Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Issa seeks answers about HHS waiver process

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is seeking information about the process used by the Department of Health and Human Services related to granting health law waivers. He also is asking questions about why the waivers will be ending.

12 Aug 2011

AANEM awards accreditation status to four UH Neuromuscular Center EMG labs

The American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) has awarded accreditation status to four electromyography (EMG) laboratories affiliated with the University Hospitals (UH) Neuromuscular Center in Northeast Ohio.

12 Aug 2011

GOP deficit panel Roster set: What are the chances for a deal?

Top Republicans have named their choices from the House and Senate to serve on the 'super committee.' These six lawmakers now join three Senate Democrats on the list — leaving only House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's picks unknown. As the panel takes shape, questions are emerging about whether the group will be able to find the necessary spending cuts.

12 Aug 2011

Survey identifies health behaviors, challenges shared by Muslim community

The perceived role of God in illness and recovery is a primary influence upon the health care beliefs and behaviors of American Muslims, a first-of-its-kind study has discovered. Outreach and education efforts by the health care community can help address Muslim concerns and improve health care quality in this rapidly growing population, the report recommends.

12 Aug 2011

GAO: What's behind increase in federal workers' long-term care coverage

A large and unexpected premium increase in federal employees' long-term-care insurance two years ago stemmed from higher-than-expected enrollee coverage retention, longer life expectancies and additional claim submissions, according to the Government Accountability Office.

12 Aug 2011

C. difficile infection more prevalent in Chicago-area acute care hospitals

An outbreak strain of Clostridium difficile, a bacterium that causes diarrhea and sometimes life-threatening inflammation of the colon, is common in Chicago-area acute care hospitals, an investigation published in the September issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology suggests.

12 Aug 2011

State roundup: Debt deal and states; Ariz. judge appoves Medicaid plan

Many expensive programs are exempt from the trigger cuts, including most that are considered "mandatory," which means that some of the largest joint state-federal programs aren't vulnerable. Those include Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) and the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.

12 Aug 2011

Kindred subsidiary to acquire Professional HealthCare

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced that its subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the equity of Professional HealthCare, LLC, a portfolio company of Mainsail Partners, for a purchase price of $51 million in cash.

11 Aug 2011

China Pharma second quarter revenue increases 18% to $19.6 million

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., a specialty pharmaceuticals company in China, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.

11 Aug 2011

GEHC signs MOU with Concord Medical to form preferred strategic partnership in China

Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, the operator of the largest network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in China, today announced that it has signed an Memorandum of Understating with GE Healthcare, through its subsidiaries General Electric International Operations Company, Inc. and GE Medical Systems Trade & Development Co., Ltd., to form a preferred strategic partnership in China.

11 Aug 2011

Centric Health second quarter revenue increases 111% to $33.6 million

Centric Health Corporation, Canada's leading diversified healthcare services company, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

11 Aug 2011

Study examines private insurance data

Quick: Where do insured Americans spend the most on health care? Miami? Los Angeles? Nope. It's Anderson, Ind., where people with employer-provided insurance spent an average of $7,231 on medical treatments.

11 Aug 2011

Analysis: Health insurance premium costs vary widely

Premiums were generally highest in the Northeast and lower in the South and Mountain states, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

11 Aug 2011

New report finds lackluster growth for nonprofit hospitals

Moody's finds that the hospitals reporting the slowest rate of revenue growth in 20 years, the Wall Street Journal reports. Also in hospital news, a new urgent care center in New Orleans is off to a good start and California officials weigh one chain's efforts to take over more facilities.

11 Aug 2011

Boston Scientific introduces NLI online resource center for healthcare providers

Boston Scientific Corporation has launched its Neuromodulation Learning Institute (NLI), a clinical education program and online resource center for healthcare providers to enhance their knowledge and awareness of spinal cord stimulation (SCS) technology, procedures and techniques.

11 Aug 2011

$28 million awarded to help establish new community health centers

The funds, provided by the Department of Health and Human Services as a result of the health law, will help an estimated 286,000 people gain access to health care, according to HHS officials.

11 Aug 2011

Many low-income seniors go without enhanced Medicare drug coverage

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which says that as many as 2 million eligible Medicare beneficiaries are not enrolled in the Medicare Low-Income Subsidy Program, is stepping up efforts to market the assistance to consumers.

11 Aug 2011

Kansas rejects health law exchange grant

Kansas will send back its $31.5 million Early Innovator Grant to the Department of Health and Human Services, which would have helped pay for the development of the state's online insurance exchange. Gov. Sam Brownback said he was returning the money because of doubts that the federal government would be able to maintain its promised future payments.

11 Aug 2011

Link between brain shrinkage, memory loss in Alzheimer's changes across age spectrum

A new study suggests that the relationship between brain shrinkage and memory loss in Alzheimer's disease changes across the age spectrum.

11 Aug 2011

Arthritis sufferers are not involved in physical activity critical to their health: Study

Being physically active is one of best ways people with arthritis can improve their health, but a new study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine shows that more than half of women and 40 percent of men with arthritis are virtually couch potatoes.

11 Aug 2011