Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

GOP Medicare plan may put 'elderly vote in play'

Political push back surrounding the Paul Ryan budget plan continues to feed the Democrats' view that they may have a 2012 opportunity with older voters. For instance, at home in their districts this week some Republicans are facing voter anger. And House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, says he is "not wedded" to the Ryan approach to reduce Medicare spending by transforming the program.

28 Apr 2011

Arthritis poses significant health and economic burden in U.S. adults

A new study reports that the health-related quality of life for U.S. adults with arthritis is much worse than for those without this condition. Both physical and mental health are affected by arthritis, which poses a significant health and economic burden as the number of those diagnosed continues to climb.

28 Apr 2011

State roundup: Conn. Gov. says no 'public option' this year

Gov. Bobby Jindal's chief budget adviser defended the administration's plan to sell a state-run health insurance plan to a private company, rebutting a chorus of critics Tuesday who said the move would result in higher premiums and lower benefits for state workers and retirees.

28 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Medicare options and politics; high costs of care; health disparities

The Democratic Party is urging Americans to choose Medicare as we've always known it rather than a new plan by Rep. Paul Ryan that would enroll seniors in private health insurance beginning in 2022.

28 Apr 2011

Mastech first quarter revenue increases 27% to $19.9 million

Mastech Holdings, Inc., a national provider of Information Technology and Specialized Healthcare staffing services, announced today its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

27 Apr 2011

CTS to present latest self-service innovations at CETW tradeshow

Connected Technology Solutions, an award-winning leader in branded user experiences, will present some of the industry's most forward thinking self-service kiosks and digital signage at the 2011 Customer Engagement Technology World, April 27-28, in Booth 518 at the Moscone Convention Center, San Francisco.

27 Apr 2011

High Court hears arguments regarding access to docs' prescribing data

In this case, the state of Vermont is battling drug companies and data-mining firms. Vermont's law bans the sale of prescribing information unless physicians "opt in" and make their records available.

27 Apr 2011

RegenceRx supports DEA program to raise awareness on unused prescription drugs

In a nationwide effort to clear homes of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs, RegenceRx is supporting the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day taking place on Saturday, April 30.

27 Apr 2011

AACN to host annual NTI conference for nurses

Emerging trends in patient care combine with advances in healthcare technology as thousands of nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients gather in Chicago this month.

27 Apr 2011

Wolters Kluwer Health enters agreement to acquire Lexi-Comp

Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for professionals, students and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health and pharmacy, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Lexi-Comp, Inc., a leading global provider of drug information and clinical content for pharmacists and clinicians.

27 Apr 2011

Court's rejection of fast-track request raises questions, issues

The court's online order did not offer any legal reasoning, nor were dissenting opinions noted. However, Justice Elena Kagan did participate in the decision. Meanwhile, Politico Pro explores some of the key questions that will be at stake surrounding the law's "individual mandate" as the challenges now wind through through the federal appeals courts this summer.

27 Apr 2011

Reform policy news: High-risk pools, exchanges, IPAB

News outlets are reporting on various aspects of the health law, including the low level of interest seen so far in high-risk pools, the varying reactions states are having as they make decisions about health insurance exchanges and the ongoing efforts to repeal the measure's Independent Payment Advisory Board.

27 Apr 2011

KHCC, Global Bridges to start tobacco treatment training for EMRO health care providers

Global Bridges, a healthcare alliance for tobacco dependence treatment based at Mayo Clinic, and its regional partner, King Hussein Cancer Center in Amman, Jordan, announced today that they will start training health care providers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region on how to successfully treat tobacco users.

27 Apr 2011

LSP announces initial public offering of Life Sciences Fund on NYSE Euronext

LSP Advisory B.V., a group company of LSP, one of Europe's largest and most reputable specialized healthcare and biotechnology investment firms, today announced the initial public offering of the LSP Life Sciences Fund N.V. on NYSE Euronext Amsterdam.

27 Apr 2011

Grant Memorial selects HMS to provide full suite of products for Petersburg hospital

Grant Memorial Hospital has selected Healthcare Management Systems Inc. to provide a full suite of integrated clinical and financial applications for the 45-bed hospital in Petersburg, W.V. Having evaluated a number of systems, Grant was impressed with HMS' ability to address its patient-care needs as a small community hospital.

27 Apr 2011

Study links readmissions with nurse overtime

Fewer patients returned to the hospital soon after leaving when hospitals reduced nurse overtime, according to a newly released study. The research, published in the journal Health Services Research, analyzed records for roughly 1,900 patients at four hospitals during the first half of 2008.

27 Apr 2011

Heparan sulfate may have a key role in tumor-spurred lymphatic vessel growth

Cancer has a mighty big bag of tricks that it uses to evade the body's natural defense mechanisms and proliferate. Among those tricks is one that allows tumor cells to turn the intricate and extensive system of lymphatic vessels into something of a highway to metastasis. Yet research unveiled this week may aid in the development of therapeutics that will put the brakes on such cancer spread, and the researchers who completed the study say the findings may extend to other lymphatic disorders.

27 Apr 2011

State roundup: Single-payer bill advances in Vt. Legislature

A unit of American International Group, the New York-based insurance giant, agreed to pay restitution and a fine totaling $760,000 for selling faulty health insurance products in Massachusetts, under a settlement reached with state Attorney General Martha Coakley.

27 Apr 2011

IDSI signs exclusive distribution agreement with Kepter Internacional

Imaging Diagnostic Systems, Inc., a pioneer in laser breast imaging, announced today that it has signed an exclusive distribution agreement with Kepter Internacional of Monterrey, Mexico to promote its CTLM systems throughout Mexico.

27 Apr 2011

Durata attains global rights for dalbavancin to treat abSSSI

Durata Therapeutics today announced the Company has attained worldwide rights for the development and commercialization of Durata's lead product, dalbavancin, a long-acting, intravenous (IV) lipoglycopeptide for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (abSSSI). In December 2010, Durata acquired from RaQualia Pharma commercialization rights for dalbavancin in Japan.

26 Apr 2011