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Tenet Healthcare announces 9.0% increase in fourth-quarter EBITDA

Tenet Healthcare Corporation today reported adjusted EBITDA of $218 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, an increase of $18 million, or 9.0 percent, as compared to $200 million for the fourth quarter of 2008.

24 Feb 2010

Officials crack down on Medicare fraud in Miami and Los Angeles

When it comes to health care fraud, schemes that target Medicare are among the most common and lucrative. That's because the $400 billion federal program is a fat and easy target. The Obama administration ... has requested an increase for an effort to crack down on Medicare fraud.

24 Feb 2010

Rising Medicare costs linked to the growth in common costly chronic conditions: Study

Today, two of the nation's leading health and fiscal policy experts discussed how to reign in rising health care costs in Medicare in light of a new Health Affairs study that shows rising Medicare costs in the nation's health care system are linked to the growth in several common costly chronic conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and kidney disease.

24 Feb 2010

MAXIMUS receives contract to review reconsiderations of Medicare Part D program

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced today that its Federal Services subsidiary has been awarded a one-year contract by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to continue to serve as an independent review entity for reconsiderations of beneficiary appeals for the Medicare Part D program.

24 Feb 2010

Obama builds on Senate health bill in hopes of broader support

President Barack Obama's health care proposal, an effort to resuscitate the debate, merges the separate legislation passed in the Senate and House "into a final version that could pass muster in both chambers," The Washington Post reports.

24 Feb 2010

Government, with billions in loans, bets electronic medical records can improve care

The New York Times reports that electronic health records hold potential for major improvements in health outcomes for patients as the federal government puts a renewed emphasis on implementing and digitizing patients' information. "President Obama's economic stimulus included $19.2 billion for health information technology, and a number of hospital systems around the country are taking advantage of this financial incentive and investing their own money to foster the creation and use of electronic records that are expected to improve the quality, efficiency and safety of medical care."

23 Feb 2010

EHSI: Health stocks gain after federal decision on payments

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. voiced encouragement from the climb of healthcare stocks on Monday after a federal announcement on Medicare payment rates - helping offset any worries about a White House proposal to regulate premiums.

23 Feb 2010

AMA calls for fix to Medicare's doctor payments

With a sizable cut to Medicare physician payments taking effect in just one week, the American Medical Association is seeking clarity from Congress on its plan of action to stop the 21.2% reduction.

23 Feb 2010

Access Systems awarded $3.5M contract to support HHS FTS2001-Networx Transition Program Management Office

Access Systems, Inc. (ACCESS), an information technology (IT) solutions provider, has been awarded a $3.5M contract by GSA's National Capital Region to support the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) FTS2001-Networx Transition Program Management Office. ACCESS and team partner, BCCP Consulting, LLC, will assist HHS to conduct Fair Opportunity for selecting the Networx vendors that will provide telecommunications and associated professional services to the HHS OPDIVs.

23 Feb 2010

Study proves accuracy of MTWA non-invasive test in identifying patients at risk of arrhythmic events and SCD

Cambridge Heart, Inc., today announced that results of a clinical study presented at the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Belgian Society of Cardiology in Brussels, Belgium, reinforce the value of the Microvolt T-wave Alternans (MTWA) as an accurate non-invasive test to identify patients at risk of arrhythmic events and sudden cardiac death (SCD).

23 Feb 2010

Amedisys reports 19.2% increase in fourth-quarter net service revenue

Amedisys, Inc., one of America’s leading home health nursing companies, today reported its financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009. We posted record financial performance with net service revenue and net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc., increasing 19.2% and 43.5%, respectively, over the three month period ended December 31, 2008.

23 Feb 2010

Medco Health Solutions announces record 16.7% increase in total net revenues for 2009

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record fourth-quarter 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.70, up 29.6 percent compared to $0.54 in fourth-quarter 2008. Excluding the amortization of intangible assets that existed when Medco became a publicly traded company in 2003, fourth-quarter 2009 diluted earnings per share increased 28.8 percent to a record $0.76. Medco also reported record full-year 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.61, up 22.5 percent -- exceeding the high-end of the company's guidance.

