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Today's Opinions: Haiti's lesson for the U.S.; Ending 'Pay for delay;' Getting the CLASS Act off the ground

In February, a month after Haiti's earthquake, I went down to Port-au-Prince as part of a team that was helping to reactivate cardiac care in the city's public hospital. For several months since, I have observed how the earthquake and its aftermath profoundly changed Haiti's health care system. Over that time, I have come to the unorthodox conclusion that Haiti's tragic experience may show us a way to improve health care in the United States (James Wilentz, 7/28).

30 Jul 2010

KHN column: Gazing into CBO's budget and health care crystal ball

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, James C. Capretta writes: "Last week, Peter Orszag, the president's outgoing Director of the Office of Management and Budget, released updated budget projections on behalf of the Obama administration.

30 Jul 2010

Poll: Opposition to health reform declines; Seniors view new law more negatively than adults overall

The Washington Post: "Opposition to the landmark health care overhaul declined over the past month, to 35 percent from 41 percent, according to the latest results of a tracking poll, reported Thursday. Fifty percent of the public held a favorable view of the law, up slightly from 48 percent a month ago, while 14 percent expressed no opinion about the measure, according to the poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation.

30 Jul 2010

NovaMed second-quarter total net revenue decreases to $38.16 million

NovaMed, Inc., a leading operator of ambulatory surgery centers in partnership with physicians, today announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010. Total net revenue was $38,164,000 compared to $38,879,000 in the prior year second quarter. Same-facility net revenue declined 1% for the quarter. Net income from continuing operations attributable to NovaMed in the second quarter of 2010 was $1,805,000, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to $2,290,000, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the prior year second quarter.

29 Jul 2010

Gentiva Health Services second-quarter total net revenues increase 4% to $297.1 million

Gentiva Health Services, Inc., a leading provider of home health and hospice services, today reported second quarter 2010 results.

29 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 29, 2010

In today's headlines, a new poll shows opposition to health reform declining, and Peter Orszag makes his exit as budget chief -- still pressing lawmakers to make tough budget choices while implementing the new law.

29 Jul 2010

Magellan reports $741.7M net revenue, $35.4M net income for second-quarter 2010

Magellan Health Services, Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter of 2010 and increased guidance for the full year. The Company also said that its Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program under which the Company is authorized to purchase up to $350 million of its outstanding common stock.

29 Jul 2010

FDLI's monograph describes impact of manufacturer's commercial pricing decisions on product pricing

In FDLI's latest monograph, Selling Pharmaceuticals and Biologics to the Federal Government: Federal Supply Schedule and Federal Pricing Requirements, Joy Sturm, Allison Pugsley and Stephen A. Smyers of Hogan Lovells US LLP detail how pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturers can deal effectively with government contracting requirements and price calculation requirements.

29 Jul 2010

NCQA recognizes 51 primary care practice sites as Level 3 patient-centered medical homes

An innovative quality initiative in the Hudson Valley has resulted in National Committee for Quality Assurance Recognition of 51 primary care practice sites as Level 3 patient-centered medical homes, the highest level achievable. This groundbreaking accomplishment was achieved by 236 physicians within 11 primary care practice groups (7 medical groups with multiple practice locations and 4 single site practices) and represents 44 percent of total Level 3 clinicians in New York, and nearly 10 percent of all practices at this level across the country.

29 Jul 2010

ACS CAN report finds nearly half of all states falling short on legislative solutions to prevent, fight cancer

Nearly half of all states are falling short on legislative solutions to prevent and fight cancer, according to a new report released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). However, despite budget crises in several states, some state lawmakers still made positive progress in the fight against a disease that will kill an estimated 569,000 people in the United States this year.

29 Jul 2010

Toxic chemicals contribute to chronic disease epidemic: Health care sector leaders

Health care sector leaders are urging Congress to move swiftly to pass chemical reform legislation, citing the measure as critical to public health protection. On the eve of tomorrow's hearing on the "Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 2010," a bill intended to overhaul the nation's chemical regulatory system, the sector is highlighting the link between preventing disease, containing costs, and reforming the law.

29 Jul 2010

WIREC Director testifies on the implementation of HITECH Act

Peggy Evans, PhD, CPHIT, Director of the Washington & Idaho Regional Extension Center testified before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee of Health, Tuesday, July 27, 2010, in Washington, DC. Dr. Evans joined David Blumenthal, MD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology and several others on two panels of witnesses.

