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Patients with CRS can benefit from balloon sinus dilation procedure

Results published in the January/February, 2011 issue of International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology demonstrate that patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who receive treatment with balloon sinus dilation can experience significant improvement in work productivity.

31 Mar 2011

State roundup: Md. Blue Cross probed; Mass. nonprofit hospitals may be sold

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Maryland's largest insurer, confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that it received a civil investigative demand from the Justice Department but declined to comment further.

31 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Vouchers for Medicare; evaluating the many parts of the health law; a single-payer plan for Oregon

With a hard deadline looming, talks to prevent a government shutdown have been stymied for a week because Tea Party members of the House have demanded everything: not just some of their cuts but almost all of them, and not just a reduction in spending but a reduction only in the programs they don't like. Many are insisting Democrats also agree to nonbudgetary riders, like ending the financing of Planned Parenthood or health care reform.

31 Mar 2011

Radiation oncologists head to Capitol Hill to promote critical initiatives

More than 100 radiation oncology treatment team members and resident physicians convened in Washington Monday and Tuesday to represent radiation oncology on Capitol Hill at the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) eighth annual Advocacy Day. Participants spent Monday hearing from members of Congress and key congressional staff on the latest legislative activity and ASTRO'’s legislative agenda. On Tuesday, the group headed to House and Senate office buildings to meet with senators, congressmen and staffers from their home states to promote agenda items important to the safety and well-being of cancer patients.

30 Mar 2011

Prostate cancer drug and a new drug to prevent preterm births cause cost concerns, controversy

News outlets report on the political dilemma involved with Provenge — a cancer drug — as well as the impact that Makena — the medicine that can prevent preterm births — could have on the nation's high health care costs.

30 Mar 2011

The Wall Street Journal: Medicare records show trail of troubling surgeries

The Wall Street Journal continues its examination of Medicare's claims databases to uncover potentially fraudulent activities. Meanwhile, The Miami Herald reports on one alleged fraud perpetrator who is now awaiting trail.

30 Mar 2011

Health law policy details continue to grab attention, headlines

Health law costs, accountable care organizations, the individual mandate and even the latest in proceedings surrounding Virginia's health law challenge are all in today's news.

30 Mar 2011

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