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Viewpoints: The campaign against birth control; paying for N.Y.'s autism mandate

What if there were a solution to many of the global problems that confront us, from climate change to poverty to civil wars? There is, but it is starved of resources. It's called family planning, and it has been a victim of America's religious wars.

4 Nov 2011

Cancer drug shortage relates to economics

A perspective in this week's New England Journal of Medicine outlines this connection. Meanwhile, a House Democrat ramps up his investigation into the "gray market" and how it is contributing to the shortage.

4 Nov 2011

The skinny on 'narrow networks'

Health Net of Arizona is joining with Banner Health to offer a new type of HMO plan. In other news, Health News Florida reports on WellCare and Humana's profits.

4 Nov 2011

FDA accepts VIVUS' Qnexa NDA for filing and review

VIVUS, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing and review the New Drug Application (NDA) for Qnexa to treat obesity. The company resubmitted the NDA on October 17, 2011.

4 Nov 2011

Columbia Laboratories third quarter total net revenues decrease to $4.9 million

Columbia Laboratories, Inc. today reported financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011.

3 Nov 2011

SXC third quarter revenue increases 163% to $1.3 billion

SXC Health Solutions Corp., a leading provider of technology and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) services, announces its financial results for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2011.

3 Nov 2011

Viewpoints: GOP intransigence on super committee; taxing health benefits would backfire; the need for care in defining essential benefits

There may be logic to Speaker John Boehner's insidious intransigence. Republicans keep saying no and Democrats keep offering more concessions. Super committee Republicans suggested instead a package based largely on cuts in Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, combined with magical hundreds of billions they say would be produced by slashing assistance to the elderly and the vulnerable, by selling off government assets, and by the growth sparked by tax cuts.

3 Nov 2011

Americans overdosing on prescription pain killers

According to figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 40 Americans die from prescription painkiller abuse each day. Overdoses of opioid prescription drugs now kill more people in the U.S. than do overdoses from heroin and cocaine combined the report says. Twelve million Americans say they abused prescription drugs in the last year.

2 Nov 2011

Prescription drug shortages: Endocrine Society calls for mandatory reporting by manufacturers

The Executive Order President Obama issued Monday directing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take action to reduce prescription drug shortages is a commendable first step, but the White House could strengthen its directive and address the full scope of the problem by ordering mandatory reporting by manufacturers, which The Endocrine Society calls for in its Position Statement on drug shortages.

2 Nov 2011

Obama takes action to address drug shortages

President Barack Obama issued an executive order Monday directing the Food and Drug Administration to, among other steps, speed up reviews of manufacturers' applications to begin or alter production of a drug in potentially short supply.

2 Nov 2011

Humana third quarter consolidated revenues increase 11% to $9.30 billion

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended September 30, 2011 (3Q11) of $2.67, compared to $2.32 per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2010.

31 Oct 2011

Medicare 2012 Part B premiums will be lower than expected

The Obama administration cheered the news regarding the cost of Part B premiums in part because it could give a political boost to President Barack Obama's popularity among older voters.

29 Oct 2011

Feds make arrests in $18 million Medicare and Medicaid scam

The alleged fraud was based on an "elaborate" prescription drug scheme that involved a physician, a pharmacist and 15 others and included the recruitment of veterans, homeless people, poor people and the elderly.

29 Oct 2011

Cigna third quarter adjusted income from operations increases to $325 million

Cigna Corporation today reported third quarter 2011 results that included strong revenue and earnings from each of our ongoing businesses, reflecting continued effective execution of the fundamentals supporting our long-term growth strategy.

29 Oct 2011

First Edition: October 28, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about the health law's public support, the latest on the super committee and news about the cost of Medicare Part B premiums.

28 Oct 2011

Medicare Part B 2012 premiums lower than projected

The Obama administration today announced that premiums for Medicare Part B coverage in 2012 will be $99.90 a month for most beneficiaries, a smaller-than-expected increase over the $96.40 paid this year by a majority of elderly and disabled beneficiaries. Part B pays for physician visits, hospital outpatient costs and certain other services. A 3.6 percent Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, the first in three years, will more than make up for the small increase, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

28 Oct 2011

Elan's third quarter total revenue increases 17% to $328.5 million

Elan Corporation, plc today reported its third quarter and first nine months 2011 financial results.

27 Oct 2011

Quarter of Medicare drug plans get poor ratings

Federal officials gave negative assessments to more than 25 percent of these prescription drug plans. In the Washington area, that number is even higher. Also in the news, Medicare's database comparing hospital patient safety.

27 Oct 2011

Cigna enters definitive agreement to acquire HealthSpring for $55 per share

Cigna Corporation and HealthSpring, Inc. today announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which Cigna will acquire all the outstanding shares of HealthSpring for $55 per share in cash, a 37% premium over the closing stock price on Friday October 21, 2011, representing a total transaction value of approximately $3.8 billion.

24 Oct 2011

Earlier Medicare enrollment period brings new round of ads

Open enrollment periods for health plans also focus the spotlight on how health coverage is likely to change in 2014 when key elements of the health law take effect.

24 Oct 2011