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CAPG releases results of fourth annual SOE survey of its medical group members

The California Association of Physician Groups released the results of its fourth annual Standards of Excellence survey of its medical group members. The SOE survey is the first known voluntary large scale, critical self-assessment for medical groups in the United States.

15 May 2010

MTBC launches free medical billing software for healthcare industry

MTBC, a Unique Healthcare IT company, has announced the launch of Billing Pro, the only 100% free medical billing software offered in the healthcare industry today.

15 May 2010

National BBB accreditation and A+ rating for Aspen Dental practices

Aspen Dental practices across the U.S. have received accreditation from the Better Business Bureau and maintain an A+ rating with the BBB's Reliability Report, the Aspen Dental network of dentists announced today.

15 May 2010

Opinions: Africans fight malaria; Access to AIDS treatment; Noncommunicable disease summit; Maternal, child health efforts

In an East African opinion piece, U.N. Special Envoy for Malaria Ray Chambers; Mark Green, the director of the Malaria No More Policy Center; and John Bridgeland, vice chairman of Malaria No More, highlight Africans' involvement in addressing malaria on the continent.

15 May 2010

Today's opinions: Medicare threatened by poor doctor-payment system, new health law's impact on small business, U.S. commitment to AIDS relief

Only the U.S. Congress can stop this imminent Medicare meltdown. Permanent repeal of the broken [doctor] payment formula that creates this whopping cut will preserve access to care for Texas' Medicare and TRICARE patients. This is the only way to fix the problem once and for all before the baby boomers begin to use Medicare in droves (J. James Rohack, 5/13).

15 May 2010

VNA receives grant award to enhance Wound Care Program

The Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Philadelphia has received a grant award from the First Hospital Foundation in the amount of $40,000. The grant will be used to enhance the VNA's Wound Care Program and will enable the agency to purchase digital cameras so the home visiting clinicians can document patients wound progression and improve wound care delivery.

15 May 2010

CeltiCare to provide high-quality health insurance for Commonwealth Care Bridge Program members

CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts, a Centene Corporation subsidiary, today announced that the state of Massachusetts has renewed its contract to serve Commonwealth Care Bridge Program members, effective July 1, 2010.

15 May 2010

Genetic tests should be received through appropriate health care professionals, says AMP

In response to recent announcements about consumer genetic tests being made available in retail drugstores, the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) today reiterated its position that these tests should be provided to the public only through the services of appropriate health care professionals that order tests from laboratories that are certified by CLIA for highcomplexity testing.

15 May 2010

Sen. Kerry, White House push back on Berwick criticism

After Republicans levied attacks on Donald Berwick, the physician and professor President Barack Obama has nominated to lead the Medicare agency, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., came to the aide of his fellow Bay Stater, The Boston Globe reports. He said, "It's no secret that the national Republican Party has tried to crank up the attack machine and make his nomination a distorted referendum on reform.

15 May 2010

Nominations open for 2010 Health Care Stars! Awards

The second annual Health Care Stars! Awards will recognize significant contributions in positively impacting consumers and health care quality. URAC, the nation's leading health care accreditation organization, today announced that nominations are open for the awards which will be presented at the 11th Annual Quality Summit being held October 5-7, 2010 in Chicago, IL.

15 May 2010

Science special issue reports on Malaria

This week's issue of Science features news articles focusing on recent progress on malaria control in Africa and discussing future challenges, including drug resistance.

15 May 2010

Goodtherapy.Org receives BBB Accreditation

Today, GoodTherapy.org announces its commitment to marketplace ethics by earning Accreditation with Better Business Bureau. As a BBB Accredited Business, GoodTherapy.org has met BBB's Code of Business Practices and has agreed to maintain honest and reliable business practices.

15 May 2010

Michigan insurance and medical groups to launch project to reduce readmissions

"Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the University of Michigan and the Society of Hospital Medicine have selected 15 physician organizations in Michigan, including eight in Southeast Michigan, to work with 14 hospitals on a project to reduce preventable readmissions and emergency room visits. Called 'Michigan Transitions of Care Collaborative,' the project is based on a model developed by the Society of Hospital Medicine.

15 May 2010

Health law raises questions about future of Florida's agencies that care for uninsured

Palm Beach County's Health Care District "hired contractors to move ahead with a $9-million purchase and renovation project for a new headquarters, even though the need that drove the district's creation in the first place -- providing health care to the indigent and uninsured -- could begin to dissolve in four years with implementation of the federal health law.

15 May 2010

Small anti-abortion advocacy group flexes muscle in midterm elections

The Washington Post reports on the increasingly important role of a small antiabortion advocacy group, the Susan B. Anthony List, which is targeting Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in his bid for re-election.

15 May 2010

Lobbyists have long wish list for new health rules

Kaiser Health News staff writers Julie Appleby, Mary Agnes Carey and Phil Galewitz, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, write: "Now that the health care bill is law, an array of groups -- representing doctors, insurers, small businesses and others -- have switched to their post-passage game plans.

15 May 2010

National study of factors related to unmet health needs among homeless people

The vast majority of homeless adults surveyed in a national study had trouble accessing at least one type of needed health care service in the preceding year, according to a study that will appear in the July American Journal of Public Health and is now available online.

15 May 2010

Lobbyists turn focus to how health law will be regulated

"Now that the health care bill is law, an array of groups -- representing doctors, insurers, small businesses and others -- have switched to their post-passage game plans. Among their top goals: Helping shape the all-important regulations being written by the Obama administration," according to Kaiser Health News/The Washington Post.

15 May 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

As the 193 WHO member states gather at next week's World Health Assembly (WHA) "a draft global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel will be on the agenda. Negotiation and adoption of a WHO code of practice is an unprecedented opportunity to advance global consensus to address the critical challenges of migration of health workers and its effect on health systems worldwide," the authors of a Lancet Comment write.

15 May 2010

GOP launches new challenge to health law with coordinated messaging

Republicans are starting a new bid to undermine Democratic attempts at touting a new health law. The GOP effort includes attacks on both President Barack Obama's pick to run Medicare and on claims that implementation is going smoothly.

15 May 2010