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Americans who travel abroad could use extra health coverage

A report by The Associated Press describes the importance of travelers' insurance for those planning trips outside of the country. "Thousands of American travelers each year are flown home with medical assistance because of health emergencies. Car accidents and heart attacks are among the most common reasons.

11 May 2010

Vigorous physical activity in childhood strengthens hip bones

Researchers from Southhampton and Cambridge Universities in the UK have presented evidence that vigorous physical activity in young children results in stronger hip bones. The results were presented at the World Congress on Osteoporosis (IOF WCO-ECCEO10) in Florence, Italy.

11 May 2010

Overhaul will bring changes, improve quality for Medicare Advantage plans

The Wall Street Journal: "Over the next 10 years, the new health-care law will divert some $132 billion from Medicare Advantage, according to a recent report by George Washington University's Department of Health Policy. This has sparked concern that these plans may reduce benefits, raise premiums, or both. But the impact is likely to vary from plan to plan.

11 May 2010

Massachusetts fighting to control health costs

"Bake sales saved the nonprofit Athol Memorial Hospital the first time around, Steve Penka says with a smile. Eleven years later, it took a big Tennessee-based, for-profit hospital chain to keep it in business," the (Worcester, Mass.) Telegram & Gazette reports. In light of a recent report by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley's office, many are surprised Athol is around at all.

11 May 2010

Synexus continues to grow in 2010 and beyond

During the first quarter of 2010 Synexus has seen growth in Germany reach thirty per cent as international sponsors take advantage of the additional patient reach the company can now offer following its acquisition of eight sites there as part of its takeover of Leipzig-based Clinpharm at the end of 2009.

From AES - Accelerated Enrollment Solutions 11 May 2010

Consumers, officials work to sort out new health law

For at least one state, implementing health reform is starting to appear easier said than done. The Daily Record, a Baltimore legal newspaper, reports, "Maryland's new Health Care Reform Coordinating Council held its first meeting last week, resolving to find the best way to implement provisions of the landmark federal health care overhaul.

11 May 2010

Rhetoric heats up between insurers and lawmakers

Politico: "Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W. Va.) is scolding the nations' health insurance companies for 'gaming' the new health care law and is pushing the administration and states to impose stringent controls under the law on industry expenditures for non-medical purposes. Saying the industry had turned its focus from opposing the law to influencing its implementation, Rockefeller said he was 'extremely concerned that the health insurance industry is mounting an all-out effort to weaken' the law.

11 May 2010

Free health clinics still drawing large crowds in cities across U.S.

Parade: A series of no-cost health care clinics are making their way across America. In Atlanta 1,050 volunteers gave their time to serve uninsured Americans who needed medical care. "The Atlanta mega-clinic was the sixth in a series that began in September. (The first was held in Houston in partnership with TV talk-show host and cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz.)

11 May 2010

Intellectually disabled in Victorian government run facilities treated in a “Victorian” manner

A disturbing new report has revealed that nearly 150 patients with intellectual disabilities in Victoria’s Grampians and Loddon Mallee regions in the last financial year were restrained using chemical or mechanical means and often secluded.

10 May 2010

Behavioral economics tested in new health law

The new health law contains "many opportunities to nudge people toward better health choices. … 'In healthcare, for years and years and years there's been an interest in changing provider and consumer behavior,'" says Stanford professor Alan Garber. "What's new is that money is flowing into research on behavioral economics, and the government is getting involved, Garber and others said.

10 May 2010

Today's Opinions: The need for federal review of rate increases; Dems and GOP share blame for health costs; A phoney deal on Medicaid

This hodgepodge of controls over premiums needs to be backstopped by a national law that would allow the federal government to block unjustified rate increases where state officials lack the authority to do so. Attempts to include such powers in the newly enacted health care reform law failed (5/9).

10 May 2010

Connectyx to expand market presence in U.S. EHR market

Connectyx Technologies Holdings Group, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company is set to expand its market presence in the U.S. Electronic Health Record (EHR) Market. The EHR market is poised to grow at a rate of 13.5 percent over the next four years, and by 2015 it will top $4.85 billion, according to a new study by Kalorama Information.

10 May 2010

CVS calls on FDA to suspend use of contaminated rotavirus vaccines

On Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened a panel of experts to review recent findings that rotavirus vaccines given to infants in the U.S., Rotateq, produced by Merck Pharmaceuticals and Rotarix produced by GlaxoSmithKline, are contaminated with DNA from pig viruses PCV1 and PCV2. On March 22nd the FDA Commissioner asked doctors to suspend use of the Rotarix vaccine due to the contamination. Upon additional testing, Rotateq was also found to be contaminated.

10 May 2010

Companies get help to insure early retirees

Reporting for Kaiser Health News and USA Today, KHN staff writer Christopher Weaver reports: "The White House unveiled details last week of a $5 billion program to provide financial relief to companies that offer health coverage to early retirees.

10 May 2010

CHRISTUS Health selects Wolters Kluwer Health's ProVation Order Sets electronic solution

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that CHRISTUS Health has selected ProVation® Order Sets, powered by UpToDate® Decision Support, as its electronic order set solution. In addition to automating development and maintenance, ProVation Order Sets will provide clinicians at 24 CHRISTUS facilities with point-of-care access to order sets and other intuitive clinical decision support tools.

10 May 2010

Companies await health IT windfall

The Washington Post: A Virginia firm, Vangent, is positioning "itself for a surge of federal spending on health information technology" by setting up a health IT strategy group. "Vangent is likely to face stiff competition for those dollars, but company officials say they expect the firm's reputation as a health-related services provider to serve it well as it bids on contracts." The firm is also involved in civil, defense and national security work, but health services are its largest business.

10 May 2010

ACM receives Health Utilization Management Accreditation from URAC

Akeso Care Management®, Inc. (ACM®) announced today that it has been awarded Health Utilization Management Accreditation by URAC, a leading health care accrediting organization that establishes quality standards for the health care industry. ACM provides medical management services to domestic and international insurance carriers, self-insured employers and third party administrators.

10 May 2010

Nearly half of IT security professionals believe personal healthcare information is less secure than before

Forty-seven percent of IT security professionals believe their personal healthcare information is less secure than it was 12 months ago according to a recent survey by nCircle, the leading provider of automated IT security and compliance auditing solutions.

10 May 2010

CFMG to adopt eClinicalWorks EMR system

eClinicalWorks®, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG), which provides health care to correctional facilities in 25 counties in the state, has selected eClinicalWorks electronic medical records (EMR) system. Using eClinicalWorks will allow the group to streamline operations and improve the quality of care provided through reporting capabilities and the ability to share data across the counties. This will help in the continuity of care for inmates.

10 May 2010

Healing Arts Cooperative Medical Marijuana to open new location in San Diego

International Merchant Advisors, Inc. announced today that the company's client, Healing Arts Cooperative Medical Marijuana is opening a new location in San Diego. IMAI has previously signed a management agreement to operate all of the Healing Arts Cooperative Medical Marijuana dispensaries and to operate the cooperative as the manager of the facility on behalf of its non profit owners. Healing Arts is a cash flow generating non profit, fulfilling the needs of medical marijuana patients in California and planning further expansion in the state.

10 May 2010