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L.A. Care Health Plan receives $15.6M federal grant to establish HITEC-LA

L.A. Care Health Plan, the nation’s largest public health plan, announced today that the organization has received a $15.6 million federal grant to establish the Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center, called HITEC-LA, that will help doctors in L.A. County adopt and use Electronic Health Records in a meaningful way.

8 Apr 2010

Complex back surgeries skyrocket, raising concerns about cost, complications

NPR: "Too many complex back surgeries are being done and people are suffering as a result, according to a study in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The general tendency noted in the study — that many patients and doctors think more medical care is always better — has implications for the new health overhaul law.

8 Apr 2010

Sebelius promises help to confused Americans on health law, says to beware of scammers

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said Tuesday that Americans can expect help from her department as health reform is implemented. She also cautioned consumers to watch out for scammers using the new health bill to try to defraud people.

8 Apr 2010

New studies supporting Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' CNS portfolio to be presented at AAN 2010

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that several new studies supporting the company's innovative central nervous system portfolio will be presented at the 62nd American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting in Toronto, April 10-17, 2010.

8 Apr 2010

Health reform's Medicaid expansion, payment increase causes mixed feelings for MDs

Kaiser Health News reporter Maggie Mertens writes: "While doctors are worrying a lot about whether Congress will block the 21 percent scheduled cut in Medicare payments, a fix to another public health program is raising another question" (Mertens, 4/6).

8 Apr 2010

Data illustrates methods for improving adherence to medication, lowering prescription drug costs

CVS Caremark presented data at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy that illustrate successful methods for improving adherence to medication and lowering prescription drug costs. The company showed results from three studies which demonstrated the positive impact of various tools available to pharmacy benefit managers – including automated telephonic messaging, fax alerts to physicians about gaps in care, and strategic co-pay waivers for generic medications.

8 Apr 2010

Health reform law raises hopes, issues for Medicaid

Changes coming because of the health reform law could affect the delivery of care for Medicaid patients.

8 Apr 2010

FDA grants final approval for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' generic Hyzaar and Cozaar

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted final approval for the Company's generic versions of Merck's antihypertensive agents Hyzaar® (hydrochlorothiazide; losartan potassium) and Cozaar® (losartan potassium).

8 Apr 2010

DealSearchOnline.com announces $72.3B committed to fund 291 managed care mergers and acquisitions

More than $72.3 billion was committed to fund 291 managed care mergers and acquisitions announced during the 10-year period ended December 31, 2009, according to DealSearchOnline.com. UnitedHealth Group was the acquirer in 10 of the top 25 managed care mergers and acquisitions announced during 10-year period ended December 31, 2009.

7 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 7, 2010

Today's headlines highlight developments regarding the implementation of the new health law as well as health developments from the state level.

7 Apr 2010

Health care reform: Clarification for seniors

From the time presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt first discussed health care reform in 1912, the topic has been a precedent-setting issue in the U.S. The 2010 passage of health care legislation is no different, but has many Americans in a quandary about how it will affect them. This is especially true of senior citizens.

7 Apr 2010

Health security will increase with new reform law

This afternoon, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will deliver a speech entitled, "Health Reform and You: How the New Law Will Increase Your Health Security" at the National Press Club. Secretary Sebelius' remarks as prepared for delivery are below.

7 Apr 2010

Future of health care in practice at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

The future of health care is here. And it's in practice at Cincinnati Children's.

7 Apr 2010

Thomson Reuters ranks UC San Diego Health System as one of nation's top 15 major teaching hospitals

UC San Diego Health System was recently listed as one the nation's top 15 major teaching hospitals by Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of information and solutions to improve the cost and quality of health care. The award recognizes hospitals that have achieved excellence in clinical outcomes, patient safety, patient satisfaction, financial performance, and operational efficiency. This is first time UC San Diego Health System has been recognized with this honor.

7 Apr 2010

HOLCOMB C3-R cures bobsledder of impending blindness, helps win gold at 2010 Winter Olympics

It was an amazing triumph of the will, when the U.S. Bobsled Team, led by captain Steve Holcomb, took home the first Gold in 62 years at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. An amazing feat, yet only the tip of the iceberg, for 2 years prior Holcomb underwent a brand new procedure to cure his impending blindness.

7 Apr 2010

Implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to improve health quality

The implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to significantly improve health quality and reduce costs. In the April 2010 issue of Health Affairs, researchers from the Mongan Institute for Health Policy at Massachusetts General Hospital report finding that currently implemented systems have little effect on measures such as patient mortality, surgical complications, length of stay and costs.

7 Apr 2010

Study provides benchmark data to evaluate quality of management of sickle cell disease

The largest study to date of the use of acute care medical services by people with sickle cell disease found four of every 10 had to return to the hospital within 30 days of a previous hospitalization or go to the emergency department for treatment of pain, according to a new study funded in part by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

7 Apr 2010

Senator Grassley issues warning about 'phanton pharmacies' while Tampa officials arrest pharmacists on fraud charges

Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week saying federal officials have failed to stop the growing trend of "phantom pharmacies" that bill millions to Medicare in prescription drug costs then disappear, ABC News reports.

7 Apr 2010

Infusion and injection therapy Medicare defraud scheme: Detroit-area resident pleads guilty

A Detroit-area resident pleaded guilty today for her role in an infusion and injection therapy scheme to defraud Medicare, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).

7 Apr 2010

Annual Medicare report delayed to reflect impact of health law, the AP reports

The Associated Press: "The Obama administration is delaying release of the annual report on the financial health of Social Security and Medicare so that the new report can reflect the impact of the recently passed health care overhaul." The AP says that, according to an administration official, the report "will be delayed until June 30, three months later than it usually comes out."

7 Apr 2010

Medicare News and Research

L.A. Care Health Plan receives $15.6M federal grant to establish HITEC-LA

Complex back surgeries skyrocket, raising concerns about cost, complications

Sebelius promises help to confused Americans on health law, says to beware of scammers

New studies supporting Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' CNS portfolio to be presented at AAN 2010

Health reform's Medicaid expansion, payment increase causes mixed feelings for MDs

Data illustrates methods for improving adherence to medication, lowering prescription drug costs

Health reform law raises hopes, issues for Medicaid

FDA grants final approval for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries' generic Hyzaar and Cozaar

DealSearchOnline.com announces $72.3B committed to fund 291 managed care mergers and acquisitions

First Edition: April 7, 2010

Health care reform: Clarification for seniors

Health security will increase with new reform law

Future of health care in practice at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Thomson Reuters ranks UC San Diego Health System as one of nation's top 15 major teaching hospitals

HOLCOMB C3-R cures bobsledder of impending blindness, helps win gold at 2010 Winter Olympics

Implementation of electronic health record systems may not be enough to improve health quality

Study provides benchmark data to evaluate quality of management of sickle cell disease

Senator Grassley issues warning about 'phanton pharmacies' while Tampa officials arrest pharmacists on fraud charges

Infusion and injection therapy Medicare defraud scheme: Detroit-area resident pleads guilty

Annual Medicare report delayed to reflect impact of health law, the AP reports

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