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Health experts and Republicans push for biosimilar drug clinical trials

The Hill: On Monday, experts warned during a Capitol Hill discussion hosted by the Congressional Health Care Caucus that "the absence of mandatory clinical trials for biosimilar drugs could compromise their safety and effectiveness." The recently passed health reform law "outlined a pathway for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve next-generation biopharmaceuticals modeled on original breakthrough drugs.

21 Jul 2010

Insurer earnings strong, but new health law may take toll

"As health insurers release earnings starting this week, the focus will likely be on clues as to how the U.S. health overhaul affects margins and growth," Dow Jones Newswires/The Wall Street Journal reports. "Led by managed-care bellwether UnitedHealth Group Inc. (UNH), the sector is seen posting hardy earnings for the second quarter.

21 Jul 2010

Tips to prevent children from drowning

As temperatures continue to rise across the country, more and more parents will no doubt take their children to the nearest pool to cool off. Yet every year in the U.S., about 500 children five-years-old and younger drown in swimming pool mishaps.

21 Jul 2010

Lifestyle changes can prevent arthritis, knee replacement

Taking a few small steps toward protecting your knees when you are younger might help you avoid debilitating problems when you get older.

21 Jul 2010

Health reform law faces political, implementation challenges

Politico: States with "the most progressive health policies" are having a hard time implementing their part of a $5 billion series of high-risk insurance pools because their states offer a more generous guarantee of coverage. "Five states — Vermont, Maine, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts — have 'guaranteed issue' of insurance: individual subscribers cannot be turned away because of a health condition.

21 Jul 2010

LSDF announces awards for four Washington research teams

The Life Sciences Discovery Fund (LSDF) today announced $600,000 in awards to four Washington state-based research teams to support commercial development of health-related technologies. The funded projects will concentrate on improving the success rate of lumbar punctures (spinal taps) in children; developing a safer and more effective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent; enhancing a DNA sequencing technology to profile T cells within the immune system; and developing a device to detect early stages of tooth decay.

21 Jul 2010

Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals linked to ADHD in children

A new study led by a team of Boston University School of Public Health researchers suggests a link between polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFCs), industrial compounds which are widely used in many consumer products, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children.

21 Jul 2010

Opinions: AIDS vaccine and cure; China's role in the Global Fund; Child marriage prevention act; Gorbachev on safe water

A Globe and Mail editorial discusses the importance of "the quest for an AIDS vaccine and the search for a cure," stating that "it is simply not possible to 'treat' our way out of this disease." The authors write that "for every person who receives treatment - which must continue over their entire lifetime - about three new people become infected."

21 Jul 2010

Doctor, nurse roles considered as shortages take hold

"The private doctor's practice — long considered a mainstay of American medicine — could be going the way of the independent bookstore and locally owned pharmacy," The Detroit News reports. "Crushed by mounting economic pressures, more midcareer physicians in Michigan and across the country are giving up their solo practices and joining large and better-financed hospital systems as salaried employees.

21 Jul 2010

JHM, All Children's Hospital sign letter of intent to integrate

Johns Hopkins Medicine and All Children's Hospital & Health System of St. Petersburg, Fla., have signed a letter of intent to integrate. After appropriate due diligence is completed sometime later this year, ACH will join the Johns Hopkins Health System (JHHS) as a fully integrated member of JHM.

21 Jul 2010

Doctors criticize insurers over rankings

Doctor groups are slamming insurers for increasingly using rankings "to steer patients toward certain physicians based on cost or quality," The Wall Street Journal reports.

21 Jul 2010

Can giving patients access to medical charts improve care?

A new study will examine whether patients benefit from having electronic access to their medical chart, including the notes made by their doctor.

21 Jul 2010

TCG releases Will-Call Rx system for accurate prescription pick up, inventory management

TCGRx announces the release of Will-Call Rx, a computerized system for hanging and retrieving will call prescriptions. Will-Call Rx uses energy efficient LED lights to identify prescription locations and barcode scanning ensures prescription verification, accurate prescription pick up and inventory management.

20 Jul 2010

TeleHealth Services announces dates, keynote speakers for TIGRCon10

TeleHealth Services, the nation's leading provider of healthcare grade televisions and on-demand interactive patient education solutions, announced today the dates and keynote speakers for TIGRCon10, the company's annual patient education user conference. The conference, which will be focused on learning to deliver an optimal patient recovery process and improve clinical workflow, will enable hospital leadership and staff members to share best practices, discuss the role of technology in shaping the patient experience, gain new ideas and perspectives through a power user panel, and network with colleagues in the industry.

20 Jul 2010

Spectranetics announces product reimbursement approval for SLS II

Spectranetics Corporation today announced that the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan has approved product reimbursement to hospitals for the Spectranetics Laser Sheath, which is used for the removal of problematic pacemaker and defibrillator cardiac leads.

20 Jul 2010

MedeAnalytics 10 software platform released

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, today announced its summer 2010 software platform release, MedeAnalytics 10, which offers performance-packed features for proactive alerting and outlier analysis. The release incorporates client input and reflects the company's ongoing investment in its analytic platform. New releases are provided to clients on a semi-annual basis and typically require no upgrades or installations.

20 Jul 2010

First Edition: July 20, 2010

Today's headlines reflect more analysis and debate regarding continuing health reform implementation efforts.

20 Jul 2010

Nontargeted opt-out screening associated with newly identified HIV-infected patients: Study

The use of routine HIV screening in a hospital emergency department, which patients had the option to decline, was associated with only a modest increase in the number of patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection, compared to physician-directed diagnostic rapid HIV testing, according to a study in the July 21 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on HIV/AIDS.

20 Jul 2010

SHFL to upgrade to latest version of NetSol's LeaseSoft asset management solution

NetSol Technologies, Inc., a U.S. corporation providing global business services and enterprise application solutions to private and public sector organizations worldwide, today announced that the Company has signed a LeaseSoft license upgrade agreement with Singers Healthcare Finance Limited, one of the UK's leading providers of leasing solutions to the healthcare industry.

20 Jul 2010

Rockport announces network partner alliance agreement with Evolutions Healthcare Systems

Rockport Healthcare Group, a national preferred provider organization (PPO) focused exclusively on workers' compensation, has announced a network partner alliance agreement with Florida-based Evolutions Healthcare Systems, one of the largest independently owned PPO networks serving employers, carriers and third party administrators nationwide.

20 Jul 2010