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Texas hospitals ask for Medicaid money diversion; Wash. pauses plan to not pay for some ER visits; Adult day care transition starts in Calif.

Texas' public hospitals want some Medicaid money shifted to pay for the uninsured while a proposal in Washington state to stop paying for some Medicaid ER visits deemed unnecessary is paused. Ohio is also trying to save money on its Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible population by restructuring the program.

3 Apr 2012

Perspectives on the health law: Santorum offers his plan for health freedom; Cardinal Dolan's meeting with Obama; Dems' and GOP's 'misconception'

As the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, we Americans need to remember that we have the freedom to make choices for ourselves. We, not our government, choose the food to eat, the clothes to wear, the ideas to believe. "ObamaCare" is the opposite of freedom. Under ObamaCare, the government, not the individual, has freedom. We can do better.

3 Apr 2012

Merck announces data from ZOSTAVAX Phase III study on shingles

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that data from the pivotal Phase III study with ZOSTAVAX(Zoster Vaccine Live) in adults ages 50 to 59 were published in the April 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.

3 Apr 2012

Ventas acquires Cogdell

Ventas, Inc. announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Cogdell Spencer Inc.

3 Apr 2012

Humana acquires Arcadian Management Services

Humana Inc. announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Arcadian Management Services, an Oakland, Calif.-based company that, through its affiliates, operates Medicare Advantage HMO plans.

3 Apr 2012

CompCare's 2011 revenues increase to $71,210,000

Comprehensive Care Corporation, a leading behavioral health, substance abuse and psychotropic pharmacy management services provider for managed care companies throughout the U.S., is pleased to announce that its revenues for 2011 more than doubled to $71,210,000 compared to revenues of $35,214,000 in 2010.

2 Apr 2012

Democrats offer optimistic take on court's health law decision

Appearing on the Sunday talk shows, Vice President Joseph Biden and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., defended the health law and predicted it would be upheld by the high court.

2 Apr 2012

Teva reports successful outcome of three debut financings

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited announced today that it successfully priced its debut EUR 1 billion and CHF 450 million debt offerings, and that it entered into a JPY 100 billion senior unsecured fixed-rate syndicated term loan facility.

2 Apr 2012

Political cartoon: 'Second Guessing?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Second Guessing?" by Mike Smith.

2 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 2, 2012

Today's headlines offer more analysis of what could become of the Supreme Courts consideration of the health law.

2 Apr 2012

Teva launches generic Avalide and Avapro Tablets

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that it has commenced commercial launch of both Irbesartan and Irbesartan-Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, the Company's generic versions of Sanofi Aventis' high blood pressure treatments, Avapro and Avalide Tablets.

2 Apr 2012

Biden, Schumer expect court to uphold health law

Biden attacked Romney and the GOP broadly for only staking out a position against what the Obama administration has done, and not offering an alternative. Biden used the healthcare reform law as an example. "What is the Romney answer? There's nothing. All they argue is cut, get rid of that," he said. Biden said that there are "millions of people" benefiting from the law already, and that he was confident the Supreme Court would uphold it when it rules in June.

2 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Ryan's budget called 'cruel' or 'sophisticated'

In February, after embarrassing himself by saying he was "not concerned about the very poor," Mitt Romney explained that the government's safety net would take care of them, and he promised to repair any holes in the net. That promise didn't last very long. On Thursday, House Republicans approved, on a party-line vote, a disastrous new budget that would leave millions of struggling families desperate for food, shelter and health care - and Mr. Romney has embraced it.

31 Mar 2012

House OKs Ryan budget -- with Medicare changes; Entitlement program cuts

The budget blueprint, advanced by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is unlikely to gain passage in the Senate but will be a key marker in the upcoming election season.

31 Mar 2012

Vanguard closes private placement of $375 million 7.750% Senior Notes

Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Vanguard Health Holding Company II, LLC and Vanguard Holding Company II, Inc. (together with VHS Holdco II, the "Issuers"), closed their private placement of an aggregate principal amount of $375.0 million of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2019.

31 Mar 2012

HHS Secretary announces six winners in HHSinnovates program

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced six winners in the HHSinnovates program today in a ceremony at HHS headquarters, saying all the entries "show a vibrant culture of innovation" within the department.

31 Mar 2012

Cambridge Heart fourth quarter total revenue decreases to $557,000

Cambridge Heart, Inc., a developer of non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, today reported results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011. Full financial statements and corresponding commentary can be found in the Company's Form 10-K, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2012.

31 Mar 2012

Teva introduces generic Provigil

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announces the launch of the authorized generic of Provigil (modafinil).

31 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 30, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include reports that the House yesterday approved the $3.5 trillion budget plan proposed by Paul Ryan -- which includes deep cuts in entitlements and will likely trigger the election-year fiscal debate.

30 Mar 2012

Democrats respond to Ryan budget plan with billboard, cries of foul

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney offered his support for the plan advanced by Rep. Paul Rayn, R- Wis., causing Democrats to point out inconsistencies with his attacks on the health law. Meanwhile, Democrats have posted a billboard in Ryan's hometown criticizing his proposals on Medicare.

30 Mar 2012