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USPSTF issues final recommendation statement against PSA testing

The Prostate Cancer Roundtable expressed deep disappointment today as the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued its final recommendation statement against the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing in the detection of prostate cancer.

22 May 2012

'Discharge bias' disproportionally hurts large and academic hospitals

In-hospital mortality for ICU patients is often used as a quality measure, but discharge practices may bias results in a way that disadvantages large academic hospitals, according to a recently conducted study.

22 May 2012

Medicare expenditures, quality rating system grab headlines

Kaiser Health News looks at criticisms of the government's program for rewarding higher-quality Medicare Advantage plans, while Modern Healthcare reports on a memo from the Medicare actuary that projects expenditures in the federal healthcare program.

21 May 2012

Two health care nonprofit co-ops receive health law loans

These two co-ops, located in Nevada and Michigan, received a total of $135 million in loans from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

21 May 2012

Laxative free bowel prep visualized on Viatronix V3D-Colon platform

Viatronix Incorporated, a leading innovator and developer of 2D/3D medical imaging and diagnostic software today announced that their V3D-Colon platform was exclusively used to perform a key study recently published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

21 May 2012

First Edition: May 21, 2012

Today's headlines includes reports on a new poll that explores what it is like to be sick in America.

21 May 2012

Poll: 70% of Americans oppose efforts by insurance companies to deny payment for ER visits

Seventy percent of Americans oppose efforts by insurance companies to deny payment for emergency visits when patients believe they are having medical emergencies, but after examination are diagnosed with non-urgent medical conditions, according to the results of a new poll conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

21 May 2012

Urologic conditions contribute to major economic burden in the U.S.

Urologic conditions like urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and prostate cancer are a major economic burden on Americans, resulting in health care costs of close to $40 billion annually, according to a newly released national report that charts the demographic and economic impact of urologic diseases in the U.S.

19 May 2012

Geithner pushes back against GOP calls for long-term cuts to Medicare, social security

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sharpened the Obama administration's criticism of Republican fiscal policy in a speech Thursday, pushing back against the GOP on calls for immediate spending cuts and long-term plans for Social Security and Medicare.

19 May 2012

Conference to showcase patient and family-centered strategies

This is a critical time to be involved in improving health care in the United States as well as in other nations around the world. These challenging times require inspired leadership, innovative solutions, and enduring partnerships to improve health care in community-based health care organizations, hospitals, and health systems.

19 May 2012

Covalon to showcase advanced medical coating capabilities at AUA annual meeting

Covalon Technologies Ltd., an advanced medical technologies company, today announced it will be showcasing its advanced medical coating capabilities, including its SilverCoat Antimicrobial Silicone Foley Catheter as well as its recently FDA cleared IV Clear antimicrobial silicone adhesive film dressing from May 19th to May 23rd at the American Urological Association 2012 Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia.

19 May 2012

Budget politics and posturing continues at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue

Even as congressional leaders met with President Barack Obama on budget matters, the Senate voted on -- and rejected -- a series of budget proposals. Meanwhile, House Speaker John Boehner draws a line in the sand regarding the next vote to raise the federal debt limit.

18 May 2012

First Edition: May 18, 2012

Today's headlines include a report that congressional conservatives are fighting amongst themselves over health law strategies.

18 May 2012

A Senate panel contemplates innovations for the health care system

At a Wednesday hearing, members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee considered various strategies to make the health system more efficient.

18 May 2012

House GOP formulates strategies to pursue after the Supreme Court issues health law decision

If the law is upheld, Republicans plan to take to the floor to "tear out" the law's most controversial provisions, Politico reports. Meanwhile, in related news, Reuters reports on the questionable fate of lesser known, but still controversial, aspects of the health law -- billions of dollars in new taxes.

18 May 2012

Conservative group makes major ad buy to charge President Obama with using the health law to raise taxes

News outlets report on the details of the ad campaign, which is being paid for by Crossroads GPS -- and also provide fact checking regarding some of its assertions.

18 May 2012

Study: No racial and ethnic disparities in preoperative breast cancer imaging

If racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer exist, they are not due to differences in the use of imaging to assess the extent of tumors before surgery, according to new findings that will be presented by Fox Chase Cancer Center researchers at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology on Monday, June 4.

18 May 2012

HTA intends to commence modified ‘Dutch Auction’ tender offer

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc. announced today that it intends to commence a modified "Dutch Auction" tender offer to purchase up to $150 million of its shares of Class A common stock from its stockholders.

18 May 2012

First Edition: May 17, 2012

Today's headlines includes reports about the deadline set by the federal government regarding the creation of state-based health insurance exchanges.

17 May 2012

Republicans set up election-year showdown on budget

As the Senate prepares to vote today on four separate budget plans -- all of which will likely be rejected -- House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, says he will use the next go-round over the debt limit to force Democrats to make deeper cuts to federal health and safety-net programs, including Medicare.

17 May 2012