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First Edition: June 4, 2010

Today's health policy headlines highlight HHS Secretary Sebelius' defense of the Obama administration's Medicare nominee as well as the AMA's push to fix scheduled reductions in Medicare physician payments.

4 Jun 2010

Compression garments do not impact athletic performance, says study

Two Indiana University studies examined the influence of compression garments on athletic performance and both found little influence.

4 Jun 2010

Study sheds light on how IMT improves performance in endurance sports

An Indiana University study found that strengthening inspiratory muscles by performing daily breathing exercises for six weeks significantly reduced the amount of oxygen these same breathing muscles required during exercise, possibly making more oxygen available for other muscles.

4 Jun 2010

NORTHSTAR Health System purchases Toshiba's Aplio MX ultrasound system

NORTHSTAR Health System, a rural critical-access health care system in Iron River, Mich., recently completed an $18 million renovation that included upgrading its medical imaging technology. To provide the latest in ultrasound imaging technology to its patient population and expand its diagnostic capabilities, NORTHSTAR Health System purchased Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s Aplio MX ultrasound system, a compact system that offers premium clinical performance and high-end features at an affordable price point.

3 Jun 2010

Top physicians offer health advice to help people survive during summer

This summer a variety of top physicians at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are offering health advice to help survive the travails that come with one of the most active seasons of the year.

3 Jun 2010

Regulators miss deadline on medical loss ratios: Other implementation developments continue to emerge

Insurance regulators have missed an early deadline to set specific rules meant to ensure that insurers devote 80 to 85 percent of premium dollars to medical care, the so-called "medical loss ratio."

3 Jun 2010

Former Columbia/HCA CEO Rick Scott spends millions on Florida governor campaign

News outlets report on the campaign of multimillionaire Rick Scott, the former CEO of the Columbia/HCA health care company, who is running in the Republican gubernatorial primary in Florida.

2 Jun 2010

Firms chase opportunities in online medicine

General Electric Co. chief executive Jeffrey Immelt urged Japan, at a conference in Tokyo Monday, to use health information technology to improve home-based health care as a hedge against the strains of an aging population, The Wall Street Journal reports. Japan's over-65 population is growing, and could top 30 percent by 2030.

2 Jun 2010

Glasgow lawyers boost fundraising effort for brain injury charity

A Glasgow-based brain injury charity has run into good fortune as it received a welcome cash boost thanks to the dynamic efforts of a group of local lawyers and their colleagues.

29 May 2010

GenMark Diagnostics prices initial public offering

GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., a provider of automated, multiplex molecular diagnostic testing systems, announced today that its initial public offering of 4,600,000 shares of its common stock has been priced at $6.00 per share. The shares are expected to begin trading today on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol "GNMK." In addition, GenMark has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 690,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any.

29 May 2010

First Edition: May 28, 2010

Today's health policy headlines focus on efforts by federal officials to get more insurance plans to move early on coverage for young adults as well as congressional Democrats' struggle to pass legislation to extend the COBRA benefit subsidy and to prevent a scheduled cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

28 May 2010

Helicobacter pylori's helical shape helps it colonize the stomach

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori, which lives in the human stomach and is associated with ulcers and gastric cancer, is shaped like a corkscrew, or helix. For years researchers have hypothesized that the bacterium's twisty shape is what enables it to survive - and thrive - within the stomach's acid-drenched environment, but until now they have had no proof.

28 May 2010

SAP selects ResearchPoint as Showcase company for Business ByDesign product

ResearchPoint is proud to announce that it has been selected as a Showcase® company by SAP for its use of their product, Business ByDesign. The company began implementation of the solution 11 months ago and continues to collaborate with SAP on the development of this SaaS (software as a service, also known as on-demand) offering for the small and mid company market.

28 May 2010

Sen. Lincoln fights criticism on health reform positions in primary run-off battle

The Associated Press: "After vowing that she answered to Arkansas and not the Democratic Party — only to find herself forced into a runoff vote by a rival backed by liberal activists — Sen. Blanche Lincoln is embracing the left as she fights to keep her job." She is running ads that highlight her support of the recently passed health bill that feature a liberal talk show host.

28 May 2010

OHSU partners with UO, Harvard to expedite research into compounds that may prevent Fanconi anemia

Oregon Health & Science University is partnering with the University of Oregon and Harvard Medical School to expedite basic science research into new and existing drugs and compounds that may prevent the complications associated with Fanconi anemia, an inherited condition that can lead to bone marrow failure and cancer.

28 May 2010

Salix Pharmaceuticals to sell $300 million of 2.75% convertible senior notes due 2015

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell $300 million aggregate principal amount of its 2.75% convertible senior notes due 2015. In addition, Salix has granted the underwriters an overallotment option to purchase up to an additional $45 million aggregate principal amount of notes on the same terms and conditions.

28 May 2010

Salix Pharmaceuticals announces $200 million convertible senior notes offering

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $200 million aggregate principal amount of its convertible senior notes due 2015 under an automatically effective shelf registration statement on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Salix also expects to grant the underwriters an overallotment option to purchase up to an additional $30 million aggregate principal amount of notes on the same terms and conditions.

27 May 2010

First Edition: May 27, 2010

Today's health policy headlines focus on a new study about the federal government's funding level for the high-risk pools set up in the new health law as well as congressional Democrats' ongoing struggle to pass legislation to extend the COBRA benefit subsidy and to prevent a scheduled cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

27 May 2010

Oregon State University researchers make fundamental advance in robotics

Researchers at Oregon State University have made an important fundamental advance in robotics, in work that should lead toward robots that not only can walk and run effectively, but use little energy in the process.

27 May 2010

ZIOPHARM proposes underwritten public offering of common stock

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. today announced that it is offering to sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is acting as the sole book-running manager for this offering. The co-manager for this offering is JMP Securities LLC. The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering.

27 May 2010