Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

First Edition: December 16, 2010

In today's headlines, continuing analysis of how the health law is faring in the courts and what the sweeping measure's future might look like.

16 Dec 2010

NextGen Healthcare announces partnership with Wills Eye for meaningful use

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, and leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced an agreement with Wills Eye Health System to deploy NextGen® Ambulatory EHR and NextGen® Practice Management.

16 Dec 2010

Justice Department will appeal health ruling, Virginia decision viewed as one step in long path to Supreme Court

The Justice Department makes clear its intent to appeal the Virginia federal court decision striking at the health overhaul's individual mandate. Meanwhile, news outlets explore the reach of that decision, noting that it may be more narrow than the reaction immediately following its release would indicate. Also explored: the next steps for this central provision within the health law and how it has become the sweeping overhaul's "central villain."

16 Dec 2010

New visualisation software tool for older people to understand mobility problems

Mobility challenges facing older people can now be better understood by clinicians, healthcare practitioners and design professionals, thanks to a new innovative software tool.

16 Dec 2010

Almac recognised with 'News Flow of the Year' award

The Almac Group, one of the world's leading contract drug development and manufacturing organisations, was presented with the "News Flow of the Year" accolade at the 2010 Genesis Awards annual Gala dinner in London last week, following the company being shortlisted as a finalist in the category nominations. Now into its tenth year, Genesis is established as a leading life science networking conference.

16 Dec 2010

Study finds no association between vitamin D and parathyroid hormone levels in cardiovascular mortality of older adults

According to New Study Published in The American Journal of Medicine, there is burgeoning public interest in possible wide-ranging health benefits from vitamin D, including cardiovascular health.

16 Dec 2010

State roundup: Minn. to add more adults to Medicaid; Mass. Gov. seeks savings in pensions and health care costs; Ariz. bishop and hospital spar over control

Minnesota can add 95,000 low-income adults to its Medicaid rolls, vastly improving their medical care, at no additional cost to the state, two officials at the state Department of Human Services told legislators Tuesday (Wolfe, 12/15).

16 Dec 2010

Nation's leading health care systems collaborate to improve quality while reducing costs

Six of the nation's leading health care systems today announced a first-of-its-kind collaboration to improve health care quality while reducing costs.

16 Dec 2010

CRS report details regs issued since passage of health overhaul

The Congressional Research Service issued a new report examining the processes followed in the development of the new rules put in place since the passage of the health overhaul. Meanwhile, the omnibus spending bill now moving through Congress includes funds for Medicare and Medicaid fraud prevention.

16 Dec 2010

Tampa Hospital associates receive Transplant Excellence Award for lung transplant program

New Lung Associates PA and the Lung Transplant Program at Tampa General Hospital have received HealthGrades 2011 Organ Transplant Excellence Award. The award places Tampa General Hospital among the top three lung transplant programs in the nation.

16 Dec 2010

The Baltimore Sun: Stent sellers were allowed inside lab despite hospital ban

News outlets examine how the marketing of medical devices and treatments impacts health care costs and physicians' decisions.

16 Dec 2010

Experts study obesity in young population with physical, cognitive disabilities

While the nation's obesity epidemic is the target of many programs to combat it, few such programs embrace an often-overlooked subgroup adolescents and young adults with physical or cognitive disabilities.

15 Dec 2010

Clinical Investigation – ground-breaking new launch from Future Science

In recognition of the methodology, progress and outcome of clinical trials, Future Science has announced the launch of the definitive title Clinical Investigation. The journal is the latest addition to the Future Science’s collection of titles addressing those areas that most impact our daily lives (available at www.future-science.com). Future Science is part of London-based Future Science Group.

15 Dec 2010

Customer satisfaction with health insurance falls 2.7%, says ACSI report

Steady or improving customer satisfaction with several types of financial services is not enough to overcome the customer satisfaction challenges of the health insurance industry, according to a report released today by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The report covers customer satisfaction with banks, credit unions, health insurance, life insurance and property & casualty insurance.

15 Dec 2010

Domainex wins 2010 Genesis Life Science Innovation and Enterprise Programme Of The Year Award

Domainex Ltd, the leading UK-based drug discovery CRO, has won the 2010 Genesis Life Science Innovation and Enterprise Programme Of The Year Award. This Award was made in recognition of Domainex's proactive work on promoting academic-industry collaborations, and was adjudicated by leading representatives of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.

From Domainex 15 Dec 2010

Researchers introduce new class of drugs for HCV patients

To improve the care for individuals infected with the hepatitis C virus, a major health problem and a leading cause of chronic liver disease around the world, nearly 200 international hepatitis experts have taken an important step in escalating the introduction of a new class of targeted therapies for HCV – direct-acting antivirals.

15 Dec 2010

MHRA issues notice of acceptance for BioMarin's GALNS Phase 3 trial in MPS IVA

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK has completed review of the Clinical Trial Application (CTA) and issued a notice of acceptance for the Phase 3 trial of N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfatase (GALNS) for the treatment of Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA). The company expects to initiate the Phase 3 pivotal trial early in the first quarter of 2011.

15 Dec 2010

Federal judge in Virginia voids key provision of health law

A federal court judge in Virginia issued a decision Monday striking at a key element of the health care law — the individual mandate. This ruling marked the first time a court decision invalidated a part of the sweeping overhaul.

15 Dec 2010

New HHS Strategy on Multiple Chronic Conditions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today issued its new Strategic Framework on Multiple Chronic Conditions - an innovative private-public sector collaboration to coordinate responses to a growing challenge.

15 Dec 2010

Alcon board approves merger agreement with Novartis

Alcon, Inc. announced today that its board of directors approved a merger agreement with Novartis AG, whereby Novartis will pay a total merger consideration valued at $168 per share for the Alcon shares it does not currently own. Under the terms of the deal, the merger consideration will be comprised of a combination of Novartis shares and, if necessary, a cash contingent value amount to result in a total value of $168 per share.

15 Dec 2010