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Anthem Blue Cross agrees to postpone rate adjustment for individual members in California

Earlier today, Anthem Blue Cross agreed to a request by the California Department of Insurance to postpone a rate adjustment for individual members in California by two months to allow the Department additional time for review. To avoid confusion for our members, this delay will impact all Anthem individual members regulated at either the state Department of Insurance or the Department of Managed Health Care.

15 Feb 2010

Walgreens Pharmacies postpones withdrawal from Washington Medicaid program

Walgreens will continue filling Medicaid prescriptions at its Washington state pharmacies through March 15. The company, which operates 121 pharmacies in Washington, announced on Jan. 13 it would stop filling Medicaid prescriptions in 64 of its stores because of continued reduction in reimbursement under the State of Washington Medicaid program. The decision to delay the withdrawal from the program comes as constructive talks continue between the state and the company.

15 Feb 2010

Humanitarian groups express concern that Haiti funding might affect efforts in other crisis countries

A coalition of more than 150 humanitarian groups expressed "concern" in a letter Thursday that more than half of the U.S. government's disaster-assistance program budget has been pledged to help Haiti, which they say could mean cuts for aid to countries such as Sudan or Somalia, the Washington Post reports.

15 Feb 2010

12-member medical team from CHOP returns from Port-au-Prince, Haiti

A 12-member medical team from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) returned yesterday after 10 days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, treating victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake.

15 Feb 2010

Research roundup: Bundled payments, PTSD incidence, cost of treating immigrants

This paper examines the spending for health care of adult naturalized citizens and immigrant noncitizens (including some undocumented immigrants) compared to U.S. natives, as documented in data from the 1999-2006 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS): "inflation and age-adjusted health care expenditures among noncitizen immigrants were consistently … lower than those of naturalized citizens and U.S. natives during 1999-2006."

15 Feb 2010

Free educational webinar: Important aspects to be aware of when selecting EHR system

Community oncologists, practice administrators (PAs), executive directors (EDs), and clinical staff interested in learning the most important aspects to be aware of when selecting the Electronic Health Record (EHR) system most appropriate for your particular practice are invited to attend a free webinar at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST) on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010.

15 Feb 2010

Limited number of free tickets available for Nashville Fearless Caregiver Conference

Today's Caregiver magazine and Caregiver.com announce that a limited number of free tickets are still available for the Nashville Fearless Caregiver Conference on March 10th, 2010 being held at the Radisson Opryland Hotel. Tickets are sponsored by the Greater Nashville Regional Council.

15 Feb 2010

The President's health summit invite to lawmakers: 'Bring comprehensive legislation'

The Washington Post: "In a letter to lawmakers, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the half-day meeting at Blair House would include the top Democratic and Republican congressional leaders and the ranking members in committees that deal with health care. Outlining the format for a session some Republicans have derided as little more than political theater, the Obama advisers said both parties would be allowed to invite four other members each to the discussion, to begin at 10 a.m. and be televised live" (Shear, 2/13).

15 Feb 2010

Phrma's Tauzin quits amid talk that White House deal caused tension within organization

Former congressman and powerful lobbyist Billy Tauzin is resigning as head of the pharmaceutical industry trade group after a deal he helped broker with the White House on health reform strained relationships inside the group.

15 Feb 2010

US Department of Labor announces over $225M ARRA funded health care and high growth training grants

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced more than $225 million in health care and high growth training grants funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants will allow community colleges, community-based organizations, state workforce agencies and other public entities to deliver training that leads to employment in a range of health care fields and other growing industries. With today's announcement, organizations in all 50 states have received a share of nearly $750 million in competitive grant funding made available through the Department of Labor.

15 Feb 2010

IMAI formally offered to purchase equity position in pharmaceutical operation

International Merchant Advisors, Inc. announced today that the company has formally offered to purchase an equity position in a pharmaceutical operation that is focused on selling in the chronic pain management medical sector.

15 Feb 2010

Indian Health Service director Roubideaux: 'We have a lot to teach the country'

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jessica Marcy talks to IHS director Yvette Roubideaux, who knows first-hand the difficulties faced by patients of the Indian Health Service.

15 Feb 2010

HSS creates Quality Research Center for applying research methodologies to health-care quality issues

Patients with orthopedic and autoimmune conditions expect Hospital for Special Surgery --because of its leadership role--to deliver the highest quality care. To further accomplish this mission, HSS is announcing the creation of a Quality Research Center with an innovative structure for applying research methodologies to health-care quality issues.

