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Wellcare faces allegations about director's resignation; Wellpoint confronts reports regarding breast cancer recissions

"A prominent director at WellCare Health Plans Inc. resigned Wednesday and raised questions about accounting practices at the Medicare and Medicaid company. Regina Herzlinger, the head of the board's audit committee and a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, said internal audits found WellCare overbilled the Illinois Medicaid program by $1 million in 2009 and potentially overcharged states for almost $500,000 worth of maternity care."

27 Apr 2010

e-MDs selected as one of two recommended EHR vendors by AEHRA

e-MDs, an industry leader in the development and implementation of electronic health record and practice management solutions, announced they have been selected as one of two recommended EHR vendors by the Alaska EHR Alliance. e-MDs was identified through The EHR Selection Project as an endorsed vendor to Alaska healthcare providers looking to incorporate an EHR in their clinical practice.

26 Apr 2010

General Dynamics Information Technology awarded task order to support HHS' CMS

General Dynamics Information Technology's VIPS business sector, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded a task order to support the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

26 Apr 2010

HHS Secretary and New Orleans Mayor-elect to tour St. Thomas Community Health Center

On Monday, April 26, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and New Orleans Mayor-elect Mitch Landrieu will visit the St. Thomas Community Health Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

26 Apr 2010

Health care law's ability to control costs will be closely watched

The Associated Press/ABC news explore the question of how of cost containment under the new health law: "What's it going to cost me? That's the single biggest unanswered question about President Barack Obama's new health care overhaul law — and its weak spot. Many experts believe the law falls short on taming costs, and that will force Congress to revisit health care in a few years. … For now, the political parties are too polarized — and lawmakers too exhausted — to contemplate health care 2.0.

26 Apr 2010

WellPoint responds to HHS letter on singling out women with breast cancer for rescission

I was disappointed to read your letter regarding the media report published in Reuters yesterday as well as your assertion that WellPoint "deliberately works to deny coverage for women diagnosed with breast cancer." Both your statement and Mr. Waas' piece are inaccurate and grossly misrepresent WellPoint's efforts to help prevent, detect, and treat the 1 in 8 of our 34 million members nationwide affected by breast cancer.

24 Apr 2010

HeartWare International presents clinical trial data of Ventricular Assist System at ISHLT annual meeting

HeartWare International, Inc., a leading innovator of less invasive, miniaturized circulatory support technologies revolutionizing the treatment of advanced heart failure, today announced that data from its international clinical trial and commercial experience of the HeartWare® Ventricular Assist System showed a survival rate of 90 percent at six months and an actuarial survival rate of 86 percent at 12 months post implant.

24 Apr 2010

Animal studies demonstrate safety profile of ACT's RPE cell therapy for SMD

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. announced today that it has completed key animal studies in connection with its Phase I multicenter study using embryonic stem cell derived Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE) cells to treat patients with Stargardt's Macular Dystrophy (SMD), for which it filed an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November. The studies demonstrated an excellent safety profile with no safety signals such as tumors or ectopic tissues.

24 Apr 2010

HHS Secretary urges WellPoint to end harmful practice of dropping health insurance coverage

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to WellPoint urging them to immediately end their practice of dropping health insurance coverage for women with breast cancer, after Reuters reported that the company "has specifically targeted women with breast cancer for aggressive investigation with the intent to cancel their policies."

24 Apr 2010

Officials continue health overhaul sparring, news outlets examine new law's potential improvements for women

Republicans are continuing to pressure officials at the Department of Health and Human Services on health reform as the focus shifts to implementation of the health care overhaul and the first deadlines are approaching, Politico reports.

24 Apr 2010

Reuters: Wellpoint targets breast cancer patients for rescission

That tens of thousands of Americans lost their health insurance shortly after being diagnosed with life-threatening, expensive medical conditions has been well documented by law enforcement agencies, state regulators and a congressional committee. ... And a congressional committee last year said WellPoint was one of the worst offenders.

24 Apr 2010

Georgia investigators increasingly use computer data to catch Medicaid fraud

Georgia investigators "are collecting millions more dollars each year as they catch more Medicaid fraud and mistakes" and they are increasingly relying on computer data analysis as a helpful tool. These cases often uncover unscrupulous medical providers who develop schemes such as overbilling to defraud the state Medicaid program.

