Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

After bad publicity, insurer to act early on ending practice of canceling policies of sick patients

WellPoint will put into effect this week a health overhaul provision preventing insurers from canceling policies -- a practice known as rescission -- except in fraud cases, even though the change isn't required until September, the Indianapolis Star reports.

28 Apr 2010

Sinai Medical Group to deploy NextGen EHR and NextGen Practice Management system

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, today announced it has executed an agreement with Sinai Medical Group to deploy NextGen EHR and NextGen Practice Management.

28 Apr 2010

GE Healthcare joins TRIL Centre as second industry partner

The TRIL (Technology Research for Independent Living) Centre, Ireland is delighted to announce a new industry partner, GE Healthcare. TRIL is a groundbreaking research initiative, founded in January 2007 by Intel Corporation and the IDA Ireland (Industrial Development Agency), to explore the physical, cognitive and social consequences of ageing and design technologies to help address them. The addition of GE Healthcare as an industry partner will help TRIL to extend and expand its research programme.

28 Apr 2010

Study finds kids five and younger dangerously physically inactive

According to the 2010 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, Canadian kids five and younger are dangerously physically inactive. Healthy habits must start young, as lifestyle patterns set in the early years predict obesity and health outcomes in later childhood, and even through adulthood.

28 Apr 2010

AHF applauds Merck for doubling Isentress discount rebates and freezing price for ADAPs

Following an innovative, years long advocacy campaign spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that targeted Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the pricing of its AIDS drug Isentress—one of the most expensive first line AIDS therapies on the US market today—officials from AHF lauded Merck today for significant concessions that the drug giant is putting in place on its pricing and rebate policies for the nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP), the federally funded, state run programs that supply lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans in need.

28 Apr 2010

Kaiser Permanente approves over 250 grants and donations totaling $7 million

Kaiser Permanente, one of America's leading health care providers and nonprofit health plans, announced today it approved more than 250 grants and donations nationwide totaling approximately $7 million in the first quarter of 2010. The grants focused on expanding access to nutritious food, providing safe spaces for all ages to increase physical activity, increasing opportunities for continuing education, and eliminating health disparities.

28 Apr 2010

Top ten tips for managing healthcare

America's healthcare system is about to undergo the most fundamental transformation in our nation's history. An already over-stressed system must absorb 32 million new patients at the same time that the country's huge baby boomer population is likely to need ever more medical attention as they age. And many of our most experienced and talented physicians will soon reach retirement age, leaving fewer experienced doctors to treat more patients.

28 Apr 2010

Maryland startup Rhemisphere signs agreement with UMB for right to commercialize Blink system

Maryland startup Rhemisphere, LLC has licensed a unique, "all-in-one" patient monitoring system invented by clinical researchers at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.

28 Apr 2010

Trade negotiations between EU, India could affect access to low-cost generics

The Associated Press examines the ongoing free-trade negotiations between the EU and India - a country that according to PricewaterhouseCoopers currently "makes one-fifth of the world's generics." The negotiations "could make it harder for millions … across the developing world to get lifesaving drugs. The deal is taking shape as India tries to transform itself from a generics powerhouse into a base for drug discovery - a trend that could ultimately do more than any trade agreement to curtail its reign as a pharmacy to the poor."

28 Apr 2010

FDA issues warning over faulty components in external defibrillators

About 280,000 external defibrillators used worldwide in health care facilities, public places, or in the home may malfunction during attempts to rescue people in sudden cardiac arrest, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned today.

28 Apr 2010

Boston-Power announces lithium-ion battery technology for medical device and equipment market

Boston-Power®, Inc., the rapidly growing provider of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, is responding to strong customer and partner demand by bringing its industry-leading lithium-ion battery technology to the multi-billion dollar global medical device and equipment market. Boston-Power's lithium-ion battery cells deliver unmatched levels of long life, fast charge and safety to a market that demands the most stringent standards of battery reliability to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care.

28 Apr 2010

Discovery Labs reports first-quarter results, updates on Surfaxin and key pipeline programs

Discovery Laboratories, Inc., a biotechnology company developing its novel synthetic surfactant and aerosol technologies for respiratory diseases, today provides an update on Surfaxin® and key pipeline and business initiatives and reports financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

28 Apr 2010

Healthline Networks raises $14M through third round of financing led by IGC

Healthline Networks, the leading provider of intelligent health information services, today announced that it has raised $14 million in a third round of financing led by Investor Growth Capital (IGC), the wholly owned venture capital arm of Investor AB (Investor). The round also includes strategic financing from GE/NBC Universal's Peacock Equity Fund, a joint venture between GE Capital's Media, Communications & Entertainment business and NBC Universal and Reed Elsevier Ventures.

28 Apr 2010

News outlets continue malaria coverage

World Malaria Day was Sunday and news organizations continued to cover local events.

28 Apr 2010

Laughter is truly the best medicine says new research

A new study has shown that laughter may be one of the simplest exercises that has similar effects on the body as pumping iron in the gym. Researchers have named “Laughercise” as significant elevators of mood, stress busters, immunity boosters and blood pressure and cholesterol reducers. It can also stimulate appetite for the malnourished.

28 Apr 2010

Ontario seniors stand against McGuinty government's $750M cuts to front-line healthcare

The Alliance of Seniors/Older Canadians Network, an organization of approximately 20 seniors organizations, representing in excess of 200,000 seniors across Ontario, along with concerned seniors from our communities, have come out today to stand against the McGuinty government's $750M cuts to front-line healthcare.

28 Apr 2010

Moody's report: States will feel pinch of reform's Medicaid, health care expansions

"The Medicaid expansion under health reform is expected to strain state budgets already distressed by the recession, despite delays for new eligibility rules and federal aid, Moody's Investors Service said in a newly released report. States that see the largest gains in Medicaid enrollment under health reform will likely see the greatest financial burden, Moody's said."

28 Apr 2010

Mesa Laboratories announces acquisition of SGM Biotech

Mesa Laboratories, Inc., a Lakewood, Colorado based manufacturer of electronic instruments and disposables, today announced the acquisition of SGM Biotech, Inc., a Montana manufacturer of biological indicator products.

28 Apr 2010

MHS announces completion of $7.0 million Series B equity investment

Management Health Solutions, Inc. (MHS), a leading provider of supply chain management solutions to hospitals and healthcare providers across the United States, announced today the completion of a $7.0 million Series B equity investment led by Enhanced Equity Fund, L.P. (Enhanced Equity). Radius Ventures, LLC (Radius), the company's existing institutional investor, also participated in the financing round.

28 Apr 2010

Gangs increasingly involved in Medicare fraud

ABC News: "Gangs across the country are arming themselves with powerful weapons to bilk taxpayers out of billions of dollars through Medicare fraud. What used to be a mostly non-violent, white collar crime has turned potentially deadly, and Federal agents who once combed through paperwork are now firing rounds at the shooting range to prepare for extreme dangers.

28 Apr 2010