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Health reform pressure points: Excise tax, individual mandate, antitrust legislation

"An agreement to tax high-cost, employer-sponsored health insurance plans, announced with fanfare by the White House and labor unions last month, is losing support from labor leaders, who say the proposal is too high a price to pay for the limited health care package they expect to emerge from Congress," The New York Times reports.

16 Feb 2010

Obama administration announces $1 billion in new health IT grants

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis Friday announced the release of $1 billion in stimulus funds to expand the use of electronic records and to train health care workers.

16 Feb 2010

Budget cuts hit health care services in Minnesota, Oklahoma and California

Gov. Tim Pawlenty's proposal to cut a net of $347 million from programs for sick, aged, disabled and jobless people is akin to the advice an ailing George Washington got from his doctors 210 years ago, one critic said Monday: Bleed him, in hope of a cure. Pawlenty would eliminate the General Assistance program in which about 20,000 disabled and very-low-income people receive an average of $175 a month.

16 Feb 2010

IRS helping thousands pay for health insurance

The IRS is helping more than 40,000 residents of Michigan buy health insurance "after they lost their jobs to foreign competition or had their pension plans terminated," The Detroit News reports.

16 Feb 2010

Will health care savings be used to reduce the deficit?

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey writes: "In their effort to overhaul the health system, President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats pressed hospitals, drug makers and other providers to accept billions of dollars in government payment cuts and new fees to help finance the legislation.

16 Feb 2010

Advice on decoding and correcting medical bills

The Los Angeles Times offers advice to consumers on how to understand and correct medical bills.

16 Feb 2010

WellPoint cancels Investor Day, schedules conference call to review 2010 financial outlook

WellPoint, Inc. today cancelled its Investor Day previously scheduled for February 23, 2010, and announced that management will review the Company's 2010 financial outlook during a conference call on March 17, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The Company continues to expect full year 2010 net income to be at least $6.00 per share, subject to its ability to secure and maintain sufficient premium rates.

16 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 16, 2010

Today's health policy headlines cover a range of topics -- from using health savings to reduce the deficit to how tort reform fits into the current health reform negotiations.

16 Feb 2010

NACHC: ARRA investment is making a difference in community health centers

People and communities are healthier thanks to the investment in America’s Health Centers from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or the “economic stimulus.” The law, enacted one year ago this week, provided funds that helped health centers expand care to the growing numbers of jobless and uninsured people who were quickly filling up their waiting rooms.

16 Feb 2010

International Merchant Advisors signs LOI to purchase minority interest in Assured Pharmacy

International Merchant Advisors, Inc. www.imaiinc.com announced today that the company has signed a letter of intent to purchase a minority interest in Assured Pharmacy, Inc. www.assuredpharmacyinc.com, a retail pharmaceutical operation that is focused on selling prescription medications in the chronic pain management medical sector.

16 Feb 2010

BUSACC hosts breakfast panel over reconstruction opportunities in Iraq, covering healthcare and pharma

The reconstruction of Iraq is under way and opportunities for Texas businesses abound. The Bilateral U.S. – Arab Chamber of Commerce (BUSACC) is hosting a business breakfast and panel discussion featuring Iraq’s Ambassador to the United States, the Senior Commercial Counsel and a high level Ministry of Energy official and delegation, along with American risk and security mitigation experts.

16 Feb 2010

European care management market to reach $694.4M in 2015

Europe's patient population is moving towards long-term care and homecare from hospitals and other clinical settings. Consequently, the significance of nursing and residential care services is on the rise. Unlike the past decade, therefore, the number of care homes in Europe has shown an increase. At the same time, care managers have been becoming technology savvy. As the adoption rates of care management systems surges, the potential of care management markets across Europe is improving.

16 Feb 2010

Max Neeman International forms specialized surgical team for conducting minimally invasive surgery studies

Max Neeman International, a leading Indian CRO, has formed an exclusive team of India's finest, most experienced Physicians to conduct Minimally Invasive Surgery Studies. The team consists of the best Minimal Access Surgeons in the country who have performed more than 25,000 procedures combined.

16 Feb 2010

Loyola University Chicago MNSON to celebrate its 75 years of contribution to nursing profession

Loyola University Chicago Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing (MNSON) will celebrate its 75th anniversary this year. The 75 years of nursing celebration kicked off at the Second Annual Alumni Awards Brunch earlier this month and will culminate in a gala on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at The Drake Hotel in Chicago.

16 Feb 2010

12 minutes of activity a day is all you need to reclaim maximum health

You're hitting the gym four to five times a week. You're dutifully doing the elliptical trainer or treadmill for an hour at a time. But all those long, boring workouts do nothing to strengthen your heart or slim your waistline. Do enough cardio and aerobics and you'll get old before your time.

16 Feb 2010

2010 WOCN/WCET Joint Conference focusing on patient care to be held in Phoenix

Healthcare professionals who specialize in wound, ostomy and/or continence care will have the opportunity to participate in a groundbreaking conference that combines the expertise of two premier wound, ostomy and continence associations, The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society and The World Council of Enterostomal Therapists.

16 Feb 2010

Highmark mobile marketing trucks' eco-conscious plan works for environment and for customers

After traveling 51,000 miles across Pennsylvania in one year, Highmark's mobile marketing trucks prove that an eco-conscious plan works for the environment and for customers. When Highmark launched the two mobile marketing units last January, plans were made to not only offer valuable health information services through the 53- and 28-foot trucks, but respectively do so in an earth-friendly manner.

16 Feb 2010

Gallup-Healthways WBI City and State Reports released

Individuals wanting to increase their personal well-being and enjoy the highest quality of life in America might want to consider relocating to Boulder, Colo. or the state of Hawaii.

16 Feb 2010

Senator Chuck Schumer to discuss tax cut proposed to stimulate job growth

Senator Chuck Schumer plans a visit Monday, February 15th to Ithaca, NY to discuss the tax cut proposal that Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Senator Schumer proposed to stimulate job growth.

16 Feb 2010

Recondo Technology joins HL7 International as organizational member

Recondo Technology, a leading provider of revenue cycle solutions for the healthcare industry, announced today that Recondo has become an Organizational Member of Health Level Seven® International, the global authority on standards for interoperability of health information technology. Health Level Seven has members in over 55 countries. The Health Level Seven (HL7) vision is to create the best and most widely used standards in healthcare.

16 Feb 2010