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Physicians raise concerns about proposed Medicare changes

The health care legislation being considered by Congress seeks to reform Medicare and look for alternatives to the fee-for-service payment system, which critics say discourages care coordination and quality. American Medical News reports on one alternative called bundling, in which "doctors and hospitals are paid for all services to a patient in an episode of care for a particular condition.

4 Jan 2010

Amedisys completes acquisition of home health operations of Hackensack University Medical Center

Amedisys, Inc., one of America's leading home health nursing companies, today announced that it has received the regulatory approvals from the state of New Jersey and that it has completed the acquisition of the home health operations of Hackensack University Medical Center.

4 Jan 2010

Unison Health Plan employees donate socks to Operation Safety Net

Employees from Unison Health Plan, part of AmeriChoice, the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care company, have donated 1,243 pairs of socks to Operation Safety Net, helping Pittsburgh’s homeless.

4 Jan 2010

Employees from AmeriChoice donate 535 pairs of socks to the Dayspring Center in Indianapolis

Employees from AmeriChoice, the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care company, have donated 535 pairs of socks to the Dayspring Center in Indianapolis. Nationally, the drive collected socks in nearly 30 different locations to benefit local charities.

4 Jan 2010

CMS and ONC issue regulations to implement widespread adoption of EHR incentive programs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourage public comment on two regulations issued today that lay a foundation for improving quality, efficiency and safety through meaningful use of certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.

31 Dec 2009

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan includes U-M Health System in Medicare Advantage PPO plan

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has added the University of Michigan Health System to its growing network of Medicare Plus Blue(SM) PPO providers. The move gives seniors who purchase the competitively priced plan access to all of the U-M hospitals and approximately 2,200 providers.

31 Dec 2009

FREEDRUGCARD.US launches new Rx savings program to reduce prescription drug prices

If you are looking for the best way to save money on your prescription drugs then FREEDRUGCARD.US is your best option. The free prescription assistance drug card program is sponsored by a non-profit organization and was launched to help all Americans lower the cost of prescription drugs.

31 Dec 2009

Rite Aid offers H1N1 flu shots through certified immunizing pharmacists

Rite Aid now is offering the H1N1 (swine) flu shots by its certified immunizing pharmacists at 1,257 Rite Aid stores in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Customers can go to www.riteaid.com/H1N1 to find the most convenient Rite Aid store offering the H1N1 flu shots.

31 Dec 2009

Clear One Health Plans and PacificSource Health Plans sign definitive merger agreement

Clear One Health Plans, Inc. and PacificSource Health Plans announced today they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which PacificSource will acquire Clear One.

31 Dec 2009

PIMS returns more than $104,000 in experience credit payments

Premier Insurance Management Services Inc. (PIMS) has returned more than $104,000 in experience credit payments to 27 Premier healthcare alliance member hospitals and healthcare systems that participate in the PIMS Fidelity and Fiduciary Liability sponsored insurance program.

30 Dec 2009

AMA grants new CPT code for Masimo's SpHb measurement

Masimo, the inventor of Pulse CO-Oximetry(TM) and Measure-Through Motion and Low-Perfusion pulse oximetry, announced today that the American Medical Association has granted a new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code, 88738, for Masimo's noninvasive hemoglobin (SpHb) measurement.

30 Dec 2009

ACC files complaint against HHS Secretary in U.S. District Court

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) today announced that it filed a complaint against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in United States District Court.

30 Dec 2009

Americans willing to consider significant changes in Medicare program, finds report

Although Americans see Medicare as a key part of the country's social contract and want to preserve it in some recognizable form, they are willing to consider significant changes in the program to hold down its costs as the U.S. population ages.

30 Dec 2009

Walgreens offers H1N1 vaccinations at all of its pharmacies throughout Massachusetts

Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain and industry leader with more than 17,000 certified or licensed immunizers, is now offering H1N1 vaccinations at all of its pharmacies throughout Massachusetts.

30 Dec 2009

Spectranetics illegally imports unapproved medical devices, agrees to pay $5M for resolving allegations

Spectranetics Corporation, a medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay the United States $4.9 million in civil damages plus a $100,000 forfeiture to resolve claims against the company, the Justice Department announced today. The claims arise from allegations that the company illegally imported unapproved medical devices and provided them to physicians for use in patients, conducted a clinical study in a manner that failed to comply with federal regulations and promoted certain products for procedures for which the company had not received Food and Drug Administration approval or clearance.

30 Dec 2009

Managing overwhelming multiple medications, Medco offers free guide for America's seniors

America's seniors are being overwhelmed by the number of prescription drugs they take on a daily basis. According to a new national survey of more than 1,000 people ages 65 and older who use medications, more than half (51 percent) take at least five different prescription drugs regularly and one in four take between 10 and 19 pills each day.

29 Dec 2009

Cholesterol expert offers simple resolutions and advice for staying heart healthy in New Year

Family physician and cholesterol expert Michael Cobble, M.D., has some simple resolutions and fun advice for staying heart healthy in the new year. Cobble is a board-certified clinical lipidologist (NLA), certified hypertension specialist (ASH), medical director of the private practice Canyons Medical Center in Sandy, Utah, and Chief Medical Officer at Atherotech, Inc., developer of the VAP Cholesterol Test.

29 Dec 2009

Genesys Health System to pay $669,413 over Medicare false claim allegations

Genesys Health System has agreed to pay the United States $669,413 to settle a lawsuit alleging that the health care provider violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today.

28 Dec 2009

Cambridge Heart completes $1.8 million Series D preferred stock financing

Cambridge Heart, Inc., today announced that it has completed a private placement of Series D convertible preferred stock, raising proceeds of approximately $1.8 million.

28 Dec 2009

BPC supports passage of health care bill

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle and Bob Dole, members of the Bipartisan Policy Center's (BPC) Advisory Board and Leaders' Project on the State of American Health Care, commend their former Senate colleagues for passing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2009 today.

28 Dec 2009

Medicare News and Research

Physicians raise concerns about proposed Medicare changes

Amedisys completes acquisition of home health operations of Hackensack University Medical Center

Unison Health Plan employees donate socks to Operation Safety Net

Employees from AmeriChoice donate 535 pairs of socks to the Dayspring Center in Indianapolis

CMS and ONC issue regulations to implement widespread adoption of EHR incentive programs

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan includes U-M Health System in Medicare Advantage PPO plan

FREEDRUGCARD.US launches new Rx savings program to reduce prescription drug prices

Rite Aid offers H1N1 flu shots through certified immunizing pharmacists

Clear One Health Plans and PacificSource Health Plans sign definitive merger agreement

PIMS returns more than $104,000 in experience credit payments

AMA grants new CPT code for Masimo's SpHb measurement

ACC files complaint against HHS Secretary in U.S. District Court

Americans willing to consider significant changes in Medicare program, finds report

Walgreens offers H1N1 vaccinations at all of its pharmacies throughout Massachusetts

Spectranetics illegally imports unapproved medical devices, agrees to pay $5M for resolving allegations

Managing overwhelming multiple medications, Medco offers free guide for America's seniors

Cholesterol expert offers simple resolutions and advice for staying heart healthy in New Year

Genesys Health System to pay $669,413 over Medicare false claim allegations

Cambridge Heart completes $1.8 million Series D preferred stock financing

BPC supports passage of health care bill

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