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'How Much Longer' campaign for promoting autism awareness

The National Autism Association (NAA) declared today as National "How Much Longer" Day for Autism, a day of letter-writing to the media, health agencies, Department of Education, lawmakers and the Obama Administration asking for such things as health insurance coverage, federal laws to protect special-ed students from dangerous restraint and seclusion practices in schools, safer vaccines, and for autism to be declared a nation health crisis.

10 Sep 2009

Health care reform should ensure coverage is more affordable: America's Health Insurance Plans

"We agree the status quo is not sustainable. That is why health plans last year did something industries rarely do: stepped up and offered solutions to address the health care concerns raised by the American people.

10 Sep 2009

Obesity experts call on policymakers to adopt obesity recommendations

The Obesity Society and other steering committee members of the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, and two former US Surgeons General, join together today to develop effective recommendations to urge policymakers to act on the inclusion of obesity as the largest and most urgent driving factor in healthcare reform.

10 Sep 2009

Baucus aims for health agreement in advance of Obama speech tonight

Democrats are promising to send President Obama a health reform plan this year as Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus continues to try to get key Republicans on board with a new proposal.

9 Sep 2009

Change to Win urges congress to implement a comprehensive health care reform

"Tonight, President Obama made the case to fix the broken health care system that has become a tremendous burden on working families and a constant threat to an already fragile economy. Congress must act now by implementing comprehensive health care reform that guarantees all Americans have high quality, affordable coverage.

9 Sep 2009

News organizations offer last minute decoders for health debate

Media organizations have presented a variety of health care decoders today, in anticipation of President Obama's speech tonight. Timelines, glossaries and a list of interest groups' ambitions seek to put the debate in context.

9 Sep 2009

New electronic credentialing system for managed care organizations

OneBeacon Professional Partners, a member of OneBeacon Insurance Group (NYSE: OB), today announced an alliance with Medversant Technologies, LLC to offer OneBeacon managed care customers AutoVerifi(TM), a patented, electronic credentialing verification and management system that continuously validates, stores and retrieves records of medical providers.

9 Sep 2009

Fourth-quarter and full year fiscal 2009 results announced by Rural/Metro

Rural/Metro Corporation (NASDAQ: RURL), a leading provider of ambulance and private fire protection services, announced results today for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter and full year, highlighting strong cash-flow generation, growth in profitability, and further progress in reducing uncompensated care.

9 Sep 2009

Health insurance and pharmaceutical industries blamed for problems in the current healthcare system

Whatever the public may think about proposals for health care reform, they blame many different parties for the problems with the system we have now. The health insurance and pharmaceutical industries are the most widely blamed, with most people believing they deserve a “great deal of blame.” However, more than 60% of all adults believe that both Republicans and Democrats in Congress, business, hospitals, former President George W. Bush and doctors should all get at least some blame.

9 Sep 2009

Health reform proposals under consideration to benefit small business owners and employees most: Report

Small business owners and employees are among those who stand to benefit the most from provisions in some of the current health reform proposals under consideration by Congress according to a Commonwealth Fund report released today.

9 Sep 2009

Pennsylvanian Insurance Commissioner emphasizes on essential reforms in health care

Citing the 300,000 Pennsylvanians on the state's waiting list for subsidized health insurance coverage, state Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario today urged the U.S. Congress to enact a set of core health insurance reforms that will give Pennsylvania and other states tools needed to fix the deep-seated problems with the current health care system.

9 Sep 2009

PCG’s Virtual Examiner fraud and abuse prevention software deployed at San Diego’s Community Health Group

PCG Software, a leading provider of software solutions designed to ensure proper and accurate payment of medical claims for healthcare payer and provider organizations, today announced that Community Health Group (San Diego) has deployed PCG’s Virtual Examiner fraud and abuse prevention software.

9 Sep 2009

Consumer Watchdog highlights the flaws in the proposed Senate Finance Committee health reforms

The consumer group that pioneered the most successful insurance premium regulation law in the nation, which has saved California drivers $62 billion on auto insurance rates since 1988, released a report today outlining the deep flaws in the proposed Senate Finance Committee health reforms.

9 Sep 2009

Senators return to full plate, featuring health bills

"The focus on health care as Congress reconvenes Tuesday after its monthlong recess is nearly all-consuming," The Associated Press reports. "At stake, beyond the future of health care, is an accomplishment Democrats need to convince voters they deserve to remain in power." Financial legislation, consumer protections and clean energy are also still on the table in the Senate (Abrams, 9/8).

9 Sep 2009

Ross: I will oppose legislation with a public plan

"In a fresh sign of divisions in the president's own party," Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., on Tuesday came out against including a public insurance plan in health reform legislation, the Associated Press reports. Ross said he could not support a public plan after hearing from constituents during the August recess (Werner, 9/8).

9 Sep 2009

Health Integrated to implement behavioral health management services for Blue Cross of Idaho

Health Integrated, a leading provider of Health Management Solutions, has entered a new agreement with Blue Cross of Idaho as the health plan integrates the management of behavioral health benefits into its core operations.

9 Sep 2009

Advocacy campaign to fight reimbursement cuts for POC urine drug screen devices

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of therapeutic drug monitoring and education to physicians and staff treating chronic pain patients, has announced the launch of an advocacy campaign to fight reimbursement cuts to point-of-care (POC) urine drug screen devices.

9 Sep 2009

Regular usage of CGM devices help manage diabetes

The latest data from groundbreaking human clinical trials of the effectiveness of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) show that the primary determinant of improvements in achieving better diabetes control is regular use of monitors - six days per week or more - rather than the age of patients, and that benefits continue well past the time when people with type 1 diabetes begin using the devices - including experiencing fewer low blood sugar emergencies.

9 Sep 2009

Primers: What's really going on with health reform?

As Congress returns from its August recess for what promises to be a dramatic health care finale, a few papers offer refreshers on what's contained in the bills lawmakers and the president are preparing to debate, and how they will affect millions of citizens. Three news reports compare key proposals, and suggest key questions for reformers.

9 Sep 2009

Newspapers across the country cover state health issues

Newspapers across the country report on health issues at the state level. Stories include the loss of health insurance for working parents in Arizona, a rise in the number of uninsured seeking help at nonprofit clinics in Kansas, the expansion of a program for children's insurance in Alabama, a decline in the number of uninsured in New York City, fears about a financial blow for health providers in Louisiana and union activism for the uninsured in Florida.

9 Sep 2009