Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

H1N1 vaccine safe, effective for hemodialysis and kidney transplant patients

When the influenza A (H1N1) virus swept around the world in spring 2009, infection was presumed to be more common in immunosuppressed patients, such as those who have had a kidney transplant. Later that year, the International Societies of Transplantation recommended that transplant recipients receive at least one dose of the H1N1 vaccine, although there was no information on the efficacy of the vaccine in that population.

19 Aug 2011

IOM may miss deadline for essential benefits report

In other news related to the health law's implementation, policy analysts offer their views of the challenges ahead for the creation of accountable care organizations.

19 Aug 2011

Amgen to present data from several Prolia studies at ASBMR 2011 meeting

Amgen today announced that it will present data from several Prolia (denosumab) studies, including eight year efficacy and safety data from a Phase 2 extension study in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis with low bone mineral density (BMD), at the 2011 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, Calif. from Sept. 16-20, 2011.

19 Aug 2011

State roundup: Opposition to Calif. health insurance regulation bill

Supporters of controversial legislation to give state regulators power to approve, deny or modify changes in health insurance rates have returned from their summer recess to find added opposition as they push for its passage before the session wraps up. Gov. Jerry Brown's finance officials came out against Assembly Bill 52 at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing this week, raising concerns about the costs of the rate-regulation proposal.

19 Aug 2011

Women being screened too often for cervical cancer

Researchers based at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that many primary care doctors would bring women back for cancer screening annually - while recommendations generally call for a three-year wait after normal tests. This translates to higher costs to women and the healthcare system, as well as a risk of unnecessary treatment for false-positive test results - with very little additional cancer-catching benefit say experts. Lead author Katherine Roland said, “There's really no advantage to annual screening compared to screening every two or three years.”

18 Aug 2011

Medical Connections second quarter revenue decreases 6.8% to $1,779,938

Medical Connections Holdings, Inc. a national provider of healthcare staffing services, announced today its operating results for the second quarter and the first six months of 2011. Revenue for the second quarter of 2011 was $1,779,938, a decrease of 6.8% when compared to the second quarter of 2010.

18 Aug 2011

AHRQ awards Johns Hopkins Evidence-based Practice Center $475,000 for study on effective wound care

An estimated $25 billion is spent annually on treating chronic wounds on patients in the United States. These chronic wounds deeply affect the quality of life of more than six million people who have them. The most common types of chronic skin wounds and skin ulcers are related to venous disease (conditions related to or caused by veins that become diseased or abnormal).

18 Aug 2011

CCP expands hybrid model services to large medical groups and health systems

Concierge Choice Physicians (CCP), the nation's pioneer in the hybrid model of concierge medicine programs, announced today the expansion of its services to mid-size and large medical groups, and to national and regional health systems.

18 Aug 2011

Kensey Nash fourth quarter total revenues decrease 14% to $18.7 million

Kensey Nash Corporation, a medical device company primarily focused on regenerative medicine for a wide range of medical procedures, today reported the results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2011.

18 Aug 2011

SuccessEHS to offer updated software licensing option

SuccessEHS announced today that it will offer an updated licensing option designed in conjunction with its Success Architecture. SuccessEHS's "Success Architecture" minimizes risk with an industry-leading technical framework and helps lay the foundation for clients' success.

18 Aug 2011

Premera, Cord Blood America partner to offer discount on stem cell collection services

Cord Blood America, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Premera Blue Cross, a leading health plan provider with operations in Mountlake Terrace, Seattle and Spokane, Washington, and Anchorage, Alaska, and more than 1.4 million members, to store umbilical cord blood at a discounted rate consistent with other Blue Cross licensee contracts.

18 Aug 2011

Long-delayed forms to provide coverage details likely to be released today

Part of the health law, these rules will lay out, among other things, a new standard form that will provide consumers who are shopping for health coverage with policy details, such as deductibles and specific costs for certain medical circumstances.

18 Aug 2011

New process may eliminate need for full genome sequencing for cancer patients

People at risk for a certain form of colon and other types of cancer may soon have a better chance at surviving or even avoiding the diseases, thanks to a new study done by the Intermountain Clinical Genetics Institute at LDS Hospital.

18 Aug 2011

Skin infection admissions are now the seventh-most-common reason for hospitalizations

The number of children hospitalized for skin and soft-tissue infections, most due to community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has more than doubled since 2000, a study by researchers at UC Davis and elsewhere has found.

18 Aug 2011

Roche receives FDA approval for Zelboraf to treat BRAF mutation-positive metastatic melanoma

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib) for the treatment of BRAF V600E mutation-positive, inoperable or metastatic melanoma, as determined by an FDA-approved test.

18 Aug 2011

Roundup: Rx discounts for Medicaid programs are increasing; deadline extended for Mich. Medigap verifications

Governors have complained repeatedly in recent months that spiraling Medicaid costs are crushing their budgets. But there's good news on at least one line item in the $370 billion program — prescription drug discounts are getting more generous. According to a new report from the Inspector General of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, discounts under the federal-state Medicaid program have been growing since 2006, adding up to a 45 percent rebate for most brand name drugs by 2009.

18 Aug 2011

FDA, USP co-sponsors OTC drug products workshop

Updated public standards incorporating new tests for impurities as well as more modern technologies to help ensure the quality of over-the-counter (OTC) ingredients and products will be key areas of focus for a September 8-9, 2011, workshop co-sponsored by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention.

17 Aug 2011

PAREXEL recognized as Company of the Year for the Pharmaceutical Industry

PAREXEL International Corporation, a leading global biopharmaceutical services provider, has been named Company of the Year for the Pharmaceutical Industry in The Eighth Annual International Business Awards, the only global, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in business.

From Parexel 17 Aug 2011

BioMedGPS launches enterprise-wide Business Intelligence Hub for life science industry

BioMedGPS, the leader in healthcare business intelligence and competitive metrics, today launched the first enterprise-wide Business Intelligence Hub for the life science industry.

17 Aug 2011

Obama expresses confidence that SCOTUS will uphold health law

Days after a federal appeals court overturned the measure's individual mandate, President Barack Obama said the Supreme Court will uphold the law if it follows legal precedents when considering it.

17 Aug 2011