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Today's opinions and editorials: A litigation explosion, Anthem Blue Cross and starting fresh

What would a fresh start look like? It would begin with a new bill. Amending the 2,000 pages in either the Senate or House bill would prove to be impossible. They were born of an unseemly process and based on a premise already rejected by the American people. Language from the existing bills, in areas of agreement, could obviously be used to expedite drafting (Michael O. Leavitt, 2/11).

12 Feb 2010

Payments, pricing info, paperwork may contribute to costs, confusion

The way doctors, hospitals and other health care providers are paid creates a so-called "perverse incentive" to order more and more medical services, even when those services do not contribute to better health, according to researchers for Dartmouth's Atlas of Health, CNN's investigations unit reports. The report explores a lawsuit filed against a physician-owned hospital in McAllen, Texas, by one of the physician-owners.

12 Feb 2010

FKF receives funds to launch Fragile Kids Partner Program

The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare announced today that it has awarded a $35,000 grant to Fragile Kids Foundation, Inc. (FKF), a nonprofit organization based in Atlanta, Ga.

12 Feb 2010

Medicaid and other state programs face questions about fraud, other difficulties

The state's Medicaid Fraud Division said two state agencies, the Health Department and Human Services Department that administer the Medicaid program, "'filtered' and 'sanitized' information and documents requested by investigators, hindering numerous investigations." The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services wil investigate the allegations (Furlow, 2/10).

12 Feb 2010

Akron General Health System and McKesson announce strategic agreement to enhance patient care

Akron General Health System and McKesson today announced a strategic agreement that expands the hospital’s ongoing initiative to boost patient safety, improve quality and enhance care coordination among healthcare providers in northeast Ohio.

12 Feb 2010

Gregg ready for 'dialogue' on health reform, Pelosi ready for reconciliation fight

Politico: "Is [Sen.] Judd Gregg [R- N.H.] a tease or a real potential partner for President Barack Obama in trying to salvage some health care reform in this Congress? ... [T]he New Hampshire conservative brings both a proven ability to swing Republican votes and a background in health care and deficit issues. In a letter to Obama released late Tuesday, Gregg welcomed the [Feb. 25] meeting as a chance for 'constructive dialogue'" and he told Politico he is "open to specific deficit-reduction and cost-containment steps that could be taken to win Republicans' support for health reform," though he has rejected the president's proposals.

12 Feb 2010

COBRA extension included in newly unveiled Senate jobs bill

Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D- Mont., and ranking Republican Charles Grassley, R- Iowa, this morning jointly unveiled a draft of the chamber's jobs bill, "vowing to maintain the 'bipartisan character' of their negotiations going forward," The Washington Post 44 reports. "The $85 billion package ... is the first in what Democratic leaders say will be a series of job-creation measures the Senate will address in 2010."

11 Feb 2010

Health companies criticized for deceptive marketing while Anthem rate hikes continue to draw attention

"Minnesota's attorney general on Wednesday sued two Texas companies she said falsely represented their discounted health care plans as medical insurance to thousands of customers," The Associated Press/Washington Post report.

11 Feb 2010

WellPoint defends 39% premium hike in letter to Sebelius

The Associated Press/Washington Post: WellPoint, the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross "is blaming the Great Recession and rising medical costs for its planned 39 percent rate increase for some California customers of its Anthem Blue Cross plan. But Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius isn't buying the explanation proffered in a letter delivered to her" today.

11 Feb 2010

Coalition group calls for bigger FDA budget

The Los Angeles Times reports that when the president's budget was announced, calling for an increase in the FDA's budget, "a coalition of public interest advocates, patient groups and healthcare industry interests regulated by the FDA had a swift response: It's not enough. 'We are disappointed in the president's budget request and ... will seek to increase' the budget, said Steven Grossman, deputy executive director of Alliance for a Stronger FDA.

11 Feb 2010

Calif. budget cuts will hit adult day care centers, prison health care; Texas and Kansas weigh Medicaid cuts

Under the most recent cost-saving budget proposals, 327 adult day healthcare centers throughout California would be eliminated. Cuts could save the state $135 million in fiscal 2011, state projections show.

11 Feb 2010

AMA unhappy with Senate plan for Medicare 'doc fix'

The American Medical Association is criticizing "a Senate plan for avoiding a proposed 21 percent cut in government payments to physicians who treat the elderly, calling the proposal a 'Band-Aid' measure," Bloomberg/BusinessWeek reports.

