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First Edition: March 4, 2010

Today's headlines offer more detail about President Obama's health reform speech, his call for quick congressional action and reconciliation.

4 Mar 2010

Congressman Chaka Fattah's statement on healthcare plan

"There's an old expression: 'Lead, follow, or get out of the way.' President Obama today has stepped up in a big way and asserted his leadership. Solid majorities in Congress and a national mandate from the voters are prepared to follow the President's lead and get this job done. Make no mistake: there will be a vote on healthcare.

4 Mar 2010

Back injury can set you on your back and set you back financially

Whether you're doing heavy lifting as part of your "honey-do list" around the house or simply lifting groceries out of the car, a back injury can set you on your back (literally) and set you back financially. According to a tally of accident insurance claims submitted in 2009 to Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company, back sprain or strain was the number-one occurring injury.

4 Mar 2010

Patient advocates ask state legislators to reconsider budget cuts to state's Medicaid program

More than 20 patient advocates from across Virginia descended on the Capitol in Richmond today as part of the National Patient Advocate Foundation's Virginia State Lobby Day to ask state legislators to reconsider budget cuts to the state's Medicaid program with particular attention to maintaining full funding for children and pregnant women covered through FAMIS.

4 Mar 2010

DNC Chairman echoes President's call for Congress to take swift action to finish health insurance reforms

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine today echoed the President's call for Congress to take swift action to finish the job and deliver hard-working Americans the health insurance reforms they so desperately need.

4 Mar 2010

Health insurance reform with best ideas of Democrats and Republicans, says Speaker Pelosi

"The President's announcement is a call to action. We will now move forward to pass health insurance reform that includes the best ideas of both Democrats and Republicans, and address one of the most pressing challenges facing our families and small businesses.

4 Mar 2010

Clear One Health Plans launches Natural Health Plan for Oregon residents

Clear One Health Plans, Inc. today announced the launch of the first Natural Health Plan that focuses on holistic health insurance available in the state of Oregon. The new Natural Health Plan is available throughout the state of Oregon beginning February 1, 2010 to Oregon residents and is specifically designed with an emphasis on alternative medicine such as naturopathic medicine, chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and nutraceuticals (vitamins and minerals).

4 Mar 2010

Lawmakers work on Medicare drug and mental health legislation

House Democrats are preparing to introduce legislation on Medicare drug prices and an effort to tackle some individual health issues while Congress debates a comprehensive bill.

4 Mar 2010

Kansas lawmakers debate legality of health insurance mandate amendment

Kansas Health Institute: "Republicans and Democrats were sharply divided Tuesday over a proposed constitutional amendment that sponsors said would let federal officials know Kansans don't want to be told by the government that they must buy health insurance. On a 12-9, party-line vote, the House Health and Human Services Committee voted to recommend House Concurrent Resolution 5032 favorable for passage.

4 Mar 2010

Senate gridlock ends, COBRA and Medicare fees extended

Los Angeles Times: "Senate leaders Tuesday night resolved an impasse over emergency aid to the jobless that had driven a wedge into Republican ranks and given Democrats a political weapon. The deal overcame the continued objections of a single senator, Republican Jim Bunning of Kentucky, who for days had held up short-term extensions of unemployment and COBRA benefits over concerns that the bill would increase the federal deficit." The measure passed with a 78-19 vote (Oliphant, 3/2).

4 Mar 2010

South Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas grapple with Medicaid cuts to help balance budget

States consider major cuts to Medicaid services and reimbursement rates to help fill gaps in the budget.

4 Mar 2010

Obama to include GOP ideas in health proposal today

With President Barack Obama's release today of his latest health reform plan, he hopes to propel the dialogue forward as he also signals willingness to incorporate GOP ideas into his proposal.

4 Mar 2010

House expanding inquiry of health insurance rate hikes

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which held a hearing last week on a California insurer's rate increases, is expanding its investigation.

3 Mar 2010

South Carolina kidney patients to meet lawmakers and urge passage of S. 1128 legislation

On Wednesday, March 3, kidney patients from across South Carolina will join the National Kidney Foundation Serving the Carolinas, South Carolina Region and Dialysis Patient Citizens in holding a briefing at the State Capitol Rotunda, followed by a series of meetings with lawmakers and staff, urging the passage of key legislation this year that would help approximately 500 South Carolina kidney failure patients and thousands of disabled South Carolinians who are struggling to access health insurance for the life-saving medical care they need.

3 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 3, 2010

This morning's news is all about President Obama's outreach yesterday to the GOP and his speech today detailing new elements of his health reform plan. Will this step resuscitate the Dem's overhaul efforts?

3 Mar 2010

UPMC develops its first EHR application for BlackBerry smartphones

In an effort to put critical patient information in the hands of physicians at the bedside, UPMC announced today that it has developed its first electronic health record (EHR) application for BlackBerry® smartphones. The pilot project gives physicians access to such information as a patient’s allergies, current medications and recently completed lab tests.

3 Mar 2010

Study: Offspring of two parents with schizophrenia more likely to develop same illness

Offspring of two parents with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder appear more likely to develop the same illness or another psychiatric condition than those with only one parent with psychiatric illness, according to a report in the March issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Mar 2010

Lotus Pharmaceuticals adds five new prescription drugs to its products

Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a growing developer and producer of prescription drugs and licensed national seller of pharmaceutical products in the People's Republic of China ("PRC"), today reported that it had added five new prescription drugs to its products delivered through its national sales channels.

3 Mar 2010

State roundup: Mass. hospital controversy, Iowa and Utah consider coverage expansions

The state appealed to the federal government yesterday to help Massachusetts hospitals that care for disproportionately high numbers of lower-income patients who receive state-sponsored health insurance. Governor Deval Patrick is asking the Obama administration for $216 million for Cambridge Health Alliance, the state's only public acute-care hospital, and another $115 million for six private hospitals with high Medicaid patient populations

3 Mar 2010