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Allos Therapeutics reports net loss of $20.5 million for first-quarter 2010

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

6 May 2010

Democrat endorses GOP plan on hospital price disclosure

The Hill: Rep. Gene Green, D-Texas, is endorsing two Republican plans to require hospitals disclose their prices while other Democrats are pushing a much broader bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Green "hopes to bring other Democrats with him, arguing a scaled-down approach stands a better chance of becoming law than the Democratic proposal, which would apply to all healthcare providers, including hospitals, physicians, pharmacies, drug makers and insurers."

6 May 2010

United BioSource Corporation acquires Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions

Abt Associates announced today the sale of its wholly-owned subsidiary Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions, Inc. to United BioSource Corporation, a global scientific and medical affairs organization that partners with life science companies to develop and commercialize biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and other health care technologies.

6 May 2010

White House unveils subsidies to preserve early-retiree coverage

A federal program that was authorized in the new health law will help companies pay for as much as $5 billion worth of medical bills of early retirees that they continue to insure, The New York Times reports.

6 May 2010

Forbidding ambulance costs deter heart attack victims from calling ‘000’: National Heart Foundation

According to a new survey conducted by The National Heart Foundation, the forbidding ambulance costs are preventing timely calls to the emergency by at least one in 10 heart attack victims. The Foundation also released a discussion paper released during Heart Week urging free universal ambulance services in all states and territories. Dr Bill Coote in the paper entitled Universal Ambulance Cover has also said that this would prevent many heart attack deaths.

5 May 2010

Triple-S Management first-quarter total consolidated operating revenues increase 9.8% to $519.1 million

Triple-S Management Corporation, the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated operating revenues of $519.1 million and operating income of $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2010. Net income of $11.2 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, includes an after tax net gain of $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share, in net realized and unrealized gains on investments and derivatives.

5 May 2010

First Edition: May 5, 2010

Today's health policy news ranges from additional analysis of specific provisions of the health overhaul bill to Capitol Hill action and developments in the insurance market.

5 May 2010

New report lays groundwork for strengthening medical licensure renewal process

The Federation of State Medical Boards has approved a report that lays the groundwork for strengthening the medical licensure renewal process by implementing new standards for lifelong learning among physicians.

5 May 2010

WellCare reports GAAP net income of $6.4 million for first-quarter 2010

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. As determined under generally accepted accounting principles, the Company reported net income of $6.4 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $36.9 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, for the prior year period. Adjusted net income for the first quarter of 2010 was $7.4 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, as compared with $12.3 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the same period in 2009.

5 May 2010

University of Iowa develops iScrub Lite 1.5 application to monitor hand hygiene

One of the most common causes of preventable health care-associated infections is poor hand hygiene. iScrub Lite 1.5, an iPhone and iPod touch application developed at the University of Iowa, makes monitoring hand hygiene compliance more efficient and accurate.

5 May 2010

Health Affairs study shows less number of Group Health patients visit ERs, hospitals

In a two-year evaluation at Group Health Cooperative, transforming primary care into a "patient-centered medical home" model paid off.

5 May 2010

Study finds early follow-up for heart failure patients reduces readmission rates

Hospitals that have a higher rate of following up within one week for patients who were discharged after treatment for heart failure have a lower rate of readmission at 30 days for these patients, according to a study in the May 5 issue of JAMA.

5 May 2010

Each year up to 85% of health center patients experience unmet legal needs: Study

Each year, between 50 and 85 percent of health center patients - or between ten and seventeen million people - experience unmet legal needs, many of which negatively impact their health, according to a new study from the Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

5 May 2010

The practice of medicine: Changes are evident -- From med school training and technology to concierge medicine

Kaiser Health News, in partnership with The New York Times, explores what medical students are taught about health care costs: "Doctors in training have traditionally been insulated from information about the cost of the tests and treatments they order for patients — in fact, for decades, the subject was virtually taboo when professors and trainees discussed treatment decisions during hospital rounds.

5 May 2010

FDA requested to publish data supporting assertion on HPV types 6, 11 causing vulvar, vaginal cancers

A Connecticut cancer pathologist/physician/scientist with extensive experience in the field for the past half century has formally challenged the FDA to back claims on its website that human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes 6 and 11 cause vulvar and vaginal cancers in women.

5 May 2010

Abbott announces opening of Asia-Pacific Nutrition R&D Center

Abbott, the global health care company, today announced the opening of the Abbott Asia-Pacific Nutrition Research & Development Center at Singapore's Biopolis Research Park. The center is Abbott's largest nutrition R&D facility outside of the U.S., and Singapore's first nutrition R&D site creating science-based nutritional products for infants, children and adults.

5 May 2010

Americans and their babies are gaining more body fat: Study

A new study has found for the first time that as Americans are gaining more body fat, so are their babies. The research, which reviewed data from more than 74,000 births, found that a key measure of body fat composition in newborns increased significantly over a 15-year period, mirroring similar increases among pregnant mothers. The findings were presented Sunday by researchers from Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting.

5 May 2010

Study investigates pilot VBBD program to improve adherence to diabetes medications

A recent study led by MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc. investigated a pilot Value-Based Benefit Design program to improve adherence to diabetes medications. The study found that a VBBD program that reduced copayments for diabetes medications by 36 percent reduced the number of non-adherent patients by 30 percent.

5 May 2010

WHO announces new guidelines for production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms

With snake bites killing at least 100 000 people a year and countries facing a shortage of appropriate antivenoms, access to and information about available antivenoms is increasingly important. The World Health Organization (WHO) is publishing new guidelines for the production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms and a website with details on where the venomous snakes are located, what they look like, which antivenoms are appropriate, and where they can be obtained.

5 May 2010

HHS announces $16M award for Geisinger to create Keystone Beacon Community

Today the Department of Health and Human Services announced that Geisinger Health System will receive $16 million to create the Keystone Beacon Community as part of HHS's Beacon Community cooperative program.

5 May 2010

Health Care News and Research

Allos Therapeutics reports net loss of $20.5 million for first-quarter 2010

Democrat endorses GOP plan on hospital price disclosure

United BioSource Corporation acquires Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions

White House unveils subsidies to preserve early-retiree coverage

Forbidding ambulance costs deter heart attack victims from calling ‘000’: National Heart Foundation

Triple-S Management first-quarter total consolidated operating revenues increase 9.8% to $519.1 million

First Edition: May 5, 2010

New report lays groundwork for strengthening medical licensure renewal process

WellCare reports GAAP net income of $6.4 million for first-quarter 2010

University of Iowa develops iScrub Lite 1.5 application to monitor hand hygiene

Health Affairs study shows less number of Group Health patients visit ERs, hospitals

Study finds early follow-up for heart failure patients reduces readmission rates

Each year up to 85% of health center patients experience unmet legal needs: Study

The practice of medicine: Changes are evident -- From med school training and technology to concierge medicine

FDA requested to publish data supporting assertion on HPV types 6, 11 causing vulvar, vaginal cancers

Abbott announces opening of Asia-Pacific Nutrition R&D Center

Americans and their babies are gaining more body fat: Study

Study investigates pilot VBBD program to improve adherence to diabetes medications

WHO announces new guidelines for production, regulation and control of snake antivenoms

HHS announces $16M award for Geisinger to create Keystone Beacon Community

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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