Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

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

Costs of health overhaul may be felt before benefits accrue

The Associated Press reports: "The costs of health care reform being pushed through Congress by Democrats will be felt long before the benefits. Proposed taxes and fees on upper-income earners, insurers, even tanning parlors, take effect quickly.

23 Dec 2009

VTT Innovation Program on food, nutrition and eating pattern

The objective of this roadmap was to feature the drivers, needs and future potential for various actors involved in the food production and distribution chain, but also for actors developing services offering communication and motivation tools for consumers who wish to improve their nutrition.

23 Dec 2009

Special issue on climate justice highlights effects of global warming on human health

Global warming, pollution, and the environmental consequences of energy production impose a greater burden on low-income, disadvantaged communities, and strategies to prevent these inequities are urgently needed.

23 Dec 2009

BioLife Solutions receives ISO 13485:2003 certification

BioLife Solutions, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of biopreservation tools for cells, tissues, and organs, today announced that it has successfully completed audits of its quality systems and GMP production facility in Bothell, Washington by BSI Group and has been issued a certification to ISO 13485:2003, an international standard for quality systems supporting the design, development, and manufacture of medical devices.

23 Dec 2009

Otsuka America Pharmaceutical joins NPC

The National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) today announced that Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. has joined the health policy research organization as a member.

23 Dec 2009

ABBM grants certification for medical community who treats obesity and related conditions

The American Board of Bariatric Medicine (ABBM) recently administered its certification exam designed to recognize doctors, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants who practice bariatric medicine and the non-surgical medical management of overweight and obese patients.

23 Dec 2009

Mediware Information Systems introduces new system interface to the U.S. Biovigilance Network

Continuing its diligent focus on patient safety, Mediware Information Systems, Inc. has announced the availability of a new system interface that will enable customers using the Company's LifeTrak® blood donor management software to electronically transmit blood donation data to the U.S. Biovigilance Network.

23 Dec 2009