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Cintas’s new white paper offers EVS tips to reduce hospital-acquired infections

Cintas Corporation today announced the availability of a new white paper that offers Environmental Service Directors (EVS) tips to improve the handling of cleaning materials to reduce hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).

28 Sep 2010

GenMark’s eSensor technology selected for Warfarin clinical study

GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., a provider of automated, multiplex molecular diagnostic testing systems, announced today that their eSensor Warfarin Sensitivity Test has been selected for use in a new pivotal Warfarin clinical study the WARFARIN Trial.

28 Sep 2010

HealthWyse secures patent for Remote Personnel Tracking program to prevent Medicare fraud

HealthWyse, a leading provider of home health and hospice agency automation software, announced today that it has secured a patent for its Remote Personnel Tracking program to help homecare agencies keep track of their employees and prevent Medicare fraud. HealthWyse will showcase its Remote Personnel Tracking Program at the National Association for Home Care and Hospice (NAHC) 29th Annual Meeting & Exposition, held October 2 - 6 in Dallas, Texas.

28 Sep 2010

Senate Republicans examining health reform's effect on Medicare advantage

A quartet of Senate Republicans is calling on Medicare's top accountant to release the numbers behind his analysis of health reform's impact on the Medicare Advantage program. The lawmakers ... say the steep cuts to MA under the new reform law will cause many plans to fold, while many others will be forced to drop benefits to remain profitable.

28 Sep 2010

RPSPP for health benefits accepted into federal program

Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that the Retired Pennsylvania State Police Program for health benefits has been accepted into a federal program to help offset the rising health care costs for retirees.

28 Sep 2010

AASLD, TFAH report calls for action to help identify Americans living with HBV, HCV

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Trust for America's Health issued a new report today calling for action to be taken to transform how the country deals with viral hepatitis – to help identify millions of Americans who know they are living with chronic forms of hepatitis B and C and to assure access to treatment for all who need it, to prevent even more Americans from becoming infected.

28 Sep 2010

Many adults skip vaccines because of costs

The New York Times' Patient Money column examines the importance of vaccines for adults.

28 Sep 2010

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for radiation oncology portfolio

Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, today announced that contracts have been awarded to suppliers in its new radiation oncology portfolio.

From Elekta 28 Sep 2010

AP poll: Americans who think health law should do more outnumber those who think government should stay out of it

As Republicans seek to use the health law as a major talking point to help them win more seats in Congress, a "new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1." The poll found four in 10 adults think the law didn't go far enough to change the system "regardless of whether they support the law, oppose it or remain neutral. On the other side, about one in five say they oppose the law because they think the federal government should not be involved in health care at all."

28 Sep 2010

Chem Rx reaches asset purchase agreement with PharMerica

Chem Rx Corporation, the third largest long-term care pharmacy in the United States, today announced that it has reached a "stalking horse" asset purchase agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of the company to PharMerica Corporation, an industry-leading pharmaceutical services company serving residents in long-term facilities and settings.

27 Sep 2010

Rotech Healthcare offers $225 million in Senior Secured Notes due 2015

Rotech Healthcare Inc. announced today that the company intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $225 million in aggregate principal amount of Senior Secured Notes due 2015.

27 Sep 2010

Democrats tout health reform achievements, GOP lashes back

The Hill reports that as Republicans call for repeal of the law, the Obama administration is quick to push back. Writing Thursday on the White House blog, Stephanie Cutter, the president's communications guru, noted that repealing the reforms would eliminate all the patient protections that just took effect.

27 Sep 2010

Politics and health care: Poll finds 'many' want more government as money pours into some campaigns

A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should have done more outnumber those who think the government should stay out of health care by 2-to-1. The poll found that about four in 10 adults think the new law did not go far enough to change the health care system, regardless of whether they support the law, oppose it or remain neutral.

