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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

UT Southwestern to register intent to achieve 'meaningful use' of EHRs

As the first major medical center in North Texas to implement electronic medical records in all its clinical practice groups, UT Southwestern Medical Center today applauded the government's initiative to get hospitals and health care providers across the nation to embrace new health care technology. The medical center said it will achieve the goal of "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHR) and register for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

14 Jan 2011

Baylor Health Care System to implement standardized, certified EHR

Baylor Health Care System is today announcing its intent to continue to improve the quality of patient care in North Texas through the implementation of the electronic health record (EHR) across the health care system. It is one of thousands of hospitals and eligible professionals across the country officially registering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to demonstrate its commitment to achieve "meaningful use" of EHRs.

14 Jan 2011

65% of Americans oppose Medicaid cuts

Coming on the heels of a major research report finding that long term care is paid less on an hourly basis than the national minimum wage, a new nationwide poll shows that 65 percent of Americans would oppose further cuts to funding for long term care.

14 Jan 2011

Exploring the health overhaul's business opportunities

News outlets report on efforts to capitalize on health reform's new business opportunities.

14 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Health law repeal; Individual mandate; Essential benefits package; Arizona transplant program

If the government fails, then costs will rise inexorably. Nothing in the law guarantees success: The law embodies almost every idea anyone has offered and hopes a couple of them will work.

14 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 13, 2011

Today's headlines feature reports about how House GOP leaders -- in the aftermath of last weekend's Tucson, Ariz., tradgedy -- are wrestling with how best to retool their health repeal effort and bring the measure forward for a vote.

13 Jan 2011

Study highlights states with largest aggregate Medicaid underfunding

A new study released today finds that Medicaid programs in states across the country underfunded nursing facility care by $5.6 billion in 2010, paying on average $7.17 per hour per patient, less than the nation's current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.

13 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Insurance rate increases; High risk pools; Mental health funding

In another sign of dysfunction in the U.S. healthcare system, Blue Shield of California has levied three rate increases in rapid succession that could raise some premiums as much as 59%. New state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has said he plans to scrutinize the increases, and that's a good thing, given that Anthem Blue Cross sought a huge increase in premiums last year based on faulty math. But Blue Shield's request also highlights why the country should stay the course on healthcare reform (1/12).

13 Jan 2011

Roundup: Penn. and Conn. insurance issues; MD. hospital's uncompensated care; Calif. budget

Pennsylvania's subsidized health insurance for low-income working people will likely end next month, officials on Gov.-elect Tom Corbett's transition team said Tuesday, leaving more than 40,000 people with less palatable options and dashing the hopes of more than 400,000 on the waiting list.

13 Jan 2011

K-V Pharmaceutical provides update on FDA review of NDA for Gestiva

K-V Pharmaceutical Company today issued an update on the status of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's review of Hologic, Inc.'s New Drug Application for Gestiva as a treatment for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a singleton pregnancy who have a history of singleton spontaneous preterm birth.

12 Jan 2011

HP awarded $30 million contract to create Texas Medicaid health information exchange

HP today announced a 52-month services agreement with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to create a statewide Medicaid health information exchange.

12 Jan 2011

Study: 23% of doctors have negative perceptions on quality, effectiveness of generic drugs

A new study by researchers at Harvard, Brigham and Women's Hospital and CVS Caremark finds that 23 percent of doctors' have negative perceptions of the effectiveness and quality of generic drugs and that may lead to doctors prescribing unnecessarily expensive medications.

12 Jan 2011

Coventry Health Care offers new medicare plans for employer group

Coventry Health Care of Florida is first to the greater Tampa market with a portfolio of hybrid PPO health care plans that blend the best features of traditional co-pay based plans with the freedom and affordability of consumer-directed plans.

12 Jan 2011

Medicare News and Research

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

UT Southwestern to register intent to achieve 'meaningful use' of EHRs

Baylor Health Care System to implement standardized, certified EHR

65% of Americans oppose Medicaid cuts

Exploring the health overhaul's business opportunities

Viewpoints: Health law repeal; Individual mandate; Essential benefits package; Arizona transplant program

First Edition: January 13, 2011

Study highlights states with largest aggregate Medicaid underfunding

Viewpoints: Insurance rate increases; High risk pools; Mental health funding

Roundup: Penn. and Conn. insurance issues; MD. hospital's uncompensated care; Calif. budget

K-V Pharmaceutical provides update on FDA review of NDA for Gestiva

HP awarded $30 million contract to create Texas Medicaid health information exchange

Study: 23% of doctors have negative perceptions on quality, effectiveness of generic drugs

Coventry Health Care offers new medicare plans for employer group

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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