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Rural thoughts on improving the health care system; plus other state news

Kaiser Health News examines rural health care in Kentucky and finds that models for community health care that operate there could benefit the nation's health care system despite. The article notes that Hazard, Ky., was labeled as one of the worst health care regions in America by the 2008 American Human Development Report, but "there are enduring models in places like Hazard that could prove instructive to rebuilding healthy communities across the nation, both rural and urban."

13 Nov 2009

Insurer recruits employees to oppose health bills, angers consumer group

"In an aggressive new effort to influence the congressional health care debate, UnitedHealth Group this week e-mailed its 75,000 U.S. employees, urging them to contact their senators and providing two form letters attacking specific legislative proposals," the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

13 Nov 2009

Health reform: Senate facing controversies on coverage numbers, abortion language

The Wall Street Journal: "When the Senate unveils its health-care bill, all eyes will be on the price tag. But an equally significant number may be how many people get health insurance under the legislation."

13 Nov 2009

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Secrets of Massachusetts' Success - "By the summer of 2008, less than two years after Massachusetts' health reform law became effective, only 2.6 percent of state residents were uninsured—the lowest proportion ever recorded for any state." This study by the RWJF-funded State Health Access Reform Evaluation (SHARE) initiative "explains how national reforms can use similar methods to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued other coverage expansions."

13 Nov 2009

GOP hopes to rally sentiment against Dems' health bills but face flap over RNC abortion coverage

For the first time, when asked who voters trusted more on handling health care, congressional Republicans tied Obama at 40 percent with 21 percent undecided," in Ohio, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, Politics Daily reports. PD adds: "In September, respondents favored Obama by 49 percent to 28 percent. (Ohio) voters oppose Obama's health care plan by 55 percent to 36 percent with 9 percent undecided and disapprove of his handling of the issue by a similar margin" (Drake, 11/12).

13 Nov 2009

Doctors face image problems; patients deal with shortages, are urged to question care

Doctors must not only face the fading image of primary care providers, but also physician shortage issues. Meanwhile, some experts suggest patients consider saying "no" to their doctor to control health care costs.

13 Nov 2009

AMA takes on social issues, backs reform, rebuts 100-year trend

After a century of health-reform opposition - with highlights such as coining the term "socialized medicine," - the American Medical Association is now supporting Democrats' overhaul efforts, as well as taking on a few one taboo social issues, NPR's Health Blog reports.

13 Nov 2009

Business and insurers' groups back health reform, but not all legislation

A group of CEOs, the Business Roundtable and America's Health Insurance Plans, the insurance industry group, separately expressed qualified support for health overhaul efforts Thursday.

13 Nov 2009

Use nicotine patch along with nicotine gum or lozenges to calm withdrawal symptoms and tobacco cravings

As smokers consider quitting on the Great American Smokeout - Thursday, November 19th - many are frustrated that over-the-counter nicotine patches, gum, and lozenges have not worked for them. Even President Obama admits he still smokes despite using nicotine gum.

13 Nov 2009

Ore Pharmaceutical Holdings reports financial results and provides operational updates for third quarter 2009

Ore Pharmaceutical Holdings Inc. today reported financial results and provided an operational update for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

13 Nov 2009

PillCam capsule endoscopy is useful and safe in children under eight years old: Study

Given Imaging Ltd. today announced that a multi-center study published in the November edition of Gut showed PillCam capsule endoscopy of the small bowel to be just as useful and equally as safe in children under eight years old as it is in older children or adults. The prospective multicenter analysis was led by Annette Fritscher-Ravens M.D., Department of Interdisciplinary Endoscopy, University Hospital Kiel, Germany.

13 Nov 2009

Millar Instruments signs distribution partnership with Transonic Systems

Millar Instruments, Inc., developer and manufacturer of Mikro-Tip® pressure transducer catheters and pressure-volume (P-V) systems, and Transonic Systems, Inc., global leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of flow measurement devices, today announce a new distribution partnership.

13 Nov 2009

Misonix inks a three-year distribution agreement with Xenith in Dubai

Misonix, Inc., a developer of minimally invasive ultrasonic medical device technology, which in Europe is used for the ablation of tumors and worldwide for other acute health conditions, has entered into a new, three year distribution agreement with Xenith, LLC, based in Dubai, UAE, for the distribution of the SonaStar(TM) Ultrasonic Surgical Aspirator, the BoneScalpel(TM) Ultrasonic Bone Cutter, and the SonicOne® Ultrasonic Wound Debrider.

