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Republicans take on cost-cutting panel backed by budget chief Orszag

Several Senate Republican leaders are now pushing a new, partial health-overhaul repeal bill that targets a Medicare cost-cutting panel, The Hill reports. The panel, the Independent Payment Advisory Board, would make cost-cutting recommendations whenever spending exceeds set benchmarks. Congress would have to adopt them, or come up with its own plan.

30 Jul 2010

Insurers Aetna, WellPoint look for their place in health reform; WellPoint profit up

Aetna President Mark Bertolini said Wednesday that his company has seen much slower sales of national insurance accounts where large employers pay Aetna to administer plans for employees, The Associated Press reports. Under the new health overhaul, Bertolini said he expected less movement in that market because of the uncertainty in the law.

30 Jul 2010

Business groups, GOP prepare anti-health law campaigns for midterm elections

Politico reports that business groups are preparing ads for the November elections and some are targeting health reform. "The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already vowed to invest $75 million in the mid-term elections. And health insurers are also planning to play big in November, although the specifics remain in flux. … Both America's Health Insurance Plans and its Coalition for Medicare Choices are expected to play a major role in the messaging, along with individual companies. But neither group, according to sources, plans to directly attack Democrats, which would risk infuriating the White House as it writes reform regulations as well as the Blue Dog Democrats who opposed the legislation."

30 Jul 2010

Today's Opinions: Haiti's lesson for the U.S.; Ending 'Pay for delay;' Getting the CLASS Act off the ground

In February, a month after Haiti's earthquake, I went down to Port-au-Prince as part of a team that was helping to reactivate cardiac care in the city's public hospital. For several months since, I have observed how the earthquake and its aftermath profoundly changed Haiti's health care system. Over that time, I have come to the unorthodox conclusion that Haiti's tragic experience may show us a way to improve health care in the United States (James Wilentz, 7/28).

30 Jul 2010

Poll: Opposition to health reform declines; Seniors view new law more negatively than adults overall

The Washington Post: "Opposition to the landmark health care overhaul declined over the past month, to 35 percent from 41 percent, according to the latest results of a tracking poll, reported Thursday. Fifty percent of the public held a favorable view of the law, up slightly from 48 percent a month ago, while 14 percent expressed no opinion about the measure, according to the poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

30 Jul 2010

Gentiva Health Services second-quarter total net revenues increase 4% to $297.1 million

Gentiva Health Services, Inc., a leading provider of home health and hospice services, today reported second quarter 2010 results.

29 Jul 2010

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings second-quarter 2010 net revenue increases 7.3% to $402.8 million

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings Corp. today announced its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010 and filed its 2010 Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

29 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 29, 2010

In today's headlines, a new poll shows opposition to health reform declining, and Peter Orszag makes his exit as budget chief -- still pressing lawmakers to make tough budget choices while implementing the new law.

29 Jul 2010

HealthSpring reports net income of $55.8M for second-quarter 2010

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

29 Jul 2010

FDLI's monograph describes impact of manufacturer's commercial pricing decisions on product pricing

In FDLI's latest monograph, Selling Pharmaceuticals and Biologics to the Federal Government: Federal Supply Schedule and Federal Pricing Requirements, Joy Sturm, Allison Pugsley and Stephen A. Smyers of Hogan Lovells US LLP detail how pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturers can deal effectively with government contracting requirements and price calculation requirements.

29 Jul 2010

BD third-quarter revenues increase 3.2% to $1.878 billion

BD, a leading global medical technology company, today reported quarterly revenues of $1.878 billion for the third fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2010, representing an increase of 3.2 percent from the prior-year period, or 3.9 percent on a foreign currency-neutral basis.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 29 Jul 2010

Clarient second-quarter net revenue increases 21% to $28.7 million

Clarient, Inc., a premier anatomic pathology and molecular testing services resource for pathologists, oncologists and the biopharmaceutical industry, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Second quarter 2010 net revenue was $28.7 million, a 21 percent increase over the $23.7 million net revenue in the 2009 second quarter and a sequential increase of nearly eight percent over the $26.6 million in the first quarter of 2010.

