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Pfizer announces it has combined operations with Wyeth following the closing of the acquisition

Pfizer Inc today announced that it has combined operations with Wyeth following the closing of the acquisition yesterday. Pfizer is now a more diversified health care company, with product offerings in human, animal, and consumer health, including vaccines, biologics, small molecules and nutrition across the developed and emerging markets.

19 Oct 2009

GOP, Some Dems object to plan for adjusting physicians' medicare pay

Senate Democrats next week will take up a $240 billion, stand-alone bill that would stop scheduled cuts in Medicare's payments to physicians, The Hill reports. Although the action would be separate from sweeping health reform legislation, "[f]ixing the physician payments could boost Democrats' health reform efforts by providing physicians with a win on their foremost priority.

19 Oct 2009

Lawmakers seek to quickly fix Medicare payments for physicians

Both the House and the Senate are considering moving quickly to bar cuts in Medicare payments to physicians.

19 Oct 2009

Latest ad audit asks if the insurers' claims add up

In his latest ad audit, Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau explores whether insurers' claims, made in a recent advertisement, add up.

19 Oct 2009

Leading Blue Dog suggests extending Medicare to uninsured

Leading Blue Dogs wrestle over options to increase coverage for the uninsured and extend Medicare. The Hill reports that Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., "who had emerged as a leader among centrist Blue Dog Democrats opposing the public health insurance option, has suggested something his colleagues consider even more drastic - opening Medicare to those under 65 without insurance. He made the suggestion in meetings with House Democratic leaders and brought the idea to the closed-door House Democratic Caucus meeting Thursday."

19 Oct 2009

Medicare advantage premiums could climb 25% next year

"Premiums that seniors pay for Medicare Advantage plans will increase an average of 25% next year, largely because insurers, in response to new federal requirements, are canceling many plans that carry no premiums, a top Medicare official said Wednesday," The Wall Street Journal reports.

19 Oct 2009

Leahy's funds help physicians and independent pharmacies to adopt health information technology

More Vermont physicians will be using electronic prescribing and other health information technology to improve patient care, under a $1 million federal grant secured by U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy.

19 Oct 2009

Insurer's "triple-barreled assault" triggers counter attacks

A "triple-barreled" insurance industry attack on the Senate Finance Committee's health legislation - including separate reports sponsored by America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, as well as television advertisements in six states - is "a reminder that the insurance industry has enormous financial stakes in a health care overhaul and will not sit by while its interests are threatened," the New York Times reports (Seelye, 10/14).

19 Oct 2009

Controversy, lobbying surround Reid's Medicare payment 'fix' plan

Some news outlets are looking ahead to a vote expected next week "fixing" a planned cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

19 Oct 2009

CBO estimate: House bill closing in on Obama's $900 billion limit

An initial Congressional Budget Office estimate of a version of health reform legislation favored by House liberals puts the price-tag within reach of President Obama's stated $900 billion limit for the overhaul, The Washington Post reports.

19 Oct 2009

Democratic lawmakers seek momentum, Republican votes as two versions of reform bills are combined

Democrats are seeking momentum and votes -- from both Democrats and Republicans -- as leaders work to combine the two versions of reform approved by Senate committees.

19 Oct 2009

AHIP and AMA launch health care TV ads

America's Health Insurance Plans and the American Medical Association launch new television ads on health care.

19 Oct 2009

AARP struggles to educate seniors about health care

The Hill reports: "Despite expending vast resources, the AARP has not been able to unite its own membership, Nancy LeaMond, the executive vice president of the organization's social impact group, told reporters on Wednesday. AARP's membership is roughly divided between Democrats, Republicans and independents, LeaMond told reporters."

19 Oct 2009

Lovelace Health Plan to implement Portico’s Choreo Contracting Solution

Portico Systems, the leader in Integrated Provider Management solutions, has been selected by Lovelace Health Plan (LHP), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ardent Health Services. LHP will leverage Portico’s Choreo Contracting Solution to transform its paper-based provider contract process to a systematic process, which enables automated and workflow driven contract administration, negotiation and communication.

15 Oct 2009

Ultimate Software's healthcare customers report significant improvements after implementing UltiPro

Ultimate Software, a leading provider of end-to-end strategic human resources, payroll, and talent management solutions, announced today that long-term healthcare customers, including Homewood Retirement Centers, Mather LifeWays, and Holiday Home Health, are reporting significant improvements as a result of UltiPro’s comprehensive human capital management (HCM) features—including UltiPro’s sophisticated reporting, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, and robust functionality.

15 Oct 2009

Research to investigate and improve patient adherence to prescription drug therapies

CVS Caremark is sponsoring research to investigate patient adherence to prescription drug therapies and identify ways to increase adherence. Working with researchers from Harvard and Brigham and Women's Hospital, the company expects knowledge gained from the research will help health professionals better understand patient behavior and lead to developing programs that health care providers and pharmacies can use to improve medication adherence and ultimately help improve patient care and medical outcomes by avoiding costly hospital treatment.

15 Oct 2009

Premier's corporate headquarters relocated in North Carolina

The Premier Inc. healthcare alliance today announced that it has relocated its corporate headquarters to Charlotte, N.C. Premier also has offices in San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

15 Oct 2009

Snowe's vote prompts speculation about broader bipartisan support

Democrats earned a single, coveted Republican vote for health reform legislation - from Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, - in the Senate Finance Committee, bringing them closer to the goal of bipartisan support, the Boston Globe reports

15 Oct 2009

New tips to defend against medical identity theft

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Attorney General Tony West will highlight the Obama Administration’s work to fight Medicare Fraud and release new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect and defend against Medical identity theft.

15 Oct 2009

SCAN Health Plan Arizona hosts special community forums to discuss healthcare options for seniors

Healthcare options for seniors, including changes to Medicare, will be among the topics discussed at special community forums open to all Medicare-eligible individuals in Maricopa County.

15 Oct 2009