15 Feb 2010

Texas whistle-blowing nurse is acquitted

The New York Times: "A West Texas jury took but an hour Thursday to acquit a nurse who had been charged with a felony after alerting the state medical board that a doctor at her hospital was practicing unsafe medicine. The uncommon prosecution had ignited deep concern among health care workers and advocates for whistle-blowers about a potential chilling effect on the reporting of malpractice.

15 Feb 2010

Community Health Centers step in to provide care for newly uninsured

Community Health Centers are providing a growing number of newly uninsured people with primary and preventive care. These centers are being tested by the growing patient load, MarketWatch reports.

15 Feb 2010

Wyoming lawkmaker pushes for reform, Mississippi Governor bans certain over-the-counter drugs

Associated Press/CNBC: "A veteran Wyoming state senator for the third time is pushing a bill he says would offer health insurance to people who couldn't afford it on the open market and also serve as an example to the rest of the nation of how to tackle rising health care costs. Sen. Charles Scott, R-Casper, has proposed a pilot program that calls for allowing 500 participants to enroll in Medicaid beginning in July. It would be limited to people whose family income is below 250 percent of the federal poverty level — $55,125 for a family of four.

15 Feb 2010

Benefits of NaviNet Insurer Connect to be studied in New Jersey

NaviNet, America’s largest real-time healthcare communications network, today announced its participation in a landmark initiative to document the benefits of electronic health information exchange between healthcare providers and health insurers.

15 Feb 2010

Pelosi relationship with Obama strained, Sen. Kyl and Wyden see hope for bipartisanship

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's relationship with President Barack Obama is becoming strained over roadblocks Democrats are seeing on legislation and the treatment some Democrats view as "cavalier" from the White House, Politico reports. "For months, the California lawmaker has been pushing Obama hard in private while praising him in public. But now she's being more open in her criticism, in part because she feels the White House was wrong — in the wake of the Democrats' loss in Massachusetts — to push the Senate health care bill on the House when she knew there was no way it would pass.

15 Feb 2010

Simplex Healthcare to implement comprehensive wellness program for employees

Simplex Healthcare today announced that it is partnering with Onlife Health, a national personal health coaching company, to implement a comprehensive wellness program for its more than 300 employees.

15 Feb 2010

Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mich., Arizona plan Medicaid cuts; N.C.'s prison health costs

The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune: Louisiana "Gov. Bobby Jindal will present his 2010-11 budget request Friday, which is expected to call for cuts to health care, education and other areas of state government as his administration outlines plans for plugging a $1 billion shortfall. ... The general-fund growth is not nearly enough to offset a loss of about $650 million in federal health-care financing, the rising cost of state pensions, automatic pay raises for state workers and inflation in health-care programs."

15 Feb 2010

Healthcare News

Anthem Blue Cross agrees to postpone rate adjustment for individual members in California

Walgreens Pharmacies postpones withdrawal from Washington Medicaid program

Humanitarian groups express concern that Haiti funding might affect efforts in other crisis countries

12-member medical team from CHOP returns from Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Research roundup: Bundled payments, PTSD incidence, cost of treating immigrants

Free educational webinar: Important aspects to be aware of when selecting EHR system

Limited number of free tickets available for Nashville Fearless Caregiver Conference

The President's health summit invite to lawmakers: 'Bring comprehensive legislation'

Phrma's Tauzin quits amid talk that White House deal caused tension within organization

US Department of Labor announces over $225M ARRA funded health care and high growth training grants

IMAI formally offered to purchase equity position in pharmaceutical operation

Indian Health Service director Roubideaux: 'We have a lot to teach the country'

HSS creates Quality Research Center for applying research methodologies to health-care quality issues

Texas whistle-blowing nurse is acquitted

Community Health Centers step in to provide care for newly uninsured

Wyoming lawkmaker pushes for reform, Mississippi Governor bans certain over-the-counter drugs

Benefits of NaviNet Insurer Connect to be studied in New Jersey

Pelosi relationship with Obama strained, Sen. Kyl and Wyden see hope for bipartisanship

Simplex Healthcare to implement comprehensive wellness program for employees

Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mich., Arizona plan Medicaid cuts; N.C.'s prison health costs

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