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Merck reports non-GAAP EPS of $0.83 for first-quarter 2010

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the first quarter of $0.83, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses and restructuring costs, as well as a tax charge related to the recently enacted health care reform legislation. First-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.09.

4 May 2010

Health insurers adopt reform changes early; WellPoint reports rising profits

Following announcements by leading health insurers that their firms would end the practice of rescission, or stripping the sick from their roles, the broader insurance industry followed suit, according to a letter from America's Health Insurance Plans to congressional Democrats, Politico reports. "The decision to end rescission … was made during a Tuesday afternoon conference call of chief executives organized by their trade group, America's Health Insurance Plans, and represents the industry's latest attempt to build political good will after the bruising health care fight."

30 Apr 2010

Hullabaloo over the tobacco tax hike and planned plain cigarette packaging law

The Australian Federal Government this week announced an increase in taxes by 25% on cigarettes to discourage smoking and generate funds for more antismoking measures. In a new development Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott announced that the Coalition will support this move.

29 Apr 2010

CBO estimate: 4 million could pay health insurance penalty by 2016

The Associated Press: "Nearly 4 million Americans will have to pay a penalty if they fail to get health insurance when that element of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law kicks in, according to congressional projections released Thursday." According to a Congressional Budget Office report, the average penalty in 2016 will be slightly more than $1,000 and the majority of people who pay the fine will be middle class.

23 Apr 2010

Brumby withdraws opposition to Prime Minster’s health care plan

In the GST revenue debate that has been on for the past few days, all states and territories except WA have already agreed to give up a third of their GST revenue to the Commonwealth from which more funds will be coming in for the national hospitals funds according to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s plan.

21 Apr 2010

AIM Health Group's net income increased to $1.3M from a loss of $2.9M in 2008

AIM Health Group Inc., a fully integrated health care company, announced today that its net income for the year ended December 31, 2009 ("Fiscal 2009") increased to $1.3 million from a loss of $2.9 million in 2008. At the same time EBITDA increased to $3.0 million from negative $0.3 million on a year-over-year basis.

13 Apr 2010

Top state health officials confused over national reform's effects on states

Stateline.org reports on confusion over health care reform at a quarterly meeting with top state health officials in Washington, D.C.: "The session exemplifies the overwhelming sense of confusion among state lawmakers and health care officials around the country as they scramble to figure out what exactly health care reform means for their governments, their citizens and, not least of all, their budgets.

9 Apr 2010

A roundup of health overhaul fack-checking

Will all Americans get health coverage as good as lawmakers' insurance under the overhaul, as Democrats pledged? Apparently so. Even though most federal workers will maintain their federally employee's benefits, lawmakers will have to sign up for insurance plans through the new, state-run exchanges offered through the health legislation (Barry, 3/31).

1 Apr 2010

AAPS sues to overturn Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) became the first medical society to sue to overturn the newly enacted health care bill, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). AAPS sued Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (AAPS v. Sebelius et al.).

30 Mar 2010

States challenge health insurance coverage mandate as leaders decide on participation

Attorneys general in 14 states have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of a health insurance coverage mandate in the new federal health law, and more may follow.

26 Mar 2010

Senate final fight on health reform starts, Dems hope for weekend wrap-up

Senate lawmakers will begin debate today on a reconciliation bill "fixing" the health reform overhaul that has been approved by both the House and the Senate. Democrats hope to finish consideration of the legislation by Saturday.

24 Mar 2010

5% increase in tobacco taxation needed to account for high cost of smoking to society

A leading think tank has recommended a five per cent rise in tobacco taxation in the next Budget to reflect the high cost of smoking to society.

23 Mar 2010

A new chapter in the history of healthcare reform

The US house of Representatives has voted narrowly to pass a landmark reform that has been on the agenda for quite some time now. The bill passed by 219 votes to 212, with no Republican backing after strong debate. This bill will extend insurance coverage to 32 million more Americans, and marks the biggest change to the US healthcare system in decades.

22 Mar 2010

Details of Democratic tweaks to health bill

News reports scour the latest health overhaul bill for specific provisions and adjustments.

20 Mar 2010

CBO numbers buoy Democrats eyeing Sunday health reform vote

Democrats unveiled a health overhaul reconciliation bill the Congressional Budget Office says will cost $940 billion but also cut the deficit by $138 billion over the next 10 years.

20 Mar 2010

Results of UBA 2010 Employer Opinion Survey Special Supplement

United Benefit Advisors, LLC, (wwwUBAbenefits.com), one of the nation's leading employee benefits advisory organizations, released the results of the UBA 2010 Employer Opinion Survey Special Supplement featuring employer opinions on future costs, plan designs and the impact of health care reform provisions being considered by both houses of Congress.

17 Mar 2010

Liberator Medical Holdings closes private placement of 4.66M common stock shares

Liberator Medical Holdings, Inc. announces today the closing of a private placement of 4,666,667 shares of its common stock for gross proceeds of $7.0 million on March 9, 2010, to a single institutional investor. Littlebanc Advisors, LLC. acted as the sole placement agent and financial advisor to the Company. Liberator's Board of Directors unanimously approved the transaction. As part of the transaction, the institutional investor has the right to add a member of its choice to Liberator Medical's Board of Directors.

11 Mar 2010

ASH report: Health of nation could be greatly improved by increasing tobacco taxation

The health of the nation could be greatly improved by increasing tobacco taxation, a new report by anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health has claimed.

10 Mar 2010

Americans for Tax Reform asks for clarification on applicability of 2.9% surtax on capital gains

Americans for Tax Reform today sent a letter to President Obama asking him to clarify whether or not the 2.9 percent surtax on "unearned income" applies to capital gains. If Obama's tax increase does fall on capital gains, the marginal tax rate on capital gains will eventually rise to 22.9 percent from today's level of 15 percent.

9 Mar 2010

Taxing less healthful foods may steer adults toward healthier diets

Adults tend to eat less pizza and drink less soda as the price of these items increases, and their body weight and overall calorie intake also appear to decrease, according to a report in the March 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

9 Mar 2010