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Centrist-Liberal Senate rift broader than just public option

Though the question of whether Democratic leaders would include a public option in the Senate's health reform bill has held the spotlight, a variety of other big issues also remain unresolved, The Hill reports.

29 Oct 2009

A look at the public insurance options -- What exists and who would have access under proposed reforms

One news outlet studies the practical meaning of public insurance option by examining some of the approaches that are already in existence. Meanwhile, another examines the number of people who would have access to the public plan. And a former insurance executive takes issue with the industry's current stance.

29 Oct 2009

Lawmakers try to weed out fraud and waste

Lawmakers target Medicare and Medicaid fraud to generate greater savings in health care reform while doctors worry about efforts to cut waste.

29 Oct 2009

China's health care system is also in disarray

The Washington Post reports: "China's health-care system is in disarray, a side effect of the market reforms that have spurred private enterprise and rapid growth since 1980. Before then, state-owned companies offered cradle-to-grave care, part of a system based on danwei, or work units, that provided health, education, pensions and other benefits. But as the economy has grown more diverse, an increasing number of Chinese have had to fend for themselves, with only a porous government insurance program to help."

29 Oct 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

The federal government could treat Indian Country, at least for health programs, as the 51st state. This seems to me a practical application of the nation-to-nation relationship (Mark Trahant, 10/29).

29 Oct 2009

Health bills present formidable challenges to numbers crunchers

The House Democratic leadership is expected to unveil its health-overhaul legislation Thursday, the Associated Press reports. The next step will be for the merged bill - consolidated from three separate committee reports - to go to the Congressional Budget Office for a cost estimate, before lawmakers vote. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid is awaiting the CBO's analysis of his bill, before taking it to the floor (10/29).

29 Oct 2009

Pelosi chooses compromise approach to public option in reform bill

A health care reform bill set to be unveiled this morning will include a government-run public option for health insurance that will negotiate rates with insurers, much like private insurers operate.

29 Oct 2009

Health bills limit out-of-pocket costs, but there's a catch in the fine print

Health care bills pending in Congress could limit the out-of-pocket costs for consumers, but some of the fine print may cause sticker shock. "Consumers would be spared having to pay huge medical bills under Democratic health care legislation that's moving through Congress, as lawmakers agree on the need to put limits on how much people would pay out of their own pockets," McClatchy reports.

29 Oct 2009

Gruve, an activity-based weight management solution from Muve

Muve, Inc., the activity-based weight management company, continues to see increased interest in measurable, sustainable wellness solutions by employers trying to reduce employee health care costs. Muve’s product, the Gruve Solution, helps corporate clients and their employees to become more healthy and productive, while reducing health care costs through measurable results.

29 Oct 2009

Study looks at the impact of health insurance on the number of preventable deaths in the U.S.

Lack of health insurance might have led or contributed to nearly 17,000 deaths among hospitalized children in the United States in the span of less than two decades, according to research led by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

29 Oct 2009

WaveMark CIMS implemented at St. Joseph’s Hospital

WaveMark, Inc., a leading provider of real-time inventory management (RTIM) solutions for high value medical products, and St. Joseph’s Hospital of Atlanta, GA today announced the use of WaveMark’s hospital inventory management solution, WaveMark CIMS™, by St. Joseph’s Hospital to manage its high value, specialty inventory. St. Joseph’s will use WaveMark’s point of use RTIM technology to track physician preference items in its Cardiac Cath and Electrophysiology (EP) labs.

29 Oct 2009

Procter & Gamble reports net sales of $19.8 billion for the July - September quarter

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) reported net sales of $19.8 billion for the July - September quarter which exceeded the Company's guidance.

29 Oct 2009

AARP: Budget cuts for safety net programs spell health care disaster for Idaho residents

While Idaho's part-time employees face massive health care premium increases, state retirees are bracing to lose their state health care in the coming months, all as programs and services providing a critical safety net continue to be cut. AARP says it's a combination that spells health care disaster for many Idaho residents and the Association is calling on lawmakers to address it.

29 Oct 2009

Gentiva Health Services reports decreased net revenues for 2009 third quarter

Gentiva Health Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTIV), a leading provider of comprehensive home health services, today reported the following 2009 third quarter results.

29 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 29, 2009

Today's headlines are all about the unveiling of the House health bill -- expected later this morning.

29 Oct 2009

Tool to support the development of age-based dosing regimens for malaria drugs developed

Scientists at LSTM have developed a tool to support the development of appropriate age-based dosing regimens for malaria drugs. Weight-based dosing is challenging in many malaria endemic countries because access to formal health services is limited, functioning scales may be scarce and many treatments are given at home using antimalarials bought from shops and street vendors.

29 Oct 2009

Aetna operating earnings decrease by 38% in third-quarter 2009

Aetna today announced third-quarter 2009 operating earnings of $308.2 million, or $.69 per share, a 38 percent decrease from the prior-year quarter. Operating earnings exclude net realized capital gains (losses) and other items. The decrease in operating earnings per share from the prior-year quarter reflects a lower Commercial underwriting margin and a previously announced increase in pension expense partially offset by the impact of a lower number of shares outstanding year-over-year.

29 Oct 2009