Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

EHSI: Health stocks gain after federal decision on payments

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. voiced encouragement from the climb of healthcare stocks on Monday after a federal announcement on Medicare payment rates - helping offset any worries about a White House proposal to regulate premiums.

23 Feb 2010

Trial for lawsuit against Anthem Blue Cross begins in California

The insurer "refused to pay for" customer Ephram Nehme "to get a liver transplant in Indiana because the company wanted to save money, a lawyer for the patient told jurors Monday," the Los Angeles Times reports. "But a lawyer for the state's largest for-profit insurer argued that the patient, Ephram Nehme, was not sick enough to qualify for an exception to his policy's requirement that transplants be performed in Blue Cross-contracted hospitals in California.

23 Feb 2010

AMA calls for fix to Medicare's doctor payments

With a sizable cut to Medicare physician payments taking effect in just one week, the American Medical Association is seeking clarity from Congress on its plan of action to stop the 21.2% reduction.

23 Feb 2010

Henry Schein announces net sales increase of 13.0% for fourth-quarter 2009

Henry Schein, Inc., the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended December 26, 2009.

23 Feb 2010

Solta Medical announces definitive agreement to acquire Aesthera

Solta Medical, Inc., a global leader in the medical aesthetics market, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire privately-held Aesthera Corporation, which is based in Pleasanton, California. Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Solta will acquire Aesthera for $5.25 million in Solta common stock and cash, with potential additional base line milestones of $750,000 for a consideration of $6.0 million. Excluding acquisition and integration related charges, the transaction is expected to be accretive to Solta Medical's earnings within twelve months.

23 Feb 2010

Medco Health Solutions announces record 16.7% increase in total net revenues for 2009

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record fourth-quarter 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.70, up 29.6 percent compared to $0.54 in fourth-quarter 2008. Excluding the amortization of intangible assets that existed when Medco became a publicly traded company in 2003, fourth-quarter 2009 diluted earnings per share increased 28.8 percent to a record $0.76. Medco also reported record full-year 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $2.61, up 22.5 percent -- exceeding the high-end of the company's guidance.

23 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 23, 2010

Today's headlines focus on President Obama's revamped health reform proposal, what it includes and how Democrats, Republicans and the insurers are reacting to it.

23 Feb 2010

Simple test to check personal cholesterol levels

CardioChek® test system is used by Americans and people in 100 countries around the world to test personal cholesterol levels. Simple, reliable and fast, CardioChek is manufactured by Indianapolis company Polymer Technology Systems, Inc., a leading global provider of point-of-care diagnostic products to the healthcare industry. On February 15th the CardioChek test system was featured on Lifetime Channel’s program, “The Balancing Act,” and will air again on February 22nd and March 15th.

23 Feb 2010

Healthland's EMR solution product enhancements to be showcased at 2010 HIMSS Conference

Healthland, America's market leader of healthcare information solutions for small community and critical access hospitals, today announced it will exhibit at the 2010 Annual HIMSS Conference and Exhibit, March 1- 4, 2010, in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. At the event, Healthland will conduct product demonstrations including its new Emergency Department Information System and Healthland Analytics, report results from a recent customer survey about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and meaningful use, and announce recent client success stories.

23 Feb 2010

HealthPort announces addition of eDelivery to ROI process

HealthPort, a top-25 company in the healthcare information technology industry, today announced that it has added electronic delivery functionality (eDelivery) to its release of information (ROI) process. In compliance with HIPAA mandates under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s (ARRA) HITECH provision, the new eDelivery functionality allows healthcare facilities with HealthPort ROI outsourced or Partner services the ability to quickly and easily fulfill medical record requests for patients who want to receive them electronically.

23 Feb 2010

Northern Michigan Regional Hospital selects Medicity for implementing HIE

Medicity – the standard for health information exchange (HIE) solutions that empower physicians, hospitals and communities to improve care collaboration – today reported that Northern Michigan Regional Hospital has selected Medicity to electronically exchange health information among its hospitals and physicians across the 22 counties it serves. The health system, which was named to the 2009/2010 Most Wired list by Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, cites health information exchange (HIE) as a vital initiative toward realizing its strategic plan for patient-centered care and meeting meaningful use requirements.

23 Feb 2010

Medquist to particpate as Implementer in the HIMSS10 Interoperability Showcase

Demonstrating the value of standards-based health information technologies, MedQuist Inc., a leading provider of technology-enabled clinical documentation services, is participating as an Implementer in the HIMSS10 Interoperability Showcase at booth #233 in Hall C of the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The Showcase is part of the 2010 Annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Conference & Exhibition being held from March 1-4.

23 Feb 2010

FDA issues approval for Gileads's Cayston for respiratory symptoms in cystic fibrosis

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted marketing approval for Cayston® (aztreonam for inhalation solution) as a treatment to improve respiratory symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cayston’s safety and efficacy have not been established in pediatric patients below the age of 7, patients with forced expiratory volume in one second of less than 25 percent or greater than 75 percent predicted, or patients colonized with Burkholderia cepacia.

23 Feb 2010

Merge Healthcare increases offer for AMICAS to $6.05 cash per share

Merge Healthcare Incorporated today announced its pending $6.05 cash per share offer for AMICAS, Inc.. Merge’s proposal, for an aggregate of $248 million, represents a 13% premium to the previously-announced offer for AMICAS from a newly-formed affiliate of Thoma Bravo, LLC for $5.35 cash per share. Merge’s current offer follows its offer of $6.00 cash per share that was made during the “go-shop” period contemplated by AMICAS’ merger agreement with Thoma Bravo.

23 Feb 2010

Somerset Hospital collaborates with Mckesson to automate pharmacy with PROmanager-Rx system

Somerset Hospital in Pennsylvania has joined with McKesson to automate its pharmacy using the new PROmanager-Rx™ system. The system will enable the 150-bed hospital to fully automate dispensing of tablets, capsules, and other oral solid medications that come directly from drug manufacturers in unit-dose, bar-coded form. Somerset, already a user of McKesson’s Paragon® community hospital information system, expects PROmanager-Rx to automate dispensing for approximately 80 percent of its daily scheduled patient doses.

23 Feb 2010

AMICAS issues statement on Merge Healthcare's views on acquisition proposal

AMICAS, Inc., a leader in image and information management solutions, today responded to a press release issued earlier today by Merge Healthcare Incorporated, regarding Merge's acquisition proposal. AMICAS Board of Directors has already considered and publicly rejected Merge's acquisition proposal.

23 Feb 2010

Centric Health Resources and CHT to create sustainable healthcare system for Americans

St. Louis-based Centric Health Resources, Inc. joined the Center for Health Transformation (CHT) a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and money for all Americans.

23 Feb 2010

ATR rates Obama's draft healthcare plan

Today, the White House released President Obama's draft healthcare plan.

23 Feb 2010

Hospital-acquired infections increase mortality rate and healthcare costs

Two common conditions caused by hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) killed 48,000 people and ramped up health care costs by $8.1 billion in 2006 alone, according to a study released today in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

23 Feb 2010

BCBSA’s statement on Obama's healthcare reform proposal

President Obama's proposal to establish a new Health Insurance Rate Authority ignores the unique cost drivers in each of the 50 state insurance markets. Several governors from both parties have recently expressed reservations about a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare reform.

23 Feb 2010