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East Coast Health Insurance's opinion on health care reform

With health insurance rates skyrocketing look no further than Miami health insurance broker East Coast Health Insurance to be offering their opinion on the Washington legislation debate. Many health brokers are of course easy to predict, falling on the side of the status quo Republicans, who see a problem, but see a bigger problem with another federal program. It seems the only thing that everyone agrees upon is that the country cannot sustain these health costs.

15 Sep 2009

New critical illness plan from Colonial Life introduced

A new critical illness plan from Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Company can help many working Americans who may be one serious medical issue away from financial problems. Even with good health insurance, a serious illness, such as a heart attack or stroke, could leave employees on the hook for huge expenses.

15 Sep 2009

MedAssurant purchases Catalyst Information Technologies

MedAssurant, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, announced today that it has acquired Catalyst Information Technologies, Inc., d/b/a Catalyst Technologies, a leader in healthcare clinical quality outcomes analysis and data analytical toolset development.

15 Sep 2009

NORD urges members of Congress to pass comprehensive health reform legislation

On behalf of the 30 million Americans who are affected by one of the nearly 7,000 rare disorders, the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) urges you to pass comprehensive health reform legislation to assure that every American has access to affordable, meaningful health insurance coverage. Failure to pass such long-overdue legislation this year would be devastating for people with rare diseases, and for millions of others burdened by chronic illness.

15 Sep 2009

Benefit Informatics and Eldorado Computing collaborate to offer an integrated health plan management solution

Competition and cost control initiatives are forcing health plan payers to move beyond being “claims payers” and position themselves as plan resource providers that meet the individual needs of each customer.

14 Sep 2009

Illegal immigrants: A fact check on their place in health reform

Reuters did a "fact box" on illegal immigrants and President Obama's health care reform push.

14 Sep 2009

Moderates against government-run 'public option'

Moderates from both parties backed away from a government-run public health insurance option Sunday, as they appeared on various Sunday talk shows.

14 Sep 2009

On '60 Minutes,' Obama says he is responsible for health legislation: 'I own it'

President Barack Obama Sunday night in an appearance on CBS' 60 Minutes said that some Republicans just want to "kill" health care reform and that he'll "own" the bill when it passes.

14 Sep 2009

Baucus plans last attempt at bipartisan bill, Dems acknowledge moderates' key role

This week is crucial for Sen. Max Baucus, who is trying to win bipartisan support from his Senate Finance Committee negotiators. If not, he is likely to join a Democrat-only effort to reform the health care system.

14 Sep 2009

A selection of opinions and editorials

Health Care: Now, It's War NPR What emerges from this year's historic debate will now be a distinctly Democratic bill opposed by virtually every Republican in both the House and the Senate. It will pass or fail depending entirely on Democratic leaders' ability to rally their own troops in support (Ron Elving, 9/11).

14 Sep 2009

Poll: Opposition to reform still high but easing

A new ABC News-Washington Post poll found that 48 percent of Americans approve of Obama's handling of health care. "Bottom-line views on health care reform have stabilized but failed to improve since President Obama addressed the nation, leaving him with a continued challenge in selling his plan to a public that remains skeptical about its benefits and costs alike," ABC News reports.

14 Sep 2009

Lobbyists ramp up efforts to shape health care reform

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch/New York Times reports: "Top lobbyists for every major sector of the health care industry publicly insist they are squarely behind the health care reform effort of President Barack Obama's administration.

14 Sep 2009

Nonprofits seek financial relief in health legislation

The New York Times reports: "Nonprofit organizations say they are upset that Congress and the Obama administration have not addressed their rising health care costs in the various health care proposals being floated on Capitol Hill. The main bill in the House would award a tax credit to small businesses that provide their employees with health insurance — but nonprofits do not pay income taxes and thus would not benefit."

14 Sep 2009

First Edition: September 14, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that the momentum behind including a public option in health reform may be losing steam.

14 Sep 2009

Meeting with Obama on health insurance reforms discussed

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held a brief press availability following their meeting with President Obama at the White House this afternoon. Below is a transcript of their remarks followed by question and answer session.

14 Sep 2009

HRSA receives funds to train health care professionals

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced awards totaling $33 million to expand the training of health care professionals. The funds are part of the $500 million allotted to HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to address workforce shortages under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

14 Sep 2009

IFG urges small business owners to concentrate on accounts receivable factoring

The Interface Financial Group (IFG), North America's largest alternative funding source for small business, suggests that until the nation's health care reform has been resolved, small business owners look to accounts receivable factoring. Small businesses are the engine of the economy, creating at least seventy percent of all new jobs, In the United States small businesses employ more than half of all private sector employees, pay 44 percent of total U.S. private payroll and have generated 64 percent of net new jobs over the past 15 years.

14 Sep 2009

Knowledge gap regarding the use of breast cancer tests

A new study finds that there is little information available about the use of new testing technologies and targeted therapies in breast cancer, specifically the anti-cancer drug trastuzumab (Herceptin).

14 Sep 2009

Obama's interview on health and fitness priorities to be published in a health magazine

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama speak candidly about health and fitness priorities for the country and their family in exclusive interviews that will appear in the October 2009 issues of Men’s Health and Women’s Health, respectively. The October issues hit newsstands on Tuesday, September 15.

14 Sep 2009