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Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for energy efficiency services

Premier Purchasing Partners, LP, announced today new agreements for energy efficiency services have been awarded to American Energy Assets LLC. of Denver, a small business enterprise; Energy Automation Systems Inc. of Hendersonville, Tenn., a small business enterprise; Encelium Technologies of Teaneck, N.J.; Johnson Controls Inc. of Milwaukee; Tolin Mechanical Systems of Denver, a small business enterprise; and Trane USA Inc. of Antioch, Tenn.

23 Jan 2010

Groups call for permanent fix for doctor payment formula

National groups are calling for a permanent solution to the doctor payment formula and warning about a possible shortage in doctors and impending decline in Medicare payments. The Virginian-Pilot reports: "If Congress doesn't intervene, a funding formula will trigger a 21 percent cut in reimbursements to doctors in the Medicare and Tricare programs on March 1, a group of national organizations warned Thursday. That, the group said, will force doctors to drop out of the programs and make it tougher for elderly and military beneficiaries to get health care.

23 Jan 2010

Searching for consensus, Dems consider potential of paring back health reform

"Passage of a comprehensive [health] bill looked impossible after the Democrats' loss of a Senate seat in Massachusetts. As an alternative, lawmakers in both parties said, some pieces of the bills already passed by the House and the Senate could be pulled out and packaged together in a measure that would command broad support."

23 Jan 2010

Health Policy Research: Covering young adults, Acos, wellness programs

Dependent Coverage Expansions: Estimating the Impact of Current State Policies - "With an estimated 29.3 percent of Americans age 19 to 29 lacking coverage, young adults are more likely to be uninsured than any other age group," the authors note.

22 Jan 2010

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

We will ultimately have real health care reform in this country for a very simple reason: We have no choice and both Democrats and Republicans understand that. More importantly, the American people know it (Robert Laszewski, 1/22).

22 Jan 2010

St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network takes major steps to reduce its carbon footprint

St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network has taken a major step towards reducing its carbon footprint. By purchasing 10 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources, the health system will realize an annual 2,900 ton reduction of carbon dioxide, a significant component of greenhouse gas.

22 Jan 2010

Envision Pharmaceutical Services receives high customer satisfaction rating for second consecutive year

The Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute (PBMI) recently released the results of its 2009 Pharmacy Benefit Management Customer Satisfaction Report and Envision Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. received the highest overall customer scores for the second straight year.

22 Jan 2010

Best Medicare Advantage plan websites selected for MedicareWebWatch certification

HealthMetrix Research Inc., an independent research firm, today announced the selection of 22 Medicare Advantage plan websites for MedicareWebWatch certification. The announcement was made during the 7th Annual Medicare Congress held in Washington, DC.

22 Jan 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals provides detailed overview of its global operations at Investor Day meeting in NY

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today provided a detailed overview of its expanded global operations, enhanced supply chain capabilities and commercial and pipeline developments in its Brand and Generics businesses during an Investor Day meeting held in New York, NY.

22 Jan 2010

AMA, AARP and MOAA join in unprecedented multi-state event to focus on Medicare physician cuts

Focusing on looming Medicare physician cuts of 21 percent that begin on March 1, the American Medical Association (AMA), AARP and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) joined together today in an unprecedented multi-state event.

21 Jan 2010

Medicare fraud round-up: N.D. beneficiaries getting illegal phone calls, doctor indicted in Ohio

The Bismarck Tribune reports on a new scheme "asking seniors to pay up for not having Part D coverage. The scammers have been calling beneficiaries saying they owe a penalty for not having the Part D prescription drug coverage and that they need to pay the fine right away, said a release from the office of the Insurance Commissioner" (1/20).

21 Jan 2010

Democrats consider scaling back health reform package

ABC News interviewed President Barack Obama, who said: "The Senate certainly shouldn't try to jam anything through until Scott Brown is seated. People in Massachusetts spoke. He's got to be part of that process. ... I think point number two is that it is very important to look at the substance of this package and for the American people to understand that a lot of the fear mongering around this bill isn't true. I would advise that we try to move quickly to coalesce around those elements of the package that people agree on" (Stephanopoulos, 1/20).

21 Jan 2010

Health care companies assess where they stand on health reform after election

The Wall Street Journal reports that several firms reiterated support for a health care reform bill Wednesday, a day after the overhaul's viability was called into question by the victory of Republican Sen.-elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts. "PhRMA, the drug industry association, as well as companies including Pfizer Inc., Johnson & Johnson, WellPoint Inc. and Humana Inc., voiced support for an overhaul of some kind, despite objections among insurers about the efforts to date."

21 Jan 2010

UnitedHealth Group announces its revenues and net earnings in 2009

UnitedHealth Group today reported growth in revenues and net earnings per share in 2009. The Company earned $0.81 per share in the fourth quarter, bringing full year 2009 net earnings to $3.24 per share.

21 Jan 2010

"Fast track" deficit commission opposed

Progressive leaders representing more than 50 groups will join together in a news conference call this morning to oppose Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Sen. Judd Gregg's, D-N.H., controversial plan to create a "fast track" deficit commission.

21 Jan 2010

THCA concerned over pressure on state and federal funding for Texas' nursing home residents

The President of the Texas Health Care Association (THCA), Tim Graves, today expressed concern about the growing cumulative pressure on the critical state and federal funding needed to preserve and protect Texas' most vulnerable nursing home residents. Specifically, Graves warned that sharp federal Medicare cuts already put in place by the Obama Administration in late 2009 – as well as those contained within the pending federal health care reform bill – must be a key consideration as state lawmakers begin assessing budgetary priorities in the face of looming state budget deficits.

21 Jan 2010

FDA approves Thoratec's HeartMate II LVAS for DT

Thoratec Corporation, a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, said today that it has received FDA approval of its PMA (Pre-Market Approval) supplement, allowing the use of its HeartMate II LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) for Destination Therapy (DT).

21 Jan 2010

Medicare News and Research

Premier Purchasing Partners announces new agreements for energy efficiency services

Groups call for permanent fix for doctor payment formula

Searching for consensus, Dems consider potential of paring back health reform

Health Policy Research: Covering young adults, Acos, wellness programs

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

St. Luke’s Hospital & Health Network takes major steps to reduce its carbon footprint

Envision Pharmaceutical Services receives high customer satisfaction rating for second consecutive year

Best Medicare Advantage plan websites selected for MedicareWebWatch certification

Watson Pharmaceuticals provides detailed overview of its global operations at Investor Day meeting in NY

AMA, AARP and MOAA join in unprecedented multi-state event to focus on Medicare physician cuts

Medicare fraud round-up: N.D. beneficiaries getting illegal phone calls, doctor indicted in Ohio

Democrats consider scaling back health reform package

Health care companies assess where they stand on health reform after election

UnitedHealth Group announces its revenues and net earnings in 2009

"Fast track" deficit commission opposed

THCA concerned over pressure on state and federal funding for Texas' nursing home residents

FDA approves Thoratec's HeartMate II LVAS for DT

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Blue Shield of California to offer Healthways' SilverSneakers Fitness Program to Medicare beneficiaries

FDA approves HeartMate II for patients with severe heart failure

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

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