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International Merchant Advisors signs LOI to purchase minority interest in Assured Pharmacy

International Merchant Advisors, Inc. www.imaiinc.com announced today that the company has signed a letter of intent to purchase a minority interest in Assured Pharmacy, Inc. www.assuredpharmacyinc.com, a retail pharmaceutical operation that is focused on selling prescription medications in the chronic pain management medical sector.

16 Feb 2010

FDA’s radiation exposure-reduction initiative: HealthHelp’s model provides quality and safety

The Federal Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recently announced radiation exposure-reduction initiative acknowledges the vital need for industry-wide quality and safety measures like the ones HealthHelp provides its payer clients.

16 Feb 2010

Hip and knee replacement surgery at specialized hospitals lead to better outcomes for patients

The more specialized a hospital is in orthopedic surgical care, the better the outcomes appear to be for patients undergoing hip and knee replacement surgery, University of Iowa researchers report in a new study of Medicare patients.

16 Feb 2010

Case study demonstrates positive impact of diabetes management program

A case study published in the current issue of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, demonstrates the positive impact of a diabetes management program designed to educate and motivate members to engage in their health care. The program was implemented by CVS Caremark and Polk County, Florida, a self-insured government employer client.

16 Feb 2010

Chemed announces financial results for fourth-quarter ended December 31, 2009

Chemed Corporation, which operates VITAS Healthcare Corporation, the nation’s largest provider of end-of-life care, and Roto-Rooter, the nation’s largest commercial and residential plumbing and drain cleaning services provider, reported financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2009, versus the comparable prior-year period

15 Feb 2010

Surgical outcomes for hip and knee replacement better at specialized hospitals

15 Feb 2010

Research roundup: Bundled payments, PTSD incidence, cost of treating immigrants

This paper examines the spending for health care of adult naturalized citizens and immigrant noncitizens (including some undocumented immigrants) compared to U.S. natives, as documented in data from the 1999-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS): "inflation and age-adjusted health care expenditures among noncitizen immigrants were consistently … lower than those of naturalized citizens and U.S. natives during 1999-2006."

15 Feb 2010

Free educational webinar: Important aspects to be aware of when selecting EHR system

Community oncologists, practice administrators (PAs), executive directors (EDs), and clinical staff interested in learning the most important aspects to be aware of when selecting the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system most appropriate for your particular practice are invited to attend a free webinar at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.

15 Feb 2010

The President's health summit invite to lawmakers: 'Bring comprehensive legislation'

The Washington Post: "In a letter to lawmakers, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the half-day meeting at Blair House would include the top Democratic and Republican congressional leaders and the ranking members in committees that deal with health care. Outlining the format for a session some Republicans have derided as little more than political theater, the Obama advisers said both parties would be allowed to invite four other members each to the discussion, to begin at 10 a.m. and be televised live" (Shear, 2/13).

15 Feb 2010

Phrma's Tauzin quits amid talk that White House deal caused tension within organization

Former congressman and powerful lobbyist Billy Tauzin is resigning as head of the pharmaceutical industry trade group after a deal he helped broker with the White House on health reform strained relationships inside the group.

15 Feb 2010

IMAI formally offered to purchase equity position in pharmaceutical operation

International Merchant Advisors, Inc. announced today that the company has formally offered to purchase an equity position in a pharmaceutical operation that is focused on selling in the chronic pain management medical sector.

15 Feb 2010

Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mich., Arizona plan Medicaid cuts; N.C.'s prison health costs

The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune: Louisiana "Gov. Bobby Jindal will present his 2010-11 budget request Friday, which is expected to call for cuts to health care, education and other areas of state government as his administration outlines plans for plugging a $1 billion shortfall. ... The general-fund growth is not nearly enough to offset a loss of about $650 million in federal health-care financing, the rising cost of state pensions, automatic pay raises for state workers and inflation in health-care programs."

15 Feb 2010

KFHP/H reports net income of $2.1 billion for 2009

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries (KFHP/H) reported today a combined total operating revenue of $10.6 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, compared to $10.0 billion in the same period in 2008. Operating income was $214 million, equal to two percent of revenue, in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to $108 million in the same quarter of the prior year. Net non-operating income was $276 million in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared to a net non-operating loss of $1.1 billion in the same quarter of 2008.

