartburn, epigastric discomfort and other upper-abdominal complaints had almost twice as many GP contacts, which were ultimately associated with problems in all organ systems.

9 Sep 2009

CHW urges Congress and Obama Administration to successfully conclude health care reform

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) President/CEO Lloyd H. Dean unveiled a multi-faceted campaign today aimed at pushing health care reform in Washington to a successful conclusion. CHW’s “September for Reform” will bring the resources of one of America’s largest hospital systems to bear on the national health care reform debate with a focus on urging members of Congress and the Obama Administration to accomplish reform this fall.

8 Sep 2009

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield utilize latest media tools to interact with its members

Not just for teens anymore - social networking and media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are being used by adults to interact with their friends, families and to gain information.

8 Sep 2009

Number of uninsured to increase as unemployment figures rise

The American Academy of Actuaries Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello is expecting there to be an increase in the number of people without health insurance when the U.S. Census Bureau reports the latest figures on Thursday. According to last year's Census Bureau estimates, nearly 46 million people were uninsured in America.

8 Sep 2009

PPJ Enterprise purchases medical billing service

PPJ Enterprise (PPJ) (PINKSHEETS: PPJE), a leader in proprietary automated healthcare multi-specialty provider reimbursement cycle technology and EHR development/information management digital system software for health care providers. PPJ is generating momentum for their strong comeback. The Company's short term strategic goal is to invest into a business that can sustain its everyday operational costs. So PPJ is developing alliances and making acquisitions/mergers in the medical billing service industry to eventually regain their position in the market.

8 Sep 2009

USA Today's 24-hour emergency room visit

A team of USA Today reporters spent a full, 24-hour day in the emergency room at University of Virginia Medical Center in late August. "The key elements of today's debate on health care converge in the ER, from the cutting-edge quality of the U.S. system to the millions of uninsured people who show up for care," according to the report. A key reform goal is covering an estimated 46 million uninsured Americans. But the task is expensive, and in many cases, born by ERs under the current system.

8 Sep 2009

Shalala, Cleveland Clinic's Cosgrove weigh in on current health debate

Two health care industry players have views about to handle the current overhaul debate.

8 Sep 2009

Republicans' changed stance on Medicare has historical roots

The GOP's change of stance on Medicare raises questions about its motives, The Associated Press reports in a separate story: "Weren't Republicans against Medicare before they were for it? It's a question vexing Democrats in the fierce battle over President Barack Obama's push for a health care overhaul as the head of the Republican Party has portrayed the GOP as the lone bulwark preventing deep cuts to the popular, government-run health plan for older people."

8 Sep 2009

Visual Management Systems signs a dealer agreement with High Tech Innovations

Visual Management Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: VMSY), a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of video surveillance technologies, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a dealer agreement with High Tech Innovations, a leader in technology infrastructure for the healthcare industry.

8 Sep 2009

Reform measures target health insurance practices such as dropping coverage

Health reform legislation seeks to eliminate practices used by insurance firms known as "rescissions," which firms defend as fraud control. The Washington Post reports in a story headlined "When Your Insurer Says You're No Longer Covered."

8 Sep 2009

MyMedicalRecords PHR offers medical reimbursement for H1N1 affected susbcribers

MMR Information Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (the "Company"), which through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. ("MMR") provides consumer-controlled Personal Health Records ("PHRs") (www.mymedicalrecords.com) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions (www.myesafedepositbox.com), today announced that it has launched a new subscriber Program to reimburse up to $5,000 for remaining medical insurance deductibles, or out-of-pocket medical expenses up to $5,000, for a MyMedicalRecords PHR subscriber family member who has a confirmed case of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.

8 Sep 2009

New iso-active foaming gel delivers active ingredients to hard-to-reach areas of the mouth

The makers of Aquafresh(R) and Sensodyne(R) introduce a breakthrough technology in toothpaste - new iso-active(R) Foaming Gel. Iso-active has a revolutionary delivery system that disperses active ingredients quickly, penetrating those hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.

8 Sep 2009

New data fuels disagreements over regional Medicare spending

New data fuels some regional disputes on Medicare spending while some communities create better care and spend less than others. The New York Times reports that "new government data show that Medicare costs per patient in those cities [New York City, Boston] are slightly below the national average when the numbers are adjusted for the cost of living and other factors.

8 Sep 2009

Legacy Hospital Partners renamed as LHP Hospital Group

Legacy Hospital Partners, Inc. is now LHP Hospital Group, Inc., (LHP). The organization has changed its name as it repositions for future growth.

8 Sep 2009

Capsule expands marketing program

After extensive planning, strategizing, and consulting, Capsule, the leading provider of medical device connectivity, has announced that they are expanding their marketing program to include social media. From Twitter, to Capsule's very own Facebook fan page, Capsule is ready to engage and gain new insights in order to better serve the clinical and HIT community.

8 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 8, 2009

It's going to be a big week as Congress returns to work and President Obama readies his speech to a joint session. High on everyone's list: health reform.

8 Sep 2009

Third human clinical trial of LigoCyte's norovirus vaccine started

LigoCyte Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has initiated its third human clinical trial of its norovirus vaccine. The Phase I/II study will assess safety and immunogenicity associated with LigoCyte's investigational, nasally-delivered, dry powder vaccine in healthy adults. The study will also assess potential protection against clinical symptoms of norovirus infection by including a live virus challenge of subjects that have received either the vaccine or placebo.

8 Sep 2009