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Justice Dept. sues Guidant over 'faulty' heart devices

The suit alleges that Guidant, a subsidiary of Boston Scientific Corp., knowingly sold defective defibrillators.

29 Jan 2011

Budget woes lead states to seek ways to ease Medicaid's requirements

While The Hill reports that CMS administrator Donald Berwick says his agency is trying to help states find solutions, National Journal notes that mounting budgetary pressure has put the program in "dire fiscal straits."

29 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 28, 2011

Today's headlines include reports that President Obama is expected to really the health reform troops in a speech today.

28 Jan 2011

PHM updates customer pipeline for investors and research analysts

Patient Home Monitoring, a company focused on in-home cardiology healthcare services, today announced an update to their customer pipeline. Ed Berenblum, CEO of PHM, will be conducting meetings in and around Toronto to provide an update to investors and research analysts.

28 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Is Obama abandoning his health victory?

Did Obama say enough about health care reform last night? I suppose I'm one of the very few people who would even ask that question. Most Americans would probably think, "More health care? Lord no." And I think Obama and his speechwriters sensed as much. Although his defense of the Affordable Care Act was clear -- he's not going to sign a bill repealing the law -- it was also short. That portion of the speech was just two brief paragraphs, by my count (Jonathan Cohn, 1/26).

28 Jan 2011

White House renominates Berwick as Medicare chief

Six months after installing Dr. Don Berwick to direct the Center of Medicare & Medicaid Services with a recess appointment, the Obama administration has renominated him.

28 Jan 2011

CBO projections, deficit reduction talk causes Medicare nerves

The need to take steps to reduce the federal deficit is leading some to experience "Medicare jitters."

28 Jan 2011

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