Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Emdeon and Noridian Mutual Insurance enter strategic relationship

Emdeon Inc., a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management solutions, today announced a strategic relationship with Noridian Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC), doing business as Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, and Noridian Administrative Services, LLC (NAS). NMIC provides quality health care coverage and additional supplemental coverage for those seeking medical, life, disability, long-term care and related insurance coverage.

17 Aug 2010

Black AIDS Institute launches BTAN program to care for Black Americans with HIV

The Black AIDS Institute, with support from Merck, announced the launch of the Black Treatment Advocates Network. BTAN, the first collaborative Network of its kind, will train and mobilize a team of treatment advocates with a mission to link Black Americans with HIV into care and treatment; strengthen local and national leadership; raise HIV science and treatment literacy in Black communities; and advocate for policy change and research priorities.

17 Aug 2010

Ancient discovery holds key to joint tissue regeneration

Osteoarthritis is a crippling disease worldwide, with an estimated eight million sufferers in the UK alone. It has been described as like "wearing a suit of rusty armour," with unrelenting, razor-like pain.

17 Aug 2010

Medical Protective and AAFPRS create new insurance program for facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons

Medical Protective has teamed up with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and created The AAFPRS Medical Protective Insurance Program.

17 Aug 2010

Capario releases Portal 3.6 revenue cycle management solution

Capario, a leading provider of revenue cycle management solutions that connect healthcare payers and providers nationwide, today announced it has launched Portal 3.6, which includes the most significant advances to its exclusive online portal application to date.

17 Aug 2010

Hospitals address slashed payments, technology investments and rehospitalizations

Boston Herald: Massachusetts hospital officials say that reduced federal and state payments may destabilize health care delivery. The state's combined Medicaid and CHIP program, known as MassHealth, plans to cut hospital reimbursements "by $75 million in its main contract between hospitals and MassHealth, according to the Massachusetts Hospital Association, which cited 'discussions' with the state in outlining the proposed cut to its members over the weekend.

17 Aug 2010

Emerging Healthcare Solutions announces new website of Stand-By Systems

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. disclosed today that Stand-By Systems (SBS) has established an Internet presence by launching a website that describes their company and its ground-breaking products. EHSI is currently moving to finalize a Definitive Agreement with SBS and has already executed a term sheet for the deal, which was announced on August 2nd.

17 Aug 2010

States scrambling to ensure they comply with health reform law

The New York Times reports that some states are scrambling to ensure they can comply with the new federal health law. "Insurance commissioners in about half the states say they do not have clear authority to enforce consumer protection standards that take effect next month. Federal and state officials are searching for ways to plug the gap. Otherwise, they say, the ability of consumers to secure the benefits of the new law could vary widely, depending on where they live."

17 Aug 2010

HHS awards States $46 million to oversee health insurance premium increases

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced grant awards of $46 million to 45 states and the District of Columbia. These Affordable Care Act grants will be used to help improve the oversight of proposed health insurance premium increases, take action against insurers seeking unreasonable rate hikes, and ensure consumers receive value for their premium dollars.

17 Aug 2010

Apria Healthcare offers to exchange Senior Secured Notes due 2014

Apria Healthcare Group Inc. (the "Issuer") announced today that it is commencing exchange offers for all of its outstanding 11.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2014 (Series A-1) (the "Outstanding Series A-1 Notes") and 12.375% Senior Secured Notes due 2014 (Series A-2) (the "Outstanding Series A-2 Notes" and, together with Outstanding Series A-1 Notes, the "Outstanding Notes"), upon the terms and conditions set forth in a prospectus, dated August 16, 2010, and in the accompanying letter of transmittal relating to the exchange offers.

17 Aug 2010

Insurance industry looks to make lemonade from health reform

Restaurant workers - who account for 4 to 6 million of the nation's uninsured - will have new options for health coverage even before the law kicks in with new subsidies and "exchanges" in 2014, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "Their trade group, the National Restaurant Association, was able to line up a smorgasbord of individual and small-group plans from UnitedHealth, some priced 15 to 20 percent cheaper than the open market.

17 Aug 2010

As EMR vision takes shape, doctors brace — especially those who are late in their careers

The vision of a fully wired health system — the goal of a push by doctors, hospitals and the federal government — is coalescing at a Michigan hospital, the Detroit Free Press reports. "Patients at some of the state's largest health systems over the next few years, for example, will have hospital rooms wired into a computer system that lets them see their vital signs, medicines and the name and photograph of the hospital staffer who enters their room.

17 Aug 2010

Healthcare Trust of America reports 13% increase in FFO for second quarter 2010

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., a self-managed, non-traded, real estate investment trust, announced results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

17 Aug 2010

Global vaccine sales up 16% in 2009, report says

Global vaccine sales "grew by a healthy 16 percent last year, when sales shot up to $22.1 billion, healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information reported Friday," according to the Associated Press. Kalorama is also forecasting sales "will rise at a compound annual rate of 9.7 percent during the next five years," (Johnson, 8/14).

17 Aug 2010

QuadraMed, CPMRC partner to provide integrated EHR solution with evidence-based content

QuadraMed, a leading provider of healthcare technologies and services, and the CPM Resource Center (CPMRC), an Elsevier company and leader in developing clinical practice guidelines for healthcare, today announced their partnership to provide QuadraMed's clients with nursing and allied health clinical documentation, care planning, and clinical practice guidelines, as well as transformation services.

17 Aug 2010

Cytomedix second quarter 2010 revenue increases 102% to $1.15 million

Cytomedix, Inc. (the "Company"), a leading developer of biologically active regenerative therapies for wound care, inflammation and angiogenesis, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

17 Aug 2010

Conmed Healthcare Management 2010 second quarter net revenue increases 15.9% to $14.7 million

Conmed Healthcare Management, Inc., a leading full service provider of correctional facility healthcare services to county and municipal detention centers, today announced financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

17 Aug 2010

Michigan Accelerator Fund 1 launched to support early stage life science and technology companies

Michigan Accelerator Fund I, L.P., today announced the formation of the community's first venture capital fund formed specifically to support early stage life science and technology companies: the Michigan Accelerator Fund 1 (MAF1).

16 Aug 2010

Medco Health Solutions to acquire United BioSource Corporation

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. and United BioSource Corporation today announced a definitive agreement under which Medco will acquire closely held UBC in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $730 million. The combination of America's leading advanced pharmacy with one of the world's most respected sources of post-approval drug and device research extends Medco's core capabilities in data analytics and research to further accelerate pharmaceutical knowledge – advancing patient safety and furthering evidence-based medicine.

16 Aug 2010

Politics and Health Reform: Democrats, Republicans trying to sway seniors

The Associated Press: Democrats, "running scared in an election year," are hopeful that a $250 check - to help seniors afford prescription drugs - will turn the tide of public opinion. "Democrats ... are trying to overcome older people's mistrust of the new health care law, which expands coverage for younger generations by cutting Medicare payments to hospitals and insurers. … Behind the hoopla, the reality is modest. The $250 check, for example, is just a fraction of what many people in the prescription coverage gap have to pay.

16 Aug 2010