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Is using health resources less expensively "rationing?"

Critics of the Democrats' health care overhaul effort see veiled "rationing" schemes behind plans to curb misused and overused tests, treatments and drugs that drive up medical costs without helping patients, The Washington Post reports.

30 Sep 2009

Holding onto insurance that works

As part of the continuing series, "Are You Covered?" Kaiser Health News and NPR profile Dave Koenig. He has a job with good benefits. Still, he thinks some aspects of the insurance industry should be changed to protect patients from losing coverage" (Weiss, 9/28). Watch the video.

30 Sep 2009

Employers provide health coverage for most Americans

Kaiser Health News and NPR report on employer-based health insurance by examining the experience of a 49-year-old Californian: "Dave Koenig gets private insurance through his employer and couldn't be happier.

29 Sep 2009

Ontario government files cost-recovery litigation against tobacco companies

The Canadian Cancer Society is pleased the Ontario government is suing tobacco companies to recover tobacco-related health care costs.

29 Sep 2009

California's failed health reform attempts offer useful lessons

California's failed attempt at remaking the state's health care system provides useful lessons for participants in the current federal health care debate.

29 Sep 2009

State Republicans attack health reform bill

Republican state officials are escalating their opposition to elements of the proposed health care overhaul.

29 Sep 2009

Medicare commission proposal and MedPAC data shape reform

A proposal for a Medicare Commission passes through the Senate Finance markup while MedPAC data may help rework Medicare spending.

29 Sep 2009

Illinois nursing homes mix seniors and mentally ill patients, some criminals

Some Illinois nursing homes create dangerous and unsafe environments by mixing seniors and younger mentally ill residents, the Chicago Tribune reports: "More than any other state, Illinois relies heavily on nursing homes to house mentally ill patients, including those who have committed crimes. But a Tribune investigation found that government, law enforcement and the industry have failed to adequately manage the resulting influx of younger residents who shuttle into nursing facilities from jail cells, shelters and psychiatric wards."

29 Sep 2009

Democrats look to Medicare to help finance reform

The Associated Press: "Medicare is looking like a big fat piggy bank for health care overhaul. President Barack Obama and the Democrats want to pay for much of their plan to cover the uninsured by cutting hundreds of billions from the Medicare budget over the next 10 years. From its inception, the health plan for seniors has been kept afloat by taxes out of workers' paychecks. Now, Medicare savings would count toward helping uninsured working-age children and grandchildren afford their own coverage."

29 Sep 2009

90-day supply program to improve overall healthcare

Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) today launched a broad initiative for 90-day prescriptions that promotes delivery of maintenance and chronic care medication through its national network of more than 7,000 community pharmacies and employer worksite centers.

29 Sep 2009

Doctations launches blog to improve healthcare

Doctations, Inc., an innovative leader in applying Internet technology to improve healthcare, today announced the launch of its new DocPatient blog. Weekly postings to the blog site by company executives and thought leaders will address timely healthcare related topics, express expert opinions and pose provocative questions intended to inform the community, stimulate constructive dialogue and promote healthcare improvement.

29 Sep 2009

Aurora Breast MRI and Clear Channel Radio join to support The Wellness Community fundraiser

Aurora Breast MRI of Sarasota today announced it has partnered with Clear Channel Radio for a fundraising effort to benefit The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida. The fundraiser, titled “Change for Change,” will consist of a series of breast cancer awareness messages throughout the month of October to encourage donations at area “Change for Change” locations.

29 Sep 2009

Local officials address long-term costs associated with employee and retiree health care

About 49 percent of the nations’ cities, counties and townships expect less revenue in 2010, and 21 percent expect fewer employees, according to a new survey.

29 Sep 2009

CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation for State Farm

State Farm has received CEO Cancer Gold Standard™ accreditation, recognizing the organization’s commitment to taking concrete actions to reduce the cancer risk of its employees and their families through screenings, early detection, and healthy changes in lifestyle and in the workplace.

29 Sep 2009

First edition: September 29, 2009

The Finance Committee will resume work today on its mark up of its health bill -- with some fireworks likely on the public plan and other wild cards.

29 Sep 2009

SUNY Stony Brook implements PatientKeeper ePrescription and Pay for Performance

PatientKeeper®, Inc., the leading provider of Physician Information Technology, announced today that the physicians at State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook will be using PatientKeeper ePrescription™ and PatientKeeper Pay for Performance (P4P)™, expanding their deployment of the PatientKeeper’s physician-focused applications.

29 Sep 2009

Campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience to end insurance abuse

Citizens and health care providers who are fed up with the state of our health care system will risk arrest at a New York Aetna health insurance office on Tuesday morning. The sit-in is the first action in part of a larger mobilization to end insurance abuse and build support for real reform – Medicare for All, a single payer plan.

29 Sep 2009

Also in Global Health news: News outlets explore AIDS vaccine research; chloroquine resistance unraveled; authorities contest maternal mortality report

The Associated Press examines the role of the Thai participants in the recent clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine which showed modest potential for preventing infection. "Nearly 16,000 Thais ignored the false rumors that they were being infected by the AIDS virus, and overcame their fears of becoming social outcasts to participate in trials of the first vaccine found to prevent infection with the deadly virus," the news service writes (Ahuja/Casey, 9/27).

29 Sep 2009

Smart Card Alliance: Cybersecurity and healthcare identity to be prioritized in upcoming year

The Smart Card Alliance Identity Council will turn its attention to cybersecurity and healthcare identity in the upcoming year, the Council said today, while continuing its work to educate and make identity credentialing recommendations for corporate enterprise, healthcare, state and local governments, and more. The Identity Council also announced new officers and steering committee, and plans to attend the Smart Card Alliance 8th Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference in Washington, DC.

29 Sep 2009

Baucus target of ad favoring a public option

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is the target of an advertising campaign by two progressive groups advocating for the inclusion of a public option in legislation to overhaul the health care systeml, according to Capitol Briefing, a Washington Post blog.

29 Sep 2009