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GOP focuses health law attacks during two House hearings

The hearings represent the first of what will likely be a long list of hearings and new legislation designed to question and denounce the new health law. With the measure in the spotlight, the debate surrounding its fiscal impact also is a "hot topic." Meanwhile, some Democrats who last year opposed the health overhaul are starting to find value in it.

27 Jan 2011

Despite reimbursement cuts the diagnostic imaging market to grow at 5% over next five years: MRG

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, although the overall diagnostic imaging market has been limited by reimbursement cuts and poor economic conditions, the next five years will see unit growth of approximately 5%.

27 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 27, 2011

In today's headlines, a range of health policy news -- including House hearings advanced by the GOP to further their repeal efforts and more reports about the budget deficit.

27 Jan 2011

'Alzheimer's has the power to bring the country to its financial knees'

Starting this year, more than 10,000 baby boomers a day will turn 65. As these baby boomers age, one of out of eight of them will develop Alzheimer's – a devastating, costly, heartbreaking disease. Increasingly for these Baby Boomers, it will no longer be their grandparents and parents who have Alzheimer's – it will be them.

27 Jan 2011

Roundup: Calif. regulator gets emergency approval to oversee insurance spending; Ariz. seeks Medicaid waiver

Governors have deep differences over national health care reform, but when it comes to so-called insurance exchanges — a centerpiece of the sprawling new federal law — nearly every state is moving ahead with implementation.

27 Jan 2011

First-ever list of America's Top 50 Cities for Hospital Care

Responding to consumers' concerns about the quality of hospital care in their communities, HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent health care ratings organization, today released the first-ever list of America's Top 50 Cities for Hospital Care. The rankings are based on a comprehensive study of patient death and complication rates at the nation's nearly 5,000 hospitals.

27 Jan 2011

State of the Union address includes brief, but clear, defense of health law

President Barack Obama made clear that he is willing to tinker around the edges of the sweeping reform, but not return to the days before the measure became law. Media outlets analyzed the specifics of his comments and offered a big picture view of the impact of the entire speech, including fact-checking some of his related policy ideas and budget recommendations.

27 Jan 2011

The Wall Street Journal takes legal action to open Medicare database

The publisher of The Wall Street Journal filed suit Tuesday to overturn a decades-long court order barring public access to a confidential Medicare database it says is essential to rooting out fraud and abuse in the government health-care program.

27 Jan 2011

Stakeholders, GOP lawmakers focus efforts against Medicare spending panel

News outlets report on how the health law's Independent Payment Advisory Board is the focus of negative attention from numerous vantage points.

27 Jan 2011

Teva announces acquisition of Corporación Infarmasa

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today the acquisition of Corporación Infarmasa, a top ten pharmaceutical company in Perú, from The Rohatyn Group and Altra Investments.

27 Jan 2011

Teva, APP enter agreement for launch of generic Gemzar

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the commercial launch of Gemcitabine HCI for Injection in 200 mg and 1 g single dose vials, the generic version of Gemzar®, in the United States, pursuant to a commercialization, manufacture and supply agreement signed by the two companies.

26 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Trying to regulate insurance premium rates, fighting Medicare fraud

Big, powerful industries facing tougher government oversight — the health insurance industry, say — know that the legislative battle in Congress or state capitals is just the first skirmish. The more important fight is over the regulations that implement legislative policies (Michael Hiltzik, 1/25).

26 Jan 2011

Medica Health Plans grants $6.5 million to Research Institute

The Medica Research Institute has received a contribution from Medica Health Plans in the amount of $6.5 million. This contribution will be used by the Research Institute to further its mission.

26 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 26, 2011

Reporting for KHN, in collaboration with Politico, Bara Vaida writes: "Lobbyists for doctors, hospitals and drug companies are urging lawmakers to derail a planned government panel that health industry officials fear will sharply curb Medicare spending -- a critical revenue source for them".

26 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 25, 2011

Today's health policy headlines include speculation about what President Barack Obama will say during tonight's State of The Union address and how the GOP will respond to it.

25 Jan 2011

EDIWatch enters 3-year contract with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System

EDIWatch, Inc., a leading provider of anti-fraud solutions to the healthcare industry and The Arizona Medicaid Agency, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Office of Inspector General are pleased to announce the signing of a three-year contract. The contract will provide a software system that will enable investigators and auditors to analyze detailed claims in order to spotlight patterns of suspicious behavior.

25 Jan 2011

APIC announces initiative to eliminate central line-associated bloodstream infections

The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology today announced a major initiative to eliminate one of the most preventable and deadly infections that patients can acquire in healthcare facilities: central line-associated bloodstream infections, which kill 30,000 people in the U.S. every year.

25 Jan 2011

Government's health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recover over $4 billion in FY 2010

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli today announced a new report showing that the government's health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.

25 Jan 2011

Octapharma supports development of 'Diagnosis and Management of von Willebrand Disease' CE supplement

An unrestricted grant from Octapharma USA supported the development of a Continuing Education (CE) initiative entitled the "The Diagnosis and Management of von Willebrand Disease," a program of the National Home Infusion Association (NHIA).

25 Jan 2011

PPACA positively affects PA profession in many ways

The American Academy of Physician Assistants supports the many provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that offer tremendous promise in improving health care for all Americans.

25 Jan 2011