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Explainers and fact checks on health reform bills

Several news organizations published explainers on health reform.

1 Sep 2009

Burger chain invests in health care insurance, sees gains

A burger chain pays more for employees' health care insurance and, in turn, has reaped significant gains. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Four years ago, executives of Burgerville, a regional restaurant chain, agreed to pay at least 90% of health-care premiums for hourly employees who work at least 20 hours a week."

1 Sep 2009

Obama returns from vacation facing tough health overhaul odds, but has some strengths

"President Obama still has stronger prospects for achieving his health policy goals than surface impressions of the Congressional recess indicate," the New York Times reports.

1 Sep 2009

Drug stores consider how reform efforts may affect drug stores

If reform passes, CVS expects profits to remain steady while benefit managers worry about other drug stores' plans to go around them and negotiate directly on price.

1 Sep 2009

Lawmakers sound off on health care reform

Lawmakers from around the United States are sounding off on health care legislation ahead of their return to Washington.

1 Sep 2009

Mistrust in health care system could impact patients' health and health care costs

Mistrust among patients, providers and insurers could harm patients' health and raise overall health care costs, reports a new study.

1 Sep 2009

Federal official chooses Wiley newsletter to discuss his plans for strengthening addiction treatment in community corrections

A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D. the top federal official on addiction treatment, chose Wiley newsletter Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly for his first interview after being sworn in as deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Published in the Aug. 31 issue, the interview reveals the bold directions McLellan plans to head in, including a new focus on probation and parole, in partnership with Gil Kerlikowske, ONDCP director.

1 Sep 2009

CT and PET scans carry a very real risk of radiation exposure

Thomas Dehn, M.D., FACR, executive vice president and chief medical officer of National Imaging Associates, a Magellan Health Services (Nasdaq: MGLN) company, today issued the following statement about the New England Journal of Medicine study published on Aug. 27 regarding patient exposure to ionizing radiation in imaging procedures.

1 Sep 2009

Senior citizens in Nevada to be affected by the recent House bill

A new American Health Care Association analysis of the pending House health reform bill, combined with the impact of a recently-enacted Medicare regulation cutting Medicare-funded nursing home care by $12 billion over 10 years, finds seniors in Nevada requiring nursing and rehabilitative care will face total funding cuts of $186 million over that same time period. Nationally, the study finds, seniors' Medicare cuts will total $44 billion over 10 years, prompting Nevada’s long term care community to warn that seniors' care needs are endangered by the House bill, as are the jobs of almost 200 caregivers in Nevada alone.

31 Aug 2009

Celticare Health Plan of Massachusetts to cover legal immigrants from October

CeltiCare today announced that the Commonwealth has accepted its proposal to manage healthcare services for Aliens with Special Status (AWSS). This population has been enrolled in the Commonwealth Care insurance program (Commonwealth Care) run by the Massachusetts Health Connector.

31 Aug 2009

Home births performed by registered midwives are safe and natural

Having your baby at home is as safe as birth in the hospital, according to a new study published in the September Canadian Medical Association Journal. In Ontario, as in BC where the study was conducted, Registered Midwives are the only heath care professionals who attend home births.

31 Aug 2009

D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Identification Kit can be used for detecting H1N1 virus

Diagnostic HYBRIDS announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has cleared an additional claim for the company's D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Identification Kit, which confirms that the assay can detect the 2009 influenza A (H1N1)v virus.

31 Aug 2009

Health care reform will kill competition in most states: BestHealthcareRates.com

Management at BestHealthcareRates.com is astonished with the government’s claims that the health care reform that they are working hard to bring about will actually encourage competition. It is much more likely that it will kill competition in most states as the giant arrives in town and takes a portion of everybody’s business.

31 Aug 2009

Walgreens to provide flue shots faster and easier this season

Walgreens (NYSE:WAG)(NASDAQ:WAG) is making it faster and easier to get a flu shot this season. The nation’s largest drugstore chain today announced it will begin offering seasonal flu shots on Sept. 1 at more than 7,000 points of care nationwide, including nearly all of its stores in 50 states and almost 350 in-store Take Care Clinics.

31 Aug 2009

Ardent Health Services selects Bravo Wellness for providing health assessment and wellness incentive services

Ardent Health Services has selected Bravo Wellness to provide health assessment and wellness incentive services to its 6,500 employees. In addition to improving employee health and productivity, the partnership has the potential to reduce the company’s overall health care costs, including out-of-pocket expenses for employees.

31 Aug 2009

Merck undergoes restructuring after Schering-Plough merger

Richard T. Clark, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) today announced a new organizational structure and named top management and senior leaders for the new Merck effective upon completion of the merger of Merck & Co., Inc. and Schering-Plough Corporation. Mr. Clark was named CEO of the combined company when the merger agreement was signed in March.

31 Aug 2009

Two senior members of Chertoff Group to provide operational advisory services to BioNeutral Group

BioNeutral Group, Inc. has expanded its relationship with the Chertoff Group (Washington, DC). Beginning September 1, 2009, two senior members of the Chertoff Group will provide dedicated strategic and operational advisory services to BioNeutral to enhance the company’s strategic alliances, corporate operations, product testing, regulatory approvals, capital strategies and sales to the public and private sectors.

31 Aug 2009

Health Net urges Americans to have their blood cholesterol measured

Tomorrow, September 1, marks the start of National Cholesterol Education Month. In support of this educational effort, Health Net, Inc., (NYSE: HNT) is encouraging those who haven't yet done so, to have their blood cholesterol measured and, if it's high, to embark on a cholesterol-lowering program.

31 Aug 2009

Seasonal flu shots to be available daily without an appointment at more than 500 MinuteClinic locations

CVS/pharmacy, the nation's leading retail pharmacy, and MinuteClinic, the largest retail health care clinic provider in the U.S., today announced the availability of seasonal flu vaccinations and urged Americans to protect themselves early against the flu. CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic are divisions of CVS Caremark (NYSE: CVS), the largest provider of prescriptions in the country.

31 Aug 2009

First Edition: August 31, 2009

Today's headlines hint that summer's almost over, but the heat will still be on for health reform.

31 Aug 2009

Health Care News and Research

Explainers and fact checks on health reform bills

Burger chain invests in health care insurance, sees gains

Obama returns from vacation facing tough health overhaul odds, but has some strengths

Drug stores consider how reform efforts may affect drug stores

Lawmakers sound off on health care reform

Mistrust in health care system could impact patients' health and health care costs

Federal official chooses Wiley newsletter to discuss his plans for strengthening addiction treatment in community corrections

CT and PET scans carry a very real risk of radiation exposure

Senior citizens in Nevada to be affected by the recent House bill

Celticare Health Plan of Massachusetts to cover legal immigrants from October

Home births performed by registered midwives are safe and natural

D3 Ultra DFA Respiratory Virus Identification Kit can be used for detecting H1N1 virus

Health care reform will kill competition in most states: BestHealthcareRates.com

Walgreens to provide flue shots faster and easier this season

Ardent Health Services selects Bravo Wellness for providing health assessment and wellness incentive services

Merck undergoes restructuring after Schering-Plough merger

Two senior members of Chertoff Group to provide operational advisory services to BioNeutral Group

Health Net urges Americans to have their blood cholesterol measured

Seasonal flu shots to be available daily without an appointment at more than 500 MinuteClinic locations

First Edition: August 31, 2009

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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