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HCRS selected to provide IT support services for three states

HealthCare Resolution Services, Inc. (HCRS), a leading provider of program integrity support, health information technology (IT) services and professional medical and technical staffing, announced today that it has been accepted as a subcontractor for three contract vehicles serving the states of Maryland, Texas, and Florida.

17 Mar 2010

Pathway Genomics' personal Genetic Health Report now available

Pathway Genomics Inc., a U.S. based genetic testing company, announced the immediate availability of its personal Genetic Health Report. This customized and innovative personal genetic health report contains information on more than 70 health conditions, including pharmacogenetics (prescription medication response), propensity for complex disease, and carrier status (pre-pregnancy health).

17 Mar 2010

Colon cancer patients often not treated with recommended level of chemotherapy

New results from a major initiative on the quality of cancer care in the United States show that patients with a common type of colon cancer -- especially older patients -- often are not treated as aggressively with chemotherapy as research shows is necessary to improve survival.

17 Mar 2010

Congress should exempt Americans from excise tax on health care plans, says Teamsters President

"Now is the time to get this done. Teamster members have solid health care coverage, but the outrageous cost of insurance is hurting our employers and dragging down the economy.

17 Mar 2010

NCCN Guidelines translated into Japanese

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology have been further recognized as the global standard in oncology with the announcement that select NCCN Guidelines™ are being translated into Japanese. The Translational Research Informatics Center Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation, under the supervision of the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum, has translated the NCCN Guidelines for Colon Cancer and Rectal Cancer, which are now available online.

17 Mar 2010

Black children less likely to develop shingles after receiving chickenpox vaccine

Black children are less likely than white or Asian children to develop shingles (herpes zoster) after receiving the varicella vaccine to prevent chickenpox, reports a study in the March issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

17 Mar 2010

2010 iF Product Design Gold Award for Flex Focus mobile ultrasound scanner

Analogic Corporation, a leading provider of medical imaging and aviation security technology, announced today that the Flex Focus™ mobile ultrasound scanner, designed and manufactured by its BK Medical subsidiary, received an iF Product Design Gold Award for 2010.

17 Mar 2010

Akron Children's Hospital to launch Web 2.0 community for pediatric health care providers

Akron Children's Hospital will soon launch a secure Web 2.0 community for pediatric health care providers using the Within3 platform.

17 Mar 2010

Health reform could boost number of young adults buying insurance

The Wall Street Journal: "Although insurers generally oppose the Democrats' health-care bill, an overhaul would give the industry a chance to boost its diminishing rolls with an influx of young customers who tend to be healthy and profitable to cover. The legislation, which Congress will vote on soon, is designed to get millions of young people to buy health insurance, using a mixture of subsidies to make coverage more affordable and penalties for people who remain uninsured."

17 Mar 2010

Medical home program: A new approach to optimize pediatric care

For parents of children with multiple medical problems, keeping up with countless doctor's appointments, ongoing tests and a variety of medications can be overwhelming, especially for those in challenging socioeconomic situations.

17 Mar 2010

Governors riled by lack of input in health bill; States request more federal funding for budget, Medicaid shortfalls

"Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas kicked off a National Governors Association summit on health care Monday with an ominous word about the date" and the need to beware the ides of March. "The governors feel like they've gotten the Brutus treatment, too."

17 Mar 2010

Glenmark Generics, Konec ordered to stop marketing unapproved nitroglycerin tablets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today ordered Glenmark Generics of Mahwah, N.J., and Konec Inc. of Tucson, Ariz., to stop marketing unapproved nitroglycerin tablets. The tablets are placed under the tongue to relieve chest pain or to stop a heart attack and are marketed in 0.3 mg, 0.4 mg, and 0.6 mg dosages.

17 Mar 2010

Results of UBA 2010 Employer Opinion Survey Special Supplement

United Benefit Advisors, LLC, (wwwUBAbenefits.com), one of the nation's leading employee benefits advisory organizations, released the results of the UBA 2010 Employer Opinion Survey Special Supplement featuring employer opinions on future costs, plan designs and the impact of health care reform provisions being considered by both houses of Congress.

17 Mar 2010

Former GOP leader Armey predicts health bill will pass

Dick Armey, a former Republican House majority leader and one of the leaders of the Tea Party movement, said Monday "that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 'inept' but that Congress would likely still pass health care reform," ABC News reports. "

17 Mar 2010

Heart disease patients may benefit from secondary preventive care

Research has shown that heart disease patients who make lifestyle improvements, take recommended medications and control risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure can prevent heart disease from worsening.

17 Mar 2010

House Democrats move health bill with controversial, complicated strategy

House Democrats have started the clock to a landmark vote on sweeping changes to America's health care system.

17 Mar 2010

California jury rules insurer should pay for out-of-state operation; Mass. probe shows insurers' payments can vary widely

The Los Angeles Times: "A Los Angeles jury concluded Monday that Anthem Blue Cross should cover the cost of an out-of-state liver transplant that a California man paid for after the insurer balked. In addition, the jury ordered Blue Cross to pay plaintiff Ephram Nehme's legal expenses, which could dwarf the $206,000 cost of the transplant. Blue Cross approved Nehme's liver transplant in late 2006, and he was on the waiting list at UCLA Medical Center.

17 Mar 2010

Medtronic launches Every Patient First health equity initiative.

Medtronic, Inc. today introduced Every Patient First, a health equity initiative that, in partnership with health care providers, professional societies and patient advocacy groups, aims to reduce disparities in access to health care in the United States. The announcement was made at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta.

17 Mar 2010

Democrats continue tallying health bill support; Republicans criticize 'deem and pass' rule

Politico: "House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday that Democrats don't yet have the votes to pass a bill this week and that they're still talking with every single member of the caucus. He also told reporters during his half-hour weekly news conference that he hopes to have language for a reconciliation bill finalized later in the day and defended the possible use of the rules to deem the Senate bill passed without forcing members to actually take the uncomfortable vote to support it."

17 Mar 2010

Obama makes a final overhaul pitch in Ohio

With a possible deciding vote on health care overhaul legislation nearing, President Obama traveled Monday to Ohio to make a last-minute plea for political "courage" to pass the legislation, The Washington Post reports. "Making an impassioned pitch in a part of the country where unemployment runs high and insurance coverage is uncertain, Obama said in a speech at a senior center here, 'I don't know about the politics, but I know what's the right thing to do'" (Slevin and Branigin, 3/15).

17 Mar 2010