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PDS to implement its PRISM suite of tools for University Physician Associates

University Physician Associates (UPA), the faculty practice for University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, has selected PDS to implement the PRISM suite of tools for data warehousing, analytics, and dashboard reporting.

7 Oct 2009

Health experts examine maternal mortality in Africa at conference

Inter Press Service reports on a discussion among health experts at the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics' (FIGO) 19th World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Cape Town, South Africa, about maternal mortality rates in Africa. More than 2,000 gynecologists, obstetricians and other health workers are attending the conference, which runs from Oct. 4-9.

7 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health News: U.S. aid to Somalia; Nigerian health workers strike; male circumcision in Swaziland; PEPFAR in Uganda

The U.S. State and Treasury departments together with USAID have reached an agreement that will allow several aid agencies in Somalia to receive humanitarian grants upon meeting several conditions, "unlock[ing] millions of dollars in relief resources that had been on hold due to US anti-terrorism rules," IRIN reports.

7 Oct 2009

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger supporting health reform efforts

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday announced his support for President Obama's push for health care reforms.

7 Oct 2009

Baucus says bill score could come Wednesday

Roll Call reports that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said today that he could receive on Wednesday the final Congressional Budget Office cost estimate of the latest version of his panel's health reform bill.

7 Oct 2009

Examining the recent winners and losers in the health reform debate

"Pfizer Inc., the world's largest drugmaker, and hospital companies including Community Health Systems Inc. are benefiting from agreements with President Barack Obama that will limit any threat to their profits."

6 Oct 2009

Balancing costs, quality a difficult task both in Congress and practice

Democratic lawmakers hope to keep costs for health coverage down while, at the same time, improving benefits packages, a pair of sometimes-conflicting goals that boils down to an effort to get more for less, the New York Times reports.

6 Oct 2009

States face rising Medicaid rolls under health reform

As part of the ongoing "Are You Covered?" series done in conjunction with Kaiser Health News, NPR profiles a 94-year-old Medicaid recipient in Colorado, who lives in a nursing home largely paid for by her Medicaid coverage. Gracie Scarrow and her daughter, Lela Petersen, both "say they are very satisfied with the program."

6 Oct 2009

Health insurance exchanges examined as part of reform proposals

Health insurance exchanges are part of every health care overhaul proposal now in Congress as Utah becomes just the second state to try its own exchange on for size.

6 Oct 2009

Health reform may open employment opportunities

Health reform could open new opportunities for workers and employers, according to U.S. News and World Report. "If healthcare reform makes insurance much more affordable to individuals and businesses, it could result in a greater variety of career options for workers. For one thing, it would reduce barriers to entrepreneurship.

6 Oct 2009

U.S. lags behind industrialized countries on preventable deaths

The United States lags behind other wealthy countries on "preventable deaths," those caused by illnesses and injuries that should not kill at an early age, and it has been falling further behind over the past decade.

6 Oct 2009

Administration considers extending COBRA premiums

The Obama administration announced Monday that it is considering extending a federal law that subsidizes COBRA health insurance premiums for laid-off workers.

6 Oct 2009

Supreme Court asks Obama's opinion on San Francisco’s health care law

"The U.S. Supreme Court delayed action Monday on employer fees in San Francisco's groundbreaking health care program and instead sought advice from the Obama administration, even as the president struggles to overhaul health coverage nationwide," The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

6 Oct 2009

California officials question cost-effectiveness of immigrant screening rules

Los Angeles County officials are questioning the "cost-effectiveness of rules aimed at screening those trying to get public health services," The Los Angeles Times reports. The county began implementing tougher federal standards in 2008, receiving "nearly $28 million in state and federal funds to cover the cost of the program and posted 81 people in 27 social service department offices to check documents."

6 Oct 2009

Alere to showcase its Apollo integrated health management system at the Health 2.0 conference

Alere(®) LLC, a national patient-centered health management services company, has been selected to demonstrate its innovative integrated health management system, referred to as Apollo, at Health 2.0, a highly respected industry venue created to showcase web-based and mobile technologies transforming the healthcare system.

6 Oct 2009

New four-year accreditation for SCAN Health Plan's medical education program

SCAN Health Plan announced today that its continuing medical education program for physicians has received a new four-year accreditation from the Institute of Medical Quality.

6 Oct 2009

First Edition: October 6, 2009

Kathy Young, the veteran benefits administrator for a large plumbing supply company headquartered in Madison, Wis., is well versed in the often fiendish complexities of medical bills (Kaiser Health News and The Washington Post).

6 Oct 2009

HeartWare International receives approval to expand its clinical sites

HeartWare International, Inc. today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expand the number of clinical sites participating in its U.S. bridge-to-transplant trial, known as the ADVANCE trial.

6 Oct 2009

Comprehensive Medicare coverage from Priority Health

Priority Health announced today it is expanding both its Medicare Advantage service area and the Medicare Advantage products it will offer effective Jan. 1, 2010. Residents in 31 Michigan counties will be able to choose Priority Health Medicare Advantage coverage in 2010, up from 23 counties in 2009.

6 Oct 2009

Former HHS Secretary to be the featured speaker of the health care reform Webinar event

TogetherMD announced today Donna Shalala, President of the University of Miami and former Health and Human Services Secretary from 1993 - 2001, is the featured speaker for a candid discussion on health care reform in the United States. Ms. Shalala is well connected in Washington and with other critical stakeholders around the country. She will provide viewers with a unique view on health care reform in the United States.

6 Oct 2009