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Some seniors could be cushioned from proposed cuts in Medicare Advantage funding

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz reports on how some seniors would be shielded from planned cuts to the Medicare Advantage program currently included in the Senate Finance Committee's health overhaul legislation.

23 Oct 2009

Obama administration disputes government report on reform's higher costs

Administration officials quickly rejected a new analysis that found "the nation's medical costs will keep spiraling upward even faster than they are now under Democratic legislation pending in the House," the Associated Press reports.

23 Oct 2009

Study: Massachusetts health reform popular with doctors, doesn't hold costs down

"The first broad-based survey of how physicians feel about the Massachusetts experiment shows strong and deep support: 70 percent favor the law; three-quarters want to keep it," NPR reports.

23 Oct 2009

Some hospital revenues could decline if H1N1 becomes pandemic

"While it's common for hospitals to see a revenue boost at the onset of seasonal influenza season, the additional threat of cases from the H1N1 swine flu virus could complicate this fall's and winter's financial picture for such health facilities," The Chicago Tribune reports.

23 Oct 2009

Pelosi's statement after President Obama signs the Veterans' bill

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after attending a ceremony at the White House during which President Obama signed into law the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.

23 Oct 2009

White House leaning towards public option with state opt out provision, Sen. Nelson says

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and the White House are leaning towards including a national public option -- with a provision for states to opt out of it -- in the Senate health care bill, Sen. Ben. Nelson (D-Neb.) said Thursday" after a briefing with Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Politico's Live Pulse blog reports.

23 Oct 2009

Twenty charged with Medicare fraud; and such crimes are emerging as a new area for gang activity

Federal authorities have charged 20 people with Medicare fraud in seven different cases. Those charged alledgedly bilked the government out of about $26 million in unneeded or undelivered medical equipment in California and Las Vegas.

23 Oct 2009

Report: Quality of care for insured Americans slipped in 2008

CNNMoney reports that for the first time in more than 10 years, the "overall quality of health care" for Americans insured through commercial and public plans appears to have slipped.

23 Oct 2009

Lumetra awarded a Veterans Health Administration Protected Clinical Peer Review Services contract

Lumetra is pleased to announce that the Department of Veterans Affairs has awarded the California-based healthcare consulting organization a contract for Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Protected Clinical Peer Review Services. Effective on September 30, 2009, the contract is for a one-year period, with the VHA having the choice to exercise four option years.

23 Oct 2009

Large firms that 'self-insure' are resisting new regulations

"Despite promises by President Barack Obama, more than 70 million Americans who have health insurance through their jobs could be open to higher costs or denials of some coverage under a leading overhaul plan making its way through Congress," The Associated Press reports.

23 Oct 2009

American Thoracic Society releases new clinical guidelines for pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis

The American Thoracic Society has released new clinical guidelines for the treatment of exacerbations in cystic fibrosis based on a review of the literature on current clinical practices.

23 Oct 2009

Obama adopting a more partisan tone on health care

"In sharp contrast to how he got elected, President Barack Obama is bashing Republicans this week while urging Democrats to unite behind his effort to reform the nation's healthcare system," The Hill reports. "Months after some Democrats on and off Capitol Hill were suggesting that healthcare reform could attract 70 to 80 votes in the Senate, Obama and congressional leaders are focused on uniting their party and picking up, at most, a couple GOP defectors to help clear the 60-vote hurdle in the upper chamber."

23 Oct 2009

Senate Dems still debating public option in health bills

Senate Democratic leaders are tracking the support of a government-run public option in health care reform legislation.

23 Oct 2009

Healthcare expense experts develop new model to eliminate inefficient processes and wasteful spending

As Washington wrestles with reforming the healthcare insurance system, The Center for Modeling Optimal Outcomes® LLC, a Jackson, NJ-based think tank, developed an organizational operating model that focuses on eliminating inefficient processes and wasteful spending.

23 Oct 2009

Leaders confident they have support for a public option in final House health bill

There are 256 Democrats in the House, but some moderates have balked at inclusion of a public plan, "especially one linked to Medicare rates," CQ Politics reports (10/21).

23 Oct 2009

Obama signs veterans' medical bill into law

President Barack Obama "signed a bill [on Thursday] designed to keep funding for veterans' medical care steady during future budget negotiations," the Associated Press reports. Obama said the bill will guarantee predictable funding for the Department of Veteran Affairs.

23 Oct 2009

Health care lobbyists spend big to win big, consumer groups fight industry deals

Health care lobbyists are on track to set new spending records this year, with some individual companies nearly doubling their investment compared to previous periods, USA Today reports. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spent almost as much by September as it did in the entire year in 2008. America's Health Insurance Plans has spent $1 million more so far this year than over the same period last year (Schouten, 10/21).

23 Oct 2009

News outlets examine challenges with expanding global child immunization campaigns

Wednesday's release of the WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank joint report on childhood vaccines highlighted gains in recent global vaccination campaigns and also found that nearly 24 million infants worldwide don't get the recommended first-year vaccination.

23 Oct 2009

House Committee votes to remove antitrust protection from insurance companies, Senate may follow

Bloomberg: "The U.S. House Judiciary Committee voted to repeal the insurance industry's federal antitrust exemption in a move aimed at spurring competition and controlling the cost of premiums. The panel, in a 20-9 vote, approved legislation to ban companies from engaging in price fixing, bid rigging and market allocation.

23 Oct 2009

House Republicans find many angles for opposition to health bills

"A coalition of pro-life groups, accompanied by several House Republicans outside the U.S. Capitol, delivered a petition signed by 137,000 Americans Wednesday voicing disapproval with current health care reform legislation," FOX News reports.

23 Oct 2009

Healthcare News

Some seniors could be cushioned from proposed cuts in Medicare Advantage funding

Obama administration disputes government report on reform's higher costs

Study: Massachusetts health reform popular with doctors, doesn't hold costs down

Some hospital revenues could decline if H1N1 becomes pandemic

Pelosi's statement after President Obama signs the Veterans' bill

White House leaning towards public option with state opt out provision, Sen. Nelson says

Twenty charged with Medicare fraud; and such crimes are emerging as a new area for gang activity

Report: Quality of care for insured Americans slipped in 2008

Lumetra awarded a Veterans Health Administration Protected Clinical Peer Review Services contract

Large firms that 'self-insure' are resisting new regulations

American Thoracic Society releases new clinical guidelines for pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis

Obama adopting a more partisan tone on health care

Senate Dems still debating public option in health bills

Healthcare expense experts develop new model to eliminate inefficient processes and wasteful spending

Leaders confident they have support for a public option in final House health bill

Obama signs veterans' medical bill into law

Health care lobbyists spend big to win big, consumer groups fight industry deals

News outlets examine challenges with expanding global child immunization campaigns

House Committee votes to remove antitrust protection from insurance companies, Senate may follow

House Republicans find many angles for opposition to health bills

Precision in every drop: Inside Hamilton’s syringe technology

Exploring the Future of Neuroscience Drug Discovery

Genomic conservation in Thailand's mangroves

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