23 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on President Obama's revamped health reform proposal, what it includes and how Democrats, Republicans and the insurers are reacting to it.

23 Feb 2010

USPSTF mammography recommendations: Avon Foundation for Women survey confirms states denying coverage

A recent Avon Foundation for Women survey confirms what the American College of Radiology and other experts warned would happen: states are using deeply flawed and widely discredited U.S. Preventative Services Task Force mammography recommendations to deny women coverage for mammograms, and many women are foregoing long proven, life-saving mammography care based on the mistaken USPSTF recommendations.

23 Feb 2010

OUTCOME, REACH Call partner to integrate stroke-telemedicine data into Get With The Guidelines–Stroke program

Outcome Sciences, Inc., the leading provider of patient registries, studies, and technologies for evaluating real-world outcomes, and REACH Call, the leading provider of web-based telemedicine services, today announced a partnership to integrate stroke-telemedicine data into the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®–Stroke program.

23 Feb 2010

Unitrin to sell Reserve National Insurance to Physicians Mutual

Unitrin, Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to sell its health insurance subsidiary, Reserve National Insurance Company, to Physicians Mutual®. The transaction is subject to negotiation and execution of a definitive purchase agreement, completion of due diligence and regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2010. Terms of the transaction were not announced.

23 Feb 2010

Multidisciplinary rounds may facilitate implementation of best clinical practices: Study

Multidisciplinary care teams consisting of clinicians, nurses and other health care professionals appear to be associated with a lower risk of death among patients in the intensive care unit, according to a report in the February 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A second report finds that an increasing number of surgical patients are being managed jointly by a surgeon and another clinician, such as a hospitalist or internal medicine sub-specialist.

23 Feb 2010

Pelosi calls for passage of comprehensive, affordable health insurance reform

"The President today made available to all Americans the Administration's health insurance reform proposal, which contains positive elements from the House and Senate-passed bills. I look forward to reviewing it with House Members and then joining the President and the Republican leadership at the Blair House meeting on Thursday. This discussion will continue a year-long historic level of transparency and open debate of this crucial reform effort.

23 Feb 2010

More research needed for osteoporosis treatments

Dr. Angelo Malamis says that 90 percent of his patients who have undergone a treatment called balloon kyphoplasty for vertebral fractures report significant reductions in pain and disability.

23 Feb 2010

ATR rates Obama's draft healthcare plan

Today, the White House released President Obama's draft healthcare plan.

23 Feb 2010

Medicare News and Research

Tenet Healthcare announces 9.0% increase in fourth-quarter EBITDA

Officials crack down on Medicare fraud in Miami and Los Angeles

Rising Medicare costs linked to the growth in common costly chronic conditions: Study

MAXIMUS receives contract to review reconsiderations of Medicare Part D program

Obama builds on Senate health bill in hopes of broader support

Government, with billions in loans, bets electronic medical records can improve care

EHSI: Health stocks gain after federal decision on payments

AMA calls for fix to Medicare's doctor payments

Access Systems awarded $3.5M contract to support HHS FTS2001-Networx Transition Program Management Office

Study proves accuracy of MTWA non-invasive test in identifying patients at risk of arrhythmic events and SCD

Amedisys reports 19.2% increase in fourth-quarter net service revenue

Medco Health Solutions announces record 16.7% increase in total net revenues for 2009

First Edition: February 23, 2010

USPSTF mammography recommendations: Avon Foundation for Women survey confirms states denying coverage

OUTCOME, REACH Call partner to integrate stroke-telemedicine data into Get With The Guidelines–Stroke program

Unitrin to sell Reserve National Insurance to Physicians Mutual

Multidisciplinary rounds may facilitate implementation of best clinical practices: Study

Pelosi calls for passage of comprehensive, affordable health insurance reform

More research needed for osteoporosis treatments

ATR rates Obama's draft healthcare plan

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