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Studies explore efforts to measure, improve hospitals' surgical outcomes

Hospital Compare, an HHS website that allows patients to compare hospitals online using various indicators of quality, is intended to help them choose better facilities for their medical care. But a new report in the Archives of Surgery says the website doesn't help Medicare beneficiaries in need of certain high-risk surgeries find better facilities.

20 Oct 2010

Campaign claims examined as some democrats embrace health law in re-election bids

Kaiser Health News/The Washington Post analyze myths and facts in the congressional campaigns. "The debate that preceded passage of the health-care overhaul resumed as a heated issue in the midterm elections.

20 Oct 2010

When hospital checklists don't tell the whole story

Kaiser Health News staff writer Aimee Miles reports: "The whole idea behind HHS' Hospital Compare is simple: patients can shop around by putting in their zip codes and the website churns out a list of nearby hospitals, with detail on available services, care outcomes, patient satisfaction ratings and more.

20 Oct 2010

Feds ask Connecticut to reconsider rate hike approval, other health law implementation news

The Hartford Courant reports that a high-ranking health official in the Obama administration has asked Connecticut insurance regulators to reconsider allowing Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut to raise health insurance rates by as much as 47 percent.

20 Oct 2010

Candidates continue to clash over health care law

Candidates around the nation are increasingly focusing on what they'll do with the new health law if they're elected as clashes over the overhaul's usefulness and future continue to occur on the campaign trail.

20 Oct 2010

State Roundup: Md.'s heath info exchange; LA to cut retiree health benefits; N.Y.'s mental health building boom

The Washington Post: "A Maryland health information exchange that will allow hospitals, physicians, labs and radiology centers to share patient information within the state went live last week. Three hospitals, three radiology centers, Quest Diagnostics and the Laboratory Corp. of America are already participating in the exchange."

20 Oct 2010

Agendia establishes contract with Humana for coverage of MammaPrint breast cancer recurrence test

Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, announced today that it has established a contract with leading insurance provider Humana to reimburse for the company's MammaPrint test. Agendia's contract with Humana expands the coverage for MammaPrint by more than 17 million lives. In November 2009, Palmetto GBA, California's Part B Medicare administrator, established coding guidelines for MammaPrint, allowing healthcare providers from across the United States to submit claims for the test.

19 Oct 2010

MED3OOO acquires Insurance Solutions Group

Today, MED3OOO announced that it has acquired Insurance Solutions Group, Inc., an insurance consulting and brokerage firm based in Wexford, PA. Carl Smollinger, President, and Tom Dean, Vice President of Insurance Solutions Group, will join MED3OOO. Mr. Smollinger will serve as a Senior Vice President over MED3OOO's managed care operations and will remain as President of MED3OOO's Insurance Solutions Group subsidiary. Mr. Dean will continue his role as Vice President of Insurance Solutions Group, Inc.

19 Oct 2010

TearLab announces publication of CPT code for Osmolarity test

TearLab Corporation announced today that, further to its press release of October 8, 2010, a unique new Current Procedural Terminology code that will apply to the TearLab Osmolarity test has now been published by the American Medical Association. The new code will become effective January 1, 2011.

19 Oct 2010

Metcare enters definitive agreement to acquire assets of Delima's medical practice

Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. a leading provider of healthcare services in Florida, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Metcare of Florida, Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and assume certain liabilities of Selma C. Delima, M.D., P.A.

19 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 19, 2010

Today's major health policy headlines include reports about the latest developments in Virginia's court challenge against the health law, a U.S. government lawsuit targeting Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield for anti-trust activities and a study about the Department of Health and Human Services' Hospital Compare.

19 Oct 2010

Health care reform will lead more people to seek cancer prevention and risk-reduction services

More people will likely seek cancer prevention and risk-reduction services as a result of health care reform, say experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

19 Oct 2010

Increased colorectal cancer screening in pre-Medicare population can reduce program costs

Investment in screening programs that target the pre-Medicare population, individuals aged between 50 and 64, is needed to reduce the costs of colorectal cancer in the Medicare program, according to the results of a new study, "Cost-Savings to Medicare from Increased Colorectal Cancer Screening in the Pre-Medicare Population," unveiled today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

19 Oct 2010

ACG 75th Scientific Meeting to review advances in gastrointestinal research, treatment of digestive diseases

Many of the world's preeminent gastroenterologists will gather for the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific Meeting at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas starting Monday October 18, 2010, to review the latest scientific advances in gastrointestinal research, treatment of digestive diseases and clinical practice management.

19 Oct 2010

ISI launches initiative to create translation glossary for healthcare providers

Phrases like "Grandfathered Health Plan" or "Biosimilar Biological Products" are hard enough to understand in English, let alone trying to accurately translate those concepts into Spanish, Chinese or any other of the dozens of languages in which healthcare providers must communicate.

19 Oct 2010

PC Mall announces new solution for EHR adoption and achievement of meaningful use

PC Mall, Inc., whose healthcare expertise is marketed under the "HealthDynamix" brand, today announced a new solution that supports electronic health record adoption and assists physicians in achieving meaningful use as defined by the US government. Participating physicians will be able to take advantage of EHR funds recently allocated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

19 Oct 2010

UnitedHealth Group consolidated third quarter revenues increase 9% to $23.7 billion

UnitedHealth Group today reported third quarter results, including strong revenue growth in both its Health Benefits and Health Services business groups. Third quarter 2010 net earnings were $1.14 per share. Key performance metrics and costs were in line with or better than Company expectations.

19 Oct 2010

Novartis announces six-year data of Reclast injection for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Novartis announced today that new six-year data reinforce the long-term efficacy and safety profile of once-yearly Reclast (zoledronic acid) injection in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.The study of more than 1,200 women was presented this weekend at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) in Toronto, ON, Canada.

19 Oct 2010

Researchers explore impact of various factors on increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infection

In five different studies presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) 75th Annual Scientific meeting in San Antonio, researchers explored the impact of various factors on increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infection (C. difficile), such as the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and the substantial increase in antibiotic use due to new National Hospital Quality Measures; strategies to combat high rates of C. difficile infections; and cutting‐edge treatments for this potentially deadly-and quite common-infection.

19 Oct 2010

Study quantifies impact of screening programs in pre-Medicare population

19 Oct 2010

Medicare News and Research

Studies explore efforts to measure, improve hospitals' surgical outcomes

Campaign claims examined as some democrats embrace health law in re-election bids

When hospital checklists don't tell the whole story

Feds ask Connecticut to reconsider rate hike approval, other health law implementation news

Candidates continue to clash over health care law

State Roundup: Md.'s heath info exchange; LA to cut retiree health benefits; N.Y.'s mental health building boom

Agendia establishes contract with Humana for coverage of MammaPrint breast cancer recurrence test

MED3OOO acquires Insurance Solutions Group

TearLab announces publication of CPT code for Osmolarity test

Metcare enters definitive agreement to acquire assets of Delima's medical practice

First Edition: October 19, 2010

Health care reform will lead more people to seek cancer prevention and risk-reduction services

Increased colorectal cancer screening in pre-Medicare population can reduce program costs

ACG 75th Scientific Meeting to review advances in gastrointestinal research, treatment of digestive diseases

ISI launches initiative to create translation glossary for healthcare providers

PC Mall announces new solution for EHR adoption and achievement of meaningful use

UnitedHealth Group consolidated third quarter revenues increase 9% to $23.7 billion

Novartis announces six-year data of Reclast injection for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Researchers explore impact of various factors on increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infection

Study quantifies impact of screening programs in pre-Medicare population

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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