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Cambridge Heart completes private placement

Cambridge Heart, Inc., developer of non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, today announced that on December 20, 2010 it completed a private placement to accredited investors. The transaction raised gross proceeds of $2.9 million and consisted of Units that were comprised of one share of common stock and a warrant to purchase one share of common stock.

21 Dec 2010

Survey shows 81% of seniors think Congress may not find solution for physician payments for Medicare

An independent survey of 441 seniors 65 years old and up revealed that 81% do not think Congress will find a long-term solution for physician payments for Medicare in 2011. Further, 89% surveyed believe doctors will stop accepting Medicare patients if a planned 23% cut in Medicare reimbursements for physicians services that was scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2011 is implemented.

21 Dec 2010

Group buy program helps hospitals save $81 million

Over the past year, 1,220 hospitals participating in the Premier healthcare alliance's group buy program have identified $81 million in savings through access to high-quality products at low costs.

21 Dec 2010

Priority Health launches health insurance plans for Michigan residents

Priority Health has launched MyPriority, a package of health insurance plans for individuals and families throughout Michigan. The plans feature comprehensive coverage for prevention services and are designed specifically for individuals ages 18 to 64 who are looking to purchase affordable health insurance.

21 Dec 2010

Pennsylvania's Medicaid program error rate less than half the national average, feds say

A new federal report finds Pennsylvania's Medicaid program has an error rate that is less than half the national average and well below estimates claimed in state-level audits, Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today.

21 Dec 2010

Dey Pharma settles U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit

Dey Pharma L.P. today announced that it has settled a lawsuit brought against it by the U.S. Department of Justice in September 2006 pertaining to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements paid by the federal government to pharmacists and other healthcare providers. In exchange for a release of claims, Dey has agreed to pay $280 million.

21 Dec 2010

Congressional battle lines emerge over spending issues; Backers continue to press 9/11 health bill

On Capitol Hill, the lines are being drawn surrounding spending issues, and funding for the Obama administration's health law will be a flashpoint in the battle. Meanwhile, congressional backers of the 9/11 health bill continue to press ahead. And in action late on Sunday the Senate gives the nod to the food safety bill.

20 Dec 2010

Requirements set for grant program to inform seniors about new health law provisions

The CMS has announced new requirements for state health insurance assistance program, or SHIP, grants to help make Medicare beneficiaries aware about certain provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

20 Dec 2010

WSJ: Top spine surgeons reap royalties, Medicare bounty

The Wall Street Journal examines how the relationship between some doctors and device makers leads to big payments — often from Medicare. Meanwhile, ProPublica explores other conflict of interest issues.

20 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 20, 2010

Today's headlines include more analysis on the continuing legal challenges to the health law and the path they might take to the Supreme Court.

20 Dec 2010

Participants in CMS, Premier healthcare alliance HQID VBP project raise quality by 18.3%

With value-based purchasing (VBP) now law under health reform, hospitals participating in the nation's largest hospital VBP demonstration are providing lessons learned that can help others save lives and better craft rules to govern the new program.

20 Dec 2010

Health Care at Home: Trends and issues

Leaders in the nation's Health Care at Home movement outlined trends and issues during a webinar for physicians across the country today. The webinar, "Why Health Care is Going Home," offered industry insights and detailed the reasons why home care will play a major role in the future of health care in America.

20 Dec 2010

Medicare bonus payment pilot program also a test for ACOs

Half of 10 physician groups testing Medicare bonus payments for quality and spending control earned payouts during the fourth year of the five-year experiment, the CMS has announced. Bonuses, which totaled $31.7 million for the fourth year, are based on how much physician groups save Medicare and how well doctors perform on measures of quality.

20 Dec 2010

Research roundup: Gender differences in health spending; How the states could fare under the new law; Increased Medicare premiums

Health Affairs: Pronounced Gender And Age Differences Are Evident In Personal Health Care Spending Per Person - This paper examines health care spending by men and women in 2004, including comparisons "by age group, goods and services consumed, and payers, and an analysis of some of the most frequently cited health conditions and treatments associated with that spending."

20 Dec 2010

Today's Opinions: Cucinelli argues for quickly moving Va. case to the Supreme Court; Unraveling Medicaid leaves a big gap; Taking away a cancer treatment

It's hard not to laugh at the cries over the "injustice" of forcing people to buy coverage. Working Americans are already forced to buy health coverage - but for others. They can't choose not to pay the Medicare payroll tax. They can't even make a deal with the government, promising, "I will forgo all future Medicare benefits if I can be freed from the Medicare payroll tax" (Froma Harrop, 12/16).

17 Dec 2010

GE Healthcare announces expiration of initial offering period for Clarient stock

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company today announced the expiration of the initial offering period of the previously announced tender offer by GE's wholly owned subsidiary, Crane Merger Sub, Inc., for all outstanding shares of common and preferred stock of Clarient, Inc. at a price of $5.00 in cash per common share and $20.00 in cash per preferred share.

17 Dec 2010

Home health, hospice patients need to have face-to-face encounter with physician: New Medicare rule

A new federal regulation issued by Medicare in November will create a crisis for approximately 4.5 million home health and hospice service patients. Starting on January 1, homebound elderly and disabled patients as well as hospice patients will now need to have a "face-to-face encounter" with a physician or nurse practitioner if they want to receive care under Medicare.

17 Dec 2010

ACP and AARP develop consumer-friendly guide about health care law in English and Spanish

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today made a guide to help inform consumers about the health care law available free for ordering and distribution. Consumer Guide to Understanding Health System Reform is an educational guide written in English and Spanish and organized in a way that clearly explains what the law has changed, why these changes were made and when the changes will take effect. It was developed by ACP and AARP, the country's largest consumer-representative organization.

17 Dec 2010

Study highlights death or rehospitalization rates for Medicare beneficiaries with ischemic stroke

Nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries discharged from hospitals after ischemic stroke die or are readmitted within one year, researchers report in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.

17 Dec 2010

Ischemic stroke patients at substantial risk once leaving the hospital: Study

A UCLA-led has study found that after leaving the hospital, nearly two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke either died or were rehospitalized within a year.

17 Dec 2010

Medicare News and Research

Cambridge Heart completes private placement

Survey shows 81% of seniors think Congress may not find solution for physician payments for Medicare

Group buy program helps hospitals save $81 million

Priority Health launches health insurance plans for Michigan residents

Pennsylvania's Medicaid program error rate less than half the national average, feds say

Dey Pharma settles U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit

Congressional battle lines emerge over spending issues; Backers continue to press 9/11 health bill

Requirements set for grant program to inform seniors about new health law provisions

WSJ: Top spine surgeons reap royalties, Medicare bounty

First Edition: December 20, 2010

Participants in CMS, Premier healthcare alliance HQID VBP project raise quality by 18.3%

Health Care at Home: Trends and issues

Medicare bonus payment pilot program also a test for ACOs

Research roundup: Gender differences in health spending; How the states could fare under the new law; Increased Medicare premiums

Today's Opinions: Cucinelli argues for quickly moving Va. case to the Supreme Court; Unraveling Medicaid leaves a big gap; Taking away a cancer treatment

GE Healthcare announces expiration of initial offering period for Clarient stock

Home health, hospice patients need to have face-to-face encounter with physician: New Medicare rule

ACP and AARP develop consumer-friendly guide about health care law in English and Spanish

Study highlights death or rehospitalization rates for Medicare beneficiaries with ischemic stroke

Ischemic stroke patients at substantial risk once leaving the hospital: Study

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