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First Edition: January 25, 2010

Today's news begins to set the scene for the President's upcoming State of the Union address, and provides continuing coverage of Democrats' efforts to regroup on health reform.

25 Jan 2010

New book on fraud and abuse laws and regulations affecting health care industry published

BNA Books, a division of specialized news and information publisher BNA, announced today the publication of the 2009 Cumulative Supplement to Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Practical Perspectives, Second Edition.

23 Jan 2010

UK Gill Heart Institute offers individualized fitness program for heart patients

How do you change health habits among a population with some of the highest heart disease rates in the world? Tackling heart disease in Kentucky - an epicenter of heart health problems - the University of Kentucky Gill Heart Institute Cardiac Rehabilitation Program is helping high-risk patients make radical, lasting changes to improve their heart health.

23 Jan 2010

Detroit jury convicts physician for healthcare fraud conspiracy

Troy, Mich., physician Toe Myint was convicted today by a Detroit jury of conspiracy to commit health care fraud in a $4.2 million Medicare Fraud scheme, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade of the Eastern District of Michigan; Special-Agent-in-Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office; and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

23 Jan 2010

Centene prices follow-on public offering of common stock

Centene Corporation today announced the pricing of its previously announced follow-on public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $19.25 per share.

23 Jan 2010

Smoking and high blood pressure increase risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm in men over 60

Men ages 65 and older who have ever smoked should have a one-time, say cardiologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Men age 60 and older with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm should also consider screening. High blood pressure and a history of smoking can increase your chances of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

23 Jan 2010

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that Americans are divided over congressional health reform proposals, but also that large shares of people, including skeptics, become more supportive after being told about many of the major provisions in the bills.

23 Jan 2010

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

Medicare News and Research

First Edition: January 25, 2010

New book on fraud and abuse laws and regulations affecting health care industry published

UK Gill Heart Institute offers individualized fitness program for heart patients

Detroit jury convicts physician for healthcare fraud conspiracy

Centene prices follow-on public offering of common stock

Smoking and high blood pressure increase risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm in men over 60

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

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

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