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Cuomo announces new database to guide insurers' prices, unveil doctors fees

A new database operated by a New York nonprofit will help insurers determine their rates for out-of-network care and give consumers a heads-up on what to expect their policy to pay when they seek such care, the New York Times reports. The program, which will be operated by the new nonprofit FAIR Health with support from Syracuse University and other states universities, was announced Tuesday by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, whose office investigated the insurance industry's existing out-of-network pricing system (Abelson, 10/27).

28 Oct 2009

CDC says U.S. H1N1 vaccine supplies on the rise; Senators question government's handling of H1N1 vaccination program

Supplies of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine are steadily increasing in the U.S. and should soon be more widely accessible in the next two weeks, the CDC said on Tuesday, CQ HealthBeat reports. During a press briefing, CDC Director Thomas Frieden said that 22.4 million vaccine doses are now available for states to order (Norman, 10/27). "We're beginning to get to significant increases in the availability," Frieden said.

28 Oct 2009

Newspaper investigates dangerous mix of nursing homes and psychotropic drugs

Illinois nursing home patients often receive psychotropic drugs without cause, which poses various health dangers and even death, the Chicago Tribune reports as part of its Compromised Care series.

28 Oct 2009

WHO identifies five major causes of premature death

Targeting the five major causes of premature death could increase global life expectancy by almost five years, the WHO said Tuesday, Reuters reports. According to a WHO's Global Health Risks report, which looked at 24 major health risks, "[p]oor childhood nutrition, unsafe sex, alcohol, bad sanitation and hygiene, and high blood pressure are to blame for around a quarter of the 60 million premature deaths around the world each year," the news service writes.

28 Oct 2009

Rove, Dean trade one-liners on health reform, Senators offer their take

Former Democratic Party head Howard Dean joined former Bush adviser Karl Rove for a debate on health care reform in Pennsylvania Tuesday night while other Senators are offering their take on the public option's role in a health care overhaul.

28 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health News: Germany HIV/AIDS grant; Sumatra water situation; India's unlicensed doctors; land ownership, food security

The Organisation for the Coordination of the Struggle Against Epidemics in Central Africa (OCEAC) on Tuesday announced that the German government has granted $34 million to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in central Africa, Agence France-Presse reports.

28 Oct 2009

States face unpopular cuts in health spending

State governments, especially New York's, are facing budget gaps that officials hope to close with cuts to health spending. But, their constituents are resisting the proposed changes that could result in fewer services.

28 Oct 2009

CDC: H1N1 vaccine supplies on the rise

"More than 22 million doses of swine flu vaccine are available now, and most Americans should soon find it easier to get their dose, U.S. health officials said Tuesday, " according to The Associated Press/The Washington Post.

28 Oct 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

The tax I proposed — and the one most economists favor — would force employees to treat as income the value of health-care benefits they receive from their employer (Fred Hiatt, 10/27).

28 Oct 2009

Inventa Technologies secures capacity planning and visualization service contract

ANTs software inc., a leader in database migration solutions, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Inventa Technologies, Inc. has secured a contract with one of the nations leading health insurance providers to execute a capacity planning and visualization service project.

28 Oct 2009

Omnicare Clinical Research attains Rave Accredited Plus in Medidata’s ASPire to Win program for CRO's

Medidata Solutions, a leading global provider of hosted clinical development solutions, today announced that global contract research organization (CRO) Omnicare Clinical Research has attained Rave Accredited Plus, the most advanced level in Medidata’s ASPire to Win® program for CROs and other service providers.

28 Oct 2009

Philanthropist gifts $10-million to Sunnybrook Foundation

The people of Ontario will have more access than ever to the latest life-saving, minimally invasive cardiovascular treatments thanks to the visionary leadership of one of Canada's foremost philanthropists, Seymour Schulich.

28 Oct 2009

MMR Information Systems' MMRPro enables digitizing patient records without major makeovers

MMR Information Systems' MMRPro, which enables doctors who do not have an Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system to digitize and store paper records through a secure Web-based portal, is envisioned as the bridge between fully paper-based medical offices and the adoption of computerized medical records to qualify for stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

28 Oct 2009

Quinnova Pharmaceuticals raises $17.4 million through Series B financing

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., a holding company that builds value in growth-stage life sciences and technology companies, today announced it led a $17.4 million Series B financing round for Quinnova Pharmaceuticals, Inc., with participation from existing investors Thomas, McNerney & Partners and H.I.G. BioVentures.

28 Oct 2009

Clinical Data raises $47.4 million through public offering of shares

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced that it has raised gross proceeds of approximately $47.4 million through the public offering of 2,750,000 newly issued shares of its common stock at a price of $17.25 per share. All of the shares are being offered by Clinical Data, Inc.

28 Oct 2009

Helix BioMedix' SmartPeptides technology products demonstrate improvement in skin texture

Helix BioMedix, Inc., a developer of bioactive peptides, today announced the completion of a series of three clinical studies investigating the safety and efficacy of a serum, eye cream and moisturizer, each containing the Company’s SmartPeptides™ technology, including the newly developed Heptapeptide-7. These studies demonstrate improvement in skin texture and appearance as well as the decrease in fine lines and wrinkles with Striking™ Skin Care formulations.

28 Oct 2009

Gamma Pharmaceuticals inks brokerage agreement with J&A Lazier Racing

Gamma Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced it has signed a Product Brokerage Agreement with J&A Lazier Racing LLC of California. Mr. Lazier, an accomplished Indy Car Driver, will benefit from Gamma's Professional Grade vitamin supplements, nutritional and energy products to ensure peak athletic performance during the demanding Indy Car season.

28 Oct 2009

MMI partners with Surgitech Medical Sales to expand sales distribution team

Meridian Medical Inc.,(MMI) North American Exclusive Distributor for Meridian Co., Ltd. (OTCBB:MRDAF), a company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of advanced medical devices, is proud to announce the expansion of its sales distribution team in North America.

28 Oct 2009

StemCells to raise $12.5 million

StemCells, Inc. announced today that it has entered into an agreement to raise approximately $12.5 million in gross proceeds through the sale of approximately 10 million shares of its common stock to selected institutional investors at a price of $1.25 per share. The investors will also receive warrants to purchase approximately four million shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.50 per share.

28 Oct 2009

Avisio signs agreement to commercialize Instant Detect diagnostic technology

Avisio, Inc. announces the signing of a definitive agreement to commercialize Instant Detect, a portable nano-based diagnostic technology. Avisio, a publicly-traded commercialization company with a mission to unlock the value of high-potential assets and transform them into high-value businesses, now has the worldwide license to commercialize Instant Detect's ground-breaking portable diagnostic sensory technology.

28 Oct 2009