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Senate starts debate clock on contentious health reform reconciliation bill

The Senate has begun debate, which Democrats hope to bring to a quick close, on a health care reform reconciliation bill that "fixes" parts of the law President Obama signed Tuesday.

25 Mar 2010

GOP forces reconciliation bill back to the House for another vote

With the Senate working through an all-night session on a package of changes to the Democrats' sweeping health care legislation, Republicans early Thursday morning identified parliamentary problems with at least two provisions that will require the measure to be sent back to the House for yet another vote, once the Senate adopts it.

25 Mar 2010

Obama signs historic health overhaul bill surrounded by supporters, lawmakers

In front of packed crowd of cheering, enthusiastic lawmakers and others, President Barack Obama signed the Senate health care bill into law yesterday.

25 Mar 2010

Last minute deal on Medicare highlights dilemma on curbing costs

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey reports on an example that illustrates the challenges of curbing health care costs: "A last-minute deal to win votes for the health care overhaul underscores the political dilemma for Congress as it tries to reduce health care costs" (Carey, 3/23).

25 Mar 2010

MIMA pays $12M to resolve Medicare fraud case

In a settlement concluded late yesterday, Melbourne International Medicine Associates (MIMA) of Brevard County, Florida, will pay $12 million to resolve a whistleblower lawsuit alleging hidden schemes to defraud Medicare and other federal programs in connection with radiation cancer treatment.

25 Mar 2010

Payers can improve risk-sharing approaches for expensive therapies and technology

Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of scientific information and analytics to the pharmaceutical and biotech fields, announced today that it has published the collective recommendations of an international team of healthcare experts on how payers can improve their risk-sharing approaches for expensive new therapies and technology.

25 Mar 2010

Alzheimer's Foundation of America applauds dementia-related provisions in health reform law

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is extremely pleased that the historic health reform signed into law by President Obama late this morning, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday and the U.S. Senate in December, includes a number of provisions that are especially significant for AFA's constituents—and bode well for improving quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their family caregivers. In particular, we are grateful that the final action addresses many of the practical and financial needs faced daily by this population, speaks to preventative issues and bolsters training of dementia care professionals.

25 Mar 2010

Health reform debate often misrepresents changes to Medicare

Seniors, as well as doctors who treat Medicare patients, "have been shaken up by news that health care reform efforts are largely funded by about $455 billion worth of projected savings in the government health insurance program for the elderly.

25 Mar 2010

Medicaid cuts weaken Idaho’s health care safety net, says AARP

The 217,000 Idahoans, 15% of the state's population, who rely on Medicaid for basic health services, are bracing for bad news from state lawmakers -- more cuts to their health care safety net.

25 Mar 2010

DEA crackdown on nursing home drugs comes under Congressional scrutiny

The New York Times previews a Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday where nursing home operators and caregivers will criticize a narcotics crackdown by the Drug Enforcement Administration that they say "has left seriously ill patients crying for pain relief.

25 Mar 2010

Medex signs binding letter of intent to acquire Creative Rehab Technology Services

Medex, Inc., today announced the signing of a binding letter of intent to acquire privately held Creative Rehab Technology Services, Inc. Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Chula Vista, California, Creative Rehab produces specialty high-end rehabilitation chairs in the durable medical equipment industry.

25 Mar 2010

Democrats expect to end debate early on health reconciliation bill

Senate Democratic leaders are trying to end the debate on a bill that "fixes" the health overhaul law that President Barack Obama signed Tuesday. Once the debate ends, the Senate is expected to begin voting on a number of Republican amendments, The New York Times reports.

24 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 24, 2010

Today's headlines note the celebrations surrounding President Obama's signature of the Senate's health reform bill -- making it the law of the land -- and the strategies being developed by health overhaul opponents to block progress with an accompanying "fix it" bill.

24 Mar 2010

Congressional approved health care reform fails to address flawed physician reimbursement formula

In a survey published by the North American Spine Society (NASS), as many as 24 percent of spine care physicians participating in Medicare indicated they will no longer participate in the program if the mandated reductions in Medicare reimbursement to physicians occur later this year.

24 Mar 2010

AHF to protest against Merck's pricing of Isentress

AIDS Healthcare Foundation will host a protest Wednesday morning, March 24th at 10:30am targeting Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the pricing and policies for its key HIV/AIDS drug, Isentress, one of the most expensive first-line AIDS treatment in the US, during the Barclays Capital Global Healthcare Conference.

24 Mar 2010

President signs historic health reform measure into law

At a White House ceremony this morning, President Barack Obama signed into law the Senate version of health insurance reform.

24 Mar 2010

GOP introduces legislation to repeal health reform; other Senators express reconciliation views

USA Today: Sen. Jim DeMint — along with a dozen Republican co-sponsors — introduced legislation to repeal the health care reform law. "We must repeal this bill and start over.

24 Mar 2010

Deficit forecast -questioned by some - buttressed support for health overhaul

The Congressional Budget Office report that found the health legislation would cut the deficit by $140 billion over 10 years boosted Democratic momentum and pulled fiscally conservative moderates behind the bill, the Financial Times reports.

24 Mar 2010

Live-At-Home.com updates Web site with additional resources and content

Live-At-Home.com, a free Web site designed to assist seniors with aging at home, announced this week a recent expansion of its site's resources and content.

24 Mar 2010

Mayor Reed joins group to launch Medicare Diabetes Screening Project in Atlanta

Mayor Kasim Reed today urged the citizens of Atlanta, especially those ages 65 and older, to learn more about diabetes and its risk factors and get screened for this very serious disease. The Mayor joined with other city and community leaders and more than 100 seniors at Big Bethel Village to help launch the Medicare Diabetes Screening Project on American Diabetes Association Alert Day.

24 Mar 2010