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Ten loopholes and problem areas in new federal health reform law

Consumer Watchdog called on President Obama and Congress in a letter sent today to fix ten problem areas in the new federal health reform law that, if not addressed, will be exploited by health insurers and drug companies looking to charge more for less health care.

9 Apr 2010

McKesson Asia Pacific to be sold to Medibank Private

McKesson Corporation, the world's leading healthcare services company, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its McKesson Asia Pacific business to Medibank Private Ltd., the largest private health services and insurer in Australia. The acquisition is expected to close in the second calendar quarter of 2010, subject to customary conditions, including regulatory review in Australia.

9 Apr 2010

Wave of tax changes comes with health law

The new health law will make a variety of changes to the tax code, including higher levies on the wealthy and millions of dollars in lost deductions for some corporations.

9 Apr 2010

Those who understand insurance coverage more cost-conscious, study says

The Associated Press/The Boston Herald: "Workers who better understand their health insurance plans — from their share of premiums to co-payments for doctor office and emergency room visits — are more likely to make more cost-efficient decisions, a new study finds. The study, which surveyed about 1,500 government workers in Massachusetts," was published in The American Journal of Managed Care.

9 Apr 2010

Roughly 100,000 people are dropped from Tennessee's Medicaid program

Kaiser Health News: "About 100,000 people -- mostly elderly or disabled residents -- have been dropped [from Tennessee's Medicaid program] since January 2009, including approximately 37,000 who had relied on the state program for all their health care needs. Coverage for 8,000 children was also reassessed, but a TennCare spokeswoman said the number of children ultimately cut from the program could not be verified.

9 Apr 2010

More states join lawsuits against federal health reforms

Business Week: Eighteen states are now challenging the new health law. "Indiana, North Dakota, Mississippi, Nevada and Arizona will be added to the suit filed March 23 by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, he said today in a statement."

9 Apr 2010

Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Consult A Doctor sign joint venture

Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company has signed a joint marketing agreement with Consult A Doctor to provide MedFlash® Personal Health Manager (PHM) to the more than 36 million Americans who are currently being treated via Telemedicine.

9 Apr 2010

Miami Medicare case spotlights federal probes into HIV therapy fraud

A new Miami Medicare fraud case spotlights federal investigations of massive scams using HIV therapies.

9 Apr 2010

NCKU signs Letter of Intent with Kinmen County for establishing branch hospital

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) has signed Letter of Intent with Kinmen County Government on April 7th to help elevate the medical standard of the off-shore island. With the establishment of NCKU Hospital Kinmen branch, Kinmen medical treatment will improve and the local citizens will enjoy a complete set of medical service.

8 Apr 2010

Reactions -- even threats -- continue to emerge over lawmakers' reform votes

Lawmakers are considering how health care reform will change their prospects for office as some tout the law amid threats from the public.

8 Apr 2010

UNC Charlotte researcher improves lives of families and children affected by birth defects

Birth defects remain a leading cause of death in the first year of life. According to the March of Dimes, every 3 to 4 minutes a baby is born with a birth defect in the United States. About 1 in every 33 infants is affected by birth defects.

8 Apr 2010

HHS Secretary to discuss benefits of health reform for America's seniors in a webchat

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Secretary for the Administration on Aging Kathy Greenlee will host a webchat tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, to discuss the benefits of the new health reform law as it relates to America's seniors.

8 Apr 2010

Impact on primary care access and health costs is 'uncertain'

"Rather than asking whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act does everything to improve access and lower costs, we should ask how it compares with the status quo," the American College of Physicians' senior public policy adviser said in a paper published online today in Annals of Internal Medicine, the flagship journal of ACP.

8 Apr 2010

Consumer engagement program for diagnostic imaging services

More consumers than ever before are seeking additional knowledge to make more informed decisions, especially when it comes to their health care.

8 Apr 2010

New funding for hard-to-insure people could ease burden on states' high-risk pools

The health law will allocated $5 billion to help establish a federal high-risk insurance pool to help tide over people with preexisting conditions until 2014 when broader parts of the law kick in, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

8 Apr 2010

Healthcare reform scams: Tips to avoid being victimized

With the healthcare reform law only days old, Medical Mutual of Ohio is urging its customers and the public to beware of scammers who may try to sell phony health insurance policies.

8 Apr 2010

Sebelius promises help to confused Americans on health law, says to beware of scammers

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that Americans can expect help from her department as health reform is implemented. She also cautioned consumers to watch out for scammers using the new health bill to try to defraud people.

8 Apr 2010

WhiteGlove House Call Health to provide routine medical care for employees of The Beryl Companies

WhiteGlove House Call Health, Inc., a new provider choice in medical care that offers affordable, high-quality routine care at the home or work, announced today that The Beryl Companies selected WhiteGlove to provide routine medical care to its employees and dependents.

8 Apr 2010

Massachusetts insurers close plans, leaving would-be customers in limbo

An ongoing showdown between Massachusetts regulators and the insurance industry resulted in insurers temporarily closing plans to new enrollees Tuesday.

8 Apr 2010

Arizona's hospital industry decides not to push tax to help poor, Maryland health programs struggle financially

"Arizona's hospital industry has decided not to push for an income tax increase on the state's wealthy to help the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System," the Medicaid program in the state.

8 Apr 2010