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Majority of people don't feel they have a voice in debate over health care: Poll results

The Senate Finance Committee handed a major victory to the health care industry Tuesday by voting down two proposals that would have created a "public option" to compete against private health insurance providers as part of an overhaul of the nation's health care system. The industry has fought the public option with lobbying expenses and campaign contributions since the beginning of the year, fearing that the proposed policy would cut into their record profits.

1 Oct 2009

CVS Caremark to offer vouchers worth $3 million for free seasonal flu shots

With the unemployment rate currently at the highest in over two decades, CVS Caremark today announced it has begun to provide 100,000 free seasonal flu shots to the unemployed as part of its efforts to help keep Americans healthy this flu season. The initiative kicks off today at The Work Place, a member of the Massachusetts Career One-Stop Initiative in Boston.

1 Oct 2009

Health information technology can improve health care for Americans living in rural communities

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a report on how health information technology can improve health care for Americans living in rural communities. The report examines how the Columbia Basin Health Association in Othello, Wash., uses health information technology to improve health care quality and patient safety as well as promote care coordination and continuity. The complete report is available now at www.healthreform.gov.

1 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 1, 2009

The progress continues, and so does the drama, as the Senate Finance Committee complete another day of its health bill mark up. Meanwhile, in the House, leaders are counting votes among their members.

1 Oct 2009

HHS awards $7.6M to help states recruit new health care professionals for shortage areas

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced 63 awards totaling more than $7.6 million to help states recruit new health care clinicians and alleviate their debt burden. The funds are part of the $500 million appropriated to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to address workforce shortages and encourage diversity in the health professions.

1 Oct 2009

57% of Americans believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever: Kaiser poll

Public support for health reform ended its summer slide, reversed course and moved modestly upwards in September, according to the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

1 Oct 2009

10-point checklist from eHealthInsurance

eHealthInsurance, the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, today, released a 10-point checklist to help employees make informed decisions about health insurance during the traditional annual open enrollment period.

1 Oct 2009

Health care should be made secure and affordable to all: Speaker Pelosi

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman John Dingell, and Congressman Martin Heinrich joined advocates on behalf of America's seniors for a press conference this afternoon in the Capitol to discuss the benefits of the health insurance reform legislation to senior citizens.

1 Oct 2009

US employers form buying groups to keep health insurance premiums at a manageable level

While Congress debates the many aspects of health care reform, one means of reducing insurance costs already helps many US employers keep health insurance premiums at a manageable level.

1 Oct 2009

Senate Committee rejects public insurance option

The Senate Finance Committee voted down Tuesday two amendments to include a public options for health insurance coverage in health care reform.

1 Oct 2009

Consumer Watchdog urges Democrats to to support a robust public option in health insurance reform

Consumer Watchdog today called on Congressional Democrats to support a robust public option and rate regulation as a part of any health insurance reform.

1 Oct 2009

HHS announces grants to help them find eligible uninsured children for Medicaid or CHIP

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced $40 million in grants to 69 grantees in 41 states and the District of Columbia to help them find and enroll children who are uninsured but eligible for either Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

1 Oct 2009

Americans show significant interest in healthcare issues

The Keller Fay Group (www.kellerfay.com) today announced study results indicating that daily U.S. conversation during the summer months focused significantly on the topics of health insurance and the healthcare system, reflecting a dramatic shift since April of this year.

1 Oct 2009

Leading healthcare organizations choose DeviceAnywhere Test Center

As the Senate Finance Committee writes incentive bonuses for IT into the new “America’s Healthy Future Act” reform bill, there already exists a fast-growing roster of vendors and healthcare organizations delivering mobile applications that make health management more efficient, accessible, and cost-effective for the shared benefit of physicians, healthcare providers and consumers alike.

1 Oct 2009

Strong voter support for women's health provisions included in health care reform packages

A new poll released today shows strong voter support for women's health provisions included in health care reform packages currently moving though the U.S. Congress.

1 Oct 2009

Jindal to GOP: Time to say "here's what we're for"

In interviews Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Republicans need to lay out their own plans for health reform, rather than just rejecting Democratic proposals..

1 Oct 2009

New report: Without reform, state health costs could skyrocket

Even as state government officials worry that a health overhaul will compel them to spend more on Medicaid, a new report finds that states face rapid cost increases if the health care system is not reformed.

1 Oct 2009

President and Congress delve into age rating

The president and Congress are delving into issues of age rating, which most acutely affects people in their fifties and early sixties before they qualify for Medicare.

1 Oct 2009

GAO: Medicaid wastes millions on phony prescriptions for painkillers

A new report by the Government Accountability Office "finds that state and federal officials failed to detect millions of dollars in Medicaid prescription drug abuse," USA Today reports. "An audit of the government program in five large states found about 65,000 instances of beneficiaries improperly obtaining potentially addictive drugs at a cost of about $65 million during 2006 and 2007 — including thousands of prescriptions written for dead patients or by people posing as doctors."

30 Sep 2009

Better use of Medicare data could help cut costs

Economists say better use of Medicare data could help make health care less expensive while the federal program faces some cuts under current legislation.

30 Sep 2009

Health Insurance News and Research

Majority of people don't feel they have a voice in debate over health care: Poll results

CVS Caremark to offer vouchers worth $3 million for free seasonal flu shots

Health information technology can improve health care for Americans living in rural communities

First Edition: October 1, 2009

HHS awards $7.6M to help states recruit new health care professionals for shortage areas

57% of Americans believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever: Kaiser poll

10-point checklist from eHealthInsurance

Health care should be made secure and affordable to all: Speaker Pelosi

US employers form buying groups to keep health insurance premiums at a manageable level

Senate Committee rejects public insurance option

Consumer Watchdog urges Democrats to to support a robust public option in health insurance reform

HHS announces grants to help them find eligible uninsured children for Medicaid or CHIP

Americans show significant interest in healthcare issues

Leading healthcare organizations choose DeviceAnywhere Test Center

Strong voter support for women's health provisions included in health care reform packages

Jindal to GOP: Time to say "here's what we're for"

New report: Without reform, state health costs could skyrocket

President and Congress delve into age rating

GAO: Medicaid wastes millions on phony prescriptions for painkillers

Better use of Medicare data could help cut costs

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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