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FDA's issues guidance on Bayesian statistical methods in medical device clinical trials

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued guidance on Bayesian statistical methods in the design and analysis of medical device clinical trials that could result in less costly and more efficient patient studies.

6 Feb 2010

FDA grants Talecris Biotherapeutics orphan drug designation for Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor to treat AAT deficiency

Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced today that it was granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the development of an aerosol formulation of Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human, A1PI) to treat congenital alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. AAT deficiency is a chronic, hereditary condition that increases the risk of certain diseases, especially emphysema, which typically emerges in the fourth decade of life. Currently, there are no approved, inhaled treatments available for the treatment of AAT deficiency.

5 Feb 2010

New ICD-9-CM database provides FDA-approved and off-label uses for therapeutic drugs

A recently released Drug Diagnosis Coding database from RJ Health Systems provides accurate FDA-approved and Compendia-listed off-label uses for therapeutic classes such as Oncology, Anti-Emetics, Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents and Multiple Sclerosis Agents. The

5 Feb 2010

Nearly 50% of essential services provided for cancer treatment not reimbursed by Medicare

A comprehensive study of the components of the delivery of modern-day cancer care in community oncology practices revealed that Medicare covers only 56% of the actual costs of administering chemotherapy and providing related infusion room services to seniors with cancer. The remaining costs -- for essential services provided such as treatment planning, care coordination, and follow-up care planning -- are not reimbursed by Medicare, causing many oncology practices to struggle to continue to provide care under the Medicare program.

5 Feb 2010

Over 3.5 million crash victims were treated in hospital emergency departments in 2006, says AHRQ report

About 3.5 million motor vehicle crash victims were treated in emergency departments in 2006 for injuries ranging from scrapes and bruises to life-threatening trauma, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

5 Feb 2010

Hope for back pain: Minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and spinal cord stimulation

Results from the first prospective study of minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and long-term data on spinal cord stimulation demonstrate the viability of these options to achieve pain relief in patients with various back pain conditions. The studies were presented today at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

5 Feb 2010

New report finds low adult vaccination rates in U.S.

A new report, Adult Immunization: Shots to Save Lives, released today by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) found that more than 30 percent of adults ages 65 and older had not been immunized against pneumonia in 36 states as of 2008.

5 Feb 2010

CCHP implements TriZetto systems to improve its network and health management programs

The TriZetto Group, Inc. today announced that Chinese Community Health Plan (CCHP) has successfully implemented several TriZetto systems, including the Facets®, NetworX Pricer® and Clinical CareAdvance® applications.

5 Feb 2010

Gentiva Health Services sells respiratory/HME and infusion therapy businesses to Lincare Holdings subsidiary

Gentiva Health Services, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive home health services, announced today that it has sold its businesses providing respiratory therapy and home medical equipment, and infusion therapy to a subsidiary of Lincare Holdings Inc. in an all-cash transaction. Terms were not disclosed.

5 Feb 2010

With health reform stalled, Medicare coverage for some therapies subject to caps

Stalled health care reform efforts have created several unresolved issues, some of which related to Medicare and Medicaid.

5 Feb 2010

American Heart Month aims to spread awareness of women and heart disease

More than five times as many women are diagnosed with heart disease each year than with breast cancer. American Heart Month in February aims to spread awareness of women and heart disease, and one Alabama company has found the quickest way to a woman's heart might be through her gynecologist.

5 Feb 2010

Virginia AG works to increase outpatient treatment for mentally ill; Iowa hospitals oppose Medicare fraud bill

News outlets report on health care developments in Virginia, the District of Columbia, California, Iowa, Maryland, Maine and Michigan.

5 Feb 2010

Majority of rural hospital stays are covered by Medicare

Medicare patients accounted for almost half of all stays (45 percent) at rural hospitals in 2007, while the percentage of Medicare beneficiaries who were admitted to urban hospitals was considerably lower (35 percent) , according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

5 Feb 2010

Health spending consumes more of U.S. economy, will tip toward government

A new report by federal actuaries shows government programs will pay for more than half of all U.S. health care spending by 2012, and that total spending on health grew as a share of the economy by 1.1 percent last year to 17.3 percent, the largest leap ever, the Los Angeles Times reports.

4 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 4, 2010

Health care spending is taking an increasingly big bite out of the nation's economy, according to today's headlines.

4 Feb 2010

Closing funding gap for federal viral hepatitis education, screening and surveillance programs stops liver cancer

With most liver cancer caused by undetected or untreated hepatitis B or C viral infection, the 22,000 new cases of liver cancer that are diagnosed each year could be dramatically reduced if Congress took decisive action to close the funding gap for federal viral hepatitis education, screening, and surveillance programs, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) said today.

4 Feb 2010

Surgery pricing secrets: The challenges patients face

Patients are the losers in both the Democratic and Republican versions of the health care reform bills. Proposed health care reform won't help patients find out how much health care costs before they get care and many hospitals aren't set up to help.

4 Feb 2010

AAUCM recognizes the benefits of PHT's A-Claim medical payment solution

The American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine (AAUCM) has begun a sponsorship of the A-Claim™ medical payment solution that includes discounts on A-Claim for all AAUCM members.

4 Feb 2010

Penrose-St. Francis Health Systems selects CardiacAssist's TandemHeart System

CardiacAssist Inc. announced today that Penrose-St. Francis Health Systems, Colorado Springs, Colo., has adopted the company’s TandemHeart® System.

4 Feb 2010

State round up: Florida considers eliminating popular Medicaid plan; State program for low-income adults changing in Minn.

e year the state of Florida eliminates its popular MediPass program, which gives more than half a million Medicaid recipients, mostly aged and disabled Floridians, an alternative to HMOs. Hints of its demise showed up in the governor's budget and letters from a powerful lawmaker.

4 Feb 2010

Medicare News and Research

FDA's issues guidance on Bayesian statistical methods in medical device clinical trials

FDA grants Talecris Biotherapeutics orphan drug designation for Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor to treat AAT deficiency

New ICD-9-CM database provides FDA-approved and off-label uses for therapeutic drugs

Nearly 50% of essential services provided for cancer treatment not reimbursed by Medicare

Over 3.5 million crash victims were treated in hospital emergency departments in 2006, says AHRQ report

Hope for back pain: Minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and spinal cord stimulation

New report finds low adult vaccination rates in U.S.

CCHP implements TriZetto systems to improve its network and health management programs

Gentiva Health Services sells respiratory/HME and infusion therapy businesses to Lincare Holdings subsidiary

With health reform stalled, Medicare coverage for some therapies subject to caps

American Heart Month aims to spread awareness of women and heart disease

Virginia AG works to increase outpatient treatment for mentally ill; Iowa hospitals oppose Medicare fraud bill

Majority of rural hospital stays are covered by Medicare

Health spending consumes more of U.S. economy, will tip toward government

First Edition: February 4, 2010

Closing funding gap for federal viral hepatitis education, screening and surveillance programs stops liver cancer

Surgery pricing secrets: The challenges patients face

AAUCM recognizes the benefits of PHT's A-Claim medical payment solution

Penrose-St. Francis Health Systems selects CardiacAssist's TandemHeart System

State round up: Florida considers eliminating popular Medicaid plan; State program for low-income adults changing in Minn.

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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