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Merck to pay millions over Mass. allegations of inflated wholesale rate

Bloomberg Businessweek: A Massachusetts court ordered the drug maker Merck to pay $4.6 million in damages for inflating wholesale prices for generic asthma drugs. "Massachusetts claimed the companies reported inflated wholesale acquisition-cost prices for the generics, and that MassHealth, the state component of the Medicaid program, would rely on those prices for reimbursements" (McQuillen, 9/30).

1 Oct 2010

Today's OpEds: Sebelius' tough talk; Changing the malpractice system; Different perspectives on the health overhaul

The problem is, quite simply, the centerpiece of the entire health care overhaul -- guaranteed coverage for so-called "preexisting" conditions. As long as both parties insist on this, the national discussion over real health care reform is going nowhere (Jason Lewis, 9/30).

1 Oct 2010

Vibrant joins Bike MS NYC to raise money for National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Vibrant will participate in Bike MS NYC on Sunday, October 3 to increase awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The race, hosted by the Southern NY Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, will include nearly 6,000 cyclists across two Bike MS NYC locations.

1 Oct 2010

After McDonald's flap, White House says it will exercise 'discretion' on medical loss ratios

The Wall Street Journal: The Obama administration said Thursday that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will "exercise her discretion" in enforcing the medical loss ratio requirement of the health law. The comment comes after a report in The Journal Thursday that "McDonald's warned federal regulators it could drop its health-insurance plan for nearly 30,000 restaurant workers unless regulators waive a new requirement of the health overhaul.

1 Oct 2010

CVS/pharmacy's fundraising campaign raises $4.1 million for ALS research

In just 21 days, CVS/pharmacy's ninth annual in-store fundraising campaign to support the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) brought in $4.1 million. The funds raised by the campaign will be donated to the Boston-based ALS Therapy Alliance (ATA) to support the funding of new clinical research aimed at developing new therapies for ALS patients and focused on the ultimate goal of finding a cure for ALS.

1 Oct 2010

BUSM to create Center for Health Insurance Reform, Cardiovascular Outcomes and Disparities

Boston Medical Center (BMC) has been awarded a four year, $5.7 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for investigators from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) to create the Center for Health Insurance Reform, Cardiovascular Outcomes and Disparities.

1 Oct 2010

GSA urges treatment of sepsis as a medical emergency

The Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) is urging healthcare providers, patients and policymakers worldwide to treat sepsis as a medical emergency. "Tens of millions of people die from sepsis each year, making it the likely leading cause of death worldwide. Sepsis kills regardless of age, ethnicity, location and access to care," said Konrad Reinhart, M.D., Chairman of the GSA and director of the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital of the Friedrich Schiller, University of Jena, Germany.

1 Oct 2010

Healthy respect for flu this season

Flu season officially begins Friday, Oct. 1, and unlike last year's season when shortages lead to rationing, there will be plenty of vaccine on hand for everyone who wants a flu shot.

1 Oct 2010

CDC awards ACS and GWCI $4.25 million to establish National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center

The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the GW Cancer Institute (GWCI) were recently awarded $4.25 million by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to establish a National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center. Work on the project will begin on September 30.

1 Oct 2010

New co-branded Medicare Part D prescription drug plan from Humana and Walmart

Today, Humana Inc. announced an innovative Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, co-branded with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., that can provide significant savings on monthly plan premiums and prescription medicine copayments and cost-shares for Medicare beneficiaries, including seniors and people with disabilities.

1 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 1, 2010

In this morning's headlines -- Medicaid enrollment spikes and the interplay between the federal government and McDonald's gets more attention.

1 Oct 2010

First nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program launched

Walgreens has launched the first ongoing, nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program, a safe and environmentally responsible way to dispose of unused or expired medications.

1 Oct 2010

Increase in excise taxes and state-of-the-art tobacco control program reduces lung cancer rates

A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego shows that California's 40 year-long tobacco control program has resulted in lung cancer rates that are nearly 25 percent lower than other states.

