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Rochester Medical announces operating results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009

Rochester Medical Corporation today announced operating results for its fourth quarter and year ended September 30, 2009.

6 Nov 2009

Pelosi says House will pass health bill; measure gains AARP, AMA backing

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says she will have enough votes to pass Democratic health care legislation by Saturday. "The statement, however, is a tacit acknowledgement that she doesn't have them yet," The Hill reports.

6 Nov 2009

Average cost of patient deaths much higher than patients who were discharged alive

One of every three people who died in 2007 in the United States were in the hospital for treatment at the time of their deaths, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The cost of their hospital stays was about $20 billion.

6 Nov 2009

DOJ investigates alleged fraud by drugmakers; sanctions on wellcare lifted

"A $112 million settlement involving alleged drug kickbacks that the Justice Dept. announced with the nation's largest nursing home pharmacy and a generic drug manufacturer on Nov. 3 is part of a wide-ranging investigation of suspected Medicaid fraud by the pharmaceutical industry," Business Week reports. "Critics say the continuing probe, which involves Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) and other major drugmakers, highlights what they describe as an industry practice of paying money to outfits that provide drugs to consumers, in return for preferential treatment."

6 Nov 2009

Lack of evidence a problem for policymakers, doctors and patients

One category of medical mysteries that stumps expert doctors and policymakers alike falls under the heading: What works? News reports on two new studies - and one that was never completed - offer insight into that issue.

6 Nov 2009

Study: Public opinion on health care reform has echoes of 1994

"Americans' opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats," The Boston Globe reports.

5 Nov 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

When Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the revised House Democratic health care bill last week, the Obama White House hailed it as a "critical milestone" in the process. No doubt senior administration officials were relieved to see signs of "momentum" toward passage of something. But if the president really meant what he has said about health care policy throughout this year, his administration would be working to defeat the Pelosi bill, not supporting it (James Capretta).

5 Nov 2009

Doctors scrutinize defensive medicine, surgeons oppose Senate reform bill

Doctors and lawyers are disputing the true costs of defensive medicine, while surgeons oppose provisions being considered by the Senate for health reform.

5 Nov 2009

Saturday night vote set on house health reform

The Washington Post reports: "Democratic whips worked their rank and file, while House leaders tried to secure a momentum-building endorsement from the AARP, the nation's largest association of people over 50. President Obama, meanwhile, laid plans to visit Capitol Hill on Thursday or Friday to address House Democrats in a final push for his signature domestic initiative.

5 Nov 2009

AMA announces support for concurrent passage of health system reform bills

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced support for concurrent passage of H.R. 3962 and H.R. 3961, U.S. House of Representatives health system reform bills.

5 Nov 2009

AARP, key retirees' lobby, to endorse Democrats' health bill

AARP, the influential retirees' lobby, is expected to endorse House Democrats' plan to overhaul the health system today, the Associated Press reports, citing unnamed officials. "Backing the 10-year, $1.2 trillion House bill is a tricky move for AARP.

5 Nov 2009

I-Flow reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

I-FLOW CORPORATION announced today that total revenue for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009 increased 14% to $36.7 million compared to total revenue of $32.2 million for the third quarter of 2008.

5 Nov 2009

First-quarter fiscal 2010 results announced by Continucare

Continucare Corporation today reported financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2010.

5 Nov 2009

Third-quarter financial results of Metropolitan Health Networks reported

Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare services in Florida, today reported the company’s financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

First Edition: November 5, 2009

Today's headlines center on the House health overhaul vote scheduled for Saturday -- what some are calling a potentially 'historic moment' for Democrats.

5 Nov 2009

Neurometrix reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

NeuroMetrix, Inc., a health care company transforming patient care through neurotechnology, today announced its third quarter financial results.

5 Nov 2009

MFA: Fewer Medicare Advantage plans to be offered for 2010

A new report from Mark Farrah Associates (MFA), found 18% fewer Medicare Advantage (MA) plans will be offered for 2010 as the number of unique plans offered nationwide declined from 3,700 to 3,025.

5 Nov 2009

Surgical groups oppose Senate’s health care reform bill

Twenty surgical organizations, led by the American College of Surgeons, sent a letter to the U.S. Senate today stating they are prepared to oppose the Senate's health care reform bill because it will threaten patient access and harm quality.

5 Nov 2009

HHS Secretary kicks off the nation’s largest campaign to find and enroll uninsured children

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today called on states and communities to join with HHS to redouble efforts to find and enroll the 5 million children who are currently eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), but are not yet covered. The Secretary issued this call to action as she opened the National Children’s Health Insurance Summit in Chicago, kicking off the nation’s largest campaign to find and enroll uninsured children in over a decade.

5 Nov 2009

Cook Medical and AOPA partner to offer AAA screenings at AOPA Aviation Summit

Cook Medical is partnering with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) at this year’s AOPA Aviation Summit in Tampa, Fla. from November 5-7 to provide free abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screenings to its attendees at high risk for AAA.

5 Nov 2009