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Consumer confusion triggers crackdown by states on discount health plans

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, Maggie Mertens writes: "State regulators are cracking down on a health care product that targets the growing group of uninsured and underinsured Americans: the discount health plan" (Mertens, 4/29).

30 Apr 2010

The closing of St. Vincent's Hospital creates many uncertainties in N.Y.

The Wall Street Journal reports on the closing of St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. One story details how the staff of St. Vincent's has not yet received details about the hospital's closing on Friday. The hospital has been slowly winding down services since it announced its closure. "The emergency room stopped admitting patients and ambulances started going elsewhere, leaving the emergency room focused on walk-ins. Their needs have run the gamut. Tuesday night, for example, brought a patient with a possible ruptured aorta...

30 Apr 2010

Republicans call for investigation of health law's costs

Politico: "House Republicans on Wednesday demanded an investigation into whether the health care overhaul plan would increase national health spending, following a recent report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that showed cost increases, at least in the first decade." The Medicare actuary's report showed a one percent increase in health spending over 10 years, which Republicans said cut against Democrats' pledge that the health overhaul would "bend the cost curve down."

30 Apr 2010

Experts see 'lump sums' in health spending's future

Los Angeles Times/Dallas Morning News: Some elite California hospitals will begin "bundling" their fees for joint replacement surgeries into a single lump sum in an attempt to rethink the current pricing system that leaves "hospitals and doctors charging separately for their services," driving "up costs while leaving no one to coordinate decisions about patient care."

30 Apr 2010

Continuing education lectures on adult glioblastoma to be held at all U.S. healthcare centers

Adult glioblastoma continues to be a difficult disease to treat, so healthcare professionals must have the most up-to-date information regarding optimal methods for diagnostic imaging and treatment of these tumors. Awareness of novel agents in clinical trials is also critical to providing the best care.

30 Apr 2010

Partisan disagreement mounts as health programs are considered by debt commission

This week's focus on the federal deficit -- at a fiscal summit that drew many major policy makers and at the opening of President Barack Obama's bipartisan debt-reduction commission -- has renewed interest in the economic effects of the new health care law, especially given Obama's remarks that everything, even that law, would be under consideration by the commission as it looks to cut the national debt.

30 Apr 2010

Study examines doctors' uncompensated daily work

The New York Times: "A new study detailing the uncompensated work burden on family doctors points to the need to change how they are paid, medical experts say — particularly as the new health care law promises to add millions more patients to the system. … Family doctors make up the embattled front line of the nation's health care system.

30 Apr 2010

EMSC and State of Idaho to provide medical transportation management services for Medicaid beneficiaries

Emergency Medical Services Corporation today announced that its American Medical Response subsidiary has entered into a new agreement with the State of Idaho to provide non-emergency medical transportation management services for the State's Medicaid beneficiaries.

30 Apr 2010

Dismal figures for Victorian public hospital performance in 2009, says report

A new report regarding performances of hospitals has come up with disturbing facts. This Your Hospitals report (July to December 2009) released yesterday revealed;

29 Apr 2010

SDI reports increase in hospital outpatient surgical visits in 2009

SDI, a leading healthcare market insight and analytics firm, today reported that the number of hospital outpatient surgical visits increased 4.5% in 2009 compared with 2008. The number of hospital inpatient visits with surgical procedures, however, remained relatively unchanged in 2009.

29 Apr 2010

EMSC generates net revenue of $679.4 million for first-quarter 2010

Emergency Medical Services Corporation today announces results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

29 Apr 2010

Orion Health Rhapsody Integration Engine to be deployed across Philips' healthcare informatics solutions

Royal Philips Electronics today announced an agreement with Orion Health™, a leading provider of integration solutions in healthcare, to deploy the Orion Health Rhapsody® Integration Engine across Philips' portfolio of healthcare informatics solutions.

From Philips Healthcare 29 Apr 2010

HealthSpring's first-quarter premium revenue up 18.1% to $749.4 million

HealthSpring, Inc. today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

29 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 29, 2010

This week, as yet another major health insurer reports quarterly gains, the industry says it will stop the practice of rescissions earlier than required by the new reform law. Meanwhile, other headlines examine key provisions of the measure, such as its high risk pools.

29 Apr 2010

Premier healthcare alliance launches strategic plan to support new models of healthcare delivery

The Premier healthcare alliance has launched a major new strategic plan that will help hospitals leverage performance improvement data and knowledge sharing to prepare for and succeed under healthcare reform.

29 Apr 2010

Research initiative to study impact of microbes on human health, disease

The human species is dependent for its survival on the billions of microorganisms that inhabit multiple environmental niches within and on the human body. While microbes are commonly associated with diseases and infections, they are also vital in essential, beneficial roles such as digestion, where they help synthesize vitamins and ferment complex indigestible carbohydrates.

29 Apr 2010

New FineThanx phone system gives peace of mind to elderly patients

In a new system, telephone calls twice a day find out how an aging loved one is doing. Then the system reports back the good news or bad.

29 Apr 2010

FDA calls for public comments and information about front-of-package nutrition labeling, shelf tags

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today asked for comments and information from the public and other interested parties about front-of-package nutrition labeling and on shelf tags in retail stores.

29 Apr 2010

Non-Surgical Orthopaedics: Shoulder and upper extremity injuries are very common

Shoulder and upper extremity injuries are very common according to Non-Surgical Orthopaedics, P.C. Many of them result from years of cumulative injuries punctuated by a trauma such as a motor vehicle accident, falls, or sports injuries. These injuries cost consumers, their employers and insurance companies billions of dollars a year in treatment and productivity losses.

29 Apr 2010

New MDC tool provides alternative choices to user's current prescription drugs

Healthcare reform legislation has enacted changes that will significantly affect the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The most immediate impact of the reform aims to close the "donut hole", a component of the benefit design in which seniors must pay the full cost for their drugs themselves.

29 Apr 2010