Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Greenway receives U.S. Patent for clinical template builder module

Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc., provider of the integrated, single-database electronic health record (EHR), practice management and interoperability solution PrimeSuite®, has been awarded a patent for its innovative template builder module used to create custom clinical templates that can be integrated with financial and administrative workflows.

1 Jul 2010

Mass. reports on people who buy insurance only when sick; Wash. board considers aiding consumers get 'Plan B' referrals; ACLU sues R.I. over electronic records

The Boston Globe: "The number of people who appear to be gaming the state's health insurance system by purchasing coverage only when they are sick quadrupled from 2006 to 2008, according to a long-awaited report released yesterday from the Massachusetts Division of Insurance. The result is that insured residents of Massachusetts wind up paying more for health care, according to the report. … The report was released as state lawmakers consider proposals to make it harder for consumers to jump in and then dump their health insurance coverage" (Lazar, 6/30).

1 Jul 2010

Latest health disparity report examines trend of higher tobacco use among LGBT community

The American Lung Association's latest health disparity report, Smoking Out a Deadly Threat: Tobacco Use in the LGBT Community, examines the trend of higher tobacco use among the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the need for additional research specific to this community.

1 Jul 2010

Constituents of the U.S. healthcare system ready to adopt value-based insurance designs: Study

A new study commissioned by The TriZetto Group, Inc. finds that doctors, health insurers, consumers and other constituents of the U.S. healthcare system say they are ready and willing to adopt value-based insurance designs and related payment programs. Such designs encourage patients and clinicians to make better choices to improve care based on proven best practices, using both better information and financial incentives.

1 Jul 2010

Simbionix, USF Health receive BIRD Grant for development of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module

Simbionix Ltd., a subsidiary of Simbionix USA Corporation, the world's leading provider of medical education and simulation training products for medical professionals and the healthcare industry, and USF Health, an organization dedicated to creating a model of health care based on understanding the full spectrum of health, are proud to announce that together they received a BIRD (Binational Industrial Research and Development) Grant to support the development of a Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module.

1 Jul 2010

California State Assembly eases doctor shortages by supporting SB 726

Citing a federal government estimate that more than 3 million Californians cannot find doctors who will provide them essential medical care, health care and social justice advocates challenge the Senate to show the same level of compassion and leadership demonstrated by yesterday's passage of SB 726 (Ashburn) on the Assembly Floor.

1 Jul 2010

CBO Director: Potential health law savings not enough to reduce long-term deficits

Congressional Budget Office findings that for the first time take into consideration "the new health care law, heralded by President Obama and Democrats for reducing deficits in the long run" were presented today before the president's bipartisan fiscal commission. Among the CBO conclusions is that savings that result from the overhaul "aren't enough to turn deficits around."

1 Jul 2010

Ecolab launches Virasept to treat Clostridium difficile spores

Ecolab Inc. today announced the launch of Virasept, Ecolab's first ready-to-use (no mixing required) hard surface disinfectant approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be effective against Clostridium difficile spores.

1 Jul 2010

Roche, IBM announce agreement to develop nanopore-based sequencer for decoding human DNA

Roche and IBM announced today an agreement to develop a nanopore-based sequencer that will directly read and decode human DNA quickly and efficiently. Focused on advancing IBM's recently published "DNA Transistor" technology, the collaboration will take advantage of IBM's leadership in microelectronics, information technology and computational biology and Roche's expertise in medical diagnostics and genome sequencing.

1 Jul 2010

Report: Health spending outpaces economic growth in wealthy countries

Reuters on a report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development: The increase in health spending is "piling pressure budgets already hit" by the recession and is "likely to continue rising as populations age, technology improves and public expectations grow. ... Given the urgent need to reduce their budget deficits, many OECD governments will have to make difficult choices to sustain their healthcare systems: curb the growth of public spending on health, cut spending in other areas, or raise taxes," according to the report.

1 Jul 2010

Fero Industries closes acquisition of rights related to production, marketing and distribution of Sucanon

Fero Industries, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has closed the acquisition of certain intellectual property and other associated rights related to the production, marketing, and distribution of Sucanon, a treatment for Type II diabetes.

1 Jul 2010

Health reform's early retiree reinsurance program accepting applications; Other overhaul initiatives get attention

HHS announced Tuesday that it "has begun accepting applications for the early retiree reinsurance program created by the new health law. The law sets aside $5 billion that businesses, unions and state and local governments can use to cover the healthcare costs of their retirees — and their spouses and dependents — who are older than 55 but don't yet qualify for Medicare." Some are worried that money for that program won't last through 2014, when other parts of the law take effect.