13 Nov 2009

SunLink Health Systems reports net earnings of $496,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009

SunLink Health Systems, Inc. today announced earnings from continuing operations for its fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2009 of $549,000, or $0.07 per fully diluted share, compared to a loss from continuing operations of $603,000, or $0.08 per fully diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2008. Included in the results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2009 is the pre-tax gain of $2,342,000 from the September 2009 sale of three home health businesses.

13 Nov 2009

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

The nation’s leading health insurers saw an aggregate decline of 836,000 members for the first six months of 2009. Declining commercial enrollment was offset primarily by gains in products offered to seniors and growth in Medicaid business. Administrative Services Only (ASO) enrollment experienced its first quarterly decline since June 2007.

13 Nov 2009

Zynex signs lease to rent a 75,000-square-foot building

Zynex, Inc., a provider of pain management systems and electrotherapy products for medical patients with functional disability, announces it has signed a lease to rent a 75,000-square-foot building in Lone Tree (Littleton), Colorado. Zynex currently leases 16,553 square feet in Littleton, Colorado and the new building will house its headquarters, office, plant and warehouse.

13 Nov 2009

Study confirms that people with severe mental disorders more at risk of dying from heart disease

A large new study confirms that people with severe mental disorders — such as schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders — are 25 percent to 40 percent more prone to die from heart disease than people without mental illness are.

13 Nov 2009

Decreased heart functions associated with fat collection in different body locations: Study

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) have shown that fat collection in different body locations, such as around the heart and the aorta and within the liver, are associated with certain decreased heart functions. The study, which appears on-line in Obesity, also found that measuring a person's body mass index (BMI) does not reliably predict the amount of undesired fat in and around these vital organs.

13 Nov 2009

athenahealth receives U.S. Patent for its "Practice Management and Billing Automation System"

athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of internet-based business services to physician practices, today announced that on November 10, 2009, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued athenahealth a patent entitled, ‘Practice Management and Billing Automation System’ (U.S. Patent No. 7,617,116) for its athenaNet® rules engine that is part of the Company’s revenue cycle management service, athenaCollectorSM.

13 Nov 2009

Carl Zeiss Meditec releases new software advances for the ATLAS® Corneal Topography System

New software advances for the ATLAS® Corneal Topography System were released today by Carl Zeiss Meditec during the American Academy of Optometry meeting in Orlando, Florida. Review Software and MasterFit II™ Contact Lens Software for the ATLAS corneal topography system are designed to make clinical data and images more accessible for eye care providers, while facilitating improved eye care diagnosis and treatment solutions for patients.

13 Nov 2009

Medical News

Rural thoughts on improving the health care system; plus other state news

Insurer recruits employees to oppose health bills, angers consumer group

Health reform: Senate facing controversies on coverage numbers, abortion language

Health policy research round up - Medicare and Massachusetts

GOP hopes to rally sentiment against Dems' health bills but face flap over RNC abortion coverage

Doctors face image problems; patients deal with shortages, are urged to question care

AMA takes on social issues, backs reform, rebuts 100-year trend

Business and insurers' groups back health reform, but not all legislation

Use nicotine patch along with nicotine gum or lozenges to calm withdrawal symptoms and tobacco cravings

Ore Pharmaceutical Holdings reports financial results and provides operational updates for third quarter 2009

PillCam capsule endoscopy is useful and safe in children under eight years old: Study

Millar Instruments signs distribution partnership with Transonic Systems

Misonix inks a three-year distribution agreement with Xenith in Dubai

SunLink Health Systems reports net earnings of $496,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2009

Membership for leading health insurers decline for the first six months of 2009

Zynex signs lease to rent a 75,000-square-foot building

Study confirms that people with severe mental disorders more at risk of dying from heart disease

Decreased heart functions associated with fat collection in different body locations: Study

athenahealth receives U.S. Patent for its "Practice Management and Billing Automation System"

Carl Zeiss Meditec releases new software advances for the ATLAS® Corneal Topography System

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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