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House leaders seek to unify Dems on public option, unveil bill

House Democratic leaders are planning to unveil their version of the health care overhaul that will include a more tempered public insurance plan in which the federal government would negotiate prices with doctors and hospitals, Roll Call reports.

28 Oct 2009

Centrist Democrats are cool to Reid's plan for public option

With his announcement regarding support for the public option, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's plans to move health legislation to the Senate floor face big challenges.

28 Oct 2009

Cuomo announces new database to guide insurers' prices, unveil doctors fees

A new database operated by a New York nonprofit will help insurers determine their rates for out-of-network care and give consumers a heads-up on what to expect their policy to pay when they seek such care, the New York Times reports. The program, which will be operated by the new nonprofit FAIR Health with support from Syracuse University and other states universities, was announced Tuesday by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose office investigated the insurance industry's existing out-of-network pricing system (Abelson, 10/27).

28 Oct 2009

Rove, Dean trade one-liners on health reform, Senators offer their take

Former Democratic Party head Howard Dean joined former Bush adviser Karl Rove for a debate on health care reform in Pennsylvania Tuesday night while other Senators are offering their take on the public option's role in a health care overhaul.

28 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health News: Germany HIV/AIDS grant; Sumatra water situation; India's unlicensed doctors; land ownership, food security

The Organisation for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Epidemics in Central Africa (OCEAC) on Tuesday announced that the German government has granted $34 million to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in central Africa, Agence France-Presse reports.

28 Oct 2009

States face unpopular cuts in health spending

State governments, especially New York's, are facing budget gaps that officials hope to close with cuts to health spending. But, their constituents are resisting the proposed changes that could result in fewer services.

28 Oct 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

The tax I proposed — and the one most economists favor — would force employees to treat as income the value of health-care benefits they receive from their employer (Fred Hiatt, 10/27).

28 Oct 2009

Philanthropist gifts $10-million to Sunnybrook Foundation

The people of Ontario will have more access than ever to the latest life-saving, minimally invasive cardiovascular treatments thanks to the visionary leadership of one of Canada's foremost philanthropists, Seymour Schulich.

28 Oct 2009

MedX Health signs marketing agreement with MMB GmbH

MedX Health Corp., a global leader in developing drug free, non-invasive, low level laser and light therapy for tissue repair and pain relief, today announced that the company will be expanding its sales and marketing efforts with the new European master distributor MMB GmbH.

28 Oct 2009

Pay for health care needs tax free: OptumHealth video explains all

OptumHealth Inc., a UnitedHealth Group company, has produced a short video that explains how health savings accounts (HSAs) can help people save and pay for health care needs – tax-free. The video was produced to help people who are making important health care plan decisions during this year’s open enrollment season.

28 Oct 2009

Conference to caution Congress on the ill effects of pending Medicare cuts to be organized

A new national coalition of small long-term care businesses that provide vital services to the nation's skilled nursing facilities, will join with Maine nursing home providers and frontline caregivers for a Capitol Hill press conference to caution against deep Medicare cuts included in current healthcare reform legislation.

28 Oct 2009

Customers in all 353 of Florida Winn-Dixie and Save-Rite locations to receive Health Cards

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. (WINN) today announced that it has partnered with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) to offer its customers Health Cards in all 353 of its Florida Winn-Dixie and Save-Rite locations.

28 Oct 2009

Accenture Innovation Center for Health launched to tackle challenges facing the global health industry

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today launched the Accenture Innovation Center for Health in response to the growing global demand for insights into and strategies to confront the top health issues and challenges affecting citizens worldwide. The center serves as the focal point for Accenture’s thought capital and proven assets for tackling the most pressing challenges facing the global health industry.

28 Oct 2009

FDA approves the 100th antiretroviral drug in association with PEPFAR

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today marked the recent approval of the 100th antiretroviral drug in association with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), aimed at the prevention, treatment, and care of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

28 Oct 2009

North Dakota congressional delegation praised for recognizing seniors’ care needs as priority in final bill

With North Dakota seniors facing cuts of up to $75 million in their Medicare-funded nursing home care over the next ten years as a result of pending health reform legislation in Congress, North Dakota and national long term care leaders conducted a North Dakota media teleconference today to praise the North Dakota congressional delegation for recognizing the specific concerns of seniors and caregivers, and ensuring the leadership in their respective chambers clearly understand why seniors' care needs must be a priority in a final bill.

28 Oct 2009

Design of a consultation room can improve the quality of a visit to the physician's office

The design of a consultation room can improve the quality of a visit to the physician's office. A collaborative research study developed by Nurture by Steelcase and Mayo Clinic, was conducted to understand the extent to which a consultation room designed to support present-day clinical encounters could affect the consultation between patients and clinicians.

28 Oct 2009

Wellpoint announces third quarter 2009 financial results; net income is 1.53 per share

WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) today announced that third quarter 2009 net income was $730.2 million, or $1.53 per share, including net investment gains of $21.5 million pre-tax, or $0.03 per share, and an impairment charge totaling $205.5 million pre-tax, or $0.28 per share, for certain intangible assets.

28 Oct 2009

New CCS guidelines and position papers for physicians and nurse practitioners

Several new guidelines and position papers offering the most up to date information to ensure that clinicians practice evidence-based medicine were released at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress 2009 this week.

28 Oct 2009

NMHIC appointed as New Mexico's official health information exchange

Maggie Gunter, PhD, president of the New Mexico Health Information Collaborative (NMHIC), announced today that the organization has been appointed as the state's official health information exchange (HIE) by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

28 Oct 2009

NYPNU serves a 10-day strike notice to Lenox Hill Hospital

The New York Professional Nurses Union (NYPNU) members voted overwhelmingly to strike at Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Today, NYPNU has served Gladys George, President/CEO of Lenox Hill Hospital, with a 10-day strike notice and set a strike deadline of Monday, November 9.

28 Oct 2009