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Hospitals with higher diagnosis frequency for chronic conditions have lower case-fatality rate

An examination of data for more than 5 million Medicare beneficiaries finds that hospital regions that have a greater frequency of diagnoses have a lower case-fatality rate for chronic conditions such as coronary artery disease and kidney failure, according to a study in the March 16 issue of JAMA.

16 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Texas' painful budget cuts; Congress 'should' attack deficit, Medicare costs

The real problem is that liberals and conservatives alike have over the years gauged an elected official's support for the goals of a program by the money he or she has been willing to spend on it. Thus, liberals measure one's support for education, welfare and health programs by how much more one votes to fund them each year.

16 Mar 2011

A Medicare mistake: Paying for Viagra

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General concluded that the program paid more than $3 million in 2007 and 2008 for this drug, even though it is against the law for Medicare to pay for Viagra prescriptions.

16 Mar 2011

Newer, more expensive treatments for prostate cancer adopted rapidly

With 180,000 men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, it is one of the most common types of cancer in the country. For this reason, it has been cited as a good marker for health care spending in general, reflective of the greater trends across the United States.

15 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 15, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the pace of legal challenges to the health law as well as ongoing congressional attempts to reach partisan agreement on a short-term budget bill to avert a government shutdown.

15 Mar 2011

DJO Global signs definitive agreement to purchase Rikco for $254.6 million

DJO Global, Inc., a leading provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced that one of its indirect subsidiaries has signed a definitive agreement to purchase Rikco International, LLC, D/B/A Dr. Comfort, for approximately $254.6 million in cash.

15 Mar 2011

New research: Aging population triggers a boom in Chinese nursing home industry

A nursing home industry is booming in China as a rapid increase in the proportion of its elderly population forces a nationwide shift from traditional family care to institutional care, according to new research by Brown University gerontologists.

15 Mar 2011

Despite partisan clashes, political climate open to 'adult' budget debate

Media outlets report that no such serious discussion can be held without including entitlement programs such as Medicare, but public opinion continues to be a wildcard that could undermine momentum.

15 Mar 2011

New report finds nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the U.S.

According to 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, released today by the Alzheimer's Association, there are nearly 15 million Alzheimer's and dementia caregivers in the United States.

15 Mar 2011

Medica Foundation awards $1 million in grants to five Minnesota organizations

The Medica Foundation today announced $1 million in grants to five Minnesota organizations. The grant amounts range from $100,000 to $300,000 each and are designed to provide funding to the recipients over a three-year period.

14 Mar 2011

Waivers continue to be flashpoints in health overhaul's implementation

More than 1,040 waiver requests have been approved so far by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding so-called "mini-med" plans. But the perplexing question appears to be how HHS will handle the requests in 2012 and 2013, before a major provision of the health law takes effect. In addition, anticipation continues to mount in regard to the upcoming release of ACO regs.

14 Mar 2011

Maricom opens third office in Lutherville

Maricom Systems, Inc. continues its expansion and growth as it announced today the opening of the company's third office in Lutherville, Maryland. The new location will support the company's Business Development and Healthcare IT sectors. Maricom's other locations are in Woodlawn, the corporate headquarters, and Annapolis Junction, the Office of Classified Programs.

14 Mar 2011

Main Line Health implements eClinicalWorks comprehensive EHR solution

eClinicalWorks®, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that Main Line Health, a non-profit health system serving the greater Philadelphia region, is implementing eClinicalWorks comprehensive electronic health records (EHR) solution, and also making assistance available to its affiliated physicians who desire to use the eClinicalWorks EHR.

14 Mar 2011

State roundup: Medicaid cuts cause unusual bedfellows

Representatives from Arizona hospitals, nursing homes and health plans are set to meet with Gov. Jan Brewer today. They hope to win her support for a plan to impose a tax on their institutions and avoid deep cuts to Arizona's Medicaid program. The plan reportedly includes a cap on funding for childless adults, a group now covered under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System that could lose coverage Oct. 1. (Reinhart, 3/11).

14 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 14, 2011

In today's headlines, news about the major issues that continue to rise to the surface in the health overhaul debate.

14 Mar 2011

Pawlenty assails government-run health care in N.H. trip

Likely presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty urged a roomful of skeptical doctors Friday to be leaders rather than be dragged into what he sees as the future of health care -- giving consumers more information and choices and rewarding providers for quality over volume.

14 Mar 2011

Hospice and Palliative care

The word hospice originated from the Latin hospitium, which means "to host or offer a place of shelter." In 2009, an estimated 1.56 million patients, more than 40 percent of deaths, received hospice services in the United States.

14 Mar 2011

Premier endorses GHX Procurement Suite

The Premier healthcare alliance and GHX are partnering to help Premier alliance members gain better control over the purchase of medical-surgical supplies that are not in their item master or on contract, and to automate their accounts payable processes.

11 Mar 2011

UnitedHealth Group ranked No. 1 on FORTUNE's 2011 'World's Most Admired Companies'

Diversified health and well-being company UnitedHealth Group earned the top overall ranking among insurance and managed care companies in FORTUNE's 2011 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, featured in the magazine's March 21 issue.

11 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Health law's individual mandate, fighting the deficit by pinching health care pennies

Like anyone who writes regularly about what passes for economic and fiscal debate in American politics, I've developed a strong tolerance for nonsense. After all, if I got upset every time powerful people were illogical and/or dishonest, I'd spend every waking hour in a state of raging despair. ... if you're serious about deficits, you shouldn't be pinching pennies now; you should be looking for ways to rein in health spending over the long term.

11 Mar 2011