Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

House votes to slash health law's public health fund

Almost entirely along party-lines, the House voted to repeal a provision of the health law that establishes a trust fund to support prevention and public health activities. Opponents of the trust fund said it was a "slush fund" for the HHS secretary, but the White House responded by threatening a veto.

15 Apr 2011

Report: 10 recommendations on how to achieve ACO success

Accountable care organizations have the potential to improve health outcomes and lower costs, but success requires leadership, clear goals and a strong connection between performance and payments, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.

15 Apr 2011

Obama plan likely to include Medicare, Medicaid changes; take steps to curb long-term spending

In a speech today, President Barack Obama is scheduled to outline his plans to reduce the deficit. They will likely include controversial proposals to trim Medicare and Medicaid spending while also raising taxes.

15 Apr 2011

High rates of induction, C-section do not improve infant outcomes in low-risk women

In low-risk pregnant women, high induction and first-cesarean delivery rates do not lead to improved outcomes for newborns, according to new research published in the April issue of The Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.

15 Apr 2011

Barbour takes on health care issues

In a speech to the Congressional Health Care Caucus, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) discussed a range of issues related to health reform, including the role of consumers in addressing health care costs, state flexibility and, of course, "RomneyCare."

15 Apr 2011

Ortho-McNeil Neurologics announces voluntary recall of TOPAMAX 100mg Tablets

Ortho-McNeil Neurologics Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced it is voluntarily recalling two lots of TOPAMAX® (topiramate) 100mg Tablets. These two lots were shipped between 10/19/2010 and 12/28/2010 and distributed in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

15 Apr 2011

State roundup: Pa. may put half of adultBasic members on Medicaid

Regulators in charge of the Massachusetts health insurance law are expected to approve new contracts today that will save the state $80 million, in part by offering a narrower choice of hospitals, physicians, and specialists to thousands of patients insured through the state-subsidized Commonwealth Care program.

15 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Dems vs. Ryan on entitlement cuts; defending planned parenthood

Every time Republicans have proposed serious entitlement reform, they've taken a beating. ... But it's far from clear the average voter appreciates what's at stake. Incredibly, 54 percent of those in a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll said they didn't believe Medicare cuts were essential to meaningfully trim the deficit. I'd say Republicans have a lot of work to do.

15 Apr 2011

Obama’s next target - medical error reduction for patient safety

Finally serious efforts are being made to ensure patient safety. The Obama administration announced this Tuesday an aggressive approach called ‘The 'Partnership for Patients Program’ to reduce medical errors, partnering with private insurers, business leaders, hospitals and patient advocates to tackle a problem that kills thousands of Americans every year.

12 Apr 2011

Active efforts towards happiness

Now the world's first membership organization dedicated to spreading happiness has been officially launched. It is called “Action for Happiness” and claims to have 4,500 members in more than 60 countries.

12 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 12, 2011

Today's headlines include details of what made up the short-term budget deal's $38 billion in cuts and how President Obama's longer term budget vision may take shape.

12 Apr 2011

SXC enters definitive agreement to acquire MedMetrics

SXC Health Solutions Corp., announced today it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of MedMetrics Health Partners, Inc., the full-service PBM subsidiary of Public Sector Partners, Inc. which is affiliated with a major medical school.

12 Apr 2011

PharMEDium joins ASA as a valued corporate supporter

PharMEDium Healthcare Corporation has become an Industry Supporter of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, as a part of a new Corporate Supporter program available to pharmaceutical, medical device and practice management companies.

12 Apr 2011

Latest issue of Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care provides valuable insights

How do we assess the current and future quality of life for infants and children with life-threatening conditions? In the April issue of Current Problems in Pediatric and Adolescent Health Care, "The Quality of Life of Young Children and Infants with Chronic Medical Problems," presents a collection of essays in which physicians, medical ethicists, parents, and caregivers address one of the most contentious topics in pediatric and clinical ethics today, the assessment of QoL.

12 Apr 2011

The politics of health reform: Picking the strategies

In the political fight surrounding the health law, The Washington Post reports that "individual stories" have emerged as a weapon of choice for Democrats and supporters of the measure.

12 Apr 2011

Nano Terra announces acquisition of Surface Logix

Nano Terra, Inc., a leading surface engineering and nanotechnology co-development company, today announced it is acquiring Surface Logix, Inc., a drug development company founded by renowned Harvard scientist Professor George Whitesides. Surface Logix has made significant breakthroughs in enhancing the molecular functionality of pharmaceuticals and advancing several drug candidates.

12 Apr 2011

REACH introduces new web-based services for physicians

REACH Health, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive clinical telemedicine solutions, today announced that it has launched REACH Physician Services for Tele-Stroke, Tele-Neurology and Tele-ICU call coverage.

12 Apr 2011

New ultra-soft medical elastomer

A transparent medical elastomer gel available in free-flowing pellets is the softest compound yet in the Medalist® product range, enabling designers to achieve added comfort in skin-contact and other sensitive applications requiring molded-in seal areas or cushions, it was announced today by Teknor Apex Company.

11 Apr 2011

OFID honors UAE ear surgeon with Annual Award for Development

The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish, today announced Dr. Mazen Al-Hajri as the recipient of the 2011 OFID Award for Development.

11 Apr 2011

MediCare International introduces new policy buying website

MediCare International has today announced the launch of online buying as a central part of their newly designed website. Clients can log on, select a policy level suitable for their circumstances, generate a quote and then proceed to full online purchase of the policy, all in around 2 minutes at any time of the day, wherever they are in the world.

11 Apr 2011