Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Health Partners receives NCQA Accreditation

Health Partners' Medical Assistance plan has once again received "Excellent" status, the highest level of Accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the most recognized accrediting body in the United States for health plans.

24 Dec 2009

Calorie disclosure requirement in healthcare reform legislation ineffective and expensive, says VMI

A group representing some of the nation's most prominent vending companies today called on Congress to drop language that would require vending companies to disclose the caloric content of vended food and beverage products prior to the point of sale, Vend Marketing Institute (VMI) Executive Director Chris Stave announced today. The requirement is included in both the House and Senate versions of the healthcare reform legislation currently being debated in Congress, and would apply to any business which owns or operates 20 or more vending machines.

24 Dec 2009

Major hospitals adopt MedeAnalytics' PAI solution to improve patient experience

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, announced today that adoption of the company’s Patient Access Intelligence (PAI) solution by hospitals around the country has been robust since its introduction earlier this year and continues to grow, according to Mike Gallagher, chief executive officer of MedeAnalytics. Orlando Health, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York, University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare have adopted PAI, officially launched in 2009 at HFMA’s Fall Revenue Cycle Strategies Conference in Chicago.

24 Dec 2009

ACS awarded 2009 'Best in KLAS' ranking in national healthcare survey

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., today announced that its healthcare provider consulting business has been awarded a 2009 “Best in KLAS” ranking in a prestigious national healthcare survey.

24 Dec 2009

Eclipsys acute care EMR retains its No. 2 ranking in KLAS awards

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, today announced that the company’s focus on delivering an enterprise portfolio of high-quality health information software solutions is reflected in the findings of the 2009 “Top 20 Best in KLAS Award: Software and Professional Services” report (2009 Top 20 Best in KLAS Awards report).

24 Dec 2009

QUITPLAN Services' quit-smoking campaign: Monkeys on people's backs

Quitting smoking is one of the most popular New Year's resolutions for many Minnesotans. As the holiday approaches, QUITPLAN Services, the free quit-smoking program provided through ClearWay Minnesota(SM), hopes to motivate them to make a fresh start with a new television ad launching just as most smokers resolve to quit. The new ad acknowledges that every individual experiences different triggers for smoking, and highlights the free, personalized help available through QUITPLAN Services. The ad debuts on Dec. 28.

24 Dec 2009

Philadelphia Insurance Companies to offer Chiropractor's Malpractice Insurance

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) is pleased to announce it will begin offering Chiropractor's Malpractice Insurance in several states. Chiropractors may now obtain policies in Alabama, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Utah. Filing approval is anticipated for Mississippi, Ohio and Texas within the next 60 days with additional states to follow in 2010.

24 Dec 2009

Terri McCormick's statement on Senate healthcare reform bill

In the rush to pass the so-called "healthcare reform bill," U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) stomped his feet and held his breath until he extracted his presents from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. One such gift exempts Nebraska from paying the $45 million increase in Medicaid imbursement costs. Nelson was the 60th Democrat to get his stocking stuffed.

24 Dec 2009

Oxford Outcomes becomes a member of SAFE-BioPharma Association

Oxford Outcomes, an international health outcomes consultancy, has become a member of SAFE-BioPharma Association, the non-profit association that created and manages the global SAFE-BioPharma® digital identity and signature standard for the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

24 Dec 2009

Retractable Technologies wins patent infringement suit

Retractable Technologies, Inc. (“Retractable”) (AMEX: RVP), a leading maker of safety needle devices, announced today that a Tyler, Texas jury returned a verdict on Friday, December 18th in the litigation of Retractable Technologies, Inc. v. OMI (Occupational & Medical Innovations Limited, an Australian public company,) in favor of Retractable on all claims presented to the jury.

24 Dec 2009

Union Bank and AHA announce new sponsorship agreement

Union Bank, N.A., and The American Heart Association (AHA) have announced a four-year agreement to promote the AHA’s Start! movement in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.

24 Dec 2009

Fitch Ratings affirms OMHS' Kentucky $502M revenue bonds 'BBB+'

Fitch Ratings assigns a 'BBB+' rating to the following City of Owensboro, Kentucky health system revenue bonds: -- $502.3 million series 2010 City of Owensboro, Kentucky health system revenue bonds (Owensboro Medical Health System).

24 Dec 2009

Cardiac marker POC test: A successful concept of point-of-care diagnostics

Cardiac marker POC tests are now widely used in hospitals and have emerged as a successful model of the concept of point-of-care diagnostics, according to a new report from Kalorama Information. The 2008 world market for POC cardiac enzymes and tests is estimated at $490 million, and growing at 12% a year for the past three years, according to "Point of Care Diagnostics 2010 and Beyond: Rapid Testing at a Crossroads," from healthcare market research publisher Kalorama Information.

24 Dec 2009

Learning disabilities: Understanding the problem and managing the challenges

"Trying to address learning disabilities with innovative teaching methods and creative school financing is not the answer," said Etta Brown, a licensed educational psychologist, veteran social worker and author of "Learning Disabilities, Understanding the Problem and Managing the Challenges" from Langdon Street Press (www.understandingld.com).

24 Dec 2009

False Claims Act allegations: Visiting Physicians Association to pay $9.5M

Visiting Physicians Association, which is based in Farmington Hills, Mich., will pay the United States and the state of Michigan $9.5 million to settle allegations that the association violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare, TRICARE and the Michigan Medicaid program, the Justice Department announced today. Visiting Physicians Association is a Michigan professional corporation which has provided home health services at various times in Michigan, Ohio, Georgia and Wisconsin.

24 Dec 2009

White House does not expect conference bill before State of the Union speech

Although a deal was struck Tuesday to get a vote on the Senate health bill before Christmas, White House officials said Wednesday that they don't expect a conference bill to pass both houses before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address in late January or early February, Politico reports. Democratic congressional leaders had earlier said they planned to reconcile the differences in the House and Senate measures and send Obama a bill before the speech.

24 Dec 2009

Angelica partners with HSC to provide quality healthcare for Haitian community

At Angelica, we are committed to meeting the highest standards of corporate citizenship by fulfilling our mission to offer healthcare providers superior services based on our high quality products, unsurpassed quality and service standards, and creative solutions. While we strive to achieve that mission in the communities where we do business, we embrace opportunities where we can support communities outside our geographical footprint through charitable activities.

24 Dec 2009

Lawmakers, public take aim at deal struck for Sen. Nelson

News outlets report on deals struck with individual senators, in particular Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., in an effort to win support for health care legislation.

24 Dec 2009

IRIN series examines health, development issues in Kenya

In a special series, IRIN examines health and development in Kenya. "The vast arid lands of northern Kenya are generally drier, less fertile, poorer and rank lower in most humanitarian and development league tables than the rest of the country. ... Preventable and treatable diseases are often neither prevented nor treated for want of adequate healthcare. Attracting qualified doctors and nurses to the hinterland is a major challenge.

24 Dec 2009

Lawmakers brace for conference as House Liberals vow not to give in on key issues

The Los Angeles Times reports that Democrats are looking ahead — and at each other — before beginning the "potentially difficult" process of reconciling the Senate and House versions of health care reform.

23 Dec 2009