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Debt debate heats up as some dems dig in

A national debate over the federal budget and debt is getting closer to the forefront, The New York Times reports.

27 Aug 2010

AARP Report finds increase in brand-name drug costs outstrips inflation

"Retail prices for some of the most widely used brand-name prescription drugs shot up more than 8 percent in 2009, even as inflation plummeted to a record low, according to a new AARP analysis of retail drug price trends released today.

26 Aug 2010

DMAHS awards four-year Medicaid utilization review contract to Permedion

HMS announced today that the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services has awarded a contract to Permedion, Inc., HMS's wholly owned subsidiary, to conduct utilization reviews, medical necessity audits, and Diagnosis Related Group validations of inpatient hospital medical services provided and billed for Medicaid beneficiaries.

26 Aug 2010

Aon Consulting survey finds increase in monthly COBRA contributions for terminated employees

As the national unemployment rate continues to hover around 10 percent, health care costs for those jobless Americans have seen a year-over-year increase, according to Aon Consulting, the global benefits and human capital consulting business of Aon Corporation.

26 Aug 2010

SNM supports U.S. Senate's introduction of CARE Act

SNM supports the U.S. Senate in its introduction of the Consistency, Accuracy, Responsibility and Excellence in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy Act of 2010, S. 3737. The proposed legislation, which was introduced in August by Sen. Mike Enzi [R-WY], aims to ensure that minimum education and credentialing standards for nuclear medicine technologists are set at the state level.

26 Aug 2010

Medical home model improves quality of healthcare, reduces cost: Geisinger study

Results of a Geisinger study published in the August 2010 edition of the American Journal of Managed Care show its advanced medical home model is capable of simultaneously improving the quality of healthcare and reducing the cost.

26 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 26, 2010

Highlights from today's headlines include the latest political developments surrounding health reform as well as news about California's health insurance premium rates.

26 Aug 2010

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

Medicare News and Research

Debt debate heats up as some dems dig in

AARP Report finds increase in brand-name drug costs outstrips inflation

DMAHS awards four-year Medicaid utilization review contract to Permedion

Aon Consulting survey finds increase in monthly COBRA contributions for terminated employees

SNM supports U.S. Senate's introduction of CARE Act

Medical home model improves quality of healthcare, reduces cost: Geisinger study

First Edition: August 26, 2010

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

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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