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Bodhi Body selects public relations firm and marketing agency Zion & Zion

Bodhi Body is a new way to look at healthcare. Through the incorporation of integrated medical and wellness services ranging from IV therapy to yoga and naturopathic medicine, Bodhi Body improves quality of life. In an effort to launch the brand and facility with maximum impact and to rapidly recruit clients, the company has engaged top Phoenix public relations firm and marketing agency Zion & Zion.

6 Nov 2009

Patients should bring up financial concerns with their doctors in view of high health insurance costs

As health insurers require people to base more treatment decisions on out-of-pocket costs, physicians should learn to talk to patients about money, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

6 Nov 2009

GOP lawmakers seek to explore health reform's impact on FEHBP

Government Executive.com: "Sixteen Republican representatives wrote to Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., to demand that he schedule hearings on reform proposals' potential impact on the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program."

5 Nov 2009

AMA announces support for concurrent passage of health system reform bills

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced support for concurrent passage of H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961, U.S. House of Representatives health system reform bills.

5 Nov 2009

AARP, key retirees' lobby, to endorse Democrats' health bill

AARP, the influential retirees' lobby, is expected to endorse House Democrats' plan to overhaul the health system today, the Associated Press reports, citing unnamed officials. "Backing the 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill is a tricky move for AARP.

5 Nov 2009

Alliant Health Plans forges alliance with Alliant Sense

Alliant Health Plans, a not-for-profit health plan with a radically new approach focused on patient care, and Global Behavioral Solutions (gBehavior), the industry leader in the utilization of incentive-based behavior modification strategies, have formed an alliance to launch Alliant Sense, a wellness rewards program that motivates members and patients to make healthy life choices.

5 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 5, 2009

Today's headlines center on the House health overhaul vote scheduled for Saturday -- what some are calling a potentially 'historic moment' for Democrats.

5 Nov 2009

CIGNA reports consolidated revenues of $4.5 billion for the third quarter of 2009

CIGNA Corporation today reported shareholders’ net income of $329 million, or $1.19 per share, for the third quarter of 2009 compared with shareholders’ net income of $171 million, or $0.62 per share, for the same period last year. Shareholders’ net income for the third quarter 2009 included income related to the variable annuity products within our Run-off Reinsurance segment of $16 million after-tax, or $0.06 per share, primarily related to favorable performance in the equity markets.

5 Nov 2009

MFA: Fewer Medicare Advantage plans to be offered for 2010

A new report from Mark Farrah Associates (MFA), found 18% fewer Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will be offered for 2010 as the number of unique plans offered nationwide declined from 3,700 to 3,025.

5 Nov 2009

Nancy Pelosi highlights the benefits of health insurance reform

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leaders, and Members of Congress held a press availability this morning in the Capitol with tribal leaders to highlight the benefits of health insurance reform to the Native American community.

5 Nov 2009

Montana State to introduce constitutional amendment to defend health care choice

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation's largest individual membership association of state legislators, congratulates Montana State Senators Jim Shockley and Greg Hinkle for announcing their intent to introduce a constitutional amendment to protect the right of individuals to make their own health care choices.

5 Nov 2009

HHS Secretary kicks off the nation’s largest campaign to find and enroll uninsured children

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today called on states and communities to join with HHS to redouble efforts to find and enroll the 5 million children who are currently eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but are not yet covered. The Secretary issued this call to action as she opened the National Children’s Health Insurance Summit in Chicago, kicking off the nation’s largest campaign to find and enroll uninsured children in over a decade.

5 Nov 2009

Health reform timeline appears to be slipping

ABC News: "Senior Congressional Democrats told ABC News today it is highly unlikely that a health care reform bill will be completed this year, just a week after President Barack Obama declared he was 'absolutely confident' he'll be able to sign one by then reports that senior Congressional Democrats said it's unlikely Obama will get a bill this year."

5 Nov 2009

Studies find U.S. children face health quality issues

U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News reports: "Uninsured children in the United States are three times more likely to die from trauma injuries than children with private insurance, according to a new study.

5 Nov 2009

Insurers' pricing practices targeted by Senate health committee

Senate health committee Chairman Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, asked four of the nations largest health insurers - Aetna, Humana, Wellpoint and UnitedHealth - to explain their pricing policies after small-business owners testified Tuesday that insurance premiums were crushing their businesses, the Des Moines Register reports.

4 Nov 2009

Key moderates influence the shape of health overhaul bills

The Washington Post: "Moderates have raised numerous concerns about aspects of the bill, including the public insurance option that liberals persuaded Reid to add last week. Although (Senate Majority Leader Harry) Reid included an 'opt out' provision for states that don't want to participate, many moderate Democrats prefer a "trigger" mechanism, proposed by their lone Republican ally, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe (Maine)." Resolving differences could take weeks some say (Murray and Montgomery, 11/4).

4 Nov 2009

Small business group lobbies for reform while trade groups see cuts in business

Small business owners lobby Congress while trade associations and a seniors' group worry about what lawmaker's efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system could mean for them.

4 Nov 2009

Abortion not the only sticky issue in health care debate - news outlets examine others

News coverage focuses on some of the sticky issues in health reform, including immigrants' coverage, long term care for the disabled, CHIP and insurance discounts for healthy habits.

4 Nov 2009

Conflicts of interest examined between doctors and medical industry, AARP and reform

Health care reform bills include provisions to examine the financial relationships between doctors and the medical industry while some are questioning the AARP's role in reform.

4 Nov 2009

Oberthur Technologies and Groupe Sephira collaborate to deliver electronic billing solution for French healthcare industry

Oberthur Technologies, the world's second largest provider of Smart Card based solutions, and Groupe Sephira, leading supplier of electronic claims for the French Healthcare Committee, jointly announce their attendance at the Salon CARTES et Identification which will take place in Paris, November 17-19, 2009.

4 Nov 2009