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BioScrip second-quarter 2010 revenue increases 25% to $412.0 million

BioScrip, Inc. announced 2010 second quarter revenue of $412.0 million, operating income of $13.5 million and net income of $3.1 million, or $0.06 per diluted share. Second quarter adjusted earnings per share (detailed in schedule 5) was $0.07 per diluted share. Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $18.4 million. All 2010 per share amounts have been adjusted to reflect the Company's issuance of 13.1 million shares in conjunction with the acquisition of CHS.

30 Jul 2010

Chemed second-quarter consolidated revenues increase 6.7% to $315.0 million

Chemed Corporation, which operates VITAS Healthcare Corporation, the nation's largest provider of end-of-life care, and Roto-Rooter, the nation's largest commercial and residential plumbing and drain cleaning services provider, reported financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010, versus the comparable prior-year period.

29 Jul 2010

Senate Subcommittee approves HHS funding bill, other health care bills readied

CongressDaily: The Senate Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee approved a draft funding bill Tuesday for HHS, "moving a bill that would provide $170 billion in discretionary spending to related federal agencies, nearly $1 billion under the president's request." The bill gives $732 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services, $306 million more than the administration requested. "The House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee gave the health agency a similar boost in funding."

29 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 28, 2010

Today's headlines reflect developments regarding the health insurance marketplace and the implementation of the new health law.

28 Jul 2010

Today's OpEds: The challenge of medicare spending; Two views of Massachussets; Regulating premiums

Health reform can be assessed from the perspective of four groups that collectively include most Americans. For those who are now in Medicaid or who are uninsured, reform will be a major gain. For those who obtain health insurance in the individual and small-group markets, reform should bring improvements. For those who have health insurance from midsize- and large-group insurers, reform will bring little change. Finally, for Medicare beneficiaries, reform promises to bring positive change.

23 Jul 2010

3M second-quarter global sales increase 17.7% to $6.7 billion

3M today reported record second-quarter earnings of $1.54 per share on sales of $6.7 billion. Sales and per-share earnings increased 17.7 percent and 37.5 percent, respectively, versus the second quarter of 2009. Excluding special items recorded in the second quarter of 2009, earnings per share rose 28.3 percent.

22 Jul 2010

Severe state budget shortfalls trigger Medicaid program cuts

As states face severe budget shortfalls, many have cut home-care services for the elderly or the disabled, programs that have been shown to save states money in the long run because they keep people out of nursing homes. Since the start of the recession, at least 25 states and the District of Columbia have curtailed programs that include meal deliveries, housekeeping aid and assistance for family caregivers, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research organization.

22 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 21, 2010

Today's headlines include news regarding specific examples of what could happen at the state level if Congress doesn't extend enhanced federal Medicaid funding.

21 Jul 2010

Access selects BioScrip as exclusive distribution and service partner for MuGard

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in products for cancer and supportive care, announced today it has signed an exclusive specialty distribution agreement with BioScrip for its lead product, MuGard -- an FDA-approved, ready-to-use mucoadhesive oral wound rinse for the management of oral mucositis, a debilitating side effect of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy.

20 Jul 2010

Patient advocacy groups, home medical associations call for end to Medicare competitive bidding program

In a letter signed by 58 patient advocacy groups and home medical equipment associations, the American Association for Homecare urged Congress to pass H.R. 3790, a bill to repeal the Medicare competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment in a budget-neutral manner. The bill currently has 252 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.

17 Jul 2010

AD may lead to increased risk of comorbid conditions, research shows

Pfizer Inc., together with its collaborator on the Alzheimer's Immunotherapy Program, Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy, presented new research this week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 from two podium and four poster presentations.

14 Jul 2010

New research shows there is great need for culturally-appropriate Alzheimer care resources

Racially and ethnically diverse older adults are one of the fastest growing population segments in the United States and new research presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease 2010 in Honolulu reveals that older African-Americans and Latinos with significant cognitive impairment have a lower likelihood of nursing home placement and longer survival than White older adults in the study.

14 Jul 2010

KCI announces creation of Advanced Research and Technology center

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. announced today the creation of an Advanced Research and Technology (ART) center that will lead the company's efforts to develop revolutionary new wound healing, regenerative medicine, and therapeutic support system technologies and treatments.

13 Jul 2010

CF patients recover from exacerbations equally well when treated at home or in hospital: Researchers

Patients with cystic fibrosis recover from exacerbations equally well if they are treated at home or in a hospital, according to researchers from Johns Hopkins University. Furthermore, longer treatment with antibiotics does not appear to offer any additional benefit over shorter courses.

8 Jul 2010

Dehaier Medical Systems reaffirms earlier earnings estimate for fiscal 2010

Dehaier Medical Systems Ltd., an emerging leader in the development, assembly, marketing and sale of medical devices and homecare medical products in China, today reaffirmed the company's earlier earnings estimate of $0.80 EPS for fiscal year 2010.

7 Jul 2010

Lawmakers, others worry about stimulus funds, Medicaid money

As federal stimulus funds begin to run out, including enhanced federal support for swelling Medicaid rolls, lawmakers and others are worried that the U.S. economy could again stall. "[M]any important programs are losing funding. Among the most crucial is unemployment insurance. … Stimulus funds have also helped subsidize health benefits through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, which gives jobless workers an opportunity to continue their coverage at group rates for a limited time. Efforts to extend those provisions are stalled in Congress. The National Employment Law Project estimates that 1.63 million workers will exhaust their benefits by the end of this week, and at least 140,000 workers will lose COBRA coverage."

1 Jul 2010

ARS study finds link between vitamin D and cognitive function

At a time when consumer interest in health-enhancing foods is high, Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-funded scientists have contributed to a limited but growing body of evidence of a link between vitamin D and cognitive function.

25 Jun 2010

Today's OpEds: Extending jobless benefits; Medicare payment cuts; NY Times on premium increases

With critics still scare-mongering about the supposed cost of reform, insurers in several states have been seeking double-digit premium increases that look hard to justify as necessary to keep up with medical inflation.

24 Jun 2010

California Providence hospitals select Allscripts for new homecare automation systems

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center of Burbank, Calif., and Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center of Torrance, Calif., announced they have selected Allscripts for their new homecare automation systems.

23 Jun 2010

BASF signs agreement to acquire Cognis for equity purchase price of euro 700 million

BASF SE has reached an agreement with Cognis Holding Luxembourg S.a r.l. controlled by Permira Funds, GS Capital Partners and SV Life Sciences to acquire the specialty chemicals company Cognis for an equity purchase price of euro 700 million. Including net financial debt and pension obligations, the enterprise value of the transaction is euro 3.1 billion. The acquisition is subject to clearance by the competent merger control authorities. Closing of the transaction is expected for November 2010 at the latest.