Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Australian CSIRO, GE Healthcare partner for investigational PET imaging agent

GE Healthcare today announced a collaboration with Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) involving its investigational PET imaging agent [18F flutemetamol].

12 Jun 2012

Opinion pieces published in advance of 'Child Survival Call to Action' event to take place in Washington

The following are summaries of several opinion pieces published in anticipation of the Child Survival Call to Action event to be held on June 14-15 in Washington, D.C. Convened by the Governments of United States, Ethiopia and India, and organized in close collaboration with UNICEF, the event will focus on ending preventable child death through the survival of newborns, children and mothers and will convene 700 prominent leaders from government, the private sector, faith-based organizations and civil society to kick off a long-term, focused effort to save children's lives.

12 Jun 2012

Genzyme files LEMTRADA sBLA and MAA with FDA, EMA for treatment of RMS

Genzyme, a Sanofi company, today announced that the company has submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and a marketing authorization application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking approval of LEMTRADA (alemtuzumab) for treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS).

12 Jun 2012

Viewpoints: Hoping that 'Gang of Six' will cut fiscal deal; Sen. Alexander links health law and college tuition increases

The public has a famously low opinion of Congress, even though people tend to hold a less disparaging view of their own representatives. The last two years have been especially tough on the institution's reputation, a response to the body's relentless brinkmanship and paralyzing partisanship in the face of a slow economy. So it is with some trepidation that I throw out a little love for a handful of senators still seeking bipartisan agreement on a plan to bring the federal government back to fiscal responsibility.

11 Jun 2012

New easy-to-use Bayer blood glucose monitoring system

A new blood glucose monitoring (BGM) system from Bayer, the CONTOUR Next EZ meter and CONTOUR Next test strips, proved easy to use and highly accurate in the hands of intended users -- patients and their healthcare professionals (HCPs) - according to a clinical study presented at the American Diabetes Association 72nd Scientific Sessions in Philadelphia, PA.

11 Jun 2012

Hospira releases enhancement to TheraDoc clinical surveillance system

Hospira, the world's leading provider of injectable drugs and infusion technologies, today released an important enhancement to its TheraDoc clinical surveillance system designed to support hospital antimicrobial stewardship efforts, with the goal of helping to improve patient outcomes, reduce antimicrobial resistant infections and reduce costs.

11 Jun 2012

Seeking more primary care physicians

As policymakers and medical experts scramble to find ways to increase the number of primary care physicians, issues related to payment and health care value draw attention.

11 Jun 2012

State roundup: Md. hospital rate-setting system under scrutiny

News outlets report on a variety of health policy news in Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Texas.

11 Jun 2012

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle receives QUEST Award for High-value Healthcare

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Azle has been recognized by a national healthcare alliance for reducing harm, mortality and costs, while improving the patient experience.

11 Jun 2012

Sagard Capital to acquire IntegraMed

IntegraMed America, Inc., a leader in developing, marketing and managing specialty healthcare facilities in the fertility and vein care markets, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates formed by Sagard Capital Partners, L.P., an investment fund and IntegraMed shareholder, for $14.05 per share in cash, or a total equity purchase price of $169.5 million.

11 Jun 2012

First Edition: June 11, 2012

Today's headlines feature reports that UnitedHealthcare plans to honor some health law provisions regardless of what the Supreme Court decides.

11 Jun 2012

Republicans renew attack on 2009 Obama/drug industry deal for health law

News outlets covered GOP lawmakers' release of more memos from 2009 detailing negotiations between the White House and pharmaceutical companies about supporting the health law.

11 Jun 2012

Piramal to present data on several molecular imaging compounds at SNM annual meeting

Piramal Imaging SA, a subsidiary of Piramal Healthcare Limited, will present data on several compounds from its molecular imaging portfolio at the Society of Nuclear Medicine's 59th annual meeting in Miami Beach, Fla., from June 9 - 13.

10 Jun 2012

Psoriasis link with autoimmune diseases underscored

Patients with psoriasis are nearly twice as likely to have an autoimmune disease as individuals without the condition, suggest study findings.

8 Jun 2012

States hold off on insurance exchanges; Medicare ACOs confront challenges

Marilyn Tavenner, the acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said Thursday that about 30 states will not move forward with state-based exchanges until after the Supreme Court rules and the November elections are finished. She also said her agency is working to streamline the process for early participants in Medicare ACOs.

8 Jun 2012

State news: Wis. insurers meet health law medical spending requirements

A selection of health policy stories from Wisconsin, Oregon, Arizona, New York, Virginia, Texas, Massachusetts, Florida and California.

8 Jun 2012

Premier healthcare alliance awards new agrements for spinal implants

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced new agreements for spinal implants and related products

8 Jun 2012

House passes repeal of tax on medical devices

The bill, which is likely to hit tough opposition in the Senate, would roll back a tax in the 2010 health law designed to help pay for the expansion of coverage to people who do not have insurance.

8 Jun 2012

NCPA takes proactive steps against medication non-adherence

Under the leadership of its national trade association, community pharmacists are stepping up to the plate to take on the issue of medication non-adherence, a health care crisis currently adding to the nation's fiscal woes at a cost of nearly $300 billion each year.

8 Jun 2012

Bachmann calls for federal audit of Minnesota Medicaid program

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., is asking for a federal audit of her state's Medicaid program after a congressional probe found a year's worth of alleged overpayments. In other news, insurers Molina and Centene have won back Medicaid contracts in Ohio after initially being rejected.

8 Jun 2012