29 Jul 2010

Reliance on assistive devices can affect everyday life in multiple ways: Study

Obese older adults are more likely to use walkers, canes and other mobility devices at a younger age, and may run the risk of using them incorrectly, according to new research from Purdue University.

29 Jul 2010

Oxford Life Insurance releases new Medicare Supplement product portfolio

Oxford Life Insurance Company today announced the release of its new Medicare Supplement product portfolio. The Phoenix-based life insurance company has plans to market Plans A, C or F, and N in more than 35 states.

29 Jul 2010

WellCare Health Plans awarded URAC accreditation

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Full Health Plan Accreditation for its HealthEase of Florida and WellCare of Florida subsidiaries by URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. URAC's Health Plan Accreditation standards include key quality benchmarks for network management, provider credentialing, utilization management, quality management and improvement and consumer protection.

29 Jul 2010

Community Health Systems second-quarter net operating revenues increase 5.1% to $3.2 billion

Community Health Systems, Inc. today announced financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

29 Jul 2010

Chemed second-quarter consolidated revenues increase 6.7% to $315.0 million

Chemed Corporation, which operates VITAS Healthcare Corporation, the nation's largest provider of end-of-life care, and Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest commercial and residential plumbing and drain cleaning services provider, reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010, versus the comparable prior-year period.

29 Jul 2010

Senate Subcommittee approves HHS funding bill, other health care bills readied

CongressDaily: The Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee approved a draft funding bill Tuesday for HHS, "moving a bill that would provide $170 billion in discretionary spending to related federal agencies, nearly $1 billion under the president's request." The bill gives $732 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services, $306 million more than the administration requested. "The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee gave the health agency a similar boost in funding."

29 Jul 2010

Teva Respiratory reports positive results from BDP HFA Nasal Aerosol Phase III trial in seasonal allergic rhinitis

Teva Respiratory today announced positive results from a Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) Nasal Aerosol in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). The study met all efficacy endpoints, demonstrating a statistically significant benefit as compared to placebo. Furthermore, the safety profile of BDP HFA Nasal Aerosol was similar to placebo.

29 Jul 2010

Insurers post strong earnings, but may hold back on bragging rights

Two leading insurers reported second-quarter earnings with rising profits this week.

29 Jul 2010

Medicare News and Research

Republicans take on cost-cutting panel backed by budget chief Orszag

Insurers Aetna, WellPoint look for their place in health reform; WellPoint profit up

Business groups, GOP prepare anti-health law campaigns for midterm elections

Today's Opinions: Haiti's lesson for the U.S.; Ending 'Pay for delay;' Getting the CLASS Act off the ground

Poll: Opposition to health reform declines; Seniors view new law more negatively than adults overall

Gentiva Health Services second-quarter total net revenues increase 4% to $297.1 million

Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings second-quarter 2010 net revenue increases 7.3% to $402.8 million

First Edition: July 29, 2010

HealthSpring reports net income of $55.8M for second-quarter 2010

FDLI's monograph describes impact of manufacturer's commercial pricing decisions on product pricing

BD third-quarter revenues increase 3.2% to $1.878 billion

Clarient second-quarter net revenue increases 21% to $28.7 million

Reliance on assistive devices can affect everyday life in multiple ways: Study

Oxford Life Insurance releases new Medicare Supplement product portfolio

WellCare Health Plans awarded URAC accreditation

Community Health Systems second-quarter net operating revenues increase 5.1% to $3.2 billion

Chemed second-quarter consolidated revenues increase 6.7% to $315.0 million

Senate Subcommittee approves HHS funding bill, other health care bills readied

Teva Respiratory reports positive results from BDP HFA Nasal Aerosol Phase III trial in seasonal allergic rhinitis

Insurers post strong earnings, but may hold back on bragging rights

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (2nd edition) eBook

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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