15 Feb 2010

Biden promises to listen to GOP's health care ideas, but some Republicans are not convinced

The health care reform legislation may have been eclipsed recently by the jobs bill and the war in Afghanistan for top billing on the Sunday morning news shows. But Democrats and Republicans still found time to push their positions on health policy Sunday.

14 Feb 2010

Today's OpEds: Republicans and Medicare, small business health costs and changes to FEHBP

Republican leaders are now saying they will not participate in the meeting unless the president takes his health reform plan off the table to start over. I understand their concerns with a variety of issues in the current bills, but where you start is not nearly as important as where you finish. After all, fees continue to skyrocket and millions remain uninsured, costing our country in many ways. ... There is no time like the present for Washington to show America that it is interested in governing, not just in campaigning. The cameras will be rolling, and we will be watching (Christine Todd Whitman, 2/12).

14 Feb 2010

2 Seattle doctors accused of Medicare fraud; CNN offers advice for patients on checking out their doctors

Two Seattle-area doctors are accused of stealing millions from Medicare through fraudulent billing. "In separate grand jury indictments filed in U.S. District Court, federal authorities contend both men followed identical schemes in setting up shell companies designed to defraud the Medicare system."

14 Feb 2010

COBRA extension out of revised Senate jobs bill

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is rewriting a jobs bill after Democrats complained of too many concessions to Republicans," The Hill reports. Unlike the bill unveiled hours earlier by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., Reid's measure "does not extend unemployment and COBRA benefits that many in both parties want." Some Democrats are concerned by the change.

14 Feb 2010

ISMPP announces opening of registration for 6th annual meeting on medical publications

The International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) is pleased to announce the opening of registration for its 6th annual meeting, "Delivering Value and Driving Advocacy in Medical Publications." The meeting will run from April 19 to 21, 2010, in Arlington, VA, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott.

12 Feb 2010

Cuts to Texas Medicaid payment rates will hurt nursing home care providers

In testimony at a Health and Human Service Commission (HHSC) hearing on possible budget reduction options, the President of the Texas Health Care Association (THCA) warned that any cuts now to Texas Medicaid payment rates for nursing home care will confront the nursing home profession with dire financial consequences.

12 Feb 2010

AHA survey: Heart disease and stroke patients fare poorly under current health care system

A new American Heart Association survey substantiates that the need for health care reform has not gone away. Many heart disease and stroke patients are faring poorly under the current health care system, with nearly two-thirds citing affordability as the top concern of those suffering from cardiovascular disease.

12 Feb 2010

Medicare News and Research

International Merchant Advisors signs LOI to purchase minority interest in Assured Pharmacy

FDA’s radiation exposure-reduction initiative: HealthHelp’s model provides quality and safety

Hip and knee replacement surgery at specialized hospitals lead to better outcomes for patients

Case study demonstrates positive impact of diabetes management program

Chemed announces financial results for fourth-quarter ended December 31, 2009

Surgical outcomes for hip and knee replacement better at specialized hospitals

Research roundup: Bundled payments, PTSD incidence, cost of treating immigrants

Free educational webinar: Important aspects to be aware of when selecting EHR system

The President's health summit invite to lawmakers: 'Bring comprehensive legislation'

Phrma's Tauzin quits amid talk that White House deal caused tension within organization

IMAI formally offered to purchase equity position in pharmaceutical operation

Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mich., Arizona plan Medicaid cuts; N.C.'s prison health costs

KFHP/H reports net income of $2.1 billion for 2009

Biden promises to listen to GOP's health care ideas, but some Republicans are not convinced

Today's OpEds: Republicans and Medicare, small business health costs and changes to FEHBP

2 Seattle doctors accused of Medicare fraud; CNN offers advice for patients on checking out their doctors

COBRA extension out of revised Senate jobs bill

ISMPP announces opening of registration for 6th annual meeting on medical publications

Cuts to Texas Medicaid payment rates will hurt nursing home care providers

AHA survey: Heart disease and stroke patients fare poorly under current health care system

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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