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Opinions: U.S. foreign aid; Polio eradication

"Over the past few weeks, I've had a chance to interview some amazing people," ranging from Bill Gates to scientists and teachers, who are all concerned about impending budget cuts, the New York Times' David Brooks writes in a column. Brooks explains that the "coming budget cuts have nothing to do with merit. They have to do with the inexorable logic of mathematics."

14 Feb 2011

Proposed health reforms need to be ironed out

There are new questions over the detail of Julia Gillard's $16.4 billion health reform package. According to West Australian Premier Colin Barnett the introduction of an activity based funding system through a national pool by mid next year was achievable, but stressed it needed to be “well understood and easy to administer”.

13 Feb 2011

CMS chief testifies at Ways and Means Committee, stays cool despite grilling

The tense, heated hearing was the first opportunity for the House to question Berwick since July, when he was recess-appointed to his post as head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Haberkorn and Coughlin, 2/10).

11 Feb 2011

Voices from the right offer views on health law repeal, political strategies

News organizations examine how recent court rulings and other matters of constitutional law are transforming the "tea party" movement into a force "attempting to shape national party." Meanwhile, strategies abound in how best to advance the repeal effort, and Mitt Romney tries to differentiate Massachusetts' health law from the federal overhaul.

11 Feb 2011

AHRQ: $25.3 billion spent for kidney disease treatment every year

Overall, an average of 3.7 million adults in the United States were treated for kidney disease each year between 2003 and 2007, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Kidney disease can lead to renal failure and may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

11 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 11, 2011

Today's health policy headlines highlight various aspects of the policies and politics involved in the health law mix.

11 Feb 2011

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

When U.S. District Court judge Roger Vinson struck down President Obama's health care program as unconstitutional, the White House declared the decision an "outlier." It was anything but that. The ruling on January 31 was in harmony with limits the Supreme Court has imposed on the use of the Constitution's commerce clause to justify far-reaching legislation by Congress.

11 Feb 2011

GOP Reps. grill CMS Chief Berwick about health reform law, earlier remarks on British system

Republicans on the US House Committee on Ways and Means this morning pounded Donald Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on the effects of the new health care law on seniors, and Berwick's past statements in praise of the publicly-funded British health care system.

11 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Sebelius on empowering states; NY Times on insurance mandate; WSJ on 'next repeal target'

As governor of Kansas, I saw up close the urgent need for health-care reform. I heard it when factory owners told me their biggest concern was not manufacturing costs but rising insurance premiums, and when families said they felt like hostages to insurance companies that could deny or cancel coverage with little accountability.

11 Feb 2011

Analyst offers prediction about Medicare advantage plans

Initial 2012 reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage plans should be roughly flat, which tops the consensus expectation of a 2 percent drop, according to Citi analyst Carl McDonald. McDonald said Tuesday in a research note the rates will be hurt by cuts from the health care overhaul, but he also thinks they will benefit from an adjustment to prior estimates.

10 Feb 2011

NeoGenomics fourth quarter revenue increases 12% to $8.8 million

NeoGenomics, Inc., a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services, today reported its results for the fourth quarter 2010 and fiscal year ended December 31, 2010.

10 Feb 2011

Edward Hospital joins Premier healthcare alliance and saves $1,053,000

Edward Hospital & Health Services has saved more than $1 million by joining the Premier healthcare alliance. The full-service, regional healthcare provider based in Naperville, Ill., is also participating in programs to provide high-quality, cost-effective care.

10 Feb 2011

International Stroke Conference: News releases and news tips

Government researcher receives top honor, five others recognized at stroke conference

10 Feb 2011

State and federal efforts to monitor drug prescriptions and payments face challenges

The Center For Public Integrity reports on the challenges Medicare faces in trying to ensure that prescription drugs paid for by its contracting health plans are actually prescribed by doctors. Meanwhile, The Miami Herald chronicles the latest chapter in the ongoing story about the state's pill mills.

10 Feb 2011

US District Court rules in favor of Watson in generic Mucinex patent infringement suit

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today that the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida has ruled that Watson's generic versions of Mucinex®, Mucinex® D and Mucinex® DM (Guaifenesin, Dextromethorphan HBr/ Guaifenesin, and Pseudoephedrine/Guaifenesin) Extended-Release products, do not infringe U.S. Patent No. 6,372,252.

10 Feb 2011

State progress on health law implementation follows varying paths; Meanwhile, ACOs, waiver processes grab headlines

Media outlets report on a variety of implementation issues, including anti-trust concerns related to accountable care organizations as well as questions about the reform waiver process and a House committee chairman's efforts to reverse Medicare advantage cuts.

10 Feb 2011

BD and UCLB enter agreement for development of new diagnostics for ovarian, breast cancer

UCL Business (UCLB), a wholly owned subsidiary of University College London (UCL), and BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, announced today an agreement aimed at improving the early detection of ovarian and breast cancers to ultimately enable earlier and more effective treatment.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 10 Feb 2011

New low-cost Medicare Supplement insurance policy is now available for Georgia seniors

A new low-cost Medicare Supplement insurance policy is now approved for sale to seniors in Georgia. The Georgia Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commission has approved a very low-cost Medicare Supplement insurance plan for seniors and Georgia is among the first states in the nation to allow this supplemental insurance plan to be offered to its citizens.

10 Feb 2011

Opinions: Polio vaccines; Alternatives to DDT, insecticides; Food price volatility; Global poverty; Foreign aid for vaccines

"No one denies" that the oral polio vaccine "has considerable merits. It's cheap to make. It's easy to administer; you don't need a trained nurse with a clean syringe [like the inactive vaccine needs], just a volunteer with a dropper. And it gives excellent immunity. ... But there are problems with the method," Wendy Orent, author of the book Plague: The Mysterious Past and Terrifying Future of the World's Most Dangerous Disease, writes in a Los Angeles Times opinion piece.

10 Feb 2011

Teva reports positive results from QNAZE Phase III perennial allergic rhinitis trial

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced results from a Phase III study of QNAZE™ (beclomethasone dipropionate [BDP]) HFA, its nasal aerosol corticosteroid in development for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) and seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).

10 Feb 2011

Medicare News and Research

Opinions: U.S. foreign aid; Polio eradication

Proposed health reforms need to be ironed out

CMS chief testifies at Ways and Means Committee, stays cool despite grilling

Voices from the right offer views on health law repeal, political strategies

AHRQ: $25.3 billion spent for kidney disease treatment every year

First Edition: February 11, 2011

Longer looks: KHN's best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

GOP Reps. grill CMS Chief Berwick about health reform law, earlier remarks on British system

Viewpoints: Sebelius on empowering states; NY Times on insurance mandate; WSJ on 'next repeal target'

Analyst offers prediction about Medicare advantage plans

NeoGenomics fourth quarter revenue increases 12% to $8.8 million

Edward Hospital joins Premier healthcare alliance and saves $1,053,000

International Stroke Conference: News releases and news tips

State and federal efforts to monitor drug prescriptions and payments face challenges

US District Court rules in favor of Watson in generic Mucinex patent infringement suit

State progress on health law implementation follows varying paths; Meanwhile, ACOs, waiver processes grab headlines

BD and UCLB enter agreement for development of new diagnostics for ovarian, breast cancer

New low-cost Medicare Supplement insurance policy is now available for Georgia seniors

Opinions: Polio vaccines; Alternatives to DDT, insecticides; Food price volatility; Global poverty; Foreign aid for vaccines

Teva reports positive results from QNAZE Phase III perennial allergic rhinitis trial

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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