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Today's opinions and editorials

The tax I proposed — and the one most economists favor — would force employees to treat as income the value of health-care benefits they receive from their employer (Fred Hiatt, 10/27).

28 Oct 2009

Conference to caution Congress on the ill effects of pending Medicare cuts to be organized

A new national coalition of small long-term care businesses that provide vital services to the nation's skilled nursing facilities, will join with Maine nursing home providers and frontline caregivers for a Capitol Hill press conference to caution against deep Medicare cuts included in current healthcare reform legislation.

28 Oct 2009

North Dakota congressional delegation praised for recognizing seniors’ care needs as priority in final bill

With North Dakota seniors facing cuts of up to $75 million in their Medicare-funded nursing home care over the next ten years as a result of pending health reform legislation in Congress, North Dakota and national long term care leaders conducted a North Dakota media teleconference today to praise the North Dakota congressional delegation for recognizing the specific concerns of seniors and caregivers, and ensuring the leadership in their respective chambers clearly understand why seniors' care needs must be a priority in a final bill.

28 Oct 2009

Third quarter 2009 financial results announced by DJO

DJO Incorporated (“DJO” or the “Company”), a global provider of medical device solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced financial results for its operating subsidiary, DJO Finance LLC (“DJOFL”), for the third quarter of 2009, ended September 26, 2009.

28 Oct 2009

Wellpoint announces third quarter 2009 financial results; net income is 1.53 per share

WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) today announced that third quarter 2009 net income was $730.2 million, or $1.53 per share, including net investment gains of $21.5 million pre-tax, or $0.03 per share, and an impairment charge totaling $205.5 million pre-tax, or $0.28 per share, for certain intangible assets.

28 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 28, 2009

The news of the day again seems to focus on Senate Democrat's public option as well as the politics, strong-arming and vote-counting that it has caused.

28 Oct 2009

Liberator Medical Holdings announces record revenues for its fourth quarter of 2009

Liberator Medical Holdings, Inc. today pre-announces record net revenues of approximately $7.7 million for its fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009, representing an annualized revenue run rate of over $30.0 million.

28 Oct 2009

Seminar on XTRAC Velocity Laser treatments for psoriasis sufferers

PhotoMedex, Inc. a leading provider of advanced dermatology, clinical skincare and medical laser products, is hosting a free seminar in Indianapolis, IN on November 17, 2009.

28 Oct 2009

Tips for affording expensive medication

You've lost your prescription insurance benefits because of unemployment; you don't have the extra money you once did for the co-pay; you have an expensive medication that isn't covered. Unfortunately, this is the current situation for many Americans. Carriann Richey, director of outreach and assistant professor of pharmacy practice for Butler University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, says while affording medications in today's economy may be more difficult than ever before, there are options out there that can help.

28 Oct 2009

Dementia patients face higher risk of flu mortality; refine guidelines needed for testing and vaccination policies

An epidemiological study on pneumonia and influenza (P&I) in adults age 65 and over reports that patients with dementia are diagnosed with flu less frequently, have shorter hospital stays, and have a fifty percent higher rate of death than those without dementia.

28 Oct 2009

House Republicans take aim at AARP

The Wall Street Journal: "Republicans in Congress are taking aim at AARP's financial ties to the health-insurance industry just as the advocacy group is taking a more prominent role supporting an overhaul of the nation's health-care system."

28 Oct 2009

The stakes are high for the top Medicare job

Reuters reports that health care overhaul currently being considered in Congress "elevates the job of running the government's $700-billion Medicare agency to new heights and all but guarantees a political battle over filling the post."

28 Oct 2009

Medicare payment issues worry doctors

The issue of Medicare payment cuts to doctors still looms, causing some physicians to shun Medicare patients and others to push for greater reform. Many worry that doctors may boycott the program if the planned 21 percent cut in payment rates goes through in 2010 while others complain about low Medicare reimbursement rates for certain procedures and geographic areas.

27 Oct 2009

UnitedHealth Group invests $5M in Mendocino Coast District Hospital’s bonds

Mendocino Coast District Hospital received $5 million in capital from UnitedHealth Group to help the organization deliver quality health care services to Fort Bragg-area residents and rural communities in Mendocino County.

27 Oct 2009

Reid's end game? Senate bill will have public option with 'opt out'

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced yesterday that he will include a public insurance plan in the final Senate health overhaul legislation.

27 Oct 2009

House Democrats continue courting, counting votes for 'robust' public option

The New York Times reports that Speaker Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to discuss the public option and health costs with other Democratic leaders. "Ms. Pelosi has been working hard to build support for the most liberal version of a government-run insurance plan, the so-called robust public option, which would generally tie payments to doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to Medicare rates. But so far Ms. Pelosi has been coming up short."

27 Oct 2009

Six innovations that could prove critical to reforming health care system

The Wall Street Journal offers a collection of stories that looks at changes in health care that could yield big responses: "Health-care innovations come in many shapes and sizes ... [including] the kind that can help reach the goal that continues to elude our policy makers: getting good care to the greatest number of people in the most cost-effective way."

27 Oct 2009

Bending the 'cost curve': Lawmakers, White House consider a bipartisan route

Kaiser Health News staff writer Eric Pianin reports on the idea of a bipartisan idea to establish a commission to control future federal program spending.

27 Oct 2009

Interim results from FREEDOM study announced by NxStage Medical

NxStage Medical, Inc., a leading manufacturer of innovative dialysis products, today announced the latest interim results from its ongoing FREEDOM study. The FREEDOM data will be presented in posters at the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) Renal Week 2009, from October 27th to November 1st in San Diego.

27 Oct 2009

Economic Adviser Romer goes to bat for 'Cadillac tax,' ways to control costs

ABC News reports that Christina D. Romer, chair of the president's Council of Economic Advisers, "went to bat on Monday for a tax on high-priced insurance plans, the so-called 'Cadillac tax,' calling it 'probably the number one item that health economists across the ideological spectrum believe is likely to stem the explosion of health-care costs.'"

27 Oct 2009