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Chicago Magazine names Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital's Mary Keen as one of Chicago's top doctors

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital's Medical Director of Pediatric Rehabilitation, Mary Keen, M.D., has been named one of Chicago's top doctors by Chicago Magazine. Dr. Keen is active in patient care, research and education at Marianjoy, focusing much of her work with children who have cerebral palsy, developmental problems, brain injuries and autism.

24 Dec 2009

The George Washington University announces Telemedicine Fellowship program

The Department of Emergency Medicine at The George Washington University announced today that it will be accepting applications for its first Telemedicine Fellowship program set to begin in the summer of 2010. The program is aimed to promote the development and delivery of Telemedicine initiatives for both domestic and international organizations.

24 Dec 2009

Health Partners receives NCQA Accreditation

Health Partners' Medical Assistance plan has once again received "Excellent" status, the highest level of Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the most recognized accrediting body in the United States for health plans.

24 Dec 2009

Calorie disclosure requirement in healthcare reform legislation ineffective and expensive, says VMI

A group representing some of the nation's most prominent vending companies today called on Congress to drop language that would require vending companies to disclose the caloric content of vended food and beverage products prior to the point of sale, Vend Marketing Institute (VMI) Executive Director Chris Stave announced today. The requirement is included in both the House and Senate versions of the healthcare reform legislation currently being debated in Congress, and would apply to any business which owns or operates 20 or more vending machines.

24 Dec 2009

Major hospitals adopt MedeAnalytics' PAI solution to improve patient experience

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, announced today that adoption of the company’s Patient Access Intelligence (PAI) solution by hospitals around the country has been robust since its introduction earlier this year and continues to grow, according to Mike Gallagher, chief executive officer of MedeAnalytics. Orlando Health, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York, University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare have adopted PAI, officially launched in 2009 at HFMA’s Fall Revenue Cycle Strategies Conference in Chicago.

24 Dec 2009

Continuation of federal UC benefits and health insurance assistance for Pennsylvanians

Governor Edward G. Rendell today said Pennsylvanians who are out of work through no fault of their own now may qualify for two more months of emergency unemployment compensation and health care coverage through the COBRA premium reduction.

24 Dec 2009

ACS awarded 2009 'Best in KLAS' ranking in national healthcare survey

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., today announced that its healthcare provider consulting business has been awarded a 2009 “Best in KLAS” ranking in a prestigious national healthcare survey.

24 Dec 2009

Eclipsys acute care EMR retains its No. 2 ranking in KLAS awards

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, today announced that the company’s focus on delivering an enterprise portfolio of high-quality health information software solutions is reflected in the findings of the 2009 “Top 20 Best in KLAS Award: Software and Professional Services” report (2009 Top 20 Best in KLAS Awards report).

24 Dec 2009

"Tan Tax" will hurt middle-class women and women-owned businesses

The proposed 10 percent federal tax on indoor tanning services, added to the latest U.S. Senate health care reform bill in a back-room deal over the weekend, will fall 40-50 percent short of delivering the revenue its proponents promised, according to the International Smart Tan Network (Smart Tan). The tax unfairly targets female consumers, who make up more than two-thirds of tanning clients, and would be detrimental to the thousands of women who own the majority of America's indoor tanning salons.

24 Dec 2009

Increase in COBRA health care plan enrollment rates among subsidy-eligible employees

A new analysis from Hewitt Associates, a global human resources consulting and outsourcing company, indicates that average monthly enrollment rates in COBRA health care plans among subsidy-eligible employees have increased by 20 percentage points since the COBRA subsidy was enacted in March 2009.

24 Dec 2009

Philadelphia Insurance Companies to offer Chiropractor's Malpractice Insurance

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) is pleased to announce it will begin offering Chiropractor's Malpractice Insurance in several states. Chiropractors may now obtain policies in Alabama, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Utah. Filing approval is anticipated for Mississippi, Ohio and Texas within the next 60 days with additional states to follow in 2010.

24 Dec 2009

The Concord Coalition discusses fiscal risks in health care reform

With the House having passed its version of health care reform (H.R. 3962) and the Senate on the verge of passing its version (H.R. 3590), the outline of a final bill is beginning to take shape. In its new Issue Brief, The Concord Coalition looks ahead at the fiscal considerations that will likely be the subject of conference committee discussions and "end game" negotiations. These include the cost of expanding coverage, the methods used to prevent that cost from adding to the deficit, and the prospects for systemic reforms to reduce cost growth over time.

24 Dec 2009

Data compare CORBA premiums and non-group health insurance options in Texas

Today, eHealthInsurance.com, the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, released data comparing non-group health insurance premiums for policies available at eHealth in the state of Texas, and subsidized COBRA premiums for people in Texas.

24 Dec 2009

Michele Obama visits Children's National Medical Center

First Lady Michelle Obama read the holiday classic 'Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore, during her holiday visit to Children's National Medical Center.

24 Dec 2009

CPF, ATS and health groups launch campaign to raise awareness on lung health

The Coalition for Pulmonary Fibrosis (CPF) announced today it is joining with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and lung health organizations around the globe for 2010: The Year of the Lung, a multi-faceted campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of lung health, generate social and political support for preventing and treating lung disease and encouraging increased public and private funding for lung disease research and development.

24 Dec 2009

Oklahoma's largest health insurer redesigns web site

Because Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma recognizes that health insurance is becoming more and more complicated, the state's largest health insurer has redesigned its public Web site to better assist and educate customers as well as the general public. Now live, the new site provides an education that enables wise health care decisions, communicates a commitment to partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma customers and emphasizes the insurer's trustworthiness.

24 Dec 2009

Terri McCormick's statement on Senate healthcare reform bill

In the rush to pass the so-called "healthcare reform bill," U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) stomped his feet and held his breath until he extracted his presents from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. One such gift exempts Nebraska from paying the $45 million increase in Medicaid imbursement costs. Nelson was the 60th Democrat to get his stocking stuffed.

24 Dec 2009

Data compares non-group health insurance and COBRA premiums

Today, eHealthInsurance.com (NASDAQ: EHTH), the leading online source of health insurance for individuals, families and small businesses, released data comparing non-group health insurance premiums for policies available at eHealth in the state of California, and subsidized COBRA premiums for people in California.

24 Dec 2009

Growing public health threat from surge in drug-resistant strains of acinetobacter

A new study in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology reports a surge in drug-resistant strains of Acinetobacter, a dangerous type of bacteria that is becoming increasingly common in U.S. hospitals. This study is being posted online today and will appear in the journal's February print edition.

24 Dec 2009

Drug companies winners of the American prescription drug debate

On Dec. 15, the Obama Administration rejected a plan to allow the wholesale reimportation of cheaper prescriptions drugs from abroad, despite projected intentions to take on the drug industry and secure cheaper prescription for Americans.

24 Dec 2009