Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Expectations high for Obama's 'Major Address' to Congress on health reform

President Obama plans to address Congress on Wednesday, only a day after lawmakers return from their August break, to spell out in detail his vision for overhauling health care, The Associated Press reports. The move signals that "Democrats have all but given up hope for a bipartisan breakthrough by Senate Finance Committee negotiators," because that committee - the only one seeking across-the-aisle compromise - had been given a Sept. 15 deadline.

4 Sep 2009

Catholics believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege: Catholics for Choice

As Congress returns from the summer recess, we hope that we will soon see an honest and productive debate on truly comprehensive healthcare reform that leads to positive changes in healthcare accessibility for women and men in the United States.

4 Sep 2009

Two ongoing Phase 2 clinical trials of CPX-351 to be showcased

Celator Pharmaceuticals today announced that Scott Jackson, chief executive officer, is scheduled to present at the Thomas Weisel Partners 2009 Healthcare Conference in Boston.

4 Sep 2009

A California consumer group says major insurers coerced employees to lobby

"The nation's two largest health insurers have been pressuring employees to lobby against healthcare reform in Congress in violation of a California law against coerced political activity, a consumer group alleged Wednesday," the Los Angeles Times reports.

3 Sep 2009

Criminal pricing of Merck’s HIV/AIDS drug Isentress challenged by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation

As part of its ongoing campaign to lower drug prices and increase access, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today unveiled its latest advocacy campaign challenging Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the steep price of its key HIV/AIDS drug, Isentress (raltegravir). The first phase of the public awareness campaign includes a postcard mailer, scheduled to arrive this week in the mailboxes of residents of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, where Merck is headquartered.

3 Sep 2009

MPI Research appoints Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing

MPI Research announced today that Thomas Laughlin will join the company as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing and will be a member of the company’s Corporate Management Team. Laughlin’s 30+ years of executive experience span several of the world’s largest and most successful healthcare products companies.

3 Sep 2009

Atlantic Health uses SuccessFactors Performance and Talent Management Suite

SuccessFactors, Inc., the global leader in on-demand performance and talent management solutions, announced today that Atlantic Health, which was recently named by FORTUNE as one of the "100 Best Companies To Work For," is using SuccessFactors Performance and Talent Management Suite to help improve overall business performance by aligning employee performance goals with overall company goals, and streamline its talent management processes.

3 Sep 2009

UK Performance Network signs agreements with South West and thirteen PCTs

The UK Performance Network announced it has signed agreements with the South West Strategic Health Authority and thirteen primary care trusts (PCTs) in the South West as new subscribers.

3 Sep 2009

SIMH's CEO announces the launch of Sanomedics Development Corporation

Keith Houlihan, president and Chief Executive Officer of Sanomedics International Holdings Inc., today announced the launch of Sanomedics Development Corporation, to be led by Abhishek Shrivastava, Chief Technology Officer.

3 Sep 2009

First edition: September 3, 2009

In today's headlines, President Obama announces that he will address a joint session of Congress next week in an effort to regain control of the health care reform debate.

3 Sep 2009

Pfizer finalizes settlement agreement with U.S. DOJ regarding past promotional practices

Pfizer Inc today announced that it has finalized a previously reported agreement in principle with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to settle an investigation regarding past off-label promotional practices related to Bextra, which Pfizer voluntarily withdrew from the market in 2005.

3 Sep 2009

Beijing Rain and Earth Technology to provide cheaper blood dialysis in China

RainEarth Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: RNER; "the Company") announced that in the second quarter of 2009, the Xinhua News Agency publicized the creation of "Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Deepening the Reform of the Medical and Health Care System" ("Opinion").

3 Sep 2009

Health insurers ask employees to lobby Congress to weaken health reform

Consumer Watchdog today asked California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown to investigate major health insurers that have asked their workers to lobby Congress -- during business hours -- to weaken health reform. United Healthcare and Wellpoint have launched national campaigns to individually "assist" employees in writing and calling members of Congress.

3 Sep 2009

Umass Medical School implements translational research solution

Recombinant Data Corp., a healthcare data warehousing and clinical intelligence solutions provider, today announced that it has implemented a translational research solution at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

3 Sep 2009

Health Information Resource Center recognizes SHPS, presents nine awards

SHPS, a leading provider of health improvement and health benefits solutions, received nine awards for its healthcare communications in the 2009 National Health Information Awards(SM) program.

3 Sep 2009

Seasonal flu vaccinations increases by 237% this season compared to the same four weeks during last season

According to SDI, a leading healthcare market insight and analytics firm that consolidates electronic healthcare claims data, there have been over 477,000 seasonal flu vaccinations already administered through Aug. 29 — the fourth week of this year’s flu season. That is an increase of 237% compared to the same four weeks during last season.

3 Sep 2009

Oracle OpenWorld conference to discuss challenges facing healthcare organizations

The upcoming Oracle OpenWorld conference, October 11-15, 2009 at Moscone Center in San Francisco, will feature dedicated programming and lively discussion exploring today's unprecedented challenges facing life sciences and healthcare organizations.

3 Sep 2009

Report on ageing world inspires employers to expand and shift their strategic thinking, says Chairman of Mercer

The World Economic Forum has just published Transforming Pensions and Healthcare in a Rapidly Ageing World: Opportunities and Collaboration Strategies with the support of Mercer and the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development). The report and a related Mercer Perspective can be downloaded at www.mercer.com/WEF.

3 Sep 2009

Office managers set the policy for allowing sales rep visits

In a national survey of U.S. medical practices, SK&A Information Services, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare information and research, found that office managers wield as much influence as lead physicians in determining the policy for allowing industry sales representatives to visit with physicians.

3 Sep 2009

The Quantum Group submits final patent for PWeR technology platform

The Quantum Group (NYSE Amex:QGP) announces that it has submitted a final patent filing that covers unique solutions for optimizing performance and access in a cloud computing environment. PWeR, the Quantum technology platform, was built on a cloud computing architecture and is designed to integrate all of the principal applications a provider uses into one system including Electronic Medical Records (EMR).

3 Sep 2009