27 Sep 2010

Study finds inconsistent surveillance method for CA-BSI infections

A new study looking at how hospitals account for the number of pediatric patients who develop catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CA-BSIs) found substantial inconsistencies in the methods used to report the number of patients who develop these infections.

27 Sep 2010

Dual eligible patients more likely to be hospitalized than Medicare beneficiaries: AHRQ

Americans who were eligible for coverage under both Medicare and Medicaid in 2008 were hospitalized for bed sores, asthma and diabetes at more than twice the rate of other Medicare beneficiaries, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

27 Sep 2010

The House approves six health-related measures, including legislation related to the disposal of unused prescription drugs

The Hill's Healthwatch Blog: "The House passed six health-related bills Wednesday evening, including efforts to combat Medicare fraud and dispose of unused prescription drugs." The measures were approved under suspension of the rules, "an expedited procedure that only allows for 40 minutes of debate followed by a voice vote."

24 Sep 2010

GOP 'pledge' to create jobs, control spending, repeal health law draws mixed reaction

The New York Times: "In the legislative blueprint that Republicans hope will serve as a roadmap to winning control of the House, they declared their two highest priorities to be creating jobs and stopping 'out-of-control spending' by the federal government." It includes a call to repeal the health law, while retaining "popular provisions."

24 Sep 2010

Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

The Associated Press: "A new analysis of government data finds that premiums will go up an average of 10 percent among the top plans that have signed up some 70 percent of seniors. That's according to Avalere Health, a private research firm that crunched the numbers. Marketing for next year's drug plans gets under way Oct. 1, and seniors will see some of the biggest changes since the Medicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. More than 17 million are enrolled in private drug plans offered through Medicare."

24 Sep 2010

Research Roundup: Medical homes; Drug samples and prescribing; The health law and disparities; Women's health; CBO projections

Institute of Medicine: Women's Health Research: Progress, Pitfalls, and Promise -"Substantial progress has been made since the expansion of investment in women's health research. Research findings have changed the practice of medicine and public-health recommendations in several prominent contexts, including changes in standards of care for women. There have also been decreases in mortality in women from breast cancer, heart disease, and cervical cancer. In other contexts, however, there has been less progress..."

24 Sep 2010

25% of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans

As the annual open enrollment period approaches Medicare Advantage plan enrollment continues to inch upwards, with nearly 11.8 million people enrolled as of August 2010, almost 25% of all Medicare beneficiaries. Despite conservative growth strategies, stricter marketing regulations and legislation which reined in popular Private-Fee-For-Service plans, Medicare Advantage companies are still experiencing single digit growth rates, according to a new report by Mark Farrah Associates, a leading provider of market data and intelligence solutions.

24 Sep 2010

Medicare News and Research

Cintas’s new white paper offers EVS tips to reduce hospital-acquired infections

GenMark’s eSensor technology selected for Warfarin clinical study

HealthWyse secures patent for Remote Personnel Tracking program to prevent Medicare fraud

Senate Republicans examining health reform's effect on Medicare advantage

RPSPP for health benefits accepted into federal program

AASLD, TFAH report calls for action to help identify Americans living with HBV, HCV

Many adults skip vaccines because of costs

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for radiation oncology portfolio

AP poll: Americans who think health law should do more outnumber those who think government should stay out of it

Chem Rx reaches asset purchase agreement with PharMerica

Rotech Healthcare offers $225 million in Senior Secured Notes due 2015

Democrats tout health reform achievements, GOP lashes back

Politics and health care: Poll finds 'many' want more government as money pours into some campaigns

Study finds inconsistent surveillance method for CA-BSI infections

Dual eligible patients more likely to be hospitalized than Medicare beneficiaries: AHRQ

The House approves six health-related measures, including legislation related to the disposal of unused prescription drugs

GOP 'pledge' to create jobs, control spending, repeal health law draws mixed reaction

Premium rates may skyrocket for many Medicare drug plans

Research Roundup: Medical homes; Drug samples and prescribing; The health law and disparities; Women's health; CBO projections

25% of all Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans

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