Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Simple wound dressings versus antimicrobial dressings

The UK National Health Service could save millions of pounds a year by routinely using inexpensive dressings to treat venous leg ulcers, after a study published in the October issue of BJS showed that they are just as effective as expensive silver dressings in the majority of cases.

13 Oct 2009

"Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" for Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente has been awarded the prestigious "Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" by the National Committee for Quality Assurance for efforts to reach across cultural and language barriers to provide health plan members with care that meets their unique needs.

13 Oct 2009

Health plans efforts to improve health care access to patients facing language barrier recognized by NCQA

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), with support from The California Endowment, has recognized five managed care plans for their innovative efforts to improve health care access and quality for consumers facing language and cultural barriers that frequently impede their access to life-prolonging care.

13 Oct 2009

Five principles recommended by Iowa Committee for high-value health care

The Iowa Committee for Value in Healthcare today issued a report on five key principles for high-value, fiscally responsible health care that Congress and the Obama administration should consider as they continue discussions over national reform.

13 Oct 2009

FirstCare Texas to provide Vermedx Diabetes Information System to health care providers and patients

FirstCare Texas has signed a contract with Vermedx, Inc. to provide its patent-pending Vermedx Diabetes Information System (VDIS) for the use of health care providers and patients belonging to First Care Health Plan's health maintenance organization operating in Lubbock, Waco, Abilene, and Amarillo, Texas.

13 Oct 2009

President Obama to sign a healthcare reform package, according to members of Congress

At a healthcare forum hosted by Politics magazine, current and former members of Congress said they believed President Obama would sign some sort of a healthcare reform package, most likely later this year. "There would be too much political damage done if something doesn't pass, so Congress will find a way," said Congressman Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX).

13 Oct 2009

WellPoint honored for its "Journey Forward" initiative

WellPoint, Inc. was recognized today as a 2009 BlueWorks® award winner. BlueWorks is a unique partnership between the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy that honors health care innovation that improves the quality and value of health care for consumers.

12 Oct 2009

Physician shortage worries rural communities but gets little attention in health bills

Garfield Memorial Hospital in Pomeroy, Wash., has been struggling to make ends meet for years - through patient revenues and property taxes that helped cover a $70,000 roof repair - the Seattle Times reports. Many rural hospitals face similar problems, and in the case of Pomeroy, if the hospital closed, residents would have to travel miles to find other choices.

12 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 12, 2009

With the Senate Finance Committee scheduled to vote Tuesday on its sweeping health overhaul measure, the insurance industry is launching its attack.

12 Oct 2009

Detroit jury indicts alleged perpetrators of X-Press Center $2.3M Medicare fraud scheme

Three Miami-Dade County, Fla., residents have been indicted in connection with an alleged $2.3 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of X-Press Center, a Detroit-area clinic that purported to specialize in providing injection and infusion therapies, Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Lanny A. Breuer, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Terrence Berg and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) announced today.

12 Oct 2009

Concord Coalition sends list of suggestions concerning the healthcare reform bill

In the coming days, you have the unenviable task of combining the Senate Finance Committee's health care reform bill with the bill that emerged from the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. Aware of the difficulty and the competing pressures you face, we have identified in the attached memorandum key areas where we believe the potential of the legislation to produce fiscal gains can be strengthened. We hope our views will help guide your work -- consistent with fiscal responsibility and sustainability.

12 Oct 2009

WCMC-Q program highlights the importance of mental health to overall physical health

Mental health professionals from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and the community highlighted the importance of mental health to overall physical health during a presentation Sunday as part of the medical college's recognition of World Mental Health Day.

12 Oct 2009

Health policy research roundup

Urban Institute: Variation in Insurance Coverage Across Congressional Districts New Estimates from 2008 -- Drawing from data from the American Community Survey, the authors of this brief explore the variation in rates of uninsurance, public and private coverage across congressional districts.

