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Research shows variations in care that kidney disease patients receive before starting dialysis

The wealth or poverty of kidney disease patients' communities impacts the quality of care patients receive before starting dialysis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The results suggest that medical professionals need to improve care for patients who have not yet started dialysis.

6 Aug 2010

GAO: Medicaid managed care contracts need better CMS oversight

The Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday that says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs better oversight of Medicaid managed care contracts.

6 Aug 2010

U.S. Physical Therapy net income for second-quarter 2010 increases 23% to $4.5 million

U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc., a national operator of outpatient physical therapy clinics, today reported results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

6 Aug 2010

TEMPO study recommends early administration of Azilect in PD patients

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) today announced newly published long-term data on Azilect(rasagiline tablets) from the TEMPO study and its open-label extension. The findings confirm the long-term efficacy, safety and tolerability of Azilect® in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and further demonstrate the benefits obtained with early treatment initiation. The data was published in the June 2010 issue of the International Journal of Neuroscience.

6 Aug 2010

Medicare solvency still troubled, despite new health law

The annual trustees report on Medicare and Social Security found that the programs are "facing strains from an aging population and an economy that can't seem to get out of low gear," The Associated Press reports.

6 Aug 2010

Biovail second-quarter total revenues increase 23% to $238.8 million

Biovail Corporation today announced financial results for the three-month and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010.

5 Aug 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals second-quarter 2010 net revenue increases 29%

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported net revenue grew 29 percent for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010 to $875.3 million, compared to $677.8 million in the second quarter 2009. On an adjusted cash basis, net income increased 22 percent to $102.8 million or $0.83 per share, compared to $84.2 million or $0.73 per share in the second quarter 2009. GAAP earnings for the second quarter 2010 were $0.57 per share, compared to $0.46 per share in the prior year period.

5 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 5, 2010

Today's health policy headlines examine the solvency of Medicare and Social Security; the momentum of legislation in Congress to provide states with Medicaid assistance; and the impact of Missouri's ballot challenge to health reform.

5 Aug 2010

CIGNA second-quarter consolidated revenues increase to $5.4 billion

CIGNA Corporation today reported shareholders' net income of $294 million, or $1.06 per share, for the second quarter of 2010 compared with shareholders' net income of $435 million, or $1.58 per share, for the same period last year. Shareholders' net income included a loss of $0.37 per share in the second quarter of 2010 and income of $0.40 per share for the same period last year from results of the GMIB business, primarily related to interest rate movements.

5 Aug 2010

Primary care practices recognized with Priority Health Quality Awards

Priority Health, one of the nation's top health plans, is pleased to recognize 138 primary care practices across the state of Michigan with the Priority Health Quality Awards. The Priority Health Quality Awards were established in 2003 to recognize excellence in health care. Quality Awards are presented in two categories: Exceptional Patient Care and Outstanding Health Care Value. Among the honorees are 38 practices winning awards in both categories.

5 Aug 2010

MHPA responds to GAO report on Medicaid managed care rates

Today, Medicaid Health Plans of America responded to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not been consistently reviewing states' compliance with actuarial soundness requirements (developed in accordance with actuarial principles, appropriate for the population and services, and certified by actuaries) in setting Medicaid managed care rates.

5 Aug 2010

Rotech Healthcare second-quarter adjusted EBITDA increases to $29.2 million

Rotech Healthcare Inc. today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

5 Aug 2010

Diabetes Self-Management Training helps to prevent complications in pre diabetes patients

Citing research that demonstrates the cost savings and health benefits of providing Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to patients with pre-diabetes, the American Association of Diabetes Educators today called on private insurers and Medicare to include education as a covered benefit for this population.

5 Aug 2010

Sterling Health Plans selects MedAssurant's Prospective Advantage solutions

MedAssurant, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, today announced that Sterling Health Plans, a national provider of Medicare benefits, has expanded its relationship with MedAssurant through the selection of two key solutions to identify and close meaningful gaps in quality, utilization, documentation, and risk score accuracy.

5 Aug 2010

Amputation can be prevented when patients are treated by podiatric physicians: Study

Amputation, one of the most devastating and costly consequences of diabetes, can be prevented when patients are treated by podiatric physicians. That's the finding of a national, large-scale study co-authored by Dr. James Wrobel, DPM, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

5 Aug 2010

Study says quality not hurt when nurse anesthetists work without doc guidance

A new study published Tuesday in Health Affairs suggests that nurse anesthetists' quality of work is not lower when they aren't supervised by a doctor, The Wall Street Journal Health Blog reports. "The background for this is that Medicare won't reimburse for anesthesia services unless a physician is supervising what's going on.

5 Aug 2010

Omega Healthcare Investors second-quarter net income decreases to $15.5 million

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. today announced its results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The Company also reported Funds From Operations ("FFO") available to common stockholders for the three months ended June 30, 2010 of $29.7 million or $0.32 per common share.

5 Aug 2010

Cardiogenesis second-quarter 2010 revenue increases 9% to $2.43 million

Cardiogenesis Corporation, a leading developer of surgical products used to treat cardiac patients suffering from severe angina, today reported financial results for its second quarter and first half ended June 30, 2010.

5 Aug 2010

Andy Griffith Medicare ad prompts showdown with GOP

Veteran television star Andy Griffith appeared in a new commercial for Medicare that promotes health law changes the administration says should help seniors, such as free wellness visits and lower drug costs, U.S. News & World Report writes. "The commercial, launched on the 45th anniversary of Medicare last week, is part of a public education campaign about changes to Medicare benefits. Retirees' knowledge about the health reform law's impact on Medicare remains mixed.

5 Aug 2010

Triple-S Management second-quarter total consolidated operating revenues up 8.2%

Triple-S Management Corporation, the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $522.7 million and operating income of $26.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Net income of $15.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, includes an after tax net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.16 per share, related to net realized and unrealized losses on investments and derivatives.

4 Aug 2010