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Public option 'compromise' may rest on private insurers

The Associated Press/The Washington Post reports that "private insurers - not the government - would offer coverage under a compromise Democrats are considering ... the latest idea bears little resemblance to the original vision outlined by liberals, and embraced by Obama, during the 2008 presidential campaign. That called for the government to sell insurance to workers and their families in competition with industry giants like UnitedHealthcare" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/8).

8 Dec 2009

Utah project seeks to reduce 'overuse of health care'

News outlets report on a pilot project in Utah to reduce overuse of services and Medicaid cuts in Kansas.

8 Dec 2009

The National Fragile X Foundation awards $100,000 grant for study of minocycline in FXS children

The National Fragile X Foundation has awarded a translational research seed grant of $100,000 to Dr. Randi J. Hagerman at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute in California for a study of minocycline in the treatment of children with fragile X syndrome (FXS). Hagerman is an internationally recognized clinician and clinical researcher on FXS, the most common cause of inherited mental impairment.

8 Dec 2009

Senate vote on abortion amendment - a major hurdle to health bill - could occur today

The Washington Post reports that lawmakers in the Senate began consideration Monday "of an amendment to restrict abortion coverage" and a vote is expected today. The provision, "co-sponsored by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), would bar individuals who receive federal insurance subsidies from purchasing private policies that cover elective abortions. It also would ban abortion coverage under a government plan" (Murray, 12/8).

8 Dec 2009

Liberals may trade public option for expansion of Medicare, Medicaid

In exchange for accepting a proposed compromise on a public option in the health bill, liberal Democratic Senators are hoping to win expansions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, The New York Times reports. "One of the changes being pushed by the liberals would lower the age of eligibility for Medicare to 55, from 65. Another would expand Medicaid to cover people with incomes up to 150 percent of the poverty level."

8 Dec 2009

Updated data from Allos Therapeutics' ongoing FOLOTYN study

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced updated data from its ongoing dose finding Phase 1 study of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) in patients with relapsed or refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). These data were showcased during an oral presentation at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in New Orleans, LA.

8 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

As a society, we have to make choices. Do we want our doctors to be well-qualified practitioners using their experience and judgment to help as many patients as they can? Or do we want detached, disenfranchised doctors looking to their next career while practicing medicine with the mentality of postal workers? (Soumi Eachempati 12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Drug reimportation emerges again in health debate

The Hill reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "has agreed to allow Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to bring an amendment to a vote this week that would allow the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from abroad despite the fact that it could blow up a truce between the White House, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on healthcare reform." Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) is among the amendment's co-sponsors.

8 Dec 2009

Consumer reports details the screening tests that may be unneccesary

Consumer Reports/The Washington Post: "Many Americans -- and their doctors -- seem to think that better health means more health care, including as many screening tests as possible. But many researchers are questioning that notion, saying that some common screening tests are unproven and can not only waste your time and money but also cause more harm than good."

8 Dec 2009

Summa Health System to implement Agilysys' software solution suite

Agilysys, Inc., a leading provider of innovative information technology and hospitality software solutions, announced today that Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio has implemented a comprehensive suite of software solutions to streamline efficiency and control costs in its food outlets and gift shops.

8 Dec 2009

Senate staff raise idea of taxing indoor tanning salons

Roll Call: "The concept of an excise tax on tanning services, which could include salon walk-ins or tanning beds and sunlamps sold for residential use, was floated in a weekend Senate staff meeting on the health bill. Officials described the idea as preliminary and not being seriously considered at this time.

8 Dec 2009

Veran Medical Technologies' SPiN Drive System receives FDA marketing clearance

Veran Medical Technologies announced today that it received clearance (K091934) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a product for the delivery of instruments through the pulmonary tract. "Veran is excited about this clearance as it allows the company to address a huge unmet clinical need in lung cancer diagnosis and treatment," said Jerome R. Edwards, Veran president and chief executive officer.

8 Dec 2009

New report: CBO underestimates savings from health bills but economists worry savings aren't enough

"Previous analyses have underestimated the potential cost-saving effects of the House and Senate health reform bill, according to a new report co-authored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Commonwealth Fund," Modern Healthcare reports.

8 Dec 2009

ADVocacy for IMmunization program receives a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Agence de Médecine Préventive (AMP) has received a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a program to support immunization advocacy in West Africa.

8 Dec 2009

QuantRx Biomedical launches its new flagship POC diagnostic reader device at MEDICA 2009

QuantRx® Biomedical Corporation, a broad-based diagnostic company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative diagnostic products, announced today the successful debut of its new flagship point-of-care (POC) diagnostic reader device, Q-Reader™, at MEDICA 2009 on November 18-21, 2009, in Düsseldorf, Germany.

8 Dec 2009

CombinatoRx presents encouraging results from its A2A and b2AR agonist programs for B-cell malignancies

CombinatoRx, Incorporated today announced that preclinical data from its Adenosine A2A receptor (A2A) and Beta-2 Adrenergic Receptor (b2AR) Agonist oncology programs demonstrated synergistic anti-cancer activity when combined with standard-of-care therapies in multiple myeloma and other B-cell malignancies.

8 Dec 2009

Medicare seeks to cut hospital readmissions with 'Care Transitions' project

The Associated Press reports that a "major push is underway around the country to cut rehospitalizations, in part by arming patients with simple steps to keep their recovery on track," such as getting quicker follow-up doctor visits and lessening medication confusion.

8 Dec 2009

Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Yale University expand agreement to explore new ribosome technology

Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs for the treatment of serious multi-drug-resistant infections, announced today it has entered into a further license agreement with Yale University in the area of ribosome and antibiotic structure and function.

8 Dec 2009

FDA probes excessive radiation dose cases

The Associated Press/Wall Street Journal: "Federal health regulators are investigating reports of dangerous radiation levels at two more California hospitals, following earlier unsafe medical scans at a Los Angeles facility. The Food and Drug Administration is probing the use of CT scans at Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif. The brain scans are used to diagnose strokes.

8 Dec 2009

Acceleron Pharma's ACE-536 stimulates red blood cell production through novel mechanism

Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics that modulate the growth of cells and tissues including red blood cells, bone, muscle, fat, and the vasculature, presented data demonstrating that ACE-536 promotes formation of red blood cells through inhibition of members of the TGF-beta superfamily, at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology.

8 Dec 2009

Medical News

Public option 'compromise' may rest on private insurers

Utah project seeks to reduce 'overuse of health care'

The National Fragile X Foundation awards $100,000 grant for study of minocycline in FXS children

Senate vote on abortion amendment - a major hurdle to health bill - could occur today

Liberals may trade public option for expansion of Medicare, Medicaid

Updated data from Allos Therapeutics' ongoing FOLOTYN study

Today's opinions and editorials

Drug reimportation emerges again in health debate

Consumer reports details the screening tests that may be unneccesary

Summa Health System to implement Agilysys' software solution suite

Senate staff raise idea of taxing indoor tanning salons

Veran Medical Technologies' SPiN Drive System receives FDA marketing clearance

New report: CBO underestimates savings from health bills but economists worry savings aren't enough

ADVocacy for IMmunization program receives a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

QuantRx Biomedical launches its new flagship POC diagnostic reader device at MEDICA 2009

CombinatoRx presents encouraging results from its A2A and b2AR agonist programs for B-cell malignancies

Medicare seeks to cut hospital readmissions with 'Care Transitions' project

Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Yale University expand agreement to explore new ribosome technology

FDA probes excessive radiation dose cases

Acceleron Pharma's ACE-536 stimulates red blood cell production through novel mechanism

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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