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Dems back at the negotiating table with final health bill deal 'very close'

MarketWatch: After health negotiations stretched until the wee hours of the morning Friday, "House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said [later that morning] ... congressional Democrats are 'very close' to reaching final agreement on legislation." He said he hoped that "within the next 24, 48, 72 hours" such agreement would be reached. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are expected to return to the White House today for more negotiations. This would "mark the third straight day of talks between Obama and Democrats over the health bill. Obama is anxious to sign a bill and move on to other issues including job creation" (Schroeder, 1/15).

18 Jan 2010

States threaten lawsuit over Nebraska's Medicaid deal in Senate health bill

Several news outlets report on a possible lawsuit against the Medicaid compromise for Nebraska that Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., brokered with Senate leaders.

18 Jan 2010

Study raises concerns about drug-resistant HIV

The emergence of drug-resistant strains of HIV could one day threaten efforts to control the global HIV pandemic, according to a study published online Thursday in the journal Science, HealthDay News/U.S. News & World Report reports. The researchers based their findings on "a mathematical model that tracks the transmission of multiple strains of HIV" in San Francisco, the news service writes (1/14).

18 Jan 2010

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

States are grappling with budget crises and lost revenues that have affected health programs.

18 Jan 2010

Democrats endure political anxieties as health talks continue

"President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats stand within days if not hours of striking final deals on historic health care legislation after key labor unions won concessions and pledged their support," The Associated Press reports. "Dozens of issues still needed to be finalized to reconcile bills passed separately by the House and Senate, but several lawmakers said that in the wake of the deal on the insurance plan tax, they felt a logjam had been broken" (Werner, 1/15).

18 Jan 2010

Cardiologists contest Medicare cuts

A cardiologists' lobby filed suit against Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, claiming cuts to heart care services, especially diagnostic tests, are unjustified, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

17 Jan 2010

Democratic leaders debate health reform at the White House

President Obama was meeting Wednesday afternoon with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., in an effort to produce a compromise between House and Senate legislation, underscoring "their desire to strike a quick deal."

17 Jan 2010

California health information organization closes after losing state bid

A California nonprofit meant to facilitate health information exchange has closed its doors after losing a bid to become the state's main exchange organization, Modern Healthcare reports. Board members for California Regional Health Information Organization, or CalRHIO, voted to disband after their company failed to win contracts with the state or negotiate a partnership that would fulfill state requirements.

17 Jan 2010

As budgets squeeze, states seek more federal help with Medicaid responsibilities

New York Gov. David Paterson is trying to build a coalition of states to seek a "federal takeover of health care costs for the elderly poor who receive benefits under both Medicare and Medicaid," to help ease the burden on state budgets, The Associated Press reports.

17 Jan 2010

AMGA reports significant growth in 2009; 2010 paves way for another successful year

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) announced significant growth in 2009, during which it added 40 new member groups, representing more than 9,700 physicians treating 11 million patients.

17 Jan 2010

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Los Angeles Times: "The White House and labor leaders agreed Thursday on a formula to tax high-cost insurance plans, removing one of the last obstacles to President Obama's healthcare overhaul, officials said." Organized labor had staunchly opposed the proposed "Cadillac" tax, but as part of the agreement, "reached after an intense round of negotiations this week, union leaders dropped their opposition ... in exchange for concessions to limit its scope."

17 Jan 2010

Also in Global Health News: Family planning in Philippines; drug pricing in Africa

A government survey in the Philippines "found 73 percent of married women would use birth control if it were available, 22 percentage points higher than the 51 percent that did use such methods," Agence France-Presse reports.

17 Jan 2010

Veterans Affairs hires five new Federal Recovery Coordinators

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the hiring of five new Federal Recovery Coordinators, bringing to 20 the number of professionals coordinating care for the most seriously injured service members.

14 Jan 2010

Broad Health Coalition presses for medical liability reform

As the House and Senate work to merge their health care reform bills, the Health Coalition on Liability and Access (HCLA) sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, emphasizing the need to retain and strengthen current medical liability reform provisions in any final legislation.

14 Jan 2010

Art program gives a ray of hope for patients

To visit Erica Arcia in the Bone Marrow Transplant unit, you first have to don a sterile gown and mask. Then you step through one door, making sure that it seals behind you. Step through the second door of the isolation room and you’re standing at Arcia’s bedside.

13 Jan 2010

New analytic application offers new insights to employers on their health benefits

A new analytic application from Thomson Reuters and HighRoads gives large employers new insights into how the design of their health benefits influence employees’ health care choices — and health care costs.

13 Jan 2010

Americans for Responsible Heath Care launches independent television ad campaign

Americans for Responsible Heath Care is launching an independent television advertisement campaign in the Boston media market to educate Americans about the dangerous health care proposal being debated in Congress.

13 Jan 2010

Medical Marijuana praises New Jersey State Assembly for removing state-wide penalties on marijuana use

Medical Marijuana Inc applauds the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate for having approved "The New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act" on Monday, January 11, 2010. A804/S119 removes state-wide penalties for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana when a New Jersey licensed Physician recommends it for one of the qualified medical conditions including Aids, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn's disease among others.

13 Jan 2010

RN Union launches nationwide disaster relief program to assist Haiti residents

The nation’s largest organization of registered nurses tonight activated its nationwide disaster relief program to recruit nurse volunteers to provide assistance to residents of earthquake devastated Haiti, the National Nurses United announced Tuesday night.

13 Jan 2010

U.S. Department of Labor sues Mid-States Express for misusing employees' retirement and health benefit plans

The U.S. Department of Labor has sued the owners of bankrupt Mid-States Express Inc. of Aurora, Ill., for allegedly failing to protect the interests of the participants and beneficiaries in the company's 401(k) and health plans. The department's lawsuit alleges that Bruce Hartmann failed to disclose to employees that their medical bills were not likely to be paid, even as the company continued to take deductions from their paychecks for medical coverage.

13 Jan 2010

Healthcare News

Dems back at the negotiating table with final health bill deal 'very close'

States threaten lawsuit over Nebraska's Medicaid deal in Senate health bill

Study raises concerns about drug-resistant HIV

State budgets in straits as health programs sap resources

Democrats endure political anxieties as health talks continue

Cardiologists contest Medicare cuts

Democratic leaders debate health reform at the White House

California health information organization closes after losing state bid

As budgets squeeze, states seek more federal help with Medicaid responsibilities

AMGA reports significant growth in 2009; 2010 paves way for another successful year

Unions, Democratic leaders and White House reach agreement on 'Cadillac' health insurance plans

Also in Global Health News: Family planning in Philippines; drug pricing in Africa

Veterans Affairs hires five new Federal Recovery Coordinators

Broad Health Coalition presses for medical liability reform

Art program gives a ray of hope for patients

New analytic application offers new insights to employers on their health benefits

Americans for Responsible Heath Care launches independent television ad campaign

Medical Marijuana praises New Jersey State Assembly for removing state-wide penalties on marijuana use

RN Union launches nationwide disaster relief program to assist Haiti residents

U.S. Department of Labor sues Mid-States Express for misusing employees' retirement and health benefit plans

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