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Grants available for families in need of financial assistance to pay for their child’s health care treatments

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is seeking grant applications from families in need of financial assistance to pay for their child’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered by their commercial health insurance plans.

12 Mar 2010

Detroit federal jury convicts doctor in Medicare fraud scheme

Farmington Hills, Mich., physician Jose Castro-Ramirez was convicted today by a Detroit federal jury on all 13 charged counts in connection with his role in an $18.3 million Medicare fraud scheme.

12 Mar 2010

Back injury can set you on your back and set you back financially

Whether you're doing heavy lifting as part of your "honey-do list" around the house or simply lifting groceries out of the car, a back injury can set you on your back (literally) and set you back financially. According to a tally of accident insurance claims submitted in 2009 to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, back sprain or strain was the number-one occurring injury.

4 Mar 2010

U.S. Physical Therapy acquires 70% interest in five clinic outpatient physical therapy group

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc., a leading national operator of outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics, has acquired a 70% interest in a five clinic outpatient physical therapy group. The practice presently has more than 58,000 patient visits per year and produces approximately $6.9 million in annual revenue.

2 Mar 2010

AST now offers programs and services to treat children with developmental disorders

Autism Spectrum Therapies, an agency providing comprehensive autism services throughout Southern California, is expanding its services to include speech and language programs and occupational therapy, in addition to behavior therapy. The focus of the new services will be early intervention for children from infancy to age three and developmental catch-up for young children who have fallen behind in any developmental area.

26 Feb 2010

Detroit home health agency owner pleads guilty over Medicare fraud

Detroit-area resident Muhammad Shahab pleaded guilty today for his role in organizing a Detroit-area home health care fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade; Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General's (HHS-OIG), Chicago Regional Office.

18 Feb 2010

MCGHealth Children's Medical Center installs new playground to promote physical and occupational therapy

PLAYTIME LLC is pleased to announce the installation of a new, colorful dinosaur-themed indoor playground at MCGHealth Children's Medical Center in Augusta, GA.

8 Feb 2010

Dems may add health provisions - including COBRA subsidies and Medicare fixes - to jobs bill

Lawmakers may include a number of Medicare "fixes" in the jobs bill, now that the health overhaul bill has stalled, The Hill reports. They would include restoring Medicare provisions that expired Jan. 1 or are set to expire later this year. "Nursing homes and rehabilitation therapy providers, along with patient groups, are pushing legislation to undo a hard-dollar cap on Medicare coverage of physical, speech and occupational therapy. Hospitals are seeking to restore special payments to large rural and small urban hospitals.

8 Feb 2010

In jobs bill, Democrats push to include extension of COBRA benefits, Medicare 'doc fix'

The New York Times reports that Democrats are trying to address some health coverage considerations in their jobs bill even as they grasp "for ideas to keep alive their health care legislation." Negotiators on the Senate Finance Committee may be close to a jobs agreement. "Democrats were also pushing to include an extension of unemployment benefits and of health care coverage for those out of work." Also under discussion was the possibility of "attaching other initiatives, including a provision to prevent a steep cut in Medicare payment rates for doctors" (Hulse and Zeleny, 2/4).

6 Feb 2010

With health reform stalled, Medicare coverage for some therapies subject to caps

Stalled health care reform efforts have created several unresolved issues, some of which related to Medicare and Medicaid.

5 Feb 2010

Quinnipiac University to open a medical school to meet global health needs

Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey announced today that the University would begin the complex process of opening a medical school, with an emphasis on primary care and global health.

28 Jan 2010

Health organizations urge Congress to protect Medicare beneficiaries' access to critical rehabilitative services

A coalition of organizations representing consumers, health professionals and providers recently sent a letter to Congressional Leadership, calling for the immediate reinstatement of the exceptions process for Medicare Part B outpatient therapy services. Without such efforts, thousands of Medicare beneficiaries will exceed arbitrary limitations on physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology services.

28 Jan 2010

Home health care fraud: Detroit-area physical therapist pleads guilty

Detroit-area resident Jessica Vigil pleaded guilty today for her role in a Detroit-area home health care fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade; Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General's (HHS-OIG) Chicago Region.

27 Jan 2010

MediSens Wireless to begin its wireless body-monitoring system clinical trials following FDA approval

MediSens Wireless, a startup company in UCLA's on-campus technology incubator at the California NanoSystems Institute, has obtained approval under federal Food and Drug Administration guidelines to begin clinical trials on its novel wireless body-monitoring system, which assesses muscle and neuromotor functions in the upper extremities.

18 Jan 2010

Physicians fail to provide pain treatment for fear of prescription drug abuse

Millions of Americans with significant or chronic pain associated with their medical problems are being under-treated as physicians increasingly fail to provide comprehensive pain treatment - either due to inadequate training, personal biases or fear of prescription drug abuse.

5 Jan 2010

Neurologist performs catheter procedure on stroke patient

Most strokes are caused by blood clots in brain vessels. Brain cells die when deprived of blood and oxygen. But if a patient gets to the hospital in time, fast treatment often can restore blood flow and minimize damage.

17 Dec 2009

Detroit-area residents plead guilty in connection with health care fraud schemes

Detroit-area residents Baskaran Thangarasan, Sandeep Aggarwal and Wayne Smith pleaded guilty this week for their roles in connection with several Detroit-area health care fraud schemes, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Terrence I. Berg, Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office and Daniel Levinson, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today.

14 Dec 2009

Kennedy Krieger Institute opens new center for individuals with muscle disorders

Kennedy Krieger Institute announced today the opening of the new Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders that will improve and expand services to individuals with muscle disorders such as muscular dystrophy and congenital myopathy in the Baltimore/Washington region and across the nation. The Center provides expert clinical care to children and adults with these disorders, and offers leading research programs both in the clinical and laboratory setting.

9 Dec 2009

Benchmark Physical Therapy selects Dynatronics as sole-source vendor

Dynatronics Corporation announced it has signed a sole-source vendor agreement to provide therapy equipment and rehab supplies to Benchmark Physical Therapy with 65 clinics located in Tennessee and Georgia.

5 Dec 2009

CVS/pharmacy kicks off its fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's annual campaign

CVS/pharmacy kicks off its annual in store fundraiser for the sixth year to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign, beginning this Sunday and running through December 12. CVS/pharmacy store colleagues will encourage customers to add $1 to their purchase at the register to support the lifesaving research of St. Jude, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

20 Nov 2009