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PCMA reports increase in retail prices of popular brand-name drugs

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement on a new AARP report that examined retail prices of brand-name drugs and found that the 217 products most used by seniors increased by an average of 8.3 percent during 2009, while over the last five years retail prices for the most popular brand-name drugs increased 41.5 percent:

26 Aug 2010

NCPA releases unbiased, detailed analysis of health care reform costs and benefits

The first detailed and objective consumer's guide on the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has just been released by the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), titled "What Does Health Care Reform Mean To You? A Detailed Analysis"

26 Aug 2010

Lockheed Martin awarded contracts to accelerate advancement of Nationwide Health Information Network

Lockheed Martin will take steps to accelerate the advancement of digital health records and secure health information exchanges with two new agreements to support the Nationwide Health Information Network. The contracts, which were awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), total $9 million over two years.

26 Aug 2010

Atherotech Diagnostics to exhibit VAP Cholesterol Test at NLA Summer 2010 Clinical Update

Atherotech Diagnostics Lab will exhibit its VAP Cholesterol Test in booth 105 at the National Lipid Association (NLA) Summer 2010 Clinical Lipid Update.

26 Aug 2010

Sysmex announces 3-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with Novation

Sysmex, a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology, today announced a three-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with group purchasing organization Novation. Novation is the leading health care supply contracting company for more than 25,000 members of VHA Inc. and the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC), two national health care alliances, and 5,500 members of Provista, LLC, representing 28,000 sites.

From Sysmex America, Inc. 26 Aug 2010

Medicare drug plan changes and prices could surprise seniors

The Associated Press: An effort to streamline the entangled field of Medicare drug plans could mean as many as 3 million seniors "could force 3 million seniors to switch plans next year whether they like it or not, says an independent analysis," by Avalere Health: "beneficiaries will see their prescription plan eliminated as part of a new effort by Medicare to winnow down duplicative coverage and offer consumers more meaningful choices. Seniors would not lose coverage, but they could see changes in their premiums and copayments."

26 Aug 2010

Battle for public opinion of health overhaul continues in states

The (Portland) Oregonian: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited Oregon Tuesday, where state officials -- unlike their counterparts in many capitals around the country -- broadly back the health overhaul plan. "Sebelius is reaching out to governors and state officials, whose cooperation is crucial in implementing the federal health reform law passed in March. The law makes states responsible for accomplishing much of the overhaul work."

26 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Applying comparative effectiveness research to a range of health indicators; Australia's model health care system; What about blocked stem cell research?

Significant comparative effectiveness research (CER) efforts should be dedicated to understanding the effectiveness of investments across broad determinants of health instead of focusing primarily within the health care domain alone (David Kindig and John Mullahy, 8/25).

26 Aug 2010

Department of Public Welfare saves taxpayers $690 million through cost-recovery efforts

The Department of Public Welfare saved taxpayers nearly $690 million in the 2009-10 fiscal year through fraud and abuse detection and other cost-recovery efforts, Public Welfare Secretary Harriet Dichter said today.

25 Aug 2010

Health Net receives Merit Award in 19th annual National Mature Media Awards Program

Health Net, Inc. today announced that it was named a winner in the 19th annual National Mature Media Awards Program. The program, presented by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for the senior market, recognizes the nation's finest advertising, marketing and educational materials designed and produced for older adults.

25 Aug 2010

Congress members call for open and transparent oversight of Medicare 'competitive' bidding program

A bipartisan group of 136 members of Congress recently requested that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) disclose the list of homecare providers whose bids were used to calculate home medical equipment reimbursement rates under the Medicare "competitive" bidding program.

25 Aug 2010

MAXIMUS launches Meaningful Use Solutions to help states develop, implement EHR incentive programs

MAXIMUS, Inc., a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that it has launched its Meaningful Use Solutions to help states develop and implement their Electronic Health Record incentive programs.

25 Aug 2010

Premier healthcare alliance introduces QualityAdvisor solution for hospitals

The Premier healthcare alliance has officially launched its QualityAdvisor solution to help hospitals prevent harm, reduce costs and readmissions, and improve overall outcomes.

25 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 25, 2010

In today's headlines, news about a Medicare change that may cause an estimated three million seniors to switch their drug coverage.

