Primary Care News and Research

Latest Primary Care News and Research

ikaSystems' enterprise-wide systems help lower administrative costs for health plan members

The United States moved a step closer to major healthcare reform this weekend as the House of Representatives voted 220 to 215 to approve a plan that will, among other goals, extend coverage to an estimated 36 million people without insurance, create a government health insurance option and prohibit such contentious insurance company practices as denying coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and rescinding coverage without clear and convincing evidence of fraud.

10 Nov 2009

AAPA commends the passage of Affordable Health Care for America Act

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), representing more than 75,000 clinically practicing physician assistants (PAs) practicing in the United States, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing Saturday its health care reform bill, H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

10 Nov 2009

WHO report calls for improved health care for women, girls

A new WHO report, released Monday, said women tend to "receive poorer quality care throughout their lives, particularly as teenagers and elderly people" even though they live six to eight years longer than men, Reuters reports. The WHO said women worldwide are "'denied a chance to develop their full human potential' because many of their critical medical needs are ignored" (MacInnis, 11/9).

10 Nov 2009

TRICARE South Region beneficiaries urged to get H1N1 influenza vaccinations

Humana Military Healthcare Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), encourages TRICARE South Region beneficiaries to get their H1N1 influenza vaccinations in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus. Anticipating a greater need for the shots, the Department of Defense (DoD) is encouraging all military personnel to obtain the vaccines.

9 Nov 2009

CIPA selects eClinicalWorks' unified EMR and PM software

eClinicalWorks®, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that Buffalo, New York’s Catholic Independent Practice Association (CIPA) has selected eClinicalWorks unified electronic medical record (EMR) and practice management (PM) software for the Catholic Health System’s network of ambulatory care offices and for select community physicians, purchasing 150 licenses. eClinicalWorks will also work with the IPA to connect into HEALTHeLINK, the local Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO).

9 Nov 2009

Tethys Bioscience completes $25 million Series D financing

Tethys Bioscience, a privately held company, announced today that it has closed a $25 million Series D round of financing led by aeris CAPITAL AG and including Wasatch Advisors as a new investor. All current investors, including MDV-Mohr Davidow Ventures, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers and Intel Capital participated in the round. Tethys also announced that it has appointed George Rehm, Managing Partner of aeris CAPITAL, to the Tethys Board of Directors.

9 Nov 2009

Pelosi's speech on the House floor supporting H.R. 3962

Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today in support of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The House will vote on the legislation later tonight.

9 Nov 2009

Specialization in one sport increases the risk of injury, find researchers

Gifted young athletes are under increasing pressure to play only one sport year round.

9 Nov 2009

Prevention and wellness provisions in the health reform bill passed by the House applauded

The American Public Health Association (APHA) applauds the prevention and wellness provisions in the health reform bill passed last night by the House.

9 Nov 2009

Study finds brain changes and severe depression in political detainees experiencing head injury

Depression and other emotional symptoms in survivors of torture and other traumatic experiences may be exacerbated by the effects of head injuries, according to a study from the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT), based in the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Psychiatry.

7 Nov 2009

Roper Industries to acquire Verathon

Roper Industries, Inc. (NYSE: ROP) today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Verathon, Inc., a leading provider of proprietary medical devices. The Verathon Board of Directors has approved the transaction and the closing is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions, including shareholder approval. The parties expect the closing to be completed in early December.

7 Nov 2009

Health policy research roundup

Health Affairs: Enrollment Is Driving Medicaid Costs—But Two Targets Can Yield Savings - "Although Medicaid spending has grown faster than the rate of increase in national health spending, much of this is explained by increased enrollment," write the authors of this paper, who present data showing that "[p]er enrollee, Medicaid spending actually compares favorably to increases in medical care prices and gross domestic product."

7 Nov 2009

Pharmacists are necessary to the medical care model

Roger Merrill, MD, chief medical officer of Perdue Foods Inc. of Salisbury, Md., told students at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy yesterday that they should be concerned about future health care costs.

6 Nov 2009

Physicians concern about the spread of H1N1 virus and the availability of H1N1 vaccine

According to a Panel Intelligence survey of 50 primary care physicians, there are significant concerns about the H1N1 virus not just in terms of disease prevalence and vaccine shortages, but also in that 38% of the physicians surveyed (PCPs, pediatricians, and gerontologists) are "very concerned" about the virus evolving into a more serious strain and another 52% have moderate concerns about such a development.

6 Nov 2009

Study reiterates that U.S. health quality trails spending compared with other countries

"Despite spending more than twice as much as other developed countries, the United States still lags behind in terms of access and quality, an international survey said Wednesday," Agence France-Presse reports.

6 Nov 2009

UCSF HIV researchers receive two NIH grants to improve health of HIV positive patients

UCSF HIV researchers have received two NIH grants of $1 million each to study the use of web-based, patient controlled personal health records to improve health and HIV prevention outcomes for HIV positive patients.

6 Nov 2009

Patients should bring up financial concerns with their doctors in view of high health insurance costs

As health insurers require people to base more treatment decisions on out-of-pocket costs, physicians should learn to talk to patients about money, according to researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

6 Nov 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

When Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the revised House Democratic health care bill last week, the Obama White House hailed it as a "critical milestone" in the process. No doubt senior administration officials were relieved to see signs of "momentum" toward passage of something. But if the president really meant what he has said about health care policy throughout this year, his administration would be working to defeat the Pelosi bill, not supporting it (James Capretta).

5 Nov 2009

Doctors scrutinize defensive medicine, surgeons oppose Senate reform bill

Doctors and lawyers are disputing the true costs of defensive medicine, while surgeons oppose provisions being considered by the Senate for health reform.

5 Nov 2009

College students increasingly seek campus health care

More college students are finding health care on campus. The Wall Street Journal reports: "As more parents lose their jobs—and their insurance—in the recession, more college students are having to scramble for health care.

5 Nov 2009