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Mary Ann Liebert to launch new 'Shingles and PHN' open access journal

Shingles and PHN, a new, bimonthly open access peer-reviewed journal, will be launched in fall 2011 by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

30 Mar 2011

Drugs' cost deters patients from taking heart medicine

For more than 5 million Americans with heart failure, a critical step to better health is taking the medications they're prescribed. But many patients fail to do so, putting themselves at greater risk of hospitalization and even death. To date, studies have not fully answered why patients fall short when it comes to taking heart medicine. In a study appearing in the April issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Mayo Clinic researchers found the drugs' cost is one of the biggest deterrents.

30 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: N.Y. malpractice 'solution'?; tap Texas rainy-day fund?; Ariz. transplant dilemma solution?

Almost every other product Americans encounter is subject to laws that guarantee that the producer suffers when its product is subpar. There's no reason medical guidelines should be any different. With the proper incentives, these private regulators could help President Obama carry out the health care reform he signed into law a year ago.

30 Mar 2011

Study: Increasing Medicare age would shift costs

A study released today concluded that employers and younger people would end up paying more for their health insurance if Medicare's eligibility age were raised. However, the age change would also result in billions of dollars in taxpayer savings.

30 Mar 2011

Senators address hundreds of home care and hospice providers

Four Senators addressed the hundreds of home care and hospice providers today that have come to our nation's capitol to keep the fight alive for the critical, high-value, high-quality care that is offered to millions of vulnerable citizens in this country.

29 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: 'Lesson' from R.I. on waivers; Wis. infant mortality rate disparities; diabetes and seniors

Medicaid is the major cost driver in state budgets these days, so several Governors have proposed a deal to the White House and Congress: They'll take less money in return for the flexibility to run the program with fewer federal strings. A case study in the potential benefits is coming from liberal Rhode Island.

29 Mar 2011

Nordion presents TheraSphere Phase II trial results against liver metastases at SIR meeting

Nordion Inc., a leading provider of products and services to the global health science market, today shared results from the first multi-site, Phase II clinical trial to evaluate TheraSphere® for treatment of metastatic liver cancer.

29 Mar 2011

Medicaid realities: More harm than good (Op-ed)

On January 7, 2011, 33 governors and governors- elect sent a letter to the White House and Congressional leaders detailing how new federal Medicaid mandates will drown their states in more debt.

28 Mar 2011

CNN political analyst David Gergen spoke with home care and hospice providers at annual March on Washington event

Nationally known and recognized political analyst David Gergen spoke today at the National Home Care & Hospice Association’s March on Washington event about the uncertain times that we face as a country.

28 Mar 2011

New USARAD.com Peer Review Program for radiologists

USARAD.com LLC, a Joint Commission-accredited provider of outsourced radiology reading services, today announced the first-ever national quality assurance (QA) service to assist imaging facilities in achieving and maintaining American College of Radiology (ACR) accreditation. The new USARAD.com Peer Review Program is open to individual radiologists, hospital radiology departments, imaging centers, IDTFs, mobile imaging providers and multi-specialty physician groups.

28 Mar 2011

As new threat of Govt. shutdown looms, parties still at odds on spending cuts

Although some reports of progress have emerged from closed-door negotiations, Democrats and Republicans appear to still be at odds regarding whether the current year funding bill should move beyond a "narrow slice of discretionary programs" to include some health programs — including Medicare.

28 Mar 2011

Rising Medicare premiums threaten to wipe out Social Security COLA

Millions of retired and disabled people in the United States had better brace for another year with no increase in Social Security payments.

28 Mar 2011

Nurse staffing levels, safety net status both factors in patient outcomes

A new study finds that higher nurse staffing levels can lead to better patient outcomes. However, the study also found this to not always be the case at safety net hospitals. Meanwhile, the Connecticut Mirror reports on hospitals' efforts to reduce readmissions. And, in other news, new research has found that patients are less likely to fill prescriptions when doctors specify brand names instead of allowing generic substitutions.

28 Mar 2011

House Subcommittee to investigate AARP 'financial conflicts'

House GOP lawmakers are scrutinizing how the AARP's interests may have played into the positions the organization took during the health debate.

28 Mar 2011

Hospital pricing, mergers grab headlines

In Texas, reports indicate that costs vary widely by hospital. Meanwhile, merger talks begin in Connecticut.

28 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 25, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about mini-med plans and accountable care organizations as well as the ongoing impasse in Congress regarding current year spending.

28 Mar 2011

Blue Cross Blue Shield facing Justice Dept. questions on hospital agreements

The U.S. Justice Department is widening a probe into whether Blue Cross Blue Shield health-insurance plans are artificially raising premiums in several states by striking agreements with hospitals that stifle competition from rival insurers. Federal investigators and some state attorneys general have sent civil subpoenas to "Blue" health plans in Missouri, Ohio, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and the District of Columbia, according to people familiar with the matter.

28 Mar 2011

Surgeons to discuss on healthcare issues at JSAC

On Tuesday, March 29, 2011, hundreds of surgeons from across the country will join together to speak with one voice to their federal legislators. As part of the fourth annual Joint Surgical Advocacy Conference, approximately 70 otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons representing over 30 states will meet with their U.S. Representatives, Senators, and their staff to encourage Congressional action on several of the specialty's legislative priorities for 2011.

28 Mar 2011

'Dispense as written' prescriptions cost the health care system $7.7 billion annually

Approximately five percent of prescriptions submitted by CVS Caremark Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) members in a 30-day period during 2009 included a "dispense as written" (DAW) designation.

25 Mar 2011

Lawmakers continue to tussle over short- and long-term budget issues

Momentum appears to building for efforts to address record budget deficits by reining in spending on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, as both parties agree they need to reach a deal to provide funding to keep the government functioning in the the current year, legislative riders that would impose restrictions on federal agencies and cut off funding for Planned Parenthood continue to trip up their progress.

25 Mar 2011