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Pfizer to pay $2.3 billion for health care fraud settlement

American pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. and its subsidiary Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc. (hereinafter together "Pfizer") have agreed to pay $2.3 billion, the largest health care fraud settlement in the history of the Department of Justice, to resolve criminal and civil liability arising from the illegal promotion of certain pharmaceutical products, the Justice Department announced today.

3 Sep 2009

Ohio state to expand Medicaid program to more counties

Unison Health Plan of Ohio announced the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will extend a contract that will enable Unison to offer its programs for aged, blind and disabled (ABD) Medicaid recipients in 18 additional Northwest Ohio counties.

3 Sep 2009

Research reveals that 21% of death claims are rejected by California's largest private insurers

More than one of every five requests for medical claims for insured patients, even when recommended by a patient's physician, are rejected by California's largest private insurers, amounting to very real death panels in practice daily in the nation's biggest state, according to data released today by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee.

3 Sep 2009

Abbott to acquire Visiogen for $400 million in cash

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today a definitive agreement to acquire Visiogen, Inc. for $400 million in cash, providing the company with a next-generation accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) technology to address presbyopia for cataract patients.

3 Sep 2009

Tort reform and changes to doctor payment could cut health costs

Limiting medical malpractice lawsuits and changing the doctor payment system are being debated as possible ways to make health care more cost-effective.

3 Sep 2009

Colorado braces for mental health cuts, Florida nursing homes brace for Medicare cuts, and other developments

Kaiser Health News: "Three years after Massachusetts implemented a state program to provide near universal health care, officials said that a key to their success was that stakeholders from the state's health care sector and the business community had a commitment to implementing the program." Despite successes, one state official said cost containment remains a challenge (Marcy, 9/1).

3 Sep 2009

NCPA urges Congress to prevent Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement cuts

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) is urging Congressional action in the next 30 days to preserve the access Medicaid patients have to approximately 23,000 community pharmacies.

2 Sep 2009

CIGNA partners with MCNT to launch a medical home type program in Texas

CIGNA (NYSE:CI) and Medical Clinic of North Texas (MCNT) are preparing to launch a pilot program that incorporates components of the medical home model based on a comprehensive, accountable and collaborative approach they believe will lead to improved patient access, better continuity and coordination of care, improved quality of care for patients, and lower medical costs.

2 Sep 2009

SynerMed's announces a 35 percent growth in membership since the beginning of the first quarter of 2009

SynerMed, Inc. today announced a 35 percent growth in membership since the beginning of the first quarter of 2009. Representing 550,000 beneficiaries through its clients, SynerMed is the largest Medicaid managed service organization (MSO) in the country.

2 Sep 2009

Irregular heartbeat is a common cause of stroke

Mellanie True Hills knows personally the toll that atrial fibrillation (afib) takes. Just two years ago, with a sense of urgency about afib that only a survivor can possess, she designated September as Atrial Fibrillation Month.

2 Sep 2009

AARP volunteers call on Sen. Durbin with Rx bottles containing constituents' health care stories

While Members of Congress may be taking a break from Washington, AARP is making sure they don't get a break from the need to fix the broken health care system. With a giant inflatable Rx bottle as a backdrop, armed with prescription bottles filled with constituents' personal health care stories, AARP members converged in Springfield today calling on Senator Durbin and the Springfield-area Congressmen (John Shimkus, Aaron Schock and Phil Hare) to tackle health care reform when they go back to the nation's Capitol in September.

2 Sep 2009

SUPERVALU PHARMACIES available to administer flu shots

With an eye on convenience, cost and consumer education, SUPERVALU PHARMACIES this year has expanded its traditional flu shot offering to help ease some of the anxieties the upcoming flu season may bring.

2 Sep 2009

Policymakers need to be educated on the radical difference between radiation therapy and diagnostic testing

Concerned members of the cancer community, including physicians, patient organizations and other care advocates, spoke out today in opposition to a proposed federal policy under consideration by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would lump life-saving radiation therapy in with diagnostic testing services in receiving major Medicare funding cuts.

2 Sep 2009

VisionShare joins select group of EHNAC HNAP-accredited organizations

Health IT connectivity leader VisionShare® Inc. announces it has achieved full accreditation with the Healthcare Network Accreditation Program (HNAP) from the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC). EHNAC’s HNAP accreditation recognizes excellence in health data processing and transactions and indicates compliance with industry-established standards and HIPAA regulations.

2 Sep 2009

Republicans keeping August heat on in September

Republicans hoping to continue their efforts to win public support against a public plan in health care reform pledge to keep their steam in September while Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley's position on the public option is assailed by liberals.

2 Sep 2009

Las Vegas man's experience with health system shows best and worst of care

The New York Times reports on one man's struggle with the health care system: "In the debate about health care overhaul, there are countless stories of families saddled with hospital bills and unemployed workers who have lost their insurance.

2 Sep 2009

House Democrats investigating whether insurers unfairly drop small business coverage

Henry Waxman sent letters Monday to insurers seeking information on how they decide coverage for small businesses after alleging that they drop coverage for smaller firms whose employees get ill.

2 Sep 2009

AICC formed to provide access to the highest quality, integrated care to patients with cancer

A nationwide collection of multi-specialty physician group practices and industry partners have formed an informal coalition aimed at promoting and protecting the fundamental right of patients with cancer to access an integrated and comprehensive program of diagnosis, treatment, comfort and support of the highest quality.

2 Sep 2009

Rising Medical Solutions provides five solutions to change America's healthcare system

Controlling healthcare costs seems like a complex issue but one expert points to an age-old economic model to save our nation billions of dollars.

1 Sep 2009

Advertising campaign launched to encourage Americans practice healthy habits to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, have teamed up to launch a new, national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage American children and families to practice healthy habits and to take steps to prevent the spread of the 2009 H1N1 flu virus. The PSAs featured in this campaign can be viewed on www.flu.gov.

1 Sep 2009

Medicare News and Research

Pfizer to pay $2.3 billion for health care fraud settlement

Ohio state to expand Medicaid program to more counties

Research reveals that 21% of death claims are rejected by California's largest private insurers

Abbott to acquire Visiogen for $400 million in cash

Tort reform and changes to doctor payment could cut health costs

Colorado braces for mental health cuts, Florida nursing homes brace for Medicare cuts, and other developments

NCPA urges Congress to prevent Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement cuts

CIGNA partners with MCNT to launch a medical home type program in Texas

SynerMed's announces a 35 percent growth in membership since the beginning of the first quarter of 2009

Irregular heartbeat is a common cause of stroke

AARP volunteers call on Sen. Durbin with Rx bottles containing constituents' health care stories

SUPERVALU PHARMACIES available to administer flu shots

Policymakers need to be educated on the radical difference between radiation therapy and diagnostic testing

VisionShare joins select group of EHNAC HNAP-accredited organizations

Republicans keeping August heat on in September

Las Vegas man's experience with health system shows best and worst of care

House Democrats investigating whether insurers unfairly drop small business coverage

AICC formed to provide access to the highest quality, integrated care to patients with cancer

Rising Medical Solutions provides five solutions to change America's healthcare system

Advertising campaign launched to encourage Americans practice healthy habits to prevent the spread of H1N1 flu

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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