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Study suggests doctors overlook effects of implanted heart defibrillators in dying patients

The Associated Press reports that heart defibrillators implanted in a patient's chest may disrupt a quiet death, but doctors and relatives of people dying of non-heart related diseases often don't consider that issue. "It's not unusual for health professionals to avoid the topic, says Dr. Nathan Goldstein of New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center.

17 Mar 2010

Akron Children's Hospital to launch Web 2.0 community for pediatric health care providers

Akron Children's Hospital will soon launch a secure Web 2.0 community for pediatric health care providers using the Within3 platform.

17 Mar 2010

MedSolutions launches oncology management program for cancer patients

MedSolutions (www.medsolutions.com), a leading provider of medical cost management services, today announced the launch of its oncology management program, which uses evidence-based guidelines to ensure appropriate use of diagnostic imaging, radiation therapy and drugs for cancer patients.

17 Mar 2010

Health reform could boost number of young adults buying insurance

The Wall Street Journal: "Although insurers generally oppose the Democrats' health-care bill, an overhaul would give the industry a chance to boost its diminishing rolls with an influx of young customers who tend to be healthy and profitable to cover. The legislation, which Congress will vote on soon, is designed to get millions of young people to buy health insurance, using a mixture of subsidies to make coverage more affordable and penalties for people who remain uninsured."

17 Mar 2010

Medical home program: A new approach to optimize pediatric care

For parents of children with multiple medical problems, keeping up with countless doctor's appointments, ongoing tests and a variety of medications can be overwhelming, especially for those in challenging socioeconomic situations.

17 Mar 2010

Governors riled by lack of input in health bill; States request more federal funding for budget, Medicaid shortfalls

"Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas kicked off a National Governors Association summit on health care Monday with an ominous word about the date" and the need to beware the ides of March. "The governors feel like they've gotten the Brutus treatment, too."

17 Mar 2010

Results of UBA 2010 Employer Opinion Survey Special Supplement

United Benefit Advisors, LLC, (wwwUBAbenefits.com), one of the nation's leading employee benefits advisory organizations, released the results of the UBA 2010 Employer Opinion Survey Special Supplement featuring employer opinions on future costs, plan designs and the impact of health care reform provisions being considered by both houses of Congress.

17 Mar 2010

Former GOP leader Armey predicts health bill will pass

Dick Armey, a former Republican House majority leader and one of the leaders of the Tea Party movement, said Monday "that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is 'inept' but that Congress would likely still pass health care reform," ABC News reports. "

17 Mar 2010

Heart disease patients may benefit from secondary preventive care

Research has shown that heart disease patients who make lifestyle improvements, take recommended medications and control risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure can prevent heart disease from worsening.

17 Mar 2010

Alpha II’s CodeWizard software to be integrated with MedAppz' iSuite

Alpha II, a leader in healthcare coding, compliance and reimbursement, announced today a contract with MedAppz to integrate Alpha II’s CodeWizard software with iSuite. This integration of technologies will allow iSuite users to generate evaluation and management codes (E&M), delivering a more decisive calculation based on history, exam and medical decision making information obtained from medical records.

17 Mar 2010

House Democrats move health bill with controversial, complicated strategy

House Democrats have started the clock to a landmark vote on sweeping changes to America's health care system.

17 Mar 2010

California jury rules insurer should pay for out-of-state operation; Mass. probe shows insurers' payments can vary widely

The Los Angeles Times: "A Los Angeles jury concluded Monday that Anthem Blue Cross should cover the cost of an out-of-state liver transplant that a California man paid for after the insurer balked. In addition, the jury ordered Blue Cross to pay plaintiff Ephram Nehme's legal expenses, which could dwarf the $206,000 cost of the transplant. Blue Cross approved Nehme's liver transplant in late 2006, and he was on the waiting list at UCLA Medical Center.

17 Mar 2010

Emdeon signs definitive agreement to acquire HTMS

Emdeon Inc., a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management solutions, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Healthcare Technology Management Services, a management consulting company focused primarily on the healthcare payer market.

17 Mar 2010

Medtronic launches Every Patient First health equity initiative.

Medtronic, Inc. today introduced Every Patient First, a health equity initiative that, in partnership with health care providers, professional societies and patient advocacy groups, aims to reduce disparities in access to health care in the United States. The announcement was made at the 59th Annual Scientific Session of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta.

17 Mar 2010

Democrats continue tallying health bill support; Republicans criticize 'deem and pass' rule

Politico: "House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Tuesday that Democrats don't yet have the votes to pass a bill this week and that they're still talking with every single member of the caucus. He also told reporters during his half-hour weekly news conference that he hopes to have language for a reconciliation bill finalized later in the day and defended the possible use of the rules to deem the Senate bill passed without forcing members to actually take the uncomfortable vote to support it."

17 Mar 2010

Obama makes a final overhaul pitch in Ohio

With a possible deciding vote on health care overhaul legislation nearing, President Obama traveled Monday to Ohio to make a last-minute plea for political "courage" to pass the legislation, The Washington Post reports. "Making an impassioned pitch in a part of the country where unemployment runs high and insurance coverage is uncertain, Obama said in a speech at a senior center here, 'I don't know about the politics, but I know what's the right thing to do'" (Slevin and Branigin, 3/15).

17 Mar 2010

Reports gauge the possible fallout of health care failure for Democrats

If the health overhaul fails to clear Congress, there may be lasting implications for Democratic lawmakers and President Barack Obama, The Christian Science Monitor reports.

17 Mar 2010

Tea Party activists rally in Washington against Dem's health reform bill

Fox News: "Tea Party activists from across the country rallied outside Democratic congressional offices in Washington on Tuesday to protest the $875 billion health care bill and demand meetings with their respective members of Congress." A memo was circulated in advance by the House Democratic leadership offering tips for dealing with the activists (3/16).

17 Mar 2010

Ascent's hospital partners save millions using medical device remanufacturing programs

Ascent, the market leader in the remanufacturing of medical devices in the U.S., announced today that its hospital partners realized hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings through the use of medical device remanufacturing programs in 2009. On a per-hospital basis, some hospitals saved more than $600,000 per year.

17 Mar 2010

Democrats making final push for health reform votes

The Associated Press: As "Democratic leaders make a desperate scramble for votes," President Obama "is wooing freshman Democrats in the Oval Office, holding at least two one-on-one sessions in the past few days that never appeared on his official schedule, according to aides to two lawmakers invited, Reps. Scott Murphy, D-N.Y., and Suzanne Kosmas, D-Fla.," who both voted no on a House health reform measure last year.

17 Mar 2010