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Contradictions between personal and systemic health issues could thwart reform

Health care reform efforts must confront a paradox, the Los Angeles Times reports: "Millions of Americans say the system they depend on for everything from routine flu shots to life-saving heart surgery is broken and needs fixing.

9 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

AARP committed to health reform, but seniors remain split

AARP leaders, like Morie Smile, the association's acting director in Colorado, have been asked to help "calm the fury and correct the misinformation that has poured forth this summer and rattled so many senior citizens," the Washington Post reports.

9 Sep 2009

Health care reform should make system efficient for patients and physicians: AMA

"It is clear that the status quo is unacceptable. The AMA will continue to work for reform that makes the system work better for patients and physicians. We must seize this opportunity this year to achieve meaningful health reform for America's patients and physicians.

9 Sep 2009

An examination of Medicare cost and quality issues

Chronic conditions and readmission to the ER trigger significant costs to the hospital system and Medicare while efforts are underway to save Medicare money by preventing hospital infections and falls.

9 Sep 2009

American International Pathology Laboratories provides jobs to Walter Reed AFIP pathologists

American International Pathology Laboratories (AIPL), a division of Bostwick Laboratories, opens its doors today, providing positions to more than 40 civilian pathologists and staff formerly of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The 150-year-old Institute will cease operations when Walter Reed closes under the Federal Base Realignment and Closure program.

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

Silverlink’s Medicare communications solutions to help health plans tackle forthcoming changes in healthcare

Silverlink Communications® Inc., the leader in healthcare consumer communications, today announced solutions focused specifically on the Medicare market. These services help health plans more effectively communicate with beneficiaries, especially important in the 2010 plan year open enrollment season starting in October 2009.

9 Sep 2009

Health Care REIT updates financial guidance for fiscal year 2009

Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE:HCN) today announced updated financial guidance for fiscal year 2009 as a result of its recent common stock public offering. On September 1, 2009, the company announced that it agreed to sell 8,000,000 shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering.

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

Maxim Health to launch its annual influenza vaccination program on October 1

It is the start of the flu season and with seasonal influenza responsible for more than 36,000 deaths per year, getting a flu vaccine is critical. Today, Maxim Health Systems announced on October 1 it will launch its annual influenza vaccination program and will provide flu shots nationwide through more than 44,000 clinics.

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

Vangent forges alliance with MSM in Atlanta to provide job opportunities for MPH degree students

Vangent, Inc., a leading global provider of information management and strategic business process outsourcing solutions, announced it has partnered with the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in Atlanta, GA to provide job opportunities for some of Morehouse's second year graduate students pursuing a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree.

9 Sep 2009

AARP members urge Congress to tackle health care reform

As Members of Congress have just returned to Washington D.C. after their summer break, Decatur AARP members are making sure they don't forget to make reforming health care a top priority. With a giant inflatable Rx bottle as backdrop, and prescription bottles filled with constituents' personal health care stories, AARP members hosted a press conference today in Decatur to deliver a strong 'message in a bottle' to Congressman Phil Hare: Health Care Reform Now.

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

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

Research study examines the depression rate in chronic kidney disease patients

One in five patients with chronic kidney disease is depressed, even before beginning long-term dialysis therapy or developing end-stage renal disease, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have found.

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

Butzel Long expands national health care practice in New York

Alan Lambert, M.D., an attorney with a diverse practice representing healthcare providers and institutions, has joined Butzel Long and is Of Counsel in the firm’s Health Care practice. He is based in New York.

9 Sep 2009

Union members push hard for health care reform

The Worchester [Massachusetts] Telegram reports: "Two members of the state's congressional delegation appealed to local union members this morning to unite behind President Barack Obama's efforts to reform health care. They said if health care reform does not happen now, it could be years before it comes up for discussion again."

9 Sep 2009