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UnitedHealth Group reports net earnings of $4.10 per share for 2010

UnitedHealth Group today reported fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results, including strong revenue growth from both its Health Benefits and Health Services business platforms. Full year and fourth quarter 2010 net earnings were $4.10 per share and $0.94 per share, respectively.

20 Jan 2011

U.S. Physical Therapy launches Fit2WRK to provide solutions for prevention of injuries in workplace

U.S. Physical Therapy, a national operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics, announced that it has successfully launched a workers compensation and disability initiative called Fit2WRK. Fit2WRK provides an integrated solution for the management and prevention of injuries in the workplace.

20 Jan 2011

Party, policy leaders take key positions in fight over health overhaul's future

In a battle that has near- and long-term implications, party leaders flex their muscles. Meanwhile, centrists launch a new program to advance the development of state exchanges.

20 Jan 2011

Medicare's therapy policy under attack

Meanwhile, the AP reports on how some insurers are profiting from "playing the float."

20 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Sebelius and Vilsack on rural health; Many thoughts on repeal vote; State budget cuts

As former governors from the Heartland, we've seen firsthand how Americans in rural areas struggle to get the health care they need. Whether it's a farmer losing his health insurance because he has no good choices or a mom putting off a treatment because there aren't enough doctors nearby, rural Americans often go without critical preventive care or key procedures.

20 Jan 2011

Roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver?; 'Sweeping' Texas budget cuts; Wisconsin tort reform; Aspen's 'dismal' health coverage

The Legislature will meet in special session today to give Gov. Jan Brewer authority to seek a Medicaid waiver from the federal government, the first step to cutting health care for 280,000 Arizonans. Brewer and Republican lawmakers say the move is needed to balance the state budget and keep the rest of the state's Medicaid program intact.

20 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 19, 2011

Today's headlines and news coverage offer details about the House health law repeal debate, which started yesterday.

19 Jan 2011

Health care reform should mend disconnect between USPSTF recommendations and Medicare coverage

Health care reform should be able to mend a disconnect that has existed between the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a task force charged by the government to review clinical preventive health services for older adults, and Medicare coverage for those services, a new UCLA-led study finds.

19 Jan 2011

House vote on health repeal the first step in GOP re-do strategy

The politically charged Wednesday vote on repealing the health overhaul will mark the first step for Republicans in their effort to use a variety of legislative tools to undo the new federal health law. Meanwhile, almost immediately after the vote, House committees will begin considering targeted parts of health law. But some news outlets check the facts regarding a key part of the GOP argument against the measure — that it is a job killer.

18 Jan 2011

Few opt for vaccine to prevent painful shingles, NPR reports

[T]he fact is only about 10% of the 50 million people who should get the vaccine actually have. … The vaccine is expensive — $160 a shot, plus an administration fee.

18 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Next step after health law repeal effort; Refuting 'job-killing' claims; Mental health care

The continuing resolution that extended funding for the federal government until Mar. 4 gives us an opportunity to include language in the appropriations that fund the rest of this fiscal year — and must be passed to avoid a government shutdown. The language would prohibit any funds from being used to implement or enforce Obamacare (Rep. Steve King, 1/18).

18 Jan 2011

Liberator Medical 2010 net revenues increase 58.5% to $40,919,000

Liberator Medical Holdings, Inc. announced net revenues for fiscal year 2010 of $40,919,000, an increase of $15,101,000, or 58.5%, compared with fiscal year 2009. The increase in sales was primarily due to the Company's continued emphasis on its direct response advertising campaign. Liberator's direct response advertising expenditures for fiscal year 2010 increased by $6,617,000, or 157.9%, to $10,808,000, compared with fiscal year 2009.

18 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 18, 2011

Today's headlines feature reports about the upcoming repeal vote in the House as well as news about a government report that attempts to quantify the number of Americans who have preexisting conditions.

18 Jan 2011

USPSTF recommends women of ages 65 and above to routinely screen for osteoporosis

In an update to its 2002 recommendation, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends that all women ages 65 and older be routinely screened for osteoporosis.