25 Aug 2010

Kindred subsidiaries to acquire 5 long-term acute care hospitals from Vista Healthcare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced that its subsidiaries have signed a definitive agreement to acquire five long-term acute care ("LTAC") hospitals from Vista Healthcare, LLC for a purchase price of $180 million in cash.

25 Aug 2010

Extend Health ranks No. 94 on 2010 'Inc. 500' list of fastest-growing private companies

Inc. magazine has ranked Extend Health, Inc. No. 94 on its 29th annual Inc. 500, which was released today. This is the first time the company applied for inclusion on this exclusive list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The ranking is based on a 2,579% increase in sales over the past three years, leading to revenue of $36.6 million in 2009. Based on its 2009 revenue, Extend Health would rank No. 14 among the top 100 companies on the 2010 Inc. 500 list.

25 Aug 2010

States look to slow spending, raise money and extend savings for Medicaid

"A plan to cut reimbursement rates to doctors who care for the poor and disabled has led to a tussle between Gov. Bev Perdue and North Carolina physicians. In the current state budget, Perdue and the legislature agreed that Medicaid reimbursement rates would be reduced by $26.6 million or 1.35 percent, if the state found it necessary to close a gap in federal Medicaid funding. Perdue's office says the cut is now necessary. The doctors say the state has access to plenty of federal money and could use a $300 million federal education windfall to avoid cutting the rates".

25 Aug 2010

Fewer N.C. physicians seeing Medicare patients; Hospitals try to cut Medicare readmissions

"The national health care reform law, which was was designed to provide insurance coverage and access to physicians to more Americans, has no provision to help a group already having difficulty finding doctors to treat them - senior citizens. According to a report from Cigna Government Services, which processes Medicare claims in North Carolina and 17 other states, more than 80 physicians in North Carolina have opted out of Medicare in the past year. That's in addition to the 100 physicians statewide who stopped seeing Medicare patients in 2008, the report states.

25 Aug 2010

Health law continues to be embroiled in politics, though toned down

In a bid to rally support for the health overhaul among doctors, a White House official underscored both sticks and carrots the federal government is offering the health industry, Reuters reports: "Administration officials said the new law will provide doctors with information technology and incentives to improve the care they deliver, but only if they cooperate.

25 Aug 2010

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula to implement RelayHealth's HIE connectivity solution

RelayHealth, a leading provider of healthcare connectivity services, today announced that Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) in California has selected RelayHealth's health information exchange (HIE) connectivity solution to improve the quality of care and safety for its patients, create closer alignment with its physicians, and address the governance issues that arise in the process of connecting healthcare communities.

25 Aug 2010

Medicare News and Research

PCMA reports increase in retail prices of popular brand-name drugs

NCPA releases unbiased, detailed analysis of health care reform costs and benefits

Lockheed Martin awarded contracts to accelerate advancement of Nationwide Health Information Network

Atherotech Diagnostics to exhibit VAP Cholesterol Test at NLA Summer 2010 Clinical Update

Sysmex announces 3-year sole source microscopic urinalysis contract agreement with Novation

Medicare drug plan changes and prices could surprise seniors

Battle for public opinion of health overhaul continues in states

Today's Opinions: Applying comparative effectiveness research to a range of health indicators; Australia's model health care system; What about blocked stem cell research?

Department of Public Welfare saves taxpayers $690 million through cost-recovery efforts

Health Net receives Merit Award in 19th annual National Mature Media Awards Program

Congress members call for open and transparent oversight of Medicare 'competitive' bidding program

MAXIMUS launches Meaningful Use Solutions to help states develop, implement EHR incentive programs

Premier healthcare alliance introduces QualityAdvisor solution for hospitals

First Edition: August 25, 2010

Kindred subsidiaries to acquire 5 long-term acute care hospitals from Vista Healthcare

Extend Health ranks No. 94 on 2010 'Inc. 500' list of fastest-growing private companies

States look to slow spending, raise money and extend savings for Medicaid

Fewer N.C. physicians seeing Medicare patients; Hospitals try to cut Medicare readmissions

Health law continues to be embroiled in politics, though toned down

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula to implement RelayHealth's HIE connectivity solution

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