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Today's opinions and editorials

In short, if the changes that are proposed for employer subsidies in the current Medicare Part D program are enacted, everyone will lose (Tom Scully, 12/3).

4 Dec 2009

Some Doctors' groups breaking with AMA to oppose health bill

Doctors are divided over health care reform with an increasing number of them expressing opposition.

4 Dec 2009

Senate's efforts on health care being slowed by other issues

The Wall Street Journal: "The Senate's slow-moving health bill is colliding with other legislative priorities on the economy, raising chances that Democrats won't meet their goal of pushing a health-care overhaul through the chamber this month." Though some forward progress was evidenced on Thursday when the chamber, for the first time since floor consideration of the health bill began, voted on amendments.

4 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 4, 2009

Today's headlines focus on the Senate's first health bill votes and the behind-the-scenes negotiations regarding the public option.

4 Dec 2009

New Jersey hospitals fight to recover from economic downturn

The recession has dealt a significant blow to New Jersey hospitals, with a new report showing that the statewide 2008 hospital operating margin reached just 0.2 percent, the lowest point since 1999.

4 Dec 2009

Study reveals that majority of all vaccine preventable deaths occur in those 65 and older

Ninety percent of all vaccine preventable deaths occur in those 65 and older, including residents in nursing homes, according to highlighted studies in the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority's 2009 December Patient Safety Advisory.

4 Dec 2009

Amgen/GSK's Prolia will be preferred as second- or third-line therapy for osteoporosis

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the majority of surveyed clinicians say they will use Amgen/GlaxoSmithKline's Prolia as either a second- or third-line therapy for osteoporosis if the drug receives regulatory approval for the indication.

4 Dec 2009

AAHSA commends the Senate for passing Sen. Michael Bennet's amendment

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) commends the Senate for passing Sen. Michael Bennet's (D-Colo.) amendment, which reassures seniors by protecting guaranteed benefits, and strengthens Medicare by keeping savings within the program.

4 Dec 2009

Caregivers are not choosing low cost plan option, says new study

A new study from Caring.com has revealed at least a third of its members are caring for aging parents or loved ones enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan and among this group, only half are aware of how and where to enroll in the program and less than half (40%) are aware of what it covers.

4 Dec 2009

Senate votes to reject Medicare cuts; Reid discusses next anticipated amendments

The Associated Press reported: "Senators voted 58-42 to reject an amendment by Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona that would have stripped more than $400 billion in Medicare cuts from the health care bill. The measure would have sent the bill back to the Senate Finance Committee for a redo" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/3).

4 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Defenders of the status quo in health care would happily let the drive for reform bog down amid a debate over President Obama's new war strategy. Democrats can't let this happen (12/3).

3 Dec 2009

Medicare cuts in Senate health bill get support from seniors' groups

Bloomberg: Senate Democratic leaders, who are battling Republican attempts to "block Medicare spending cuts, face an even bigger headache: overcoming concern among members of their own party about the program's future funding."

3 Dec 2009

Doctors' groups break ranks to oppose Senate health overhaul

The California Medical Association - which represents more than 35,000 doctors - will announce its opposition to the Senate version of the health overhaul bill later this week, the Los Angeles Times reports. The group's leaders voted to oppose the bill last week, joining several other states, including Florida and Texas.

3 Dec 2009

Cielo MedSolutions, DrFirst partner to provide a comprehensive e-prescribing solution

Cielo MedSolutions today announced a new partnership with DrFirst to provide comprehensive e-prescribing functionality to practices using the company's Cielo Clinic clinical quality management system. The fully integrated e-prescribing solution will enable customers to improve prescribing safety and medical practice efficiency.

3 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 3, 2009

Today's headlines indicate that Senate leaders may have broken their stalemate regarding the pending, Democratic-backed health reform legislation -- clearing the way today for votes on amendments.

3 Dec 2009

Airgas’ home-oxygen delivery system complies with new Medicare Accreditation rules

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG) today announced it has received clarification from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services that its long-standing delivery system for liquid oxygen and cylinders complies with the new Medicare Accreditation rules and the accreditation requirements of the new competitive bidding program for durable medical equipment (DME) providers.

3 Dec 2009

Molina Healthcare of Utah ranked among the top fifty of “America’s Best Health Insurance Plans”

Molina Healthcare of Utah, a subsidiary of Molina Healthcare, Inc., today announced that U.S. News and World Report has ranked it among the top fifty of “America’s Best Health Insurance Plans” in the magazine’s annual report measuring the quality and performance of the nation’s Medicaid health plans.

3 Dec 2009

Care Support of America's outpatient palliative care coordination model improves the quality of life for seniors

Care Support of America's model of outpatient palliative care coordination, Advanced Illness Coordinated Care (AICC), has been shown to reduce hospitalizations in the last years of life as well as improve the quality of life for seniors and their family caregivers without increasing mortality. These are the principal findings of a new study published in American Journal of Managed Care (November 2009).

3 Dec 2009

SJH and Pharos Innovations team up to enhance care and reduce healthcare costs

According to Stephen F. Jencks, MD, MPH, in a recent New England Journal of Medicine article, America's healthcare crisis is fueled by unnecessary and costly hospitalizations, including re-admissions -- 90% of which are unplanned and at a price-tag of $17.4 billion. To enhance care and combat readmissions, South Jersey Healthcare (SJH), a leading regional healthcare provider in southern New Jersey, has entered a partnership with Pharos Innovations that aims to reduce healthcare costs while improving quality of life for patients.

3 Dec 2009

Senate debate moving slowly, Reid could extend session

As debate over health care reform legislation continues in the Senate, Democrats are accusing Republicans of delaying votes and strategizing over how the schedule could unfold in the coming weeks.

2 Dec 2009