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DURECT reports European POSIDUR Phase IIb hysterectomy clinical trial results

DURECT Corporation announced today results from a European Phase IIb hysterectomy clinical trial conducted by Nycomed of POSIDUR™ (also known as SABER™-bupivacaine or Optesia™ in the E.U.), a proprietary product under development for the treatment of post-surgical pain.

17 Jun 2010

Renewed threat of Medicare pay cuts leaves doctors with 'sense of fatigue'

Doctors across the country find themselves - once again - putting their Medicare claims on hold while they wait for Congress to take action.

17 Jun 2010

LCA commends Senator John Kerry for backing Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance commended Senator John Kerry (D-MA) for backing the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act, S.332. This is the first ever authorizing legislation that establishes a multi-agency, comprehensive program targeted at lung cancer.

17 Jun 2010

UF doctors administer newly available therapy for late-onset Pompe disease

The first commercially available treatment in the United States for patients with late-onset Pompe disease was administered today (Wednesday, June 16) at the University of Florida.

17 Jun 2010

U.S. Department of Labor announces over $14.7M in health care career grants

The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $14.7 million in health care career grants authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The four grantees are the American Association of Community Colleges, Goodwill Industries International, the International Association of Jewish Vocational Services and SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc.

17 Jun 2010

IRX Therapeutics raises $8M to further develop pipeline of cancer vaccine candidates

IRX Therapeutics, a developer of novel immunomodulators to treat cancer and viral diseases, today announced that it has raised $8 million through a note offering to existing shareholders. The new funding will be used to further develop its pipeline of cancer vaccine candidates, including its lead product, IRX-2. IRX Therapeutics has now raised a total of more than $80 million in private financing.

17 Jun 2010

Wednesday's OpEds: Berwick nomination; Health reform costs and benefits; Medicaid and COBRA in jobs bill

As its real costs become clearer, Obama's program is looking even more expensive for employers, seniors, and taxpayers (Rick Santorum, 6/16).

17 Jun 2010

JHUSON joins Maryland Alliance to address Maryland's growing healthcare needs

The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing has taken a significant step in addressing Maryland's growing healthcare needs by joining the Maryland Alliance to Transform the Health Professions.

17 Jun 2010

ValueRich commences litigation against China Pharmaceuticals

ValueRich, Inc. announced today that the company has commenced litigation against China Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded company under the symbol for breach of contract and other related claims. ValueRich alleges ownership of 20% of the outstanding shares of China Pharmaceuticals "pursuant to a May 2009 Consulting Agreement between ValueRich and Xian Pharmaceuticals, Ltd, the Chinese-based operating company for China Pharmaceuticals."

17 Jun 2010

Money for early retirees and insurers' customer service

Consultants are pushing big companies to apply quickly for money from a $5 billion fund to help cover retiree health costs as part of the new health law, The Wall Street Journal reports.

17 Jun 2010

OnDemand AP solution helps hospitals reduce processing costs

For many healthcare providers, 90 percent of the costs associated with invoices are tied to manual processing. By automating all invoices through the OnDemand AP solution from GHX, hospitals can reduce processing costs by an average of $12 per invoice.

17 Jun 2010

Repros to appeal NASDAQ for additional time to regain compliance

On June 15, 2010, Repros Therapeutics Inc. received notification from NASDAQ that it has not regained compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) and, unless the Company appeals NASDAQ's decision, trading of the Company's common stock will be suspended and the Company's securities will be delisted from the NASDAQ Stock Market.

17 Jun 2010

FDA approves clinical testing of SanBio's SB623 for stroke recovery

SanBio Inc. announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the clinical testing of their SB623 regenerative medicine product in patients suffering from disability caused by cerebral stroke. SB623 is derived from bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) isolated from healthy adult donors.

17 Jun 2010

Hospital lobbying spending down

"American Hospital Association, which represents nearly 5,000 hospitals, spent $3.7 million lobbying the federal government in the first quarter on Medicare, health care reform and a host of other topics," which included "Medicare fraud prevention, a requirement for minimum nurse staffing rations for some Medicare providers and a bill that provides for the application of a consistent part B premium for all Medicare beneficiaries, according to a 34-page lobbying report filed with the clerk of the House of Representatives…

17 Jun 2010

Global agriculture output to meet world food demand as food prices escalate over decade, report says

Food prices are projected to rise over the next decade, with the cost of some grains increasing between 15 and 40 percent, according to an annual report, released Tuesday from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, VOA News reports (6/15).

17 Jun 2010

Healthcare clinicians' disruptive behaviors negatively affect patient care: Data

Disruptive behavior was reported in 177 events submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority from May 2007 to October 2009. In many of the events patient care was compromised, according to data released today by the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority and published in the June Supplementary Pennsylvania Patient Safety Advisory.

17 Jun 2010

Health Record Services awarded Multiple Award Schedule contract by GSA

HRS, a leading clinical coding and audit services firm in healthcare, is proud to announce that they have been awarded a Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract by the General Services Administration (GSA). HRS can now support the coding and audit needs of any governmental agency including all Veteran Administration (VA) hospitals and any other healthcare provider that falls under the federal umbrella. The announcement was made by Wendy Coplan-Gould, RHIA, President of HRS.

17 Jun 2010

Highlands Hospital, Cleveland Clinic collaboration promises brighter future for children with autism

A unique collaboration in one of Pennsylvania's most medically underserved regions promises a brighter future for children with autism and their families. Highlands Hospital, a not-for-profit community hospital in Connellsville, Pa., has entered into a consultation agreement with the Ohio-based Cleveland Clinic to develop state-of-the-art services for children with autism in southwestern Pennsylvania.

17 Jun 2010

Discovery Labs proposes common stock public offering

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. today announced that it intends to offer, subject to market and other conditions, shares of its common stock and common stock purchase warrants.

17 Jun 2010

Federal government seeks power to exclude those involved with health fraud from working again with Medicare

Independent federal investigators hoping to rein in Medicare fraud are asking Congress for broad new authority to boot offending corporate executives from the insurance program. The change is designed to control Medicare claims fraud by punishing culpable owners, managers and other corporate higher-ups, and not just the convicted companies.

17 Jun 2010