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New federally funded programs to address health disparities in underserved communities

The increasing number of minorities diagnosed with cancer has inspired a variety of initiatives at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center focusing on minority health through research, education and community relations.

24 Apr 2010

Research roundup: Arthritis racial disparities, hospital mortality data, voters on long-term care

Differences In The Prevalence And Impact Of Arthritis Among Racial/Ethnic Groups In The United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2002, 2003, and 2006 - "Blacks and Hispanics were approximately 1.3 times as likely as whites to have activity limitation, 1.8 to 1.9 times as likely to have severe joint pain, and 1.6 to 1.7 times as likely to have work limitation," caused by arthritis.

24 Apr 2010

Federal officials confirm states may lose some Medicaid drug rebate money

"The federal agency that oversees Medicaid confirmed Thursday that some money states receive as rebates from drugmakers will now be redirected to the federal government to help pay for the new health overhaul," Kaiser Health News reports.

24 Apr 2010

New Jersey District Court jury finds Nycomed's U.S. Patent No. 4,758,579 not invalid: Teva

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that a jury returned a verdict in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey finding that Nycomed's U.S. Patent No. 4,758,579 is not invalid. The Court has reserved decision on the issue of what, if any, effect to give to the jury's determinations in connection with the obviousness-type double patenting defenses, which Teva has argued is to be decided by the Court.

24 Apr 2010

Officials continue health overhaul sparring, news outlets examine new law's potential improvements for women

Republicans are continuing to pressure officials at the Department of Health and Human Services on health reform as the focus shifts to implementation of the health care overhaul and the first deadlines are approaching, Politico reports.

24 Apr 2010

Unitrin terminates previously announced negotiations with Physicians Mutual Insurance

Unitrin, Inc. said today that its previously announced negotiations with Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for the sale of Unitrin's Reserve National Insurance Company subsidiary have been terminated due to a failure by the parties to reach a definitive agreement.

24 Apr 2010

CMS actuary: Health reform will cover more people, cost more than originally projected

"In the first comprehensive look by neutral experts" of the health law, The Associated Press reports that "More Americans will be covered, but costs are also going up. Economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department concluded in a report issued Thursday that the health care remake will achieve Obama's aim of expanding health insurance — adding 34 million to the coverage rolls.

24 Apr 2010

Baptist Hospital East adopts CardiacAssist's TandemHeart System

CardiacAssist Inc. announced today that Baptist Hospital East has adopted the company's TandemHeart System.

23 Apr 2010

New user's guide to help consumers navigate details of new health care reform law

In the wake of President Obama signing health care reform into law, AARP Bulletin today released a new user's guide to help consumers navigate the details of the new law and how it will impact them both now and further down the road when it is fully implemented. This special section features must-know details, including changes to Medicare, employer insurance, taxes, and small businesses -- all boiled down to the basics of what YOU need to know.

23 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on the new health laws coverage estimates, costs and impact on the health care system.

23 Apr 2010

Alzheimer's Association's hosts conference to educate and support NH people with the disease

Alzheimer's disease can be devastating to families who become caregivers. Anyone seeking more information about Alzheimer's is invited to attend the Alzheimer's Association's "Care to Cure: the latest in research and care giving" conference on Saturday, May 22 in Concord.

23 Apr 2010

Insufficient evidence on prostate cancer radiation treatment

Reuters: "There is not enough evidence to sort out the effect of various radiation treatments for prostate cancer patients, especially newer, so-called focused radiation, an advisory panel told the U.S. Medicare agency on Wednesday.

23 Apr 2010

New USG strategy to combat malaria globally

In conjunction with World Malaria Day, and in accordance with the requirements of the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Lantos-Hyde), the U.S. Government, through the President's Malaria Initiative, today released a comprehensive strategy to combat malaria globally.

23 Apr 2010

Detroit-area resident pleads guilty in fraudulent medical testing scheme

Detroit-area resident Melvin Young pleaded guilty today to engaging in a fraudulent medical testing scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).

23 Apr 2010

Minorities, seniors see positives in health law; Worries persist about insurance costs

African Americans are hoping new health will improve their lives, but there's "a debate about whether the coming changes will actually ease the health disparities that black Americans face," NPR reports.

23 Apr 2010

Investigators raid N.Y. Senate official's office, seeking evidence in Medicare, Medicaid fraud lawsuit

Federal and state investigators raided the Bronx offices of the Soundview HealthCare Network early Wednesday, seeking records as part of a joint investigation into the business and political activities of the Senate majority leader, Pedro Espada, Jr. More than a dozen agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, joined by investigators from the office of Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, arrived at Soundview's offices on White Plains Road shortly before 7 a.m., when the first employees arrived to open the doors for the day.

23 Apr 2010

Complaint regarding Dragon Pharma's proposed merger with Datong Investment filed

Dragon Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today that a complaint regarding its proposed merger with Datong Investment Inc was filed in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit for Palm Beach County, State of Florida, against the Company, and its eight directors.

23 Apr 2010

Cisco uses telemedicine in Southern Calif. and Southwest to lower costs

Cisco is using its HealthPresence telemedicine system in new programs in Southern California and the Southwest to "compete with other major tech companies, including Intel, IBM and General Electric, in the growing market for health-care products and services," The San Jose Mercury News/The (Raleigh, N.C.) News & Observer reports.

23 Apr 2010

FDA Advisory Committees vote against approval of Acurox NDA

Acura Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and King Pharmaceuticals®, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs and Drug Safety and Risk Management Committees voted that they do not have enough evidence to support the approval of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Acurox® (oxycodone HCl and niacin) Tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, considering the deterrent effects of niacin as well as the potential deterrent effects of the other features specific to Acurox®.

23 Apr 2010

Sebelius says HHS will not seek more money this year to implement health overhaul

"The Obama administration does not plan to seek additional money in next year's Health and Human Services Department budget to implement the new U.S. healthcare reform law, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Wednesday," Reuters reports. "Testifying before a House of Representatives Appropriations subcommittee, Sebelius said the $911 billion HHS budget request for fiscal year 2011, which begins Oct. 1, remains the same even after Congress passed the healthcare overhaul," which "included $1 billion" for implementation by HHS.

23 Apr 2010

Medicare News and Research

New federally funded programs to address health disparities in underserved communities

Research roundup: Arthritis racial disparities, hospital mortality data, voters on long-term care

Federal officials confirm states may lose some Medicaid drug rebate money

New Jersey District Court jury finds Nycomed's U.S. Patent No. 4,758,579 not invalid: Teva

Officials continue health overhaul sparring, news outlets examine new law's potential improvements for women

Unitrin terminates previously announced negotiations with Physicians Mutual Insurance

CMS actuary: Health reform will cover more people, cost more than originally projected

Baptist Hospital East adopts CardiacAssist's TandemHeart System

New user's guide to help consumers navigate details of new health care reform law

First Edition: April 23, 2010

Alzheimer's Association's hosts conference to educate and support NH people with the disease

Insufficient evidence on prostate cancer radiation treatment

New USG strategy to combat malaria globally

Detroit-area resident pleads guilty in fraudulent medical testing scheme

Minorities, seniors see positives in health law; Worries persist about insurance costs

Investigators raid N.Y. Senate official's office, seeking evidence in Medicare, Medicaid fraud lawsuit

Complaint regarding Dragon Pharma's proposed merger with Datong Investment filed

Cisco uses telemedicine in Southern Calif. and Southwest to lower costs

FDA Advisory Committees vote against approval of Acurox NDA

Sebelius says HHS will not seek more money this year to implement health overhaul

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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