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HHS has guidance on annual limits

The Hill's Healthwatch: The Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidance on how insurers can get waivers from health law-mandated restrictions on annual limits. "The new law creates temporary restrictions on health plans starting Sept. 23. But the law also allows the annual limits to be waived 'if compliance ... would result in a significant decrease in access to benefits or a significant increase in premiums.'

9 Sep 2010

Barrier Advisors completes merger of Cornerstone Healthcare Group, Solara Healthcare

Barrier Advisors Inc., a nationally recognized middle-market restructuring, performance improvement and special situations investment banking firm, announces the completion of the merger of Cornerstone Healthcare Group and Solara Healthcare.

9 Sep 2010

Formaldehyde in clothing leads to health risk: Report

The formaldehyde added to fabrics to keep clothing looking fresh and wrinkle-free is unlikely to pose a health risk to consumers, according to an article in the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine.

9 Sep 2010

States continue to wrestle with federal funding issues, budget shortfalls

The Fiscal Times: "Nationally, the number of Medicaid beneficiaries has risen by 8 percent a year since 2008, and 44 states have reported that they will exceed their enrollment and spending growth projections this year, the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured reported. A dozen other states, including Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Maryland, have experienced double-digit annual enrollment increases."

9 Sep 2010

Indiana State Legislators holds hearing to improve methamphetamine production

Today, the Indiana State Legislature's Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee is holding a hearing on how the state can improve its policies for preventing the illegal diversion of pseudoephedrine (PSE) a key ingredient in leading cold and allergy medicines for methamphetamine production.

9 Sep 2010

Eating Disorder Hope poise growth from Timberline Knolls sponsorship to educate sufferers

Eating Disorder Hope, a respected independent resource for individuals suffering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other body image and eating disorders, is poised for growth following a significant sponsorship commitment by Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center.

9 Sep 2010

Federal judge refuses to lift order blocking federal funding for stem cell research

The Associated Press: "A federal judge on Tuesday refused to lift his order blocking federal funding for some stem cell research, saying that a 'parade of horribles' predicted by federal officials would not happen. Medical researchers value stem cells because they are master cells that can turn into any tissue of the body.

9 Sep 2010

CVS Caremark offers $5 million in free flu shots for uninsured patients

CVS Caremark announced today that it will partner with Direct Relief USA to offer up to $5 million in free flu shots to community clinic and health center patients who lack health insurance.

9 Sep 2010

Insurers raise rates, cancel plans in response to overhaul

The Wall Street Journal: "Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators." The requests undermine "Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections."

9 Sep 2010

Researchers report massage improves body’s immune response

Researchers in Cedars-Sinai's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences have reported people who undergo massage experience measureable changes in their body's immune and endocrine response.

9 Sep 2010

Health reform myths debunked

The Associated Press examines political ads on health reform. "With the country sharply divided over the sweeping new insurance law, Republicans and their allies are taking to the airwaves to attack it as elections near, often resorting to exaggeration and omissions to make their points."

9 Sep 2010

BioSpace joins Delaware BioScience to launch online career center for life science markets

BioSpace has partnered with the Delaware BioScience Association to launch an online career center for life science markets including pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.

9 Sep 2010

Consumer Reports rates heart bypass surgical groups

The New York Times: Consumer Reports will rate groups that perform heart bypass surgery. The group already rates many consumer items like cars and even household appliances. "In most parts of the country, data-based ratings of doctors are not available to patients. Only a few states, including New York, provide them.

9 Sep 2010

Conservative group forecasts Medicare doctor access problem

Writing for Kaiser Health News, Marilyn Werber Serafini reports in a KHN short take: "Getting a doctor's appointment may become increasingly difficult for seniors and the disabled over the next decade unless Congress changes the new health law, according to a report that the conservative National Center for Policy Analysis plans to release today.

9 Sep 2010

Cornerstone acquires Terrace at Mountain Creek to provide memory care services

Cornerstone Real Estate Funds, and its strategic alliance partner and sub-advisor Servant Healthcare Investments, announced that the Cornerstone Healthcare Plus REIT has acquired Terrace at Mountain Creek a senior living facility that provides independent and assisted living as well as memory care services.

9 Sep 2010

AIDS programs reach out to African immigrant community

The Seattle Times reports on educating people about AIDS in the African immigrant community in Seattle.

9 Sep 2010

Opinions: U.S. commitment to Global Fund; Innovative financing; Global food security; Aid for Pakistan

A Times of Trenton editorial looks at the work of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which is "estimated to have already saved 5 million lives, enables programs that prevent and treat infections, eliminate the transmission of HIV from pregnant women to their unborn children, contain the threat of multidrug-resistant TB, and eliminate malaria as a public health problem."

9 Sep 2010

OEFI selects HealthEdge's HealthRules product suite

HealthEdge, provider of the only modern, enterprise-class software platform for healthcare payors, today announced that the Pasadena, Calif.-based Operating Engineers Funds Inc. (OEFI) has selected the patented HealthRules product suite to tackle the non-profit health plan's unique and challenging service needs.

8 Sep 2010

BioSpace, Delaware BioScience partner to launch online career center for life science markets

BioSpace has partnered with the Delaware BioScience Association to launch an online career center specifically for life science markets.

8 Sep 2010

AHF praises US government's increase in PEPFAR funding commitment for Uganda

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, which currently cares for over 49,000 AIDS patients in Uganda through its Uganda CARES network of eleven treatment clinics throughout the country, today lauded the United States government for increasing its funding commitment in Uganda for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the United States' respected global AIDS program.

8 Sep 2010