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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

Getting the 4-1-1 on waiting times at the emergency room

The Associated Press: Hospitals are increasingly using messaging systems, such as online notices, text messages or flashing billboards, to let people know how long the wait is at local emergency rooms. "It's a marketing move aimed at less urgent patients, not the true emergencies that automatically go to the front of the line anyway.

25 Aug 2010

Urologix 2010 fourth quarter net loss decreases 28.9% to $0.04 per share

Urologix, a medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets minimally invasive Cooled ThermoTherapy™ technology to urologists to provide a durable and effective in-office treatment for patients suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), today reported financial results for its fourth quarter ended June 30, 2010 and for fiscal year 2010.

25 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 24, 2010

In today's headlines, a federal court judge blocks the Obama administration's stem cell policy. Meanwhile, state action related to health reform and health policy continues.

24 Aug 2010

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for surgical mesh, biological mesh

Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, today announced new agreements for surgical mesh and biological mesh. Surgical mesh product agreements have been awarded to: Atrium Medical Corp of Hudson, N.H.; Davol Inc. of Warwick, R.I.; Covidien of Mansfield, Mass.; and Medline Industries Inc. of Mundelein, Ill.

24 Aug 2010

Humana and Availity deploy CarePrescribe to Kentucky Physicians at no charge

Humana Inc. and Availity, LLC today announced the deployment of CarePrescribe, an electronic prescribing service, at no charge to eligible physician practices in Kentucky. Following the successful introduction of Availity CarePrescribe in Florida and Texas - where approximately 2,000 physicians are using the system - Kentucky physicians now have access to the free service as a valuable tool in improving efficiency, safety and quality, while reducing patient costs.

24 Aug 2010

Canadian Nurses Association to lead in development of national strategy for aging and health

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is poised to take on a leadership role in developing a national strategy for aging and health as Canadians reveal they are increasingly worried about the future of their health-care system.

24 Aug 2010

HHS to offer $32 million to increase health care access for rural Americans

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today more than $32 million in FY 2010 funds to increase access to health care for Americans living in rural areas. The funds reach across seven programs administered by the Office of Rural Health Policy in HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration.

24 Aug 2010

Rural development in Australia

Rural health services in Australia are in bad shape. Cancer mortality rates are higher, waiting lines for doctor visits are longer, and budget share of Medicare spending is lower. Despite this the issue has not drawn the attention of the election campaign.

23 Aug 2010

Medica teams up with OptumHealth to deliver CDHPs to all commercial health plan customers

Medica today announced that it has teamed with OptumHealth Financial Services to deliver consumer-directed health plans to all of Medica's commercial health plan customers - making Medica the first health plan in Minnesota to offer a full spectrum of health benefit services to employers of all sizes.

23 Aug 2010

Publix Super Markets to introduce flu immunization program

"Flu clinics are an extension of the services our pharmacies provide to our customers as a convenient and affordable way to receive their vaccinations," said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations. "At Publix, our pharmacies are dedicated to building relationships with our customers and their families for total health and wellness all year long."

23 Aug 2010

Today's opinions: More on the trustee's report, cutting the deficit

Republicans claim to be deeply worried about the deficit — their favorite political target, followed closely by President Obama's relentlessly demonized health care reform. So why are they so determined to overturn one of the central cost-control mechanisms of the new reform law? (8/21).

23 Aug 2010

Health overhaul raises regulators' profiles, confuses consumers

Modern Healthcare's 2010 list of the sector's most powerful players is out, and because of the health law, regulators in usually lower-profile federal agencies have carved out places near the top of the roster for the second year in a row. The magazine reports, "Carolyn Clancy, director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, stood at No. 31 on the list three years ago. This year, just as in 2009, she holds the No. 7 spot. Clancy's clout has risen with the agency, which was created 20 years ago to support and conduct healthcare outcomes research."

23 Aug 2010

RelayHealth achieves full accreditation with ePAP from EHNAC

RelayHealth, a leading provider of healthcare connectivity services, announced today that it has achieved full accreditation with the e-Prescribing Accreditation Program from the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission. EHNAC's ePAP accreditation demonstrates the operational integrity of companies that use e-prescribing, by ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations, accommodation of industry standards and proper use of relevant formats.

23 Aug 2010

Medicare News and Research

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

Getting the 4-1-1 on waiting times at the emergency room

Urologix 2010 fourth quarter net loss decreases 28.9% to $0.04 per share

First Edition: August 24, 2010

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for surgical mesh, biological mesh

Humana and Availity deploy CarePrescribe to Kentucky Physicians at no charge

Canadian Nurses Association to lead in development of national strategy for aging and health

HHS to offer $32 million to increase health care access for rural Americans

Rural development in Australia

Medica teams up with OptumHealth to deliver CDHPs to all commercial health plan customers

Publix Super Markets to introduce flu immunization program

Today's opinions: More on the trustee's report, cutting the deficit

Health overhaul raises regulators' profiles, confuses consumers

RelayHealth achieves full accreditation with ePAP from EHNAC

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How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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