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EHR Association submits responses on two regulations that implement healthcare IT incentive provisions of ARRA

The HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association has submitted its detailed responses on two major regulations that implement healthcare IT incentive provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

16 Mar 2010

APHA urges Congress to finalize health reform legislation

"The American Public Health Association supports Congress as it seeks to finalize comprehensive health reform legislation this week. The measure before Congress and the plans to strengthen it represent the greatest opportunity our nation has had to improve our health system and strengthen public health. We cannot squander this moment.

16 Mar 2010

HHS announces awards to help states facilitate health information exchange and advance health IT

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced awards to help states facilitate health information exchange and advance health information technology (health IT). Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, today’s awards are part of the $2 billion effort to achieve widespread meaningful use of health IT and provide use of an electronic health record by every citizen by the year 2014.

16 Mar 2010

Roche Diagnostics named sole source supplier for Premier's blood glucose monitoring devices

Roche Diagnostics announced today that it has been awarded contracts for blood glucose monitoring and clinical chemistry/immunoassay lab analyzers from Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., Inc., the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc. Roche was also named the sole source supplier for blood glucose in Premier's exclusive ASCEND supply chain performance program.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 16 Mar 2010

Debate on end-of-life care

With skyrocketing Medicare costs contributing to record-setting budget deficits, does the United States need to ration costly end-of-life care? This compelling topic will be the focus of an upcoming debate produced by the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, in partnership with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions and The National Press Club.

16 Mar 2010

Metabolic drugs top the list of prescription drug expenses for elderly Medicare beneficiaries

Purchases of cholesterol and diabetes prescription drugs by elderly Medicare beneficiaries reached nearly $19 billion in 2007 - about one-fourth of the approximately $82 billion spent for medications for the elderly, according to the latest AHRQ News and Numbers.

16 Mar 2010

President delivers emotional speech, pushes for reform in Ohio

The Associated Press: "With a fresh sense of urgency, President Barack Obama sought to reassure seniors Monday about health care legislation approaching a final vote in Congress, pledging it would make preventive care cost-free and close a gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage. 'This proposal adds almost a decade of solvency to Medicare,' Obama said in a visit to a senior center."

16 Mar 2010

FDA approves Watson Pharmaceuticals' ANDA for generic Cardizem LA

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. – Florida, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Diltiazem Hydrochloride Extended-Release tablets, the generic equivalent to Biovail Laboratories International SRL's Cardizem® LA product. Watson intends to launch its generic version of Cardizem® LA immediately.

16 Mar 2010

Issues over abortion, reconciliation rules remain in the path of health reform vote

A host of political challenges and possible pitfalls awaits lawmakers as they push toward a final vote on health reform -- among them, abortion, reconciliation rules and immigration.

15 Mar 2010

States struggle to balance budgets, health programs face cuts

National Journal: States are aware of the "lingering effects of recessions" on the enrollment in their Medicaid programs. "Because it takes time for people to re-enter the workforce and get insurance, it can take years for Medicaid rolls to shrink to prerecession levels and for states to restore program and funding cuts." According to a February report by the National Governors Association, states are "facing budget gaps totaling $136 billion for fiscal 2010 through 2012 and that Medicaid enrollment would grow 6.6 percent in fiscal 2010" (Werber Serafini, 3/13).

15 Mar 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials

After a year of national debate, a handful of House Democrats who oppose abortion may be the ones to decide whether health care reform goes forward or not. ... We are puzzled and dismayed that these legislators are willing to waste that opportunity because they say the onerous anti-abortion provisions in the Senate's bill are still not onerous enough (3/14).

15 Mar 2010

All claims brought against Medical Properties Trust and other entities rejected

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. announced today that a State District Court jury in Harris County, Texas rejected all claims brought against the company and other entities by a group of physicians whose efforts to create and operate a new hospital in Houston failed in 2006.

15 Mar 2010

Biggest Medicare drug plans raise prices 10 percent on average

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby reports on findings regarding Medicare drug plan costs: "The 10 insurers with the largest numbers of Medicare drug plan customers raised premiums an average of 10 percent this year, an analysis released Friday by consulting firm Avalere Health shows" (Appleby, 3/12).

15 Mar 2010

Total knee replacement surgery more common among younger patients

A research team led by Mayo Clinic has found a national trend toward younger, more diverse patients having total knee replacement surgery.

15 Mar 2010

Health bill update: Pelosi counting votes, Scott Brown lambastes Dems

News outlets reported that Democrats seeking to pass a health bill next week got a boost from a Cabinet official, a key senator and the Catholic Health Association, while newly-elected Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., attacked the Democrats' plans.

15 Mar 2010

Medicare to cover OVA1 test

Vermillion, Inc. today announced that Medicare will cover OVA1™, a test to help assess the likelihood that an ovarian mass is benign or malignant. Highmark Medicare Services is the CMS contractor that will process Medicare claims for OVA1. Yesterday Highmark announced its decision to cover this new service.

12 Mar 2010

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

Health reform is back from the dead. ... But reform still has to run a gantlet of misinformation and outright lies. So let me address three big myths about the proposed reform, myths that are believed by many people who consider themselves well-informed, but who have actually fallen for deceptive spin (Paul Krugman, 3/11).

12 Mar 2010

Verisk Health upgrades Explorer product line to improve organization’s exposure to healthcare risk

Verisk Health, Inc., a global leader in healthcare data analytics and risk management, today announced several upgrades to its Explorer product line, including functionality that allows users to evaluate the impact of a member’s lifestyle behaviors on an organization’s overall healthcare and utilization costs.

12 Mar 2010

Leaders of LUH urge Congress not to overlook healthcare issues of Latinos in final healthcare reform legislation

Leaders of Latinos United for Healthcare, including Hispanic Federation, LULAC, NPRC, USHCC, National Hispanic Medical Association and Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, have sent a letter to Capitol Hill calling upon Congress to focus their attention and efforts on ensuring that the healthcare issues of Latinos are not overlooked in the final healthcare reform legislation.

12 Mar 2010

Growing incidence of chronic kidney disease: Early detection and knowledge of treatment options vital

As the incidence of diabetes and hypertension continues to grow worldwide – and increasing numbers of patients progressing to kidney disease and kidney failure place a financial strain on public health systems – the need for early patient education about kidney disease and treatment options, including home-based treatments, has become critical.

From Baxter International Inc. 12 Mar 2010

Medicare News and Research

EHR Association submits responses on two regulations that implement healthcare IT incentive provisions of ARRA

APHA urges Congress to finalize health reform legislation

HHS announces awards to help states facilitate health information exchange and advance health IT

Roche Diagnostics named sole source supplier for Premier's blood glucose monitoring devices

Debate on end-of-life care

Metabolic drugs top the list of prescription drug expenses for elderly Medicare beneficiaries

President delivers emotional speech, pushes for reform in Ohio

FDA approves Watson Pharmaceuticals' ANDA for generic Cardizem LA

Issues over abortion, reconciliation rules remain in the path of health reform vote

States struggle to balance budgets, health programs face cuts

Today's Opinions and Editorials

All claims brought against Medical Properties Trust and other entities rejected

Biggest Medicare drug plans raise prices 10 percent on average

Total knee replacement surgery more common among younger patients

Health bill update: Pelosi counting votes, Scott Brown lambastes Dems

Medicare to cover OVA1 test

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

Verisk Health upgrades Explorer product line to improve organization’s exposure to healthcare risk

Leaders of LUH urge Congress not to overlook healthcare issues of Latinos in final healthcare reform legislation

Growing incidence of chronic kidney disease: Early detection and knowledge of treatment options vital

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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