24 Apr 2010

CMS actuary: Health reform will cover more people, cost more than originally projected

"In the first comprehensive look by neutral experts" of the health law, The Associated Press reports that "More Americans will be covered, but costs are also going up. Economic experts at the Health and Human Services Department concluded in a report issued Thursday that the health care remake will achieve Obama's aim of expanding health insurance — adding 34 million to the coverage rolls.

24 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on the new health laws coverage estimates, costs and impact on the health care system.

23 Apr 2010

First annual U.S.-African Union high level bilateral meetings start in Washington

Representatives of the African Union (AU) on Wednesday began meeting with members of the Obama administration in Washington, as part of the first Annual U.S.-African Union High Level Bilateral Meetings, United Press International reports (4/21).

23 Apr 2010

Mass. court orders state's two largest health insurers to submit insurance rates; N.C. Governor restores funding for some mental health programs

The Boston Globe: "A Suffolk Superior Court judge yesterday ordered two of the state's largest health insurers to submit April 2009 rates for insurance covering individuals and small businesses, the latest development in an ongoing dispute between the state and carriers over premium increases. Both companies said they would comply, even as they proceed with administrative appeals in an effort to charge higher rates.

23 Apr 2010

New multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to opioid drugs

A multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to opioid drugs was unveiled today at the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Blending Conference in Albuquerque, N.M. This eighth meeting in the series brings together researchers and clinicians so their latest findings can be immediately applied to the needs of patients and their families dealing with addictive disorders.

23 Apr 2010

Detroit-area resident pleads guilty in fraudulent medical testing scheme

Detroit-area resident Melvin Young pleaded guilty today to engaging in a fraudulent medical testing scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS).

23 Apr 2010

Investigators raid N.Y. Senate official's office, seeking evidence in Medicare, Medicaid fraud lawsuit

Federal and state investigators raided the Bronx offices of the Soundview HealthCare Network early Wednesday, seeking records as part of a joint investigation into the business and political activities of the Senate majority leader, Pedro Espada, Jr. More than a dozen agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, joined by investigators from the office of Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo, arrived at Soundview's offices on White Plains Road shortly before 7 a.m., when the first employees arrived to open the doors for the day.

23 Apr 2010

Researchers use electronic medical records for injury management and surveillance during marathon

Henry Ford Hospital researchers have brought the use of electronic medical records out of the hospital setting and into the streets by using the technology for a marathon.

23 Apr 2010

Health and Human Services News and Research

Wellcare faces allegations about director's resignation; Wellpoint confronts reports regarding breast cancer recissions

e-MDs selected as one of two recommended EHR vendors by AEHRA

General Dynamics Information Technology awarded task order to support HHS' CMS

HHS Secretary and New Orleans Mayor-elect to tour St. Thomas Community Health Center

Health care law's ability to control costs will be closely watched

WellPoint responds to HHS letter on singling out women with breast cancer for rescission

HeartWare International presents clinical trial data of Ventricular Assist System at ISHLT annual meeting

Animal studies demonstrate safety profile of ACT's RPE cell therapy for SMD

HHS Secretary urges WellPoint to end harmful practice of dropping health insurance coverage

Officials continue health overhaul sparring, news outlets examine new law's potential improvements for women

Reuters: Wellpoint targets breast cancer patients for rescission

Georgia investigators increasingly use computer data to catch Medicaid fraud

CMS actuary: Health reform will cover more people, cost more than originally projected

First Edition: April 23, 2010

First annual U.S.-African Union high level bilateral meetings start in Washington

Mass. court orders state's two largest health insurers to submit insurance rates; N.C. Governor restores funding for some mental health programs

New multi-faceted treatment program for young adults addicted to opioid drugs

Detroit-area resident pleads guilty in fraudulent medical testing scheme

Investigators raid N.Y. Senate official's office, seeking evidence in Medicare, Medicaid fraud lawsuit

Researchers use electronic medical records for injury management and surveillance during marathon

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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