30 Jun 2010

GE Capital supports Guardian Healthcare with $90 million in senior secured credit facilities

GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services provided and serves as administrative agent for $90 million in senior secured credit facilities to Guardian Healthcare, a leading Medicare-certified provider of professional home healthcare services. The credit facilities will be used for a significant acquisition and to refinance existing indebtedness. The remaining funds will be used for additional growth capital and general corporate purposes. GE Capital Markets served as the lead arranger for the credit facilities.

30 Jun 2010

Calistoga Pharmaceuticals closes $40 million Series C financing

Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leader in the development of isoform-selective phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced it has closed a $40 million Series C financing. The financing was led by Quogue Capital, LLC along with existing investors Alta Partners, Amgen Ventures, Frazier Healthcare and Three Arch Partners and new investor Latterell Venture Partners.

30 Jun 2010

Proton Therapy USA, CareCapital form Proton Therapy Global Management

Proton Therapy USA and CareCapital plc announced today the formation of Proton Therapy Global Management (PTGM). The Company will design, develop and manage a global network of proton therapy centers, providing access to this specialized and highly effective treatment to the world's growing population of cancer patients. Proton therapy is a precise form of radiation treatment that has been very successful in treating a wide range of localized tumors, while leaving healthy tissue mostly intact.

30 Jun 2010

AMI study finds India's healthcare sector set to spend over $250M on IT in 2010

Seemingly untouched by the worldwide economic downturn, India's healthcare sector is set to spend over US$250 million on IT in 2010. Healthcare in India comprises more than 5% of the nation's GDP and displays a healthy growth rate over the next four to five years. This comes from a study by New York-based Access Markets International (AMI) Partners, Inc., a leading consulting firm specializing in IT and telecom sectors.

30 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 30, 2010

Today's headlines highlight the results of a new tracking poll that indicate that the health reform law has gained popularity among Americans while implementation advances for overhaul initiatives such as high-risk pools and the early retiree reinsurance program.

30 Jun 2010

Blue Shield of California offers SilverSneakers Fitness Program to Medicare Supplement Plan subscribers

Blue Shield of California is now offering the Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program to subscribers of Blue Shield Medicare Supplement Plans throughout California. SilverSneakers, the nation's leading social support and exercise program designed to keep seniors healthy, has been a popular benefit with California Medicare HMOs, but Blue Shield is one of the few health plans in the state to offer the benefit as part of its Medicare Supplement plans as well.

30 Jun 2010

Integra LifeSciences VP honored as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation announced today that Linda Littlejohns RN MSN CCRN CNRN, Vice President, Clinical Development at Integra, has been selected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, one of the most prestigious nursing organizations in the country. The Academy's Fellows include many of the nation's top nursing executives, policymakers, scholars, researchers and practitioners.

30 Jun 2010

Molecular Biometrics' ViaMetrics-E procedure accurately predicts implantation rates in SET IVF cycles

Researchers from Molecular Biometrics, Inc. presented new data this week demonstrating that the company's ViaMetrics-E procedure more accurately predicts implantation rates in single embryo transfer (SET) cycles for patients undergoing infertility treatment. ViaMetrics-E is a rapid, non-invasive procedure used to enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes by identifying viable embryos having the greatest reproductive potential.

30 Jun 2010

Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Greenway receives U.S. Patent for clinical template builder module

Mass. reports on people who buy insurance only when sick; Wash. board considers aiding consumers get 'Plan B' referrals; ACLU sues R.I. over electronic records

Latest health disparity report examines trend of higher tobacco use among LGBT community

Constituents of the U.S. healthcare system ready to adopt value-based insurance designs: Study

Simbionix, USF Health receive BIRD Grant for development of Laparoscopic Hysterectomy simulation module

California State Assembly eases doctor shortages by supporting SB 726

CBO Director: Potential health law savings not enough to reduce long-term deficits

Ecolab launches Virasept to treat Clostridium difficile spores

Roche, IBM announce agreement to develop nanopore-based sequencer for decoding human DNA

Report: Health spending outpaces economic growth in wealthy countries

Fero Industries closes acquisition of rights related to production, marketing and distribution of Sucanon

Health reform's early retiree reinsurance program accepting applications; Other overhaul initiatives get attention

GE Capital supports Guardian Healthcare with $90 million in senior secured credit facilities

Calistoga Pharmaceuticals closes $40 million Series C financing

Proton Therapy USA, CareCapital form Proton Therapy Global Management

AMI study finds India's healthcare sector set to spend over $250M on IT in 2010

First Edition: June 30, 2010

Blue Shield of California offers SilverSneakers Fitness Program to Medicare Supplement Plan subscribers

Integra LifeSciences VP honored as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing

Molecular Biometrics' ViaMetrics-E procedure accurately predicts implantation rates in SET IVF cycles

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

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