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Clinical trials shows CRT improves symptoms, reduces mortality in patients with heart failure

In a large population of Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure who underwent implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, patients who had the cardiac characteristics of left bundle-branch block and longer QRS duration had the lowest risks of death and all-cause, cardiovascular, and heart failure readmission, according to a study in the August 14 issue of JAMA

14 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Obama overlooking legal constraints on employer mandate delay; Bush's 'unnecessary' heart procedure; discrimination against people with mental illnesses

In his Friday remarks, Mr. Obama also claimed that he had the "executive authority" for the mandate delay. But if he really believes that, then why did he say he would normally ask for a legislative "tweak." Either the fix requires legislation or it doesn't. His comments are certainly revealing about his attitudes on Presidential power and the constraints of the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 3 instructs him to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, not merely what he thinks is "the essence" of laws (8/10).

13 Aug 2013

Perrigo Company and Teva Pharmaceutical launch generic equivalent to temozolomide

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Perrigo Company today announced the launch of the generic equivalent to Temodar (temozolomide).

13 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: The case for gov't shutdown over Obamacare; Tea Partiers Vs. GOP 'establishment types'

So the fight to stop ObamaCare now is an urgent matter. Elected leaders in both parties should summon the courage to put their political futures on the line, because the future of America is truly on the line. Politicians who oppose ObamaCare should not vote to fund it. ... a failure of Republicans to show the courage of their convictions on such a fundamental issue will inspire no one and will further alienate the American people from their government.

12 Aug 2013

State highlights: Accusations of fraud or abuse in disabled, rehabilitation clinics in N.Y., Mich. and Calif.

Two and a half years ago, The New York Times published an article about abusive employees who worked for the state, detailing how few employees were fired, even after the state recommended that they lose their jobs, because of weaknesses in the arbitration process, the permissive attitude of state officials and the aggressive stance of public sector labor unions -- particularly the Civil Service Employees Association. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo promised to change all this.

12 Aug 2013

Prime Therapeutics selected as finalist for URAC's Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection Awards

Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a leading pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), was selected as a finalist for URAC's 2013 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection Awards. Prime was selected for its Controlled Substance Drug Utilization Review (DUR) program, which is part of the GuidedHealth® platform.

12 Aug 2013

Research roundup: Use of high-deductible plans limits some E.R. visits; older folks not as sick as they used to be

One-third of US workers now have high-deductible health plans, and those numbers are expected to grow in 2014 as implementation of the Affordable Care Act continues. There is concern that high-deductible health plans might cause enrollees of low socioeconomic status to forgo emergency care as a result of burdensome out-of-pocket costs.

12 Aug 2013

Congress weighing changes to Medicare reimbursements for doctors

In other Medicare news, USA Today looks at the debate over whether the government should pay for Alzheimer's PET scans.

12 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Fears of health law's adverse selection; GOP's 'fundamental miscalculation;' special deal for Congress keeps dissent low

Yet despite the care the administration took in establishing incentives and safeguards, even some of Obamacare's most committed backers are wondering whether the experiment will work as advertised - or, like Harvard's P.P.O., go off the rails along the way. Adverse selection is perhaps the direst threat. ... Healthier Americans will probably flock to cheaper bronze plans. And insurers will vie to enroll the healthy. In some states, big insurers have chosen not to participate in exchanges to avoid their strictures. On the outside, they could still sell cheap plans to skim off the healthy and avoid a rule that insurers on the exchanges must also offer more generous silver and gold plans (Eduardo Porter, 8/7).

9 Aug 2013

Start-up company specializes in reducing hospital readmission rates

Facing rising penalties under the health-care law for high readmission rates, some hospitals are turning to tech entrepreneurs like Chris Corio of San Francisco for help. Mr. Corio's four-year-old startup sells technology that assists patients in completing the recovery process after getting discharged.

9 Aug 2013

Democratic opposition to cost-cutting board gains momentum

ObamaCare's cost-cutting board - memorably called a "death panel" by Sarah Palin - is facing growing opposition from Democrats who say it will harm people on Medicare. Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean drew attention to the board designed to limit Medicare cost growth when he called for its repeal in an op-ed late last month (Viebeck 8/8).

9 Aug 2013

Sizing up health law politics and policies

News outlets detail the political landscape surrounding the overhaul's implementation and provide user's guides to help consumers navigate changes. Coverage also highlights health law provisions that could impact coverage for small businesses and union members, and how the law is helping drive marketplace developments.

9 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 8, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the proposed rule released Wednesday by the Obama administration allowing the government to continue to pay for a significant portion of health insurance for lawmakers and Hill staffers.

8 Aug 2013

MAXIMUS revenue grows 26% to $334.3 million in Q3 2013

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended June 30, 2013.

8 Aug 2013

Romney warns against linking efforts to undo health law to govt. shutdown threat

The former GOP presidential hopeful warned fellow Republicans that the party will "suffer" if some lawmakers continue to pursue this strategy.

8 Aug 2013

Mostashari steps down from top federal health IT post

Dr. Farzad Mostashari, the national coordinator for health information technology, announced Tuesday he will step down this fall.

8 Aug 2013

Some states say they won't enforce the health law's insurance reforms

Six states have taken this position, according to the Texas Tribune. Meanwhile, media outlets report on new developments regarding state activity on the health law's Medicaid expansion and health exchanges.

8 Aug 2013

New online health law tool now available to all Americans

Today, AARP announced new resources available to all Americans looking for facts about the Affordable Care Act including a new online tool called Health Law Answers.

7 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 7, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how deadlines have been missed regarding tests for the health cxchange privacy system.

7 Aug 2013

Sebelius disputes 'rate shock,' assures exchanges' readiness

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a call with reporters yesterday that the agency is "on target" to open new online marketplaces Oct. 1. She also spoke about personal "Obamacare" accounts which consumers can begin creating now in advance of being able to shop for plans.

7 Aug 2013

Medicare News and Research

Clinical trials shows CRT improves symptoms, reduces mortality in patients with heart failure

Viewpoints: Obama overlooking legal constraints on employer mandate delay; Bush's 'unnecessary' heart procedure; discrimination against people with mental illnesses

Perrigo Company and Teva Pharmaceutical launch generic equivalent to temozolomide

Viewpoints: The case for gov't shutdown over Obamacare; Tea Partiers Vs. GOP 'establishment types'

State highlights: Accusations of fraud or abuse in disabled, rehabilitation clinics in N.Y., Mich. and Calif.

Prime Therapeutics selected as finalist for URAC's Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection Awards

Research roundup: Use of high-deductible plans limits some E.R. visits; older folks not as sick as they used to be

Congress weighing changes to Medicare reimbursements for doctors

Viewpoints: Fears of health law's adverse selection; GOP's 'fundamental miscalculation;' special deal for Congress keeps dissent low

Start-up company specializes in reducing hospital readmission rates

Democratic opposition to cost-cutting board gains momentum

Sizing up health law politics and policies

First Edition: August 8, 2013

MAXIMUS revenue grows 26% to $334.3 million in Q3 2013

Romney warns against linking efforts to undo health law to govt. shutdown threat

Mostashari steps down from top federal health IT post

Some states say they won't enforce the health law's insurance reforms

New online health law tool now available to all Americans

First Edition: August 7, 2013

Sebelius disputes 'rate shock,' assures exchanges' readiness

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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