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Emdeon introduces HIPAA Simplified to help guide healthcare industry's transition to new standards

Emdeon Inc., a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management solutions, today announced the availability of HIPAA Simplified, a one-stop online resource for guiding the healthcare industry's transition to HIPAA 5010, NCPDP D.0 and ICD-10 standards.

23 Jan 2010

Centene prices follow-on public offering of common stock

Centene Corporation today announced the pricing of its previously announced follow-on public offering of 5,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $19.25 per share.

23 Jan 2010

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that Americans are divided over congressional health reform proposals, but also that large shares of people, including skeptics, become more supportive after being told about many of the major provisions in the bills.

23 Jan 2010

Obama: Not going to walk away from health reform

New York Times' The Caucus blog: "Conceding his health care overhaul had 'run into a bit of a buzz saw,' President Obama vowed on Friday to keep fighting for legislation that will 'hold the insurance industry accountable and bring more stability and security to folks in our health care system'" (Stolberg, 1/22).

23 Jan 2010

States worry about Medicaid stimulus money drying up under scaled-back health bill

News outlets report on health care funding gaps in state budgets, including Massachusetts, Maryland, Georgia and Wisconsin, and the possible impact of a scaled-back federal health bill.

23 Jan 2010

FDA's Ampyra approval wonderful news for people with MS experiencing walking problems

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the marketing of Ampyra™ (dalfampridine, formerly known as fampridine SR, from Acorda Therapeutics) for its ability to improve walking speed in people with any type of multiple sclerosis.

23 Jan 2010

Searching for consensus, Dems consider potential of paring back health reform

"Passage of a comprehensive [health] bill looked impossible after the Democrats' loss of a Senate seat in Massachusetts. As an alternative, lawmakers in both parties said, some pieces of the bills already passed by the House and the Senate could be pulled out and packaged together in a measure that would command broad support."

23 Jan 2010

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

We will ultimately have real health care reform in this country for a very simple reason: We have no choice and both Democrats and Republicans understand that. More importantly, the American people know it (Robert Laszewski, 1/22).

22 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 22, 2010

Today's news highlights the continued efforts by Democrats to plot a new health reform strategy.

22 Jan 2010

Smart-Tek Automated Services rolls out its healthcare initiative for 2010

Smart-Tek Automated Services Inc., a subsidiary of Smart-Tek Solutions Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board : STTN) is rolling out its healthcare initiative for 2010. Smart-Tek has put together a comprehensive product offering and has chosen Aflac for the electronic administration of employee benefits in a company-wide implementation beginning February 11.

22 Jan 2010

ResCare chooses GuardianEdge to assist in HIPAA compliance

GuardianEdge, the leader in endpoint data protection, today announced that ResCare, one of the nation's leading providers of services to people with disabilities and the elderly, has selected GuardianEdge to secure the company's more than 6,000 endpoint devices and to assist in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance. To ensure that sensitive patient data is secure, ResCare has deployed GuardianEdge Hard Disk Encryption, GuardianEdge Removable Storage Encryption and GuardianEdge Device Control.

21 Jan 2010

Rules for patient data security remain widely unenforced

"As the federal government prepares to spend up to $27 billion in stimulus funds to promote electronic medical records, a health technology industry survey suggests that a number of hospitals, health clinics, and insurance firms are violating federal security rules on patient data and putting sensitive health information at risk," The Center for Public Integrity reports.

21 Jan 2010

Engaging in incentive-based wellness program is associated with lower healthcare costs

According to a study published in the January/February issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, a peer-reviewed journal devoted to health promotion, health plan members who participated in fitness-related activities within an incentive-based health insurance wellness program had significantly lower healthcare costs.

21 Jan 2010

NHC urges congress to continue work on meaningful healthcare reform

The National Health Council (NHC), an organization providing a united voice for the more than 133 million people with chronic diseases and disabilities and their family caregivers, today sent a letter to Congress urging the House and Senate to "continue working to accomplish the long-sought goal of health care reform."

21 Jan 2010

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Childhood obesity in America is a major public health issue. Blue Cross Blue Shield, committed to building a healthier Michigan, is partnering with schools across the state to get kids moving and eating healthier.

21 Jan 2010

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

Aetna (NYSE: AET) and Walgreens announced today that they have joined forces to educate people about the need to take in adequate levels of Vitamin D. The two organizations are working with United Way of the Midlands on a Vitamin D giveaway program being piloted in Richland and Lexington counties in South Carolina.

21 Jan 2010

Lawmakers discuss health reform bill's future; Reid says Senate won't take further action until Brown is seated

After "long-shot" Republican candidate Scott Brown won Massachusetts' Tuesday Senate election "no clear strategy emerged to keep President Barack Obama's top domestic priority moving through the halls of Congress. With the loss of the crucial 60th vote, two alternatives moved into consideration," Politico reports.

21 Jan 2010

CIGNA International to develop and offer individual PMI for customers around the globe

CIGNA International announced it will develop and offer individual Private Medical Insurance (PMI) to respond to the emerging needs of customers around the globe. CIGNA International – a world leader in global life, accident and health insurance and global expatriate benefits – will provide local PMI for citizens in countries outside the United States as well as to individual expatriates and high net worth individuals.

20 Jan 2010

Aetna announces new fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide

Aetna today announced a new team-based fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide that uses online social networking to encourage people of all health and fitness levels to work together with their colleagues to achieve their optimal health.

20 Jan 2010

Budget woes prompt health cuts in some states

The Salt Lake Tribune: "Utah's Medicaid program isn't providing enough oversight of its managed care plans, a problem that is costing the state as much as $19 million, according to a Legislative audit released Tuesday" (Rosetta, 1/19).

20 Jan 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

Emdeon introduces HIPAA Simplified to help guide healthcare industry's transition to new standards

Centene prices follow-on public offering of common stock

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

Obama: Not going to walk away from health reform

States worry about Medicaid stimulus money drying up under scaled-back health bill

FDA's Ampyra approval wonderful news for people with MS experiencing walking problems

Searching for consensus, Dems consider potential of paring back health reform

A selection of today's opinions and editorials

First Edition: January 22, 2010

Smart-Tek Automated Services rolls out its healthcare initiative for 2010

ResCare chooses GuardianEdge to assist in HIPAA compliance

Rules for patient data security remain widely unenforced

Engaging in incentive-based wellness program is associated with lower healthcare costs

NHC urges congress to continue work on meaningful healthcare reform

Blue Cross Blue Shield accepts grant proposals from elementary schools to reduce childhood obesity

Aetna and Walgreens collaborate to educate people on taking adequate levels of Vitamin D

Lawmakers discuss health reform bill's future; Reid says Senate won't take further action until Brown is seated

CIGNA International to develop and offer individual PMI for customers around the globe

Aetna announces new fitness and nutrition program for employers nationwide

Budget woes prompt health cuts in some states

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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