9 Oct 2009

Arizona clinic stops accepting Medicare, some Penn. Medicare Advantage plans cancelled

The Arizona Republic reports: "One of the Mayo Clinic's two family-medicine practices in Arizona soon will stop accepting Medicare, leaving thousands of patients to pay out of pocket for routine doctor's visits or find a new physician." The changes go in effect on Jan. 1 and apply to primary-care services at the Mayo Clinic Family Medicine-Arrowhead.

9 Oct 2009

Perot Systems forms alliance with medical groups to offer health information technology services

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA), the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and Perot Systems Corporation (www.perotsystems.com) today announced the formation of an alliance (Alliance) that will utilize the deep healthcare expertise of the three organizations to offer electronic health record (EHR)-related training and implementation services to newly established Health Information Technology (HIT) Regional Extension Centers (Extension Centers).

9 Oct 2009

Physician shortage affects older Americans' access to basic care

As members of Congress debate what form a national health care plan should take, older Americans continue to suffer the consequences of a physician shortage that makes accessing basic care a struggle. Barriers to care could be greatly eased, however, by legislation that lifts restrictions preventing physician assistants (PAs) from treating Medicare patients.

9 Oct 2009

Ipsen signs exclusive marketing agreement to produce and distribute Braintree's BLI-800 for colonic cleansing

Ipsen (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), an innovation-driven global specialty pharmaceutical Group and Braintree Laboratories, Inc., a US-based company specializing in the development, manufacturing and marketing of specialty pharmaceuticals, announced today the signature of an agreement for the exclusive manufacturing, marketing and distribution rights of Braintree’s proprietary formulation BLI-800 in colonic cleansing before colonoscopy, the best diagnostic procedure for colorectal cancer screening.

9 Oct 2009

CHI announces its agenda for the 2009 California Healthcare Policy Forum

CHI-California Healthcare Institute today announced its agenda and newly confirmed speakers for the 2009 California Healthcare Policy Forum to be held Nov. 5, at the InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco Hotel, from 11:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

9 Oct 2009

CIGNA and Prohealth Physicians to implement an enhanced care coordination program

CIGNA and ProHealth Physicians, Inc., have expanded their longstanding relationship by implementing an enhanced care coordination program that includes pay-for-performance provisions and many of the features of a patient-centered medical home program. This is the first program of its kind in Connecticut.

9 Oct 2009

NAMM to provide Humana members with convenient access to quality care

North American Medical Management California, Inc. (NAMM) and Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) announced today a long-term agreement enabling Humana’s Medicare Advantage health maintenance organization (HMO) members to receive medical care through PrimeCare Medical Network, Inc. (PrimeCare), an affiliate of NAMM and operating in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

9 Oct 2009

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Simple wound dressings versus antimicrobial dressings

"Recognizing Innovation in Multicultural Health Care Award" for Kaiser Permanente

Health plans efforts to improve health care access to patients facing language barrier recognized by NCQA

Five principles recommended by Iowa Committee for high-value health care

FirstCare Texas to provide Vermedx Diabetes Information System to health care providers and patients

President Obama to sign a healthcare reform package, according to members of Congress

WellPoint honored for its "Journey Forward" initiative

Physician shortage worries rural communities but gets little attention in health bills

First Edition: October 12, 2009

Detroit jury indicts alleged perpetrators of X-Press Center $2.3M Medicare fraud scheme

Concord Coalition sends list of suggestions concerning the healthcare reform bill

WCMC-Q program highlights the importance of mental health to overall physical health

Health policy research roundup

Arizona clinic stops accepting Medicare, some Penn. Medicare Advantage plans cancelled

Perot Systems forms alliance with medical groups to offer health information technology services

Physician shortage affects older Americans' access to basic care

Ipsen signs exclusive marketing agreement to produce and distribute Braintree's BLI-800 for colonic cleansing

CHI announces its agenda for the 2009 California Healthcare Policy Forum

CIGNA and Prohealth Physicians to implement an enhanced care coordination program

NAMM to provide Humana members with convenient access to quality care

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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