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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

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

Childhood obesity in America is a major public health issue. Blue Cross Blue Shield, committed to building a healthier Michigan, is partnering with schools across the state to get kids moving and eating healthier.

21 Jan 2010

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

Blue Shield of California announced today that it will expand its contract with Healthways, Inc. to offer the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program to Blue Shield Medicare Advantage members in San Bernardino County.

21 Jan 2010

FDA approves HeartMate II for patients with severe heart failure

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the HeartMate II, a continuous-flow, left ventricular assist system as a support for severe heart failure patients who are not acceptable candidates for heart transplantation.

20 Jan 2010

Amedisys and Humana sign national agreement to provide better home healthcare services

Amedisys Inc., one of America's leading home health nursing companies, today announced that it has signed a national agreement with Humana Inc. to provide home health services to Humana’s Medicare Advantage members effective Jan. 1, 2010.

20 Jan 2010

Vanguard Health Systems to implement and offer Dossia Personal Health Record to its employees

Dossia, a leading Personal Health Record Platform provider, today announced that Vanguard Health Systems, a leading healthcare provider that joined the Dossia Founders Group in June 2009, is the second Dossia Founder to implement and offer the Dossia Personal Health Record to its employees.

20 Jan 2010

Besides LDL, Lp(a) can also increase risk for heart disease

LDL isn't the only "bad boy" when it comes to cholesterol. According to a new study, a lipoprotein in the bloodstream called Lp(a) — pronounced "LP little A" — can be labeled "bad cholesterol."

20 Jan 2010

Dynamic mapping may help in detecting links between diseases and environmental exposures

A team of researchers has developed a dynamic mapping tool to gain a more nuanced view of the links between diseases and environmental exposures. The application of the method is illustrated by a number of examples of associations between environmental exposures and Salmonella infections among people in the US age 65 and over in 2002.

20 Jan 2010

LaserBand chooses Premier Purchasing Partners as sole source provider for proprietary patient IDs

LaserBand LLC, a worldwide leader in patient identification wristbands, was awarded a contract with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P. to be the sole source provider for proprietary patient identification (ID) bands and related products.

20 Jan 2010

Bederra in preliminary discussions to acquire Home Healthcare Company

Bederra Corporation, a Houston, Texas-based, diversified medical services provider announced today that it is in preliminary discussions to acquire a Home Healthcare Company.

20 Jan 2010

News reports question health reform provisions, forecast legal issues

News reports explore remaining issues in Congress' health overhaul negotiations.

20 Jan 2010

Medicare, consumers face challenges when trying to make choices based on value

News outlets report on concerns about Medicare costs, problems with fraud in health care around the world, and the difficulties consumers face when trying to find value in their health services.

20 Jan 2010

Corventis' NUVANT MCT System for detecting non-lethal arrhythmias receives FDA marketing clearance

Corventis, Inc., a developer of wireless cardiovascular solutions, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market its NUVANT™ Mobile Cardiac Telemetry (MCT) System for the detection of non-lethal arrhythmias. In addition, the company announced that its Monitoring Center has been approved by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as an Independent Diagnostic Testing Facility (IDTF). Corventis has also received approval to bill for services provided to patients with Medicare and several commercial insurers, paving the way for the NUVANT MCT System to be available across the United States.

19 Jan 2010

Molina Healthcare enters into definitive agreement to acquire HIM business of Unisys

Molina Healthcare, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Health Information Management (HIM) business of Unisys Corporation.

19 Jan 2010

Bariatric procedures in Medicare population are associated with improved outcomes

Following a rule expanding coverage of weight-loss surgery under Medicare, bariatric procedures in the Medicare population were centralized to a smaller number of certified centers, were more likely to be minimally invasive and were associated with improved outcomes, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

19 Jan 2010

Psoriasis therapy costs outpace inflation

Findings from a cost model suggest that expenses for systemic psoriasis therapy appear to be increasing at a faster rate than inflation, and newer biologically derived treatments are more expensive than traditional systemic therapies, according to a report in the January issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

19 Jan 2010

Patients have few barriers to affordable health care, efficient care in post-Katrina primary care clinics

A new Commonwealth Fund survey of safety-net clinic patients in New Orleans finds that, despite being disproportionately low-income and uninsured, these patients had fewer problems affording care and fewer instances of medical debt and inefficient care than most U.S. adults.

18 Jan 2010

Medicare News and Research

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

Amedisys and Humana sign national agreement to provide better home healthcare services

Vanguard Health Systems to implement and offer Dossia Personal Health Record to its employees

Besides LDL, Lp(a) can also increase risk for heart disease

Dynamic mapping may help in detecting links between diseases and environmental exposures

LaserBand chooses Premier Purchasing Partners as sole source provider for proprietary patient IDs

Bederra in preliminary discussions to acquire Home Healthcare Company

News reports question health reform provisions, forecast legal issues

Medicare, consumers face challenges when trying to make choices based on value

Corventis' NUVANT MCT System for detecting non-lethal arrhythmias receives FDA marketing clearance

Molina Healthcare enters into definitive agreement to acquire HIM business of Unisys

Bariatric procedures in Medicare population are associated with improved outcomes

Psoriasis therapy costs outpace inflation

Patients have few barriers to affordable health care, efficient care in post-Katrina primary care clinics

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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