1 Oct 2010

Obama to nominate Morgan Stanley COO for deputy Secretary of State for management and resources post

The White House on Wednesday announced President Barack Obama's intention to nominate Thomas Nides, chief operating officer of Morgan Stanley, "to be the next deputy Secretary of State for management and resources, replacing Jack Lew, who is waiting to be confirmed to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget," Foreign Policy's blog "The Cable" reports (Rogin , 9/29).

1 Oct 2010

GHI won't compromise PEPFAR, Global AIDS Coordinator says at House Foreign Affairs' Committee hearing

During a House Committee on Foreign Affairs' hearing on the future of PEPFAR Wednesday, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby assured lawmakers that the decision by President Barack Obama to make PEPFAR part of the president's Global Health Initiative (GHI) would not compromise "the widely praised plan," CQ HealthBeat reports.

1 Oct 2010

North Shore-LIJ Health System granted approval to extend cardiac surgery program to Southside Hospital

The New York State Hospital Review and Planning Council today approved North Shore-LIJ Health System's request to extend its open-heart surgery program to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, bringing one of New York's most renowned cardiothoracic surgery programs to Suffolk County's south shore. The council's action will be forwarded to State Health Commissioner Richard Daines, MD, for final approval.

1 Oct 2010

Neb. insurer launches pilot program to cut costs, improve health; W.Va. Medicaid official defends no-bid contract

Lincoln Journal Star: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, the state's largest health insurer, is establishing a new pilot program that seeks to give doctors better patient information so that they can deal more effectively with patients' needs and help lower costs. The pilot will use a web-based program that officials hope can take disparate medical records and produce "tailored patient checklists" that doctors can use.

1 Oct 2010

House passes health bill for 9/11 workers, grandfathering resolution fails in Senate

The Hill's Healthwatch Blog: The House Wednesday approved a bill to cover the health care costs for emergency workers who responded to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. "The tally was 268 to 160, with 17 Republicans supporting the measure and three Democrats voting against it. … House passage followed months of contentious debate over whether the federal government has an obligation to pay emergency workers sickened by the smoke, debris and toxic fumes caused by the attacks of 9/11.

1 Oct 2010

Hundreds of experts including Nobel laureates say Medicare's bidding system for durable medical equipment will fail

Medicare's bidding program for durable medical equipment will fail, say 166 leading experts on auctions and competitive bidding systems.

1 Oct 2010

McDonald’s says reform law provision threatens employee health coverage

The Wall Street Journal: "McDonald's Corp. has warned federal regulators that it could drop its health insurance plan for nearly 30,000 hourly restaurant workers unless regulators waive a new requirement of the U.S. health overhaul. The move is one of the clearest indications that new rules may disrupt workers' health plans as the law ripples through the real world.

1 Oct 2010

Healthcare News

Merck to pay millions over Mass. allegations of inflated wholesale rate

Today's OpEds: Sebelius' tough talk; Changing the malpractice system; Different perspectives on the health overhaul

Vibrant joins Bike MS NYC to raise money for National Multiple Sclerosis Society

After McDonald's flap, White House says it will exercise 'discretion' on medical loss ratios

CVS/pharmacy's fundraising campaign raises $4.1 million for ALS research

BUSM to create Center for Health Insurance Reform, Cardiovascular Outcomes and Disparities

GSA urges treatment of sepsis as a medical emergency

Healthy respect for flu this season

CDC awards ACS and GWCI $4.25 million to establish National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center

New co-branded Medicare Part D prescription drug plan from Humana and Walmart

First Edition: October 1, 2010

First nationwide Safe Medication Disposal Program launched

Increase in excise taxes and state-of-the-art tobacco control program reduces lung cancer rates

Obama to nominate Morgan Stanley COO for deputy Secretary of State for management and resources post

GHI won't compromise PEPFAR, Global AIDS Coordinator says at House Foreign Affairs' Committee hearing

North Shore-LIJ Health System granted approval to extend cardiac surgery program to Southside Hospital

Neb. insurer launches pilot program to cut costs, improve health; W.Va. Medicaid official defends no-bid contract

House passes health bill for 9/11 workers, grandfathering resolution fails in Senate

Hundreds of experts including Nobel laureates say Medicare's bidding system for durable medical equipment will fail

McDonald’s says reform law provision threatens employee health coverage

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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