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Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Procter & Gamble to co-promote Silenor

Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Somaxon and Procter & Gamble have entered into a co-promotion agreement for Silenor (doxepin), a newly-approved treatment for insomnia characterized by difficulty with sleep maintenance.

25 Aug 2010

Kindred subsidiaries to acquire 5 long-term acute care hospitals from Vista Healthcare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced that its subsidiaries have signed a definitive agreement to acquire five long-term acute care ("LTAC") hospitals from Vista Healthcare, LLC for a purchase price of $180 million in cash.

25 Aug 2010

States look to slow spending, raise money and extend savings for Medicaid

"A plan to cut reimbursement rates to doctors who care for the poor and disabled has led to a tussle between Gov. Bev Perdue and North Carolina physicians. In the current state budget, Perdue and the legislature agreed that Medicaid reimbursement rates would be reduced by $26.6 million or 1.35 percent, if the state found it necessary to close a gap in federal Medicaid funding. Perdue's office says the cut is now necessary. The doctors say the state has access to plenty of federal money and could use a $300 million federal education windfall to avoid cutting the rates".

25 Aug 2010

Use of multi-payer portals for community-focused Medicaid organizations to be highlighted at MMIS Conference

NaviNet, America's largest real-time healthcare communications network, announced that Vice President of Delivery Sebastiaan Foppema will speak at the 2010 Medicaid Management Information Systems Conference, held in Portland, Oregon, August 15-19, 2010. The MMIS Conference provides an opportunity for various constituents of the State, Federal and private sectors to come together to share ideas related to Medicaid IT systems and heath policy in a rapidly changing healthcare market.

18 Aug 2010

Some Mass. residents fight individual mandate for health insurance, N.J. delays implementation of law requiring outpatient mental-health treatment

A former hospital executive has accused Naples-based Health Management Associates of offering money, free rent and private jet trips to entice doctors to refer Medicare patients to the company's hospitals. ... In a whistleblower lawsuit unsealed Aug. 2 by a federal judge, former hospital CEO J. Michael Mastej also accused his former employer of filing fraudulent claims on services HMA's facilities provided the ill-gotten Medicare patients.

12 Aug 2010

Labopharm launches antidepressant OLEPTRO for major depressive disorder in U.S.

Labopharm Inc. today announced that OLEPTRO(TM) (trazodone hydrochloride extended-release tablets), a novel once-daily formulation of the antidepressant trazodone, has been launched in the United States by its joint venture with Gruppo Angelini, Angelini Labopharm. OLEPTRO(TM) is indicated for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. The efficacy of OLEPTRO(TM) has been established in a trial of outpatients with MDD as well as in trials with the immediate release formulation of trazodone.

11 Aug 2010

Advocat second-quarter revenues increase 3.4% to $141.6 million

Advocat Inc. today announced its results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010. On August 5, 2010 the Company declared a third quarter dividend of 5.5 cents per common share. The dividend will be paid October 14, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.

10 Aug 2010

Hospital revenue cycle leaders establish protocols for responding to RACs

Most hospital revenue cycle leaders have established protocols for responding to Revenue Audit Contractors, as well as post-payment audits targeting Medicaid and commercial claims. Mindful of the dollars at stake, these leaders have employed a number of technology and process-related improvements to mitigate risk and solidify overall revenue integrity.

7 Aug 2010

Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver better health results: Study

Preliminary data from a study of private insurance and Medicare claims commissioned by the American Association of Diabetes Educators reveal that ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver results in terms of better health and reduced private insurance and Medicare claims.

7 Aug 2010

GAO: Medicaid managed care contracts need better CMS oversight

The Government Accountability Office released a report Wednesday that says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services needs better oversight of Medicaid managed care contracts.

6 Aug 2010

MHPA responds to GAO report on Medicaid managed care rates

Today, Medicaid Health Plans of America responded to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report that found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has not been consistently reviewing states' compliance with actuarial soundness requirements (developed in accordance with actuarial principles, appropriate for the population and services, and certified by actuaries) in setting Medicaid managed care rates.

5 Aug 2010

Amputation can be prevented when patients are treated by podiatric physicians: Study

Amputation, one of the most devastating and costly consequences of diabetes, can be prevented when patients are treated by podiatric physicians. That's the finding of a national, large-scale study co-authored by Dr. James Wrobel, DPM, MS, Associate Professor of Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.

5 Aug 2010

Triple-S Management second-quarter total consolidated operating revenues up 8.2%

Triple-S Management Corporation, the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $522.7 million and operating income of $26.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. Net income of $15.1 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, includes an after tax net loss of $4.5 million, or $0.16 per share, related to net realized and unrealized losses on investments and derivatives.

4 Aug 2010

Tenet Healthcare second-quarter adjusted EBITDA increases 8.9% to $268 million

Tenet Healthcare Corporation today reported adjusted EBITDA of $268 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, an increase of $22 million, or 8.9 percent, as compared to $246 million for the second quarter of 2009. Net income attributable to common shareholders for the second quarter of 2010 was $25 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $15 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009.

3 Aug 2010

Acorda second-quarter net loss decreases to $6.8 million

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

$Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking TZDs at increased fracture risk$

Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking TZDs at increased fracture risk

Postmenopausal women with diabetes taking thiazolidinediones (TZDS), including rosiglitazone and pioglitazone, may be at increased risk for fractures according to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). Men with diabetes taking both loop diuretics and TZDs may also be at increased risk of fractures.

29 Jul 2010

NeoGenomics second-quarter 2010 revenue increases 14% to $8.5 million

NeoGenomics, Inc., a leading provider of cancer-focused genetic testing services today reported its results for the second quarter 2010.

29 Jul 2010

WellCare Health Plans awarded URAC accreditation

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Full Health Plan Accreditation for its HealthEase of Florida and WellCare of Florida subsidiaries by URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. URAC's Health Plan Accreditation standards include key quality benchmarks for network management, provider credentialing, utilization management, quality management and improvement and consumer protection.

29 Jul 2010

GOP continues call for health law repeal; Census releases uninsured data

The Washington Post: New census data reveal big differences among states in the rate of uninsured people under age 65. Massachusetts has the lowest rate, 7.8 percent, and Texas the highest, 26.8 percent. "The statistics are for 2007 and show health insurance coverage by state and for each of the country's roughly 3,140 counties. The numbers do not include the impact on millions of people who lost their jobs and health insurance after the recession began in December 2007."

29 Jul 2010

Insurers test at-home technology, monitoring devices to help cut heart failure hospitalizations

Technology that aims to keep congestive heart failure patients out of the hospital is gaining traction. The idea is for heart patients to take readings like their weight, blood pressure and other key metrics using wireless and other technologies; the data are then transmitted to a case manager or medical care giver.

28 Jul 2010