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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

CAPG lauds passage of federal health care reform legislation

“This is the most sweeping health reform legislation since the enactment of Medicare. It will provide an extraordinary opportunity to make a very real difference in the lives of millions of people. This comprehensive bill package addresses major areas in need of change, including expanding coverage to nearly all Americans, eliminating various unfair insurance practices, and beginning to transform our dysfunctional delivery system.”

28 Dec 2009

DNC Chairman's statement on health care reform legislation

DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, landmark health care reform legislation. Democrats passed the bill on Christmas Eve, after overcoming a series of procedural hurdles and delay tactics by Republicans that were designed to stop the bill from ever reaching the Senate floor for a vote on final passage.

28 Dec 2009

AARP supports passage of healthcare reform

Before the sun was up in Idaho this morning, families across the state buckling under soaring health care costs received a glimmer of hope from Washington, D.C. With the Senate passage of critical health care reform legislation, AARP says the Idaho congressional delegation can play a key role in making the bill stronger.

28 Dec 2009

APA commends the U.S. Senate for its historic passage of legislation

The American Psychological Association commends the U.S. Senate for its historic passage of legislation that holds the promise of more comprehensive coverage for Americans with health insurance and provides new options for those without.

28 Dec 2009

USCM felicitates U.S. Senate on passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Today, The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) congratulates the U.S. Senate on taking an important step forward to provide health care for millions of the uninsured. In a historic Christmas Eve session, by a vote of 60-39, the Senate passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

27 Dec 2009

PhRMA applauds Senate for passing health care reform

"We applaud the Senate for taking an important and historic step toward expanding high-quality, affordable health care coverage and services to tens of millions of Americans, many of whom are struggling today financially. While considerable work remains to be done in reconciling differences between the Senate and House bills, we remain convinced that comprehensive health care reform, if done in a smart way, will benefit patients, our economy and the future of our nation.

27 Dec 2009

AMA supports passage of Senate health care reform bill

"Today, the Senate took an historic vote to improve our nation's health care system by expanding coverage to millions of Americans and strengthening the private insurance market to better serve the patients who rely on it.

27 Dec 2009

Medicare reimbursement for DXA tests restored

Passage of health care reform legislation today in the U.S. Senate will help provide older Americans with easier access to quality osteoporosis diagnosis, prevention and treatment services. Included in the Senate health reform bill is a provision restoring Medicare reimbursement for dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the leading diagnostic tool for the early detection and management of osteoporosis.

27 Dec 2009

AARP commends passing of health care reform; looks forward to improve legislation in conference committee

AARP CEO A. Barry Rand released this statement after this morning's passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The vote allows members of the House of Representatives and Senate to begin merging their respective bills and enact health reform legislation early in the New Year.

27 Dec 2009

Obama says liberal critics are overlooking gains in health bill

In an interview with NPR, "President Obama hit back at critics within his own party over the landmark health care overhaul packages moving through Congress."

24 Dec 2009

Senate approves health care bill

The New York Times: "The Senate voted Thursday to reinvent the nation's health care system, passing a bill to guarantee access to health insurance for tens of millions of Americans and to rein in health costs as proposed by President Obama" (Pear, 12/24).

24 Dec 2009

NMFF's Illinois Health Facility Authority revenue bonds upgraded to 'A+'

Fitch Ratings takes the following rating action on Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation, IL as part of its continuous surveillance effort: --Approximately $75 million Illinois Health Facility Authority revenue bonds, series 1998, upgraded to 'A+' from 'A'.

24 Dec 2009