News

With healthcare-reform legislation moving forward, insurers, providers, and pharmaceutical companies are keeping a sharp eye on policy proposals likely to affect coverage, costs, and benefits. Various constituencies in the healthcