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Senate vote on abortion amendment - a major hurdle to health bill - could occur today

The Washington Post reports that lawmakers in the Senate began consideration Monday "of an amendment to restrict abortion coverage" and a vote is expected today. The provision, "co-sponsored by Sens. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) and Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah), would bar individuals who receive federal insurance subsidies from purchasing private policies that cover elective abortions. It also would ban abortion coverage under a government plan" (Murray, 12/8).

8 Dec 2009

Liberals may trade public option for expansion of Medicare, Medicaid

In exchange for accepting a proposed compromise on a public option in the health bill, liberal Democratic Senators are hoping to win expansions of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, The New York Times reports. "One of the changes being pushed by the liberals would lower the age of eligibility for Medicare to 55, from 65. Another would expand Medicaid to cover people with incomes up to 150 percent of the poverty level."

8 Dec 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

As a society, we have to make choices. Do we want our doctors to be well-qualified practitioners using their experience and judgment to help as many patients as they can? Or do we want detached, disenfranchised doctors looking to their next career while practicing medicine with the mentality of postal workers? (Soumi Eachempati 12/7).

8 Dec 2009

Drug reimportation emerges again in health debate

The Hill reports that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid "has agreed to allow Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) to bring an amendment to a vote this week that would allow the importation of cheaper prescription drugs from abroad despite the fact that it could blow up a truce between the White House, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on healthcare reform." Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) is among the amendment's co-sponsors.

8 Dec 2009

Consumer reports details the screening tests that may be unneccesary

Consumer Reports/The Washington Post: "Many Americans -- and their doctors -- seem to think that better health means more health care, including as many screening tests as possible. But many researchers are questioning that notion, saying that some common screening tests are unproven and can not only waste your time and money but also cause more harm than good."

8 Dec 2009

Summa Health System to implement Agilysys' software solution suite

Agilysys, Inc., a leading provider of innovative information technology and hospitality software solutions, announced today that Summa Health System in Akron, Ohio has implemented a comprehensive suite of software solutions to streamline efficiency and control costs in its food outlets and gift shops.

8 Dec 2009

Senate staff raise idea of taxing indoor tanning salons

Roll Call: "The concept of an excise tax on tanning services, which could include salon walk-ins or tanning beds and sunlamps sold for residential use, was floated in a weekend Senate staff meeting on the health bill. Officials described the idea as preliminary and not being seriously considered at this time.

8 Dec 2009

New report: CBO underestimates savings from health bills but economists worry savings aren't enough

"Previous analyses have underestimated the potential cost-saving effects of the House and Senate health reform bill, according to a new report co-authored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and the Commonwealth Fund," Modern Healthcare reports.

8 Dec 2009

ADVocacy for IMmunization program receives a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

The Agence de Médecine Préventive (AMP) has received a three-year grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement a program to support immunization advocacy in West Africa.

8 Dec 2009

QuantRx Biomedical launches its new flagship POC diagnostic reader device at MEDICA 2009

QuantRx® Biomedical Corporation, a broad-based diagnostic company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative diagnostic products, announced today the successful debut of its new flagship point-of-care (POC) diagnostic reader device, Q-Reader™, at MEDICA 2009 on November 18-21, 2009, in Düsseldorf, Germany.

8 Dec 2009

Medicare seeks to cut hospital readmissions with 'Care Transitions' project

The Associated Press reports that a "major push is underway around the country to cut rehospitalizations, in part by arming patients with simple steps to keep their recovery on track," such as getting quicker follow-up doctor visits and lessening medication confusion.

8 Dec 2009

FDA probes excessive radiation dose cases

The Associated Press/Wall Street Journal: "Federal health regulators are investigating reports of dangerous radiation levels at two more California hospitals, following earlier unsafe medical scans at a Los Angeles facility. The Food and Drug Administration is probing the use of CT scans at Glendale Adventist Medical Center and Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, Calif. The brain scans are used to diagnose strokes.

8 Dec 2009

Health IT: W.Va. savings forecast; federal official foresees private-sector dominance

West Virginia could save $1.1 billion in health spending by government agencies, private insurers and consumers, if the health system would switch to electronic records and do a better job centralizing patient care, according to a new report by the West Virginia Health Care Authority, a governmental group, The Associated Press/New York Times reports.

8 Dec 2009

An unexpected ally for health reform: The restaurant industry

"While many small businesses are fighting to block passage of health care reform, restaurant owners have decided to work for something they can support," Politico reports.

8 Dec 2009

Moses Cone Health System to implement Streamline Health Solutions' enterprise technology

Streamline Health Solutions, Inc. a leading provider of document workflow solutions for hospitals, today announced that Moses Cone Health System has selected the Company's enterprise technology to improve quality and operating efficiency by providing their physicians with one view of the patient medical record across their healthcare enterprise.

8 Dec 2009

Nightingale Informatix to provide its EMR system to Uptown Health Centre

Nightingale Informatix Corporation, an application service provider (ASP) of electronic medical record (EMR) software and related services, announced today that it has been selected to provide its electronic medical record (EMR) system hosted at eHealth Ontario to all three Uptown Health Centre locations.

8 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 8, 2009

Today's headlines highlight how Senate consideration of the health bill could become even messier with amendments pending on abortion funding restrictions and the reimportation of prescription drugs. All the while, Senate Dems continue to work to find common ground on the public option.

8 Dec 2009

Healthways receives NCQA WHP accreditation

Healthways, Inc. today announced the organization is among the first in the nation to receive National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Wellness and Health Promotion (WHP) accreditation, making the company an early adopter.

8 Dec 2009

New iPhone application to help find the top doctor

Have no fear during holiday travel this year — if you’re in a strange city, feel flu-like symptoms coming on and want to find a doctor, there’s a new iPhone App that will find one for you. The i Need a Doctor™ (www.ineedadoc.net) app is a joint venture between The Paladin Group LLC, the app developer, and two of the most respected doctor-rating services in the United States — the health care research organization Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. (www.castleconnolly.com) and the physician rating site DrScore (www.drscore.com).

8 Dec 2009

TLC Gift of Sight: A new financing option for corrective eye surgery

According to the Employee Benefits Research Institute, 30 million Americans use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for qualified medical expenses, such as laser eye surgery.

8 Dec 2009