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Zynx Health lauds definition of “meaningful use” of EHR technology

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology have announced that the definition of “meaningful use” will include the use of evidence-based order sets and clinical decision support at the point of care. This is good news because the peer-reviewed scientific literature has repeatedly shown that clinical decision support and evidence-based order sets can save patient lives and reduce overall healthcare costs.

5 Jan 2010

Asian Health Services receives $4 million to help Asian communities in Alameda County area

Asian Health Services, a community health center that offers comprehensive primary medical, behavioral health and dental care, received $4 million in capital to help the nonprofit clinic deliver quality health care services to immigrant and refugee Asian communities in the greater Alameda County area.

5 Jan 2010

WCH to pay $846,461 over allegations of false Medicare claims

Wheaton Community Hospital, the City of Wheaton, Minn. and Dr. Stanley Gallagher (collectively WCH) have agreed to pay $846,461 to settle allegations that their hospital admission practices violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today.

5 Jan 2010

H1N1 vaccine available at Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics

Every Walgreens pharmacy, every day. The once-scarce H1N1 vaccine is now available daily at all of the more than 7,100 Walgreens pharmacies and 350 Take Care Clinics throughout the country.

5 Jan 2010

HMS acquires Verify Solutions

HMS today announced that it has acquired the assets of Verify Solutions, a metropolitan Atlanta-based company specializing in dependent eligibility audit services for employer-sponsored healthcare plans.

5 Jan 2010

San Diego's PACE program lowering cost for seniors who want to retain independence

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that an elderly care program is allowing senior citizens to retain their independence by providing medical care and home assistance through a nonprofit program.

5 Jan 2010

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

Democratic lawmakers will begin this week to try to hammer out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a health care reform bill as they keep an eye on votes for the measures.

4 Jan 2010

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

Medicare News and Research

Zynx Health lauds definition of “meaningful use” of EHR technology

Asian Health Services receives $4 million to help Asian communities in Alameda County area

WCH to pay $846,461 over allegations of false Medicare claims

H1N1 vaccine available at Walgreens pharmacies and Take Care Clinics

HMS acquires Verify Solutions

San Diego's PACE program lowering cost for seniors who want to retain independence

Congressional negotiators returning to start conference talks on health reform bill

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

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How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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