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Older adults with severe sepsis at higher risk for cognitive impairment

Older adults who survive severe sepsis are at higher risk for long-term cognitive impairment and physical limitations than those hospitalized for other reasons, according to researchers from the University of Michigan Health System.

27 Oct 2010

Some Hill races could hinge on seniors anger over Medicare

Reporting for Kaiser Health News in collaboration with USA Today, Marilyn Werber Serafini writes: "As emotions run high over the law, anger and fear about its impact on Medicare — whether founded or not — could be a deciding factor in some particularly close congressional races, especially in areas where there are large numbers of seniors, say political analysts such as Robert Blendon, professor of health policy and political analysis at the Harvard School of Public Health.

27 Oct 2010

IMRT reduces gastrointestinal complications in prostate cancer patients

Prostate cancer patients who receive intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) are less apt to suffer serious gastrointestinal complications following their treatment than those who receive three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (CRT), according to new research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

27 Oct 2010

Political picture still dreary for some Dems who backed health reform

National Journal: "Just over half of Americans likely to vote in next week's midterms want the next Congress to repeal this year's health care overhaul if Republicans gain power on Capitol Hill, according to a new poll, a dramatic rebuke to a sitting president and freshly minted statute.

27 Oct 2010

Physicians' efforts keep payments on Medicare database confidential

The Wall Street Journal mined a database with extensive information about tax payments that suggests fraud and discovered a New York City doctor who most likely took more than $2 million from Medicare. But the paper could not name her because of strict confidentiality requirements on physician reimbursements.

27 Oct 2010

Medicare growing fiscally unsustainable yet remains politically untouchable

Medicare, an indispensable safety net, is fiscally unsustainable in the long term, yet it may be politically untouchable, The Center for Public Integrity reports in the first of a multipart series.

27 Oct 2010

Doctors agree on need to change Medicare pay, but not how

Doctors widely believe that the Medicare payment system is unfair, but they disagree about how to fix it, according to a recent study, MedPage Today reports. "While physicians generally support changing how Medicare reimburses doctors, most don't support payment reforms that would reduce their own incomes, according to survey results published in the Oct. 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

27 Oct 2010

Health care angst keeps campaigns on edge in final week

Interest and anger about health care is fueling tension in political campaigns for offices ranging from insurance commissioner to U.S. senator.

27 Oct 2010

Medicare reimbursement changes increase demand for intermittent catheters

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, reimbursement changes have caused the demand for intermittent catheters to increase significantly. In April 2008, Medicare changed reimbursement to cover up to 200 catheters per month, instead of the previous 4 that it covered.

26 Oct 2010

ACS My Medicare Advocate helps retirees chart Medicare decision process

Retirees will find it easier than ever to navigate the often confusing maze of Medicare enrollment with the introduction of My Medicare Advocate by Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., A Xerox Company.

26 Oct 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb 2010 third quarter U.S. net sales increases 4% to $3.1 billion

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today reported results for the third quarter of 2010. Highlights in the quarter included: the presentation of new data on investigational compounds in the diabetes and cardiovascular disease franchises at major medical meetings; the completion of important regulatory milestones in the oncology, diabetes and immunoscience franchises; the acquisition of ZymoGenetics; and double-digit EPS growth. The company also confirmed guidance for 2010.

26 Oct 2010

Amedisys 2010 third quarter Net service revenue increases 4.2% to $404.7 million

Amedisys, Inc. a leading home health and hospice company, today reported its financial results for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2010.

26 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 26, 2010

In today's headlines, more reports from the campaign trail -- highlighting how tempers and politics continue to flare around health overhaul issues.

26 Oct 2010

Centene third quarter premium and service revenues increase 9.5% to $1.082 billion

Centene Corporation today announced net earnings from continuing operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, of $22.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share; $0.48 from operations excluding a $0.04 charge for net investment writedowns.

26 Oct 2010

Independent drugstores expand and generate strong profits despite worst economy

Amidst the worst economy of the past seventy years, independent drugstores are expanding and generating strong profits, according to a new economic report by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA). The report shows that there are almost 400 more independent drugstores than last year and that profits (3.2%) are three times greater than the rate of U.S. inflation (1.1%).

26 Oct 2010

Admissions for medication, drug-related conditions increase by 117% among Americans aged 45 and older

The number of hospital admissions among Americans ages 45 and older for medication and drug-related conditions doubled between 1997 and 2008, according to a new report released today by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Medication and drug-related conditions include effects of both prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as illicit drugs.

26 Oct 2010

New Risk Stratification Index allows important clinical outcomes

Research published in the November issue of Anesthesiology describes development of a new Risk Stratification Index (RSI) that allows important clinical outcomes such as length-of-stay and mortality for surgical patients to be accurately compared among hospitals using only publically available billing data. The new risk stratification system is more accurate than existing outcomes measurements such as the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and the investigators have made it freely available.

26 Oct 2010

Beryl redefines focus as patient experience company

Beryl, the leader and pioneer in outsourced healthcare contact center services, announces its redefined focus as a patient experience company. For 25 years, Beryl has focused on making it easier for patients to access information and healthcare providers, which enhances patients' interactions with healthcare systems. While this underlying theme has always been present, redefining its focus ensures that all of Beryl's products and services are developed with a laser focus on their impact on improving the patient experience in healthcare.

26 Oct 2010

Pre-retirees concerned over rising healthcare costs

Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) of pre-retirees ages 50-64 are not at all confident that they are saving enough to handle healthcare costs in retirement, according to a new survey from the Society of Actuaries (SOA). Additionally, only seven percent of participants said they are very confident about having enough savings.

26 Oct 2010

Medicare plan choices attract attention as open enrollment approaches

Officials at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services say they have taken steps to streamline this year's plan options for private Medicare plans, including Part D, the prescription drug plan including eliminating some plans they consider duplicative.

26 Oct 2010