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Senate starts debate clock on contentious health reform reconciliation bill

The Senate has begun debate, which Democrats hope to bring to a quick close, on a health care reform reconciliation bill that "fixes" parts of the law President Obama signed Tuesday.

25 Mar 2010

GOP forces reconciliation bill back to the House for another vote

With the Senate working through an all-night session on a package of changes to the Democrats' sweeping health care legislation, Republicans early Thursday morning identified parliamentary problems with at least two provisions that will require the measure to be sent back to the House for yet another vote, once the Senate adopts it.

25 Mar 2010

Obama signs historic health overhaul bill surrounded by supporters, lawmakers

In front of packed crowd of cheering, enthusiastic lawmakers and others, President Barack Obama signed the Senate health care bill into law yesterday.

25 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 25, 2010

Today's early morning highlights stories from major news organizations, including reports on the progress of the health reconciliation bill, threats against Democrats because of their votes on the new health overhaul law and questions about a highly touted reform.

25 Mar 2010

Texas and Arizona prepare for reform's effects on illegal immigrants and patients at community health centers

The Houston Chronicle: "Illegal immigrants likely would become the largest patient pool of the Harris County Hospital District as a result of health care reform unless the taxpayer-funded institution can attract more insured patients than it currently serves, according to public health experts.

25 Mar 2010

Last minute deal on Medicare highlights dilemma on curbing costs

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey reports on an example that illustrates the challenges of curbing health care costs: "A last-minute deal to win votes for the health care overhaul underscores the political dilemma for Congress as it tries to reduce health care costs" (Carey, 3/23).

25 Mar 2010

Innovation holds the key for solving healthcare's dilemmas, says Eli Lilly

In an address to the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany today, John C. Lechleiter, Ph.D., chairman, president and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Company, said that innovation holds the key to solving one of healthcare's thorniest dilemmas: how to improve quality and access while controlling costs.

25 Mar 2010

New legislation mirrors 2006 Massachusetts health care reform

On Tuesday, President Obama signed into law U.S. health care reform legislation, leaving many Americans wondering how it will affect them, their families, and businesses.

25 Mar 2010

Health care reform bill includes provisions for MTM programs, says Arcadia Resources

Arcadia Resources, Inc., a leading provider of innovative consumer health care services under the Arcadia HealthCare(SM) and DailyMed Pharmacy program, today announced the healthcare reform bill advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21st contains important provisions related to medication therapy management (MTM) including a series of grant and pilot programs.

25 Mar 2010

Pay-For-Performance program to improve quality of patient care

The ATS has released an official policy statement of pay-for-performance (P4P) in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. In the statement, the Society encourages clinicians in these fields to participate in P4P programs and views them as an opportunity to partner with healthcare payors, accrediting organizations, governmental oversight groups and others to improve quality, rather than as a threat to autonomy and independence.

25 Mar 2010

Obama signs executive order affirming ban on federal funding for abortion

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25 Mar 2010

Internet cannot substitute for professional medical advice

The Internet has had a profound effect on clinical practice by providing both physicians and patients with a wealth of information. But with those rewards come risks of incorrect or poorly interpreted information that require that a doctor "never be optional."

25 Mar 2010

American Association of Poison Control Centers: K2 herbal marijuana substitute spurred poison calls

K2, an herbal marijuana substitute also known as "spice," is a blend of herbs sprayed with a synthetic marijuana-like drug, and has spurred at least 112 calls to U.S. poison centers since 2009, including 59 calls since March 1, 2010.

25 Mar 2010

MIMA pays $12M to resolve Medicare fraud case

In a settlement concluded late yesterday, Melbourne International Medicine Associates (MIMA) of Brevard County, Florida, will pay $12 million to resolve a whistleblower lawsuit alleging hidden schemes to defraud Medicare and other federal programs in connection with radiation cancer treatment.

25 Mar 2010

Payers can improve risk-sharing approaches for expensive therapies and technology

Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of scientific information and analytics to the pharmaceutical and biotech fields, announced today that it has published the collective recommendations of an international team of healthcare experts on how payers can improve their risk-sharing approaches for expensive new therapies and technology.

25 Mar 2010

Majority of Americans blame insurers and drug makers for rising health-care costs

Forty-four percent of U.S. adults are "extremely worried" or "very worried" about paying for rising health-care costs. And the top reasons cited for those rising costs are profits generated by drug companies and health insurance companies.

25 Mar 2010

Health overhaul will boost coverage for millions, but leaves gaps, too

The health legislation President Barack Obama signed into law would extend insurance to 32 million Americans by 2019, but that still leaves out 23 million, The Christian Science Monitor reports.

25 Mar 2010

Majority of egg donation agencies violate ASRM guidelines

From a sample of over 300 college newspapers, findings revealed that almost one-quarter of advertisements offered payment in excess of $10,000, a violation of guidelines issued by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

25 Mar 2010

Final health care package shaped by changing political landscape

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau writes: "In the year it took Congress to write and pass a health care overhaul, turbulent political shifts — including the Democrats' loss of Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat and the rise of the Tea Party movement — forced critical compromises on the scope of legislation"

25 Mar 2010

Alzheimer's Foundation of America applauds dementia-related provisions in health reform law

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is extremely pleased that the historic health reform signed into law by President Obama late this morning, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday and the U.S. Senate in December, includes a number of provisions that are especially significant for AFA's constituents—and bode well for improving quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their family caregivers. In particular, we are grateful that the final action addresses many of the practical and financial needs faced daily by this population, speaks to preventative issues and bolsters training of dementia care professionals.

25 Mar 2010