29 Jul 2010

Researchers to evaluate effect of RTC program on patient outcomes

Researchers at the Health Quality Council and the University of Saskatchewan will be the first to rigorously evaluate a quality improvement program designed to help nurses and other care providers reduce the time they spend on administrative tasks or retrieving medical supplies, so that they can spend more time with their patients.

29 Jul 2010

Reliance on assistive devices can affect everyday life in multiple ways: Study

Obese older adults are more likely to use walkers, canes and other mobility devices at a younger age, and may run the risk of using them incorrectly, according to new research from Purdue University.

29 Jul 2010

Oxford Life Insurance releases new Medicare Supplement product portfolio

Oxford Life Insurance Company today announced the release of its new Medicare Supplement product portfolio. The Phoenix-based life insurance company has plans to market Plans A, C or F, and N in more than 35 states.

29 Jul 2010

Texas raises organ donor registry; D.C. not ready for medical marijuana sales; L.A. health department facing major service cuts

"Though Texas has the nation's lowest percentage of registered organ and tissue donors, several recent initiatives have more than doubled the state's donor rolls this year. The number enrolled in the Glenda Dawson Donate Life Texas Registry has ballooned since Jan. 1, when state law required Department of Public Safety clerks to ask all driver's license and ID card applicants whether they would like to register as organ donors. Since then, nearly 70,000 donors a month have joined the pool" (George, 7/27).

29 Jul 2010

WellCare Health Plans awarded URAC accreditation

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a Full Health Plan Accreditation for its HealthEase of Florida and WellCare of Florida subsidiaries by URAC, a Washington, DC-based health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. URAC's Health Plan Accreditation standards include key quality benchmarks for network management, provider credentialing, utilization management, quality management and improvement and consumer protection.

29 Jul 2010

Mayo leaps into social media marketing

The Mayo Clinic is opening a school of social media for health providers, the (Minneapolis-St. Paul) Star Tribune reports. The new "Center for Social Media… [will] train other health care organizations to use Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to connect patients and doctors.

29 Jul 2010

FRC Action, pro-life groups urge FDA to reject approval of Ella

Today FRC Action joined 19 pro-life groups in a letter sent to Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg requesting that Ella, a drug under consideration for FDA approval that can cause abortions but is misleadingly labeled as an "emergency contraceptive," not be approved.

29 Jul 2010

Expanded Kindred Hospital Sacramento opened in Folsom, California

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced the opening of the newly constructed and expanded Kindred Hospital Sacramento in Folsom, California, and the expansion of its Peoplefirst HomeCare and Hospice business in Boston, Massachusetts, and Denver, Colorado.

29 Jul 2010

Health Care News and Research

Today's Opinions: Haiti's lesson for the U.S.; Ending 'Pay for delay;' Getting the CLASS Act off the ground

KHN column: Gazing into CBO's budget and health care crystal ball

Poll: Opposition to health reform declines; Seniors view new law more negatively than adults overall

NovaMed second-quarter total net revenue decreases to $38.16 million

Gentiva Health Services second-quarter total net revenues increase 4% to $297.1 million

First Edition: July 29, 2010

Magellan reports $741.7M net revenue, $35.4M net income for second-quarter 2010

FDLI's monograph describes impact of manufacturer's commercial pricing decisions on product pricing

NCQA recognizes 51 primary care practice sites as Level 3 patient-centered medical homes

ACS CAN report finds nearly half of all states falling short on legislative solutions to prevent, fight cancer

Toxic chemicals contribute to chronic disease epidemic: Health care sector leaders

WIREC Director testifies on the implementation of HITECH Act

Researchers to evaluate effect of RTC program on patient outcomes

Reliance on assistive devices can affect everyday life in multiple ways: Study

Oxford Life Insurance releases new Medicare Supplement product portfolio

Texas raises organ donor registry; D.C. not ready for medical marijuana sales; L.A. health department facing major service cuts

WellCare Health Plans awarded URAC accreditation

Mayo leaps into social media marketing

FRC Action, pro-life groups urge FDA to reject approval of Ella

Expanded Kindred Hospital Sacramento opened in Folsom, California

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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