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Lipitz Center offers free technical assistance to medical practices for chronic care

The Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is offering free technical assistance to help primary care practices and health care organizations, including accountable care organizations, improve the quality and outcomes of health care for older adults with chronic illnesses.

10 Mar 2011

Senate continues to be embroiled in spending bill battles

March 18 is the deadline for work to be completed on spending for the current year, otherwise a government shutdown will take place. A Bloomberg poll found many Americans would oppose a shutdown, but also oppose deep cuts in programs such as Medicare and medical research. All the while, politics related to funding for the health law and Planned Parenthood are still heating up.

10 Mar 2011

Medicaid and the health overhaul's goals

Media outlets report on how the health overhaul interacts with Medicaid and whether it will ultimately have a positive or negative impact on states.

9 Mar 2011

Atherotech announces Sponsorship Agreement with NLA

Aiming to boost advanced lipoprotein testing in lipid education and management, Atherotech Diagnostics Lab announces its Sponsorship Agreement with the National Lipid Association.

9 Mar 2011

CHSI enters definitive agreement to acquire WHI for $525 million

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Walgreen Co. to acquire Walgreens' pharmacy benefit management subsidiary, Walgreens Health Initiatives, Inc., for $525 million in cash.

9 Mar 2011

M-3 Information introduces new behavioral health website to improve quality of care

The evidenced-based behavioral health portal, allows patients to take the screen using the Apple iPad; provides the clinician immediate clinical decision support at the point of care.

9 Mar 2011

Optimism stems from Humana's focus on Medicare plans - but don't expect a dividend soon

With its focus on Medicare plans for the elderly, Humana Inc believes it can grow with the wave of aging baby boomers without moving far afield from its main customer base of seniors.

9 Mar 2011

Dental, vision benefits for seniors from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Dental and vision health are often tied to overall health, yet many seniors don't have coverage for these services. To fill the gap, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) in Colorado is launching several new packages for seniors in Colorado that include dental and vision benefits as well as other important benefits, such as gym memberships, travel assistance and behavioral health services.

9 Mar 2011

Health care reform changes make colonoscopy more affordable

To encourage adults age 50 and older to get a colonoscopy, experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center highlight resources and health care reform changes that now make this lifesaving exam more affordable.

9 Mar 2011

GRACE model improves health and reduces Medicare costs in high risk seniors

The March 2011 issue of the journal Heath Affairs highlights an evidence-based model of geriatric care management developed, implemented and tested by researchers and clinicians from Indiana University, the Regenstrief Institute and Wishard Health Services.

9 Mar 2011

Senate 'Gang of six' launches public campaign for deficit reduction

Their effort focuses on educating the public about the importance of overhauling Medicare and other entitlement programs if the national debt is to be tamed.

9 Mar 2011

Heated debate surrounds Physician Compare database

Physician Compare might not seem like the kind of tool that would spark a divisive policy debate. It's a website, recently launched by Medicare officials, that allows patients to find a cardiologist, a pediatrician, or other Medicare provider in their zip code.

9 Mar 2011

USPTO grants new patent to Intellect's Alzheimer's vaccine

Intellect Neurosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company with an internal preclinical and clinical-stage pipeline and licenses with major pharmaceutical companies covering products in late-stage clinical trials, announced today that it has received a new patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office in relation to the Company's RECALL-VAXTM technology platform.

9 Mar 2011

CMS' Berwick in hot seat again

The New York Times reports that even Democrats are acknowledging that the Senate will not likely be able to confirm Dr. Donald Berwick as the head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, Modern Healthcare reports that the health care provider community remains in his corner.

9 Mar 2011

Smart technology for healthy longevity

A national policy is required for the research, demonstration, commercialisation and wide-scale deployment of smart technology for ageing-in-place to ensure: a healthy, safe, secure and fulfilling future for the increasing aged population in Australia by enabling them to remain at home longer, by easing the strain on the national healthcare system and providing cost effective solutions to meet the needs of the growing number of elderly Australians.

9 Mar 2011

Henry Schein MicroMD EMR Version 7.5 attains ONC-ATCB Complete EHR certification status

Henry Schein MicroMD, a provider of proven and cost-effective practice management and electronic medical records systems, announced today that its MicroMD EMR Version 7.5 achieved ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 Complete EHR Certification, and can help health care providers using Electronic Health Record technology meet the requirements needed to receive financial incentives earmarked under President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

8 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 8, 2011

In today's headlines, news about ongoing budget discussions and how issues like Medicare spending and the health law fit into them as well as reports about the growing interest in replacing the current chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

8 Mar 2011

Vertos reports long-term safety and efficacy of mild in patients with LSS

Medical device company Vertos Medical Inc. has announced the release of clinical study data demonstrating the long-term safety and efficacy of mild as well as its superior durability over epidural steroid injections for treating lumbar spinal stenosis.

8 Mar 2011

PHS announces result of OSHPD data on malnutrition rates at all of state's hospitals

Prime Healthcare Services, California's leading healthcare provider and one of the nation's top for-profit healthcare systems, today announced the result of a detailed review of California's 2009 Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development Data on malnutrition rates at all of the state's hospitals.

8 Mar 2011

Post-discharge calls to patients help reduce 30-day readmissions, improve satisfaction

A recent study shows that post-discharge calls to patients help reduce 30-day readmissions and improve patient satisfaction. The yearlong study, conducted by Beryl, a technology-focused patient experience services company dedicated to improving relationships between healthcare providers and consumers, included data from four hospitals using Beryl's Post-Discharge Services to provide follow-up calls and monitor results.

8 Mar 2011