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WCH to pay $846,461 over allegations of false Medicare claims

Wheaton Community Hospital, the City of Wheaton, Minn. and Dr. Stanley Gallagher (collectively WCH) have agreed to pay $846,461 to settle allegations that their hospital admission practices violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today.

5 Jan 2010

HMS acquires Verify Solutions

HMS today announced that it has acquired the assets of Verify Solutions, a metropolitan Atlanta-based company specializing in dependent eligibility audit services for employer-sponsored healthcare plans.

5 Jan 2010

Elusys Therapeutics signs contract to complete the final development of Anthim

Elusys Therapeutics, Inc. (Elusys), a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has signed a contract potentially totaling up to $143 million to complete the final development, commercial manufacturing and licensure of Anthim, the company's late stage anthrax therapeutic.

5 Jan 2010

Cepheid granted EUA for Xpert Flu A Panel test

Cepheid today announced it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Xpert® Flu A Panel test.

4 Jan 2010

CDC and USOC to hold H1N1 vaccination events in Colorado and Alaska

As America gears up for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the U.S. Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leaders will team up with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to hold H1N1 vaccination events at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the 2010 U.S. Cross Country Championships in Anchorage, Alaska on Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

4 Jan 2010

HHS secretary unveils new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement that will air during four College Football Bowl Games held over the New Year's holiday.

4 Jan 2010

CMS and ONC issue regulations to implement widespread adoption of EHR incentive programs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourage public comment on two regulations issued today that lay a foundation for improving quality, efficiency and safety through meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.

31 Dec 2009

HHS Secretary to unveil new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will hold a press conference call at 12 p.m. EST, Thursday, December 31st, to announce a new H1N1 flu vaccination advertisement that will air during four College Football Bowl Games held over the New Year's holidays.

31 Dec 2009

Website explores pros and cons of obesity

ProCon.org, a nonpartisan 501(c)3 nonprofit public charity dedicated to promoting critical thinking, created the new website http://www.obesity.procon.org to explore the core question "Is obesity a disease?"

30 Dec 2009

Spectranetics reports settlement of matters related to federal investigation

Spectranetics Corporation (“Company”) today reported the settlement of matters related to the federal investigation initiated by the Food & Drug Administration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which was previously announced in a press release dated September 4, 2008.

30 Dec 2009

RxNT V 6.1.4 wins CCHIT Certified 2011 Standalone ePrescribing certification

Networking Technology, Inc. (NTI), the leader in eprescribing, today announced that their nationally recognized eprescribing product, RxNT V 6.1.4, has achieved CCHIT Certified® 2011 Standalone ePrescribing certification.

30 Dec 2009

ACC files complaint against HHS Secretary in U.S. District Court

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) today announced that it filed a complaint against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in United States District Court.

30 Dec 2009

Spectranetics illegally imports unapproved medical devices, agrees to pay $5M for resolving allegations

Spectranetics Corporation, a medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay the United States $4.9 million in civil damages plus a $100,000 forfeiture to resolve claims against the company, the Justice Department announced today. The claims arise from allegations that the company illegally imported unapproved medical devices and provided them to physicians for use in patients, conducted a clinical study in a manner that failed to comply with federal regulations and promoted certain products for procedures for which the company had not received Food and Drug Administration approval or clearance.

30 Dec 2009

Smart for Life introduces new THIN ADVENTURE Children's Weight Loss Program

With many American children overweight and obese, Smart for Life's new THIN ADVENTURE(TM) Children's Weight Loss Program introduces an affordable 30-day weight-loss program designed for children between the ages of 6 and 14. It will be available at http://www.smartforlife.com and other affiliated retailers in January 2010.

29 Dec 2009

Genesys Health System to pay $669,413 over Medicare false claim allegations

Genesys Health System has agreed to pay the United States $669,413 to settle a lawsuit alleging that the health care provider violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today.

28 Dec 2009

Family Research Council president comments on passage of the health care reform bill

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments: "Today's Christmas Eve vote may signal the end of the debate in the Senate, but it's far from the end of the debate at large. Since Senator Reid's bad bill is substantially different from the House's bad bill, the lower chamber will have to vote on the plan again. The Senate bill's massive funding for elective abortions and the construction of abortion facilities are among the most radical differences.

28 Dec 2009

Test tube experiments show slight changes in protein chemistry can eliminate Huntington's disease in mice

In Huntington's disease, a mutated protein in the body becomes toxic to brain cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that a small region adjacent to the mutated segment plays a major role in the toxicity. Two new studies supported by the National Institutes of Health show that very slight changes to this region can eliminate signs of Huntington's disease in mice.

28 Dec 2009

Steroids not superior to laser treatments for DME

Researchers led by specialists at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute have found that injecting a corticosteroid, triamcinolone, directly into the eye may slow the progression of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, a complication of diabetes that frequently leads to blindness.

27 Dec 2009

National Alliance for Hispanic Health urges Congress to support passage of health insurance reform bill

"Health is more than insurance coverage, but it is critical that this step be accomplished as we continue our journey towards health care for all. The entire Alliance network is committed to working with Congress to ensure health insurance reform is new legislation that is signed in 2010," said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

24 Dec 2009

New series of 30-second PSAs on getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in conjunction with the Ad Council and the Jim Henson Company, has released a new series of 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) about the importance of getting the 2009 H1N1 vaccine. Targeted to parents and children, the PSA campaign features 15 governors, a state first lady, a state chief medical officer and the main character from the PBS’ series “Sid the Science Kid” and reminds the public that getting vaccinated is the best way to stay healthy during this flu season.

24 Dec 2009