11 Feb 2010

Lack of provider status denies radiation oncologists authority to make decisions based on patient safety and treatment accuracy

Our members deeply regret the needless tragedies outlined in the Times articles and express our sympathy to the families who have lost loved ones and witnessed their suffering. Our hearts also go out to all others whose lives have been impacted by these tragedies including therapists, physicians and physicists. We feel that, as radiation oncology professionals, we are all, directly or indirectly, responsible for these disastrous treatment errors and we therefore must, in future, take a more active role to assure episodes like these are never repeated.

11 Feb 2010

Nurse files anonymous complaint with medical board against doctor: Jury hears evidence over misuse of complaint process

Today a jury in West Texas is hearing evidence that a nurse, acting in bad faith, tried to run a doctor out of town by filing an anonymous complaint with the Texas Medical Board. The case is Texas v. Mitchell, No. 5612 (Andrews County, Texas, presiding Judge Jim Rex).

11 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 11, 2010

Today's headlines raise interesting questions for health reform, including whether Sen. Judd Gregg can play an important role in finding bipartisanship.

11 Feb 2010

Akron Institute of Herzing University introduces bachelor's degree programs on health care and health information management

The Akron Institute of Herzing University announced today that it is launching its first bachelor's degree programs in its 40-year history.

11 Feb 2010

Oral hygiene: Insights

Oral health is often the window to your overall health. Evidence has supported the link between poor oral health and such conditions as stroke, premature birth and diabetes. Other conditions, such as HIV/AIDS and osteoporosis may show preliminary signs in your mouth, before other areas of the body are affected. Also, some of your daily activities or habits can affect your oral health. Therefore, it's wise to pay attention to your teeth and gums.

11 Feb 2010

Toshiba America Medical Systems' cardiovascular X-ray service receives top ranking

As health care facilities today seek the best value in imaging and customer service, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.’s Service organization strives to deliver top-tier service and customer satisfaction. The result of this dedication was once again confirmed by IMV, Ltd., which provides independent analysis of service trends in the imaging industry. In IMV’s 2009 ServiceTrak™ Imaging report on cardiovascular X-ray system service, Toshiba received more top rankings than any other imaging vendor.

11 Feb 2010

MHQP: Massachusetts primary care physicians achieve measurable improvements in health care quality

Massachusetts primary care physicians continue to achieve measurable improvements in important aspects of health care quality as reported by Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP). Today, the organization released its sixth annual Quality Insights: Clinical Quality in Primary Care report, comparing the performance of more than 150 medical groups across the state.

11 Feb 2010

HBA panel to discuss changing landscape of healthcare

“The Changing Landscape of Healthcare”—panel discussions presented by the Southern California HBA—will feature many of the region’s healthcare industry leaders. Separate panel discussions will be held in Orange County (Feb. 15) and San Diego (Feb. 18).

11 Feb 2010

Healthcare News

Today's opinions and editorials: A litigation explosion, Anthem Blue Cross and starting fresh

Payments, pricing info, paperwork may contribute to costs, confusion

FKF receives funds to launch Fragile Kids Partner Program

Medicaid and other state programs face questions about fraud, other difficulties

Akron General Health System and McKesson announce strategic agreement to enhance patient care

Gregg ready for 'dialogue' on health reform, Pelosi ready for reconciliation fight

COBRA extension included in newly unveiled Senate jobs bill

Health companies criticized for deceptive marketing while Anthem rate hikes continue to draw attention

WellPoint defends 39% premium hike in letter to Sebelius

Coalition group calls for bigger FDA budget

Calif. budget cuts will hit adult day care centers, prison health care; Texas and Kansas weigh Medicaid cuts

AMA unhappy with Senate plan for Medicare 'doc fix'

Lack of provider status denies radiation oncologists authority to make decisions based on patient safety and treatment accuracy

Nurse files anonymous complaint with medical board against doctor: Jury hears evidence over misuse of complaint process

First Edition: February 11, 2010

Akron Institute of Herzing University introduces bachelor's degree programs on health care and health information management

Oral hygiene: Insights

Toshiba America Medical Systems' cardiovascular X-ray service receives top ranking

MHQP: Massachusetts primary care physicians achieve measurable improvements in health care quality

HBA panel to discuss changing landscape of healthcare

Digital pathology and the PathoVerse: A conversation with Dr. Singh

Bioprocess Efficiency with Cell Density Monitoring

Exploring electron microscopy for plant and microbial imaging at the John Innes Centre

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