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Union members push hard for health care reform

The Worchester [Massachusetts] Telegram reports: "Two members of the state's congressional delegation appealed to local union members this morning to unite behind President Barack Obama's efforts to reform health care. They said if health care reform does not happen now, it could be years before it comes up for discussion again."

9 Sep 2009

House Democrats split on health reform options

Conservatives are still leery of supporting a government-funded, or public, insurance option. Freshman lawmakers from suburban districts remain fearful of increasing taxes for their wealthy constituents to pay for the new measure and await alternatives from moderate Senate Democrats.

9 Sep 2009

Wellmont partners with HealthSouth to open a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Bristol

Wellmont Health System and HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS) today announced that a joint venture entity formed by the two parties has been awarded a certificate of public need (COPN) to open a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Bristol, Va. The 25-bed hospital will enable more patients in Bristol and throughout Southwest Virginia to have access to comprehensive, high-quality rehabilitative services.

9 Sep 2009

Advocates express concern over reform proposal's changes to low-income children's coverage

Children's health advocates are concerned that a new health reform proposal by the Senate Finance Committee could jeopardize coverage of many low-income children now insured by the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which expires in 2013, Politico reports.

9 Sep 2009

Health care reform without curbing medical costs will make Americans suffer: Concord Coalition Leaders

Concord Coalition Co-Chairs Warren B. Rudman and Bob Kerrey today called on President Obama to push for concrete measures, including a federal health care budget, to curb runaway medical costs.

9 Sep 2009

CHW urges Congress and Obama Administration to successfully conclude health care reform

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) President/CEO Lloyd H. Dean unveiled a multi-faceted campaign today aimed at pushing health care reform in Washington to a successful conclusion. CHW’s “September for Reform” will bring the resources of one of America’s largest hospital systems to bear on the national health care reform debate with a focus on urging members of Congress and the Obama Administration to accomplish reform this fall.

8 Sep 2009

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield utilize latest media tools to interact with its members

Not just for teens anymore - social networking and media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are being used by adults to interact with their friends, families and to gain information.

8 Sep 2009

Number of uninsured to increase as unemployment figures rise

The American Academy of Actuaries Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello is expecting there to be an increase in the number of people without health insurance when the U.S. Census Bureau reports the latest figures on Thursday. According to last year's Census Bureau estimates, nearly 46 million people were uninsured in America.

8 Sep 2009

NRHA Services Corporation selects Amerinet as its “Provider of Choice”

In recognition of their commitment to helping rural healthcare providers reduce costs and improve quality, Amerinet, a leading national healthcare group purchasing organization, has been named a “Provider of Choice” by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Services Corporation.

8 Sep 2009

African health ministers adopt resolutions to improve health as WHO regional meeting closes

At the conclusion of the 59th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, African health ministers agreed on four resolutions that aim to improve health on the continent, the Guardian reports.

8 Sep 2009

USA Today's 24-hour emergency room visit

A team of USA Today reporters spent a full, 24-hour day in the emergency room at University of Virginia Medical Center in late August. "The key elements of today's debate on health care converge in the ER, from the cutting-edge quality of the U.S. system to the millions of uninsured people who show up for care," according to the report. A key reform goal is covering an estimated 46 million uninsured Americans. But the task is expensive, and in many cases, born by ERs under the current system.

8 Sep 2009

Shalala, Cleveland Clinic's Cosgrove weigh in on current health debate

Two health care industry players have views about to handle the current overhaul debate.

8 Sep 2009

Republicans' changed stance on Medicare has historical roots

The GOP's change of stance on Medicare raises questions about its motives, The Associated Press reports in a separate story: "Weren't Republicans against Medicare before they were for it? It's a question vexing Democrats in the fierce battle over President Barack Obama's push for a health care overhaul as the head of the Republican Party has portrayed the GOP as the lone bulwark preventing deep cuts to the popular, government-run health plan for older people."

8 Sep 2009

Visual Management Systems signs a dealer agreement with High Tech Innovations

Visual Management Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: VMSY), a leading developer, manufacturer and provider of video surveillance technologies, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a dealer agreement with High Tech Innovations, a leader in technology infrastructure for the healthcare industry.

8 Sep 2009

Reform measures target health insurance practices such as dropping coverage

Health reform legislation seeks to eliminate practices used by insurance firms known as "rescissions," which firms defend as fraud control. The Washington Post reports in a story headlined "When Your Insurer Says You're No Longer Covered."

8 Sep 2009

MyMedicalRecords PHR offers medical reimbursement for H1N1 affected susbcribers

MMR Information Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: MMRF) (the "Company"), which through its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, MyMedicalRecords, Inc. ("MMR") provides consumer-controlled Personal Health Records ("PHRs") (www.mymedicalrecords.com) and electronic safe deposit box storage solutions (www.myesafedepositbox.com), today announced that it has launched a new subscriber Program to reimburse up to $5,000 for remaining medical insurance deductibles, or out-of-pocket medical expenses up to $5,000, for a MyMedicalRecords PHR subscriber family member who has a confirmed case of the H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus.

8 Sep 2009

Recipients of Charles C. Shepard Award announced

Jill Van Den Bos, a healthcare consultant in Milliman's Denver Health practice, and her colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been named recipients of the prestigious Charles C. Shepard Award.

8 Sep 2009

Pharos Innovations' RPM technology enables healthcare cost reduction

Pharos Innovations announced today that results of the Henry Ford Health System Patient-Centered Team Care program show a 36% reduction in expected all-cause hospital admissions for enrolled heart failure patients after six months of enrollment and a return of 2.3:1 vs. program costs.

8 Sep 2009

New data fuels disagreements over regional Medicare spending

New data fuels some regional disputes on Medicare spending while some communities create better care and spend less than others. The New York Times reports that "new government data show that Medicare costs per patient in those cities [New York City, Boston] are slightly below the national average when the numbers are adjusted for the cost of living and other factors.

8 Sep 2009

EDS signs $8.1 million contract with U.S. DoD Military Health System

EDS, an HP company, today announced it has signed an $8.1 million, 12-month add-on contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Military Health System to make technical enhancements to several Defense Health Information Management Systems (DHIMS).

8 Sep 2009