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Newspapers across the country cover state health issues

Newspapers across the country report on health issues at the state level. Stories include the loss of health insurance for working parents in Arizona, a rise in the number of uninsured seeking help at nonprofit clinics in Kansas, the expansion of a program for children's insurance in Alabama, a decline in the number of uninsured in New York City, fears about a financial blow for health providers in Louisiana and union activism for the uninsured in Florida.

9 Sep 2009

Butzel Long expands national health care practice in New York

Alan Lambert, M.D., an attorney with a diverse practice representing healthcare providers and institutions, has joined Butzel Long and is Of Counsel in the firm’s Health Care practice. He is based in New York.

9 Sep 2009

Union members push hard for health care reform

The Worchester [Massachusetts] Telegram reports: "Two members of the state's congressional delegation appealed to local union members this morning to unite behind President Barack Obama's efforts to reform health care. They said if health care reform does not happen now, it could be years before it comes up for discussion again."

9 Sep 2009

Wellmont partners with HealthSouth to open a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Bristol

Wellmont Health System and HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS) today announced that a joint venture entity formed by the two parties has been awarded a certificate of public need (COPN) to open a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Bristol, Va. The 25-bed hospital will enable more patients in Bristol and throughout Southwest Virginia to have access to comprehensive, high-quality rehabilitative services.

9 Sep 2009

Republicans' changed stance on Medicare has historical roots

The GOP's change of stance on Medicare raises questions about its motives, The Associated Press reports in a separate story: "Weren't Republicans against Medicare before they were for it? It's a question vexing Democrats in the fierce battle over President Barack Obama's push for a health care overhaul as the head of the Republican Party has portrayed the GOP as the lone bulwark preventing deep cuts to the popular, government-run health plan for older people."

8 Sep 2009

New data fuels disagreements over regional Medicare spending

New data fuels some regional disputes on Medicare spending while some communities create better care and spend less than others. The New York Times reports that "new government data show that Medicare costs per patient in those cities [New York City, Boston] are slightly below the national average when the numbers are adjusted for the cost of living and other factors.

8 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 8, 2009

It's going to be a big week as Congress returns to work and President Obama readies his speech to a joint session. High on everyone's list: health reform.

8 Sep 2009

Screening rates for colorectal cancer are lower in safety net health system, study reveals

Colorectal cancer screening rates are much lower among those in a safety net health system compared to the national average, and the number one predictor of screening is a combination of regular visits and insurance access.

8 Sep 2009

Wisconsin city was unwitting birthplace of 'death panel' myth

A Wisconsin city has a pioneering program with Medicare reimbursements, which has essentially made it the birthplace of the "death panel" myth. The Washington Post reports on La Crosse: "This city often shows up on 'best places to live' lists, but residents say it is also a good place to die -- which is how it landed in the center of a controversy that almost derailed health-care reform this summer."

5 Sep 2009

Texas Senators higlight CMS about the delay in opening many local dialysis facilities

As Congress prepares to reconvene next week following an August recess period filled with wide-ranging local discussion of health care reform, the Texas kidney community expressed hope that the momentum and public desire for health care reform in Washington can help drive momentum and discussion in Texas about the vital need to open 38 end stage renal disease (ESRD) centers still sitting idle, which, if opened, will dramatically expand access to quality dialysis care and create good-paying local jobs.

5 Sep 2009

Proposed Medicare cuts worry seniors and nursing homes

As Congress prepares to reconvene next week following an August recess replete with wide-ranging local discussion of how to fund health care reform, new polling finds both seniors and the public at large are strongly opposed to slashing Medicare-funded nursing home care to pay for the plan. Meanwhile, at events in Florida and Pennsylvania - states with large concentrations of Medicare beneficiaries - seniors and caregivers are urging their respective state congressional delegations to help preserve, protect and defend quality nursing home care as the legislative debate resumes Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

5 Sep 2009

Health Net's ECHO kit to help military families maximize the health care benefits

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, the government operations division of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), today announced its newly developed Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) kit for service members and their families in the TRICARE North Region, designed to provide user-friendly, educational information to enhance understanding of the ECHO program.

5 Sep 2009

Amazing Charts Version 5 achieves CCHIT's 2008 ambulatory EHR certification

AmazingCharts.com, Inc., a leading developer of electronic health record systems, today announced that Amazing Charts Version 5 is a pre-market, conditionally CCHIT Certified® 2008 Ambulatory EHR.

5 Sep 2009

Clear Choice Health Plans awards a five-year contract to The TriZetto Group

Clear Choice Health Plans, Inc. (OTCBB:CCHN) announced that the company and Adaptis, Inc., its business process outsourcing (BPO) vendor, have mutually agreed to terminate their business relationship and that the Company has entered into a five-year contract for BPO services with The TriZetto Group, Inc., an information technology and services company focused on the health care industry.

5 Sep 2009

Spectrum's ZEVALIN expanded label receives FDA approval for treating non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:SPPI), a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a focus in oncology, today announced ZEVALIN® (ibritumomab tiuxetan), a CD20-directed radiotherapeutic antibody, received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an expanded label for the treatment of patients with previously untreated follicular non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL), who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy.

5 Sep 2009

New report released to highlight health insurance reform for senior women

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will travel to Maine today and formally release a new report on the importance of health insurance reform for older women (ages 55-64) and senior women (ages 65 and older).

4 Sep 2009

The American Association for Homecare deems OIG report as misleading

In a study released yesterday, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) ignored the substantial costs of services related to providing power wheelchairs, including complex rehab, to seniors and people with disabilities who require mobility assistance.

4 Sep 2009

Real American Brands to start medical transportation business

Real American Brands, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: RLAB) announced today that the company has approved plans to pursue and operate an emergency and non-emergency health services transportation division, to be developed in close consultation with transport and medical personnel who have broad experience in the field.

4 Sep 2009

Medicare advantage rates could go up, while Part D 'exceeding expectations'

"Despite near-zero inflation and recessionary conditions, health insurers in 2010 face another year of double-digit increases in the charges they pay for hospital services, physicians, drugs, and other healthcare costs," U.S. News and World Report writes in a news column.

4 Sep 2009

Minnesota offers model for cost-effective health care

In the second of two reports, NPR examines how Minnesota provides lessons on how to create a more cost-effective health care delivery system. "Many agree that the [fee-for-service] system for doctors and hospitals doesn't work ... and is a major driver in rising health care costs. The health care bills before Congress may do little to change that. But on the state level, Minnesota may have found its own way to move doctors off of the fee-for-service treadmill."

4 Sep 2009