Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Viewpoints: Two views on how to fight obesity; Tough choices for big business on health costs

Forgive us if we don't cheer at the prospect of adding 32 million to the total number of Americans who are dozens of pounds too heavy, a count that stood in 2010 at 78 million.

11 May 2012

Chromatin compaction required for proper embryonic stem cell differentiation

New research findings show that embryonic stem cells unable to fully compact the DNA inside them cannot complete their primary task: differentiation into specific cell types that give rise to the various types of tissues and structures in the body.

11 May 2012

Accelerated partial breast irradiation does not compromise survival

Using a concentrated, highly targeted dose of radiation to the breast has equally good results as irradiating the whole area, with no adverse effects on survival and a much better cosmetic outcome, Hungarian researchers have found.

11 May 2012

IASIS Healthcare second quarter net revenue up 3.8% to $647.6M

IASIS Healthcare LLC today announced financial and operating results for the fiscal second quarter and six months ended March 31, 2012. In the first quarter of 2012, IASIS adopted accounting guidance that results in the classification of the provision for bad debts as a revenue deduction rather than an operating expense, and such guidance has been applied to the financial statements of both the current and prior year periods.

11 May 2012

GOP lawmakers doubt co-op loan program's ability to promote competition, lower health costs

They outlined their concerns in a letter sent this week to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Meanwhile, Marilyn Tavenner, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services acting administrator, provided details about the innovation center's staffing and funding to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

11 May 2012

HIV prevention drug receives FDA panel's backing

The drug has already been approved as a treatment for HIV/AIDS. The FDA is expected to decide about approval by June 15.

11 May 2012

Northstar Healthcare reports $0.6M net loss for first quarter 2012

Northstar Healthcare Inc. today announced its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2012. All dollar amounts are in United States currency unless otherwise stated; percentage calculations are based on the numbers in the financial statements and may not correspond to rounded figures presented in this release.

11 May 2012

House approves $310B in cuts, Medicaid and children's health care targeted

The bill is designed to shield the Pentagon from automatic cuts that were laid out in last year's debt accord.

11 May 2012

With Medicare, other health issues in flux, lawmakers and lobbyists struggle to decide next steps

Six health care lobbyists told Politico Pro that much of their strategic planning depends on the Supreme Court's upcoming health law decision and the November elections. But some lawmakers are signalling hope that this is the year to address Medicare's "doc fix" problem.

11 May 2012

Steps toward a permanent Medicare 'doc fix'?

Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., and Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., introduced the latest bill Wednesday aimed at reforming how Medicare pays healthcare providers and to prevent a scheduled, Jan. 1, 2013 cut to physician reimbursement rates. The bipartisan measure would replace Medicare's current pay formula.

11 May 2012

AACN launches enhanced versions of ECG interpretation, EPCCO

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has launched enhanced versions of its popular ECG interpretation and pediatric critical care E-Learning courses, conveniently delivering the latest clinical information, tools and resources to nurses and other healthcare professionals.

11 May 2012

Drug manufacturers draw attention for politics and pain killers

Politico examines the relationship between industry-group PhRMA and congressional Republicans in the post-health-reform-debate landscape.

11 May 2012

HHS announces big pay boost for some Medicaid docs

HHS says the increase, required by the health law, would raise primary care doctors' payments for treating Medicare patients, on average, 34 percent.

11 May 2012

EO2 Concepts added to Marathon Medical's FSS contract

Electrochemical Oxygen Concepts, the developer of a unique and innovative chronic wound treatment device, announced it has been added to Marathon Medical's existing Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract, administered by The Department of Veterans Affairs.

11 May 2012

iMedX acquires Accumed

iMedX Inc., a leading healthcare software and services company, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of Accumed Script Inc. With this acquisition, iMedX adds Accumed's many clinics in Ohio to its customer base.

11 May 2012

Longer looks: More 20-30 somethings are taking care of elderly, dissecting solutions to obesity problem

At 30, Suzette Armijo cares for her widowed 86-year-old grandmother, a retired National Park Service ranger in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, while holding down a fulltime job, a part-time job and raising a 4-year-old son. "This was nothing that I had planned for," says Armijo, who moved her grandmother Elizabeth Armijo into a nearby six-bed assisted living home because veterans' benefits "wouldn't pay for her to live with me."

11 May 2012

Biosense Webster introduces new curve visualization technology in the U.S.

Biosense Webster, Inc., a worldwide leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, announced the launch of the new THERMOCOOL SF NAV irrigated ablation catheter with Curve Visualization in the United States.

11 May 2012

Mass. Senate to release plan to revamp health payments

The proposal, which will be formally unveiled today, follows suggested blueprints from the governor and the House on cutting the growth rate of health care costs.

10 May 2012

Senate embroiled in partisan struggle over student loan rates

At issue is how to pay for an extension of the current interest rate. Democrats propose increasing the Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on high-earning stockholders of some privately owned corporations. Republicans would like to take funds from the health law's prevention fund.

10 May 2012

New approach to advance quality of pregnancy monitoring

The University of California, San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering announced today that it is a Grand Challenges Explorations winner, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bioengineering Professor Todd Coleman, in collaboration with Materials Science and Engineering Professor John A. Rogers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Epidermal Electronics for Continuous Pregnancy Monitoring."

10 May 2012