18 Jan 2011

Australian rural healthcare ailing with lack of funds: Report

The latest data shows that Medicare paid out at least $670 million less in rural Australia in 2006-07 for GP and other primary health services than it has done for the cities. A total of at least $2.1 billion every year is short in the public health expenditure for rural regions compared to cities. Also there is a $500 million underspend in rural areas on the PBS, and at least a $1 billion shortfall on dental and allied health.

17 Jan 2011

Research roundup: Racial disparities in cancer and other care, nursing home closures, extending drugmakers' exclusivity

Journal of the National Cancer Institute: Projections Of The Cost Of Cancer Care In The United States: 2010-2020 - "By combining cancer prevalence with average annual costs of cancer care by phase of care and tumor site for 13 cancers in men and 16 cancers in women" and "all cancer sites combined," the authors project there will be just over 18 million cancer survivors in 2020 compared to 13.8 million survivors in 2010.

14 Jan 2011

Detroit hospital system to spend $30 million on facility improvements

In other hospital-related news, Bloomberg reports that the hospital where Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., is being treated has sued the federal government over Medicare payments and medical residency slots. KHN has a story on efforts to curb hospital ER crowding.

14 Jan 2011

Medicare advisory panel urges co-pay for home health visits

The Medicare Payment Advisory Panel recommended this policy as a means to discourage overuse of home health services, which are estimated to cost taxpayers nearly $20 billion a year and are also a source of health care fraud. Meanwhile, another story, this one from WBUR, offers tips for Medicare "wellness" visits.

14 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Ariz. shooting and mental health care; Republicans' reform agenda; Calif. insurance hikes

Democrats can do their part by resolving not to thwart everything that the Republican majority wants to accomplish, but rather by looking for opportunities to work with the opposing party for the good of the country. ... Republicans can reciprocate by not repeating a costly mistake that Obama made when he first took office and rushing into the health care debate when the country wanted him to focus on jobs, jobs and jobs (Ruben Navarrette Jr., 1/13).

14 Jan 2011

F.N.B. Capital closes $5.0MM funding for Celtic Healthcare

F.N.B. Capital Corporation, LLC, a Pittsburgh-based merchant banking subsidiary of F.N.B. Corporation, today announced the closing of $5.0MM in funding for Celtic Healthcare, Inc., based in Mars, Pennsylvania. Celtic Healthcare is a leading regional full-continuum home healthcare and hospice services provider.

14 Jan 2011

Medicare News and Research

UnitedHealth Group reports net earnings of $4.10 per share for 2010

U.S. Physical Therapy launches Fit2WRK to provide solutions for prevention of injuries in workplace

Party, policy leaders take key positions in fight over health overhaul's future

Medicare's therapy policy under attack

Viewpoints: Sebelius and Vilsack on rural health; Many thoughts on repeal vote; State budget cuts

Roundup: Arizona Medicaid waiver?; 'Sweeping' Texas budget cuts; Wisconsin tort reform; Aspen's 'dismal' health coverage

First Edition: January 19, 2011

Health care reform should mend disconnect between USPSTF recommendations and Medicare coverage

House vote on health repeal the first step in GOP re-do strategy

Few opt for vaccine to prevent painful shingles, NPR reports

Viewpoints: Next step after health law repeal effort; Refuting 'job-killing' claims; Mental health care

Liberator Medical 2010 net revenues increase 58.5% to $40,919,000

First Edition: January 18, 2011

USPSTF recommends women of ages 65 and above to routinely screen for osteoporosis

Australian rural healthcare ailing with lack of funds: Report

Research roundup: Racial disparities in cancer and other care, nursing home closures, extending drugmakers' exclusivity

Detroit hospital system to spend $30 million on facility improvements

Medicare advisory panel urges co-pay for home health visits

Viewpoints: Ariz. shooting and mental health care; Republicans' reform agenda; Calif. insurance hikes

F.N.B. Capital closes $5.0MM funding for Celtic Healthcare

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