Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

First Edition: April 22, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including marketplace news about the Novartis purchase of GlaxoSmithKline's oncology unit for $14.5 billion.

22 Apr 2014

GNYHA Services, Essensa incorporate MedSnap ID into technology product portfolio

GNYHA Services, Inc. and Essensa, Inc., leading group purchasing organizations serving acute care, alternate care, and non-healthcare markets, have added MedSnap ID to their portfolio of technology offerings.

22 Apr 2014

Lifespan receives 2013 "Best Practice" award for improving employees’ health

The New England Employee Benefits Council named Lifespan, Rhode Island's largest health system, as a recipient of the 2013 "Best Practice" award, presented annually to the companies exhibiting novel, innovative, and impactful strategies in employee benefits.

22 Apr 2014

Northern Ireland expands PACS contract with Sectra to include digital breast imaging

The department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland has expanded its PACS contract with Sectra, to include digital breast imaging.

22 Apr 2014

Automated diagnostic technologies redefine infectious diseases

The diagnostics market for infectious diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus and human papilloma virus is expanding, giving rise to commercial opportunities especially in the developing economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

22 Apr 2014

Internet bug spurs HealthCare.gov to reset customer passwords

The Obama administration has reset the passwords of consumers who created accounts through HealthCare.gov, saying the precautionary move was necessary to protect personal information at risk through the newly discovered Heartbleed Internet bug. Those who have accounts will be prompted to create new ones the next time they visit the site, according to an announcement posted on HealthCare.gov (King, 4/19).

22 Apr 2014

Vietnam's pharmaceutical market records growth rate of nearly 17% in 2013

Decision Resources Group finds that Vietnam is currently one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical markets in Southeast Asia, recording a growth rate of nearly 17 percent and exceeding $3 billion in size in 2013. Increasing affluence, a rapidly aging population and the steady extension of public health insurance are among factors that are driving demand for prescription medicines.

22 Apr 2014

Researcher explores public perceptions related to newborn screening programs

While 94 per cent of Canadians surveyed said they would participate in public health programs that screen newborns for a specific number of genetic conditions, only 80 per cent said they would be willing to participate in screening that would sequence their newborns' genomes.

22 Apr 2014

States have limited time for decision on setting up marketplaces

Meanwhile, other outlets look at the deadline enrollment surge and its possible effect on health care costs.

22 Apr 2014

Hospitals ask officials for easier ACO bonuses

The American Hospital Association is lobbying the CMS Innovation Center to make it easier for accountable care organizations to earn Medicare bonuses and delay potential penalties as the agency looks to expand the initiative (Evans, 4/18).

22 Apr 2014

Vivere-Winter Park recognizes 25th Annual National Infertility Awareness Week

Infertility is a disease affecting more than 7 million people across the U.S., according to the National Survey of Family Growth. That number represents 12 percent of women of childbearing age or one in eight couples.

22 Apr 2014

New approach may help reduce use of antipsychotics and other psychiatric drugs in dementia patients

A new approach to handling agitation, aggression and other unwanted behaviors by people with dementia may help reduce the use of antipsychotics and other psychiatric drugs in this population, and make life easier for them and their caregivers, a team of experts says.

22 Apr 2014

Cubist submits ceftolozane/tazobactam NDA for treatment of cUTI and cIAI

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval of its investigational antibiotic ceftolozane/tazobactam for the treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections (cUTI) and Complicated Intra-Abdominal Infections (cIAI).

21 Apr 2014

New report analyzes Mobile Medical Apps market worldwide

Global Information Inc. announces the addition of a new market research report "Mobile Medical Apps Trends" at GIIResearch.com

21 Apr 2014

FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation to Emergent BioSolutions' BioThrax for PEP of anthrax disease

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation to BioThrax (Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of anthrax disease resulting from suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthracis.

21 Apr 2014

MEDNAX acquires Fredericksburg Anesthesia Associates

MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of Fredericksburg Anesthesia Associates, Inc., a private practice physician group based in Fredericksburg, Va. The practice will become part of MEDNAX's American Anesthesiology division and is the third Virginia-based anesthesia practice to join the division.

21 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 21, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a GAO report on how the Obama administration raised money from outside groups to promote the health law.

21 Apr 2014

Blog explains why NeutroPhase can play important role in treating 'flesh-eating' infections

NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that WoundSource™ has highlighted NovaBay's NeutroPhase wound cleanser in a recent blog posting. The blog explains why NeutroPhase can play an important role in treating life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis, or 'flesh-eating' infections.

21 Apr 2014

Are exchanges more appealing to insurers now?

Elsewhere, in Colorado, new fees on consumers and insurance plans would raise $13 million to help run that state's exchange next year.

21 Apr 2014

$Viewpoints: The number keeps rising; new fears about census fracus; patients lose as insurers 'play games'$

Viewpoints: The number keeps rising; new fears about census fracus; patients lose as insurers 'play games'

Obamacare's critics have had a bad week. On Thursday, President Obama announced that 8 million people have enrolled in new health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act's marketplaces, and a significant portion of them are young Americans.

21 Apr 2014