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Particle beam radiation therapy for cancer cure is better than traditional radiation method

Particle beam radiation therapy, a technology used to treat several types of cancer, is considered by some clinicians to be better than traditional radiation, but there is limited evidence about its safety compared with other types of radiation therapy, according to a new comparative effectiveness report funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

15 Sep 2009

MHPA to hold policy briefing on issues for Medicaid health plans in health reform

The Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA), the leading trade association solely focused on representing Medicaid health plans, is holding a policy briefing on issues for Medicaid health plans in health reform. Issues will include Medicaid expansion, prescription drug rebate equalization for Medicaid managed care, and medical loss ratios.

15 Sep 2009

Cell Therapeutics submits Pediatric Investigation Plan to EMEA for pixantrone

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTI) (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) announced today that it has submitted a Pediatric Investigation Plan (PIP) to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) as part of the required filing process for approval of pixantrone for treating relapsed or refractory, aggressive non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) in Europe. The PIP outlines how the company proposes to study the drug in children in order to benefit child health.

15 Sep 2009

Concept of wellness can yield greater savings

According to a new survey released today, 90 percent of plan sponsors believe that minimal attention to personal health and increased incidence of chronic illness such as diabetes and heart disease are at the root of rising health care costs.

14 Sep 2009

GTx to continue its toremifene Phase III high grade PIN clinical trial for prevention of prostate cancer

GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI), today announced that following a planned safety review, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has recommended that the company continue as planned the pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating toremifene 20 mg for the prevention of prostate cancer in men with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), a precancerous lesion of the prostate.

14 Sep 2009

Dyax' Phase 3 hereditary angioedema clinical program affirms reliability of its novel PROs

Dyax Corp. (NASDAQ:DYAX) today announced a study published evaluating the Company’s novel Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROs) used to assess hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks affirmed the PROs as valuable instruments in capturing HAE symptom severity and impact of treatment.

11 Sep 2009

NCOA supports Obama for improving Medicare’s delivery system

NCOA applauds President Obama's call for universal health care. Older Americans with Medicare know first-hand the benefits of universal coverage -- and they should be in the forefront of efforts to secure the same rights for their children and grandchildren.

11 Sep 2009

NHSA and Together Rx Access collaborate to improve prescription access

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) and Together Rx Access announced today a collaboration to launch the Together Rx Access(R) FOR HEAD START Card to help eligible uninsured individuals and families associated with Head Start access immediate and meaningful savings on prescription medicines and products right at their neighborhood pharmacies.

10 Sep 2009

Catalyst Health Solutions ranks 14th on the Fortune 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHSI) announced today that it was named to the Fortune 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list, making its second consecutive appearance on the annual ranking and third within the past five years. Catalyst ranked Number 14 on the list of fast-growing health care companies and Number 93 overall among all industries.

10 Sep 2009

Labopharm to present its novel trazodone formulation data

Labopharm Inc. today announced that three separate posters will be presented at three upcoming internationally prestigious medical meetings showcasing data on its novel trazodone formulation.

10 Sep 2009

SCAN Health Plan receives regulatory approval to expand in Northern California

SCAN Health Plan announced today that it has received regulatory approval to expand its Medicare Advantage Plan into San Francisco, Contra Costa and Santa Clara counties, effective January 1, 2010. This is the first entry into Northern California for the not-for-profit plan, which currently serves more than 110,000 Medicare members in California and Arizona.

10 Sep 2009

Members of Blue Shield of California to receive administrative costs of the H1N1 virus vaccine

Blue Shield of California announced today that it will cover the administrative costs of the H1N1 virus (swine flu) vaccine for all its members, regardless of which plan they have. Blue Shield will be waiving prior authorizations, copays and deductibles for office visits when members go to an in-network doctor to get H1N1 vaccinations.

9 Sep 2009

Three government trusts in Arizona sign contract with Navitus Health Solutions

Navitus Health Solutions, LLC announced today it has signed contracts to provide pharmacy benefits to three government trusts in Arizona. The contracts are with the Arizona Local Government Employee Benefit Trust (AZLGEBT), Rural Arizona Group Health Trust (RAGHT) and the Cochise Combined Trust. Together, the trusts include 16 groups (seven municipalities, seven counties and two school systems).

9 Sep 2009

Advocacy campaign to fight reimbursement cuts for POC urine drug screen devices

Millennium Laboratories, a leading provider of therapeutic drug monitoring and education to physicians and staff treating chronic pain patients, has announced the launch of an advocacy campaign to fight reimbursement cuts to point-of-care (POC) urine drug screen devices.

9 Sep 2009

FDA notifies PDUFA action date for Cell Therapeutics' NDA for pixantrone

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. ("CTI") (Nasdaq and MTA: CTIC) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has notified CTI that a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of April 23, 2010 under standard review has been established regarding CTI's NDA for pixantrone as potential treatment for relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

5 Sep 2009

Drive to collect unused prescription drugs starts on October 3

In an effort to keep unused prescription drugs out of the hands of pre-teens and teenagers, DDN executive Joe Otto enlisted the support of Menomonee Falls Police Chief Anna Ruzinski, Community Memorial Hospital, and his company. As a result, Community Memorial Hospital will serve as collection site when Waukesha County kicks off its first drug collection program on October 3.

4 Sep 2009

Filing and review of belatacept's license application accepted by the FDA

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted, for filing and review, the company’s submission of a biologic license application for belatacept, which is in ongoing phase III development for use in kidney transplantation.

4 Sep 2009

U.S. hospitals place high precedence on environmentally responsible practices

Summary: Results of a recent survey commissioned by StandPoint indicate that U.S. Hospitals are putting a higher priority on implementing environmentally responsible practices. The major initiatives fall into two groups -- Waste Stream Management and Infrastructure.

4 Sep 2009

Survey reveals health plan costs to increase in 2010

According to The Segal Company’s just-completed survey of projected 2010 health plan costs, medical plan cost trends will continue to be more than four times greater than the annual increase in average hourly earnings and in sharp contrast to changes in the consumer price index for urban consumers, which have been relatively flat or negative in the past 12 months.

4 Sep 2009

Biogen Idec's MS franchise to present at the 25th Congress of ECTRIMS

Biogen Idec today announced more than 70 platform and poster presentations from the company’s multiple sclerosis (MS) franchise being presented during the 25th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) in Düsseldorf, Germany.

3 Sep 2009