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Risk pools, drug prices and other issues in health law implementation

A health law program that directs $5 billion for coverage of otherwise uninsurable people through state-run high-risk insurance pools has attracted only 8,011 people according to health department enrollment figures, The New York Times reports. That's a paucity compared to the hundreds of thousands of people government actuaries predicted would flock to the program causing it to run out of money too early.

8 Nov 2010

Sandata announces patent for new caregiver location monitoring solution

Sandata Technologies, LLC, a leading national provider of information technology solutions to the home healthcare industry, today announced that on November 16, 2010, the US Patent and Trademark Office will issue US Patent Number 7835955, "Time and/or Attendance System Using Synchronized Code," an innovative new caregiver location monitoring solution aimed at reducing home healthcare fraud and abuse.

8 Nov 2010

Medicaid pooled trusts keep seniors out of nursing homes

The New York Times reports on Medicaid pooled trusts: "[T]here is a little-known way for some people in certain states to receive home care through Medicaid, without requiring them to impoverish themselves first. Here's how it works: a federal law established in 1993 allows disabled people to put their monthly income or assets — above the amounts Medicaid allows them to keep — into a special type of pooled trust.

8 Nov 2010

Home health, other Medicare providers face pay cuts

Home health providers face Medicare payment cuts next year. Gentiva Health Services and Amedisys are among the providers of at-home health care to receive lower Medicare payments next year under U.S. government changes to the program.

8 Nov 2010

AHRQ grants $34 million to prevent healthcare-associated infections

HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality today announced the award of $34 million for projects focused on preventing one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States - healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This new funding will help improve the quality of care delivered to patients and expand the fight against HAIs in hospitals, ambulatory care settings, end-stage renal disease facilities and long-term care facilities.

8 Nov 2010

What's next for health law? Repeal efforts, 'compromise,' congressional conflict

Health on the Hill features Mary Agnes Carey and Marilyn Werber Serafini talking about the GOP gains, what they mean for state implementation to health reform and what possibilities there are for major changes being made to the health law.

8 Nov 2010

Research Roundup: Basing insurance on results, not cost; Americans skeptical of public health efforts; seniors' comprehensive care

Copayment Reductions Generate Greater Medication Adherence In Targeted Patients. As health care costs have increased, some patients have sought to save money by cutting down on their medications.

8 Nov 2010

GE Healthcare to commence cash tender offer to acquire Clarient

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company today will commence a cash tender offer to purchase all outstanding shares of common and preferred stock of Clarient, Inc. through a wholly owned subsidiary of GE, Crane Merger Sub, Inc.

7 Nov 2010

Mass. focuses on containing health care costs, Gov. Schwarzenegger seeks to expand coverage of uninsured in Calif.

While the White House seems destined to spend the next two years fending off attacks on President Obama's health care law, the administration of Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will push forward with the next stage of health care overhaul: trying to contain the escalating costs of medical care.

7 Nov 2010

Watson third quarter net revenue increases 33% to $882.4 million

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported net revenue grew 33 percent for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010 to $882.4 million, compared to $662.1 million in the third quarter 2009. On an adjusted cash basis, net income increased 18 percent to $105.9 million or $0.85 per share, compared to $90.0 million or $0.78 per share in the third quarter 2009.

4 Nov 2010

DJOFL third quarter net sales decrease to $233.6 million

DJO Incorporated, a global provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced financial results for its operating subsidiary, DJO Finance LLC ("DJOFL"), for the third quarter of 2010, ended October 2, 2010.

4 Nov 2010

Most kidney care providers opt to participate in new Medicare 'bundled' payment system: Study

The Kidney Care Council (KCC), a nonprofit national health care association composed of leading kidney dialysis provider companies who care for a majority of ESRD patients nationwide, released new data today revealing that 98 percent of kidney care providers participating in a recent study have opted to participate in the new Medicare "bundled" payment system in January 2011, more than twice the rate originally anticipated.

4 Nov 2010

SandlotConnect attains 1.5 million patient records to provide HIE in Texas

Sandlot, LLC, a healthcare IT solutions company founded by practicing physicians who have pursued a better way to collectively share clinical information, announced that its comprehensive health information exchange (HIE) SandlotConnect now contains more than 1.5 million patient records, allowing providers to access and contribute to the largest HIE in Texas.

4 Nov 2010

Patient share of Actemra for RA to exceed patient share for Cimzia and Simponi, says Report

Bio-Trends is pleased to announce the publication of a new syndicated report, TreatmentTrends®: Rheumatoid Arthritis Q3 2010. This report covers the use of biologics for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The report, part of a quarterly series, focuses on current and future use of biologic agents, patient market share, perceived strengths and weaknesses of the key brands, barriers to broader usage, sales force performance and perceived value of manufacturers' patient assistance programs.

4 Nov 2010

Picis introduces charge capture solution for oncology treatment centers

Picis today introduced LYNX I/Point, a charge capture solution designed specifically for hospital-owned infusion and oncology treatment centers - where therapies are very expensive and accurately charging for services can be challenging.

4 Nov 2010

CMS establishes new national reimbursement rate for technical component of mobile cardiovascular telemetry

CardioNet, Inc., a leading wireless medical technology company with a current focus on the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias, announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") has established a national rate in The Medicare Program Final Rule for the technical component of mobile cardiovascular telemetry (CPT Code 93229).

4 Nov 2010

AAPC launches beta version of Health Plan Policy Search Tool

AAPC has launched the beta version of its Health Plan Policy Search Tool giving providers access to more than 500 local and national health plans. This online search tool retrieves provider manuals, policies, physician credentialing and Medicare/Medicaid eligibility through an easy to use online tool. Users can now quickly find vital information instead of spending hours searching for the same information on each health plans website.

4 Nov 2010

Medicare reimbursement cuts lead to decline in unnecessary or inappropriate care

When Medicare policy changes led to reductions in reimbursement for hormonal treatment of prostate cancer, there was a sharp decline in its use among patients not likely to benefit from the treatment. But among patients for whom the therapy is clearly beneficial, doctors continued to prescribe it at the same rate, according to a new study.

4 Nov 2010

Omega third quarter net income decreases from $21.1 million to $17.0 million

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. today announced its results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

4 Nov 2010

Doctor payment rates cut again under new Medicare rules

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services posted final Medicare payment rules Tuesday that include a cut in physician reimbursement rates.

4 Nov 2010

Medicare News and Research

Risk pools, drug prices and other issues in health law implementation

Sandata announces patent for new caregiver location monitoring solution

Medicaid pooled trusts keep seniors out of nursing homes

Home health, other Medicare providers face pay cuts

AHRQ grants $34 million to prevent healthcare-associated infections

What's next for health law? Repeal efforts, 'compromise,' congressional conflict

Research Roundup: Basing insurance on results, not cost; Americans skeptical of public health efforts; seniors' comprehensive care

GE Healthcare to commence cash tender offer to acquire Clarient

Mass. focuses on containing health care costs, Gov. Schwarzenegger seeks to expand coverage of uninsured in Calif.

Watson third quarter net revenue increases 33% to $882.4 million

DJOFL third quarter net sales decrease to $233.6 million

Most kidney care providers opt to participate in new Medicare 'bundled' payment system: Study

SandlotConnect attains 1.5 million patient records to provide HIE in Texas

Patient share of Actemra for RA to exceed patient share for Cimzia and Simponi, says Report

Picis introduces charge capture solution for oncology treatment centers

CMS establishes new national reimbursement rate for technical component of mobile cardiovascular telemetry

AAPC launches beta version of Health Plan Policy Search Tool

Medicare reimbursement cuts lead to decline in unnecessary or inappropriate care

Omega third quarter net income decreases from $21.1 million to $17.0 million

Doctor payment rates cut again under new Medicare rules

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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