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Republican Senators go on the offensive against reconciliation vote

Roll Call: Senate Republicans have stepped-up their message attack against President Barack Obama's latest push to pass health reform. "A key element of the Senate GOP's plan appears to be to try to scare House Democrats against voting for the health care plan, arguing that there's no guarantee that the Senate approves a reconciliation package."

6 Mar 2010

In White House meeting, Sebelius urges insurers to release all details on rate hikes

Insurance companies should disclose more information about how they spend money to justify their rate hikes, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told a group of insurance executives during a White House meeting Thursday, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

6 Mar 2010

Hewitt Associates acquires retiree medical insurance company

Hewitt Associates, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company, today announced it has acquired Senior Educators Ltd., a trusted, Web-based retiree medical insurance exchange that provides unbiased assistance to Medicare recipients seeking high-quality, affordable supplemental insurance products.

6 Mar 2010

Former executive criticizes Catholic Charities' gay marriage backlash

A former senior executive at Catholic Charities has spoken out against the group's decision to eliminate all health coverage for new spouses in Washington D.C. in order to avoid offering the same benefits to same-sex couples. Catholic Charities decided to change its benefits policy in response to the District's legalization of same-sex marriage, "a move designed to avoid legitimizing same-sex marriage," according to The Washington Post.

6 Mar 2010

Democratic division on abortion language in health overhaul jeopardizes chances for passage

"Democratic leaders in Congress are embarking on a delicate strategy to win over abortion opponents, a gambit that could determine whether the legislation becomes law." The Washington Post reports.

5 Mar 2010

Obama seeks to mollify Democrats on health overhaul plan, costs

President Barack Obama intensified his push for health care reform by lobbying small groups of Democratic lawmakers Thursday.

5 Mar 2010

Poll: On health reform, Americans trust Obama more than both parties in Congress

A new Gallup poll asked Americans whom they trusted to reform the nation's health care system.

5 Mar 2010

RWJF awards $480,000 grant to improve clinical care for low-weight babies

Researchers at UC Irvine and the Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) will monitor the day-to-day health of low-birth-weight babies and their parents as part of a comprehensive initiative designed to combat chronic illnesses associated with low-weight births.

5 Mar 2010

Today's opinions and editorials

Some critics complain that the administration has slipped in its commitment to fiscal responsibility in health reform. These critics are mistaken. The president's plan represents an important step toward long-term fiscal sustainability (Peter Orszag and Nancy-Ann DeParle, 3/5).

5 Mar 2010

Advocates, opponents target about two dozen swing votes

"As President Obama pushes for a prompt up or down vote on his health initiative, lobbyists and activist groups on both sides of the issue have launched grass-roots and high-dollar advertising campaigns on the roughly two dozen members of Congress who may be the final swing votes on the controversial issue," The Los Angeles Times reports.

5 Mar 2010

MicroPhage seeks FDA clearance for MRSA/MSSA Blood Culture Test, submits clinical study data

MicroPhage announced that it has submitted human data from a pivotal clinical study of its ‘Microphage MRSA/MSSA Blood Culture Test’ to support a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) premarket notification process. The first of MicroPhage’s instrument-free, rapid tests is based on the Company’s patented Bacteriophage Amplification platform technology. MicroPhage further announced that it has already begun OUS commercial shipments of the test.

5 Mar 2010

Medical identity theft: Nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims

Medical identity theft is an alarming and often undetected offense affecting today’s consumers, according to a recent survey conducted by The Ponemon Institute and sponsored by ProtectMyID.com™, Experian’s multilayered identity theft detection, protection and fraud resolution product. According to the study, nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims of medical identity theft. For many, the notion of identity theft is both upsetting and daunting, but few individuals realize the specific severity and potential repercussions of medical identity fraud.

5 Mar 2010

Liberal government's radical health care restructuring plan will deny patients access to local care

Ontarians should be alarmed that the Liberal government is planning a radical restructuring of health care "premised not on quality of care and best practices, but solely on which hospital can do their surgeries most cheaply," says Michael Hurley, the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) - which represents 30,000 CUPE hospital workers.

5 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 5, 2010

After a week of stepped-up health reform activity, today's headlines highlight that the White House is intensifying its final push by setting a deadline for congressional action. Meanwhile, though, the Democratic party continues to face rifts within its own caucus. Abortion coverage issues again posing challenges to securing Democratic votes.

5 Mar 2010

Cymetrix Board Member Joe Sullivan recognized as 2010 Director of the Year Honoree

Cymetrix Board Member Joe Sullivan was recognized by the Forum for Corporate Directors as a 2010 Director of the Year Honoree. He was recognized in the category of Corporate Growth and Development for playing a significant role in enhancing the growth and operations of the companies he serves.

5 Mar 2010

Congressman Levin becomes new acting Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee: Pelosi issues statement

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement this morning on Sander Levin of Michigan becoming new acting Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee:

5 Mar 2010

CIGNA's Explanation of Benefits earns “Excellent” designation for Clarity, Content and Design

Health service company CIGNA has earned the top ranking among national health plans for the industry’s key customer communication, the Explanation of Benefits. CIGNA's Explanation of Benefits is one of only three to earn an “Excellent” designation for Clarity, Content and Design in an evaluation by DALBAR, Inc.

5 Mar 2010

America's Prostate Cancer Organizations release shared perspective on screening and treatment

America's Prostate Cancer Organizations today released the full text of written testimony to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The Committee will be holding a hearing on "Prostate Cancer: New Questions About Screening and Treatment" on March 4, 2010.

5 Mar 2010

FDA takes steps to protect consumers from potential Salmonella infection

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking steps to protect the public following the early identification of Salmonella Tennessee in one company's supply of hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP). This is a common ingredient used most frequently as a flavor enhancer in many processed foods, including soups, sauces, chilis, stews, hot dogs, gravies, seasoned snack foods, dips and dressings.

5 Mar 2010

Men should discuss risks, benefits with doctor before undergoing prostate-cancer screening

Men who undergo prostate-cancer screening should discuss with a doctor the uncertainties, risks and benefits of the test before it is performed, says Edward Partridge, M.D., president-elect of the American Cancer Society National Board of Directors and director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center.

5 Mar 2010

Health Care News and Research

Republican Senators go on the offensive against reconciliation vote

In White House meeting, Sebelius urges insurers to release all details on rate hikes

Hewitt Associates acquires retiree medical insurance company

Former executive criticizes Catholic Charities' gay marriage backlash

Democratic division on abortion language in health overhaul jeopardizes chances for passage

Obama seeks to mollify Democrats on health overhaul plan, costs

Poll: On health reform, Americans trust Obama more than both parties in Congress

RWJF awards $480,000 grant to improve clinical care for low-weight babies

Today's opinions and editorials

Advocates, opponents target about two dozen swing votes

MicroPhage seeks FDA clearance for MRSA/MSSA Blood Culture Test, submits clinical study data

Medical identity theft: Nearly 1.5 million Americans have been victims

Liberal government's radical health care restructuring plan will deny patients access to local care

First Edition: March 5, 2010

Cymetrix Board Member Joe Sullivan recognized as 2010 Director of the Year Honoree

Congressman Levin becomes new acting Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee: Pelosi issues statement

CIGNA's Explanation of Benefits earns “Excellent” designation for Clarity, Content and Design

America's Prostate Cancer Organizations release shared perspective on screening and treatment

FDA takes steps to protect consumers from potential Salmonella infection

Men should discuss risks, benefits with doctor before undergoing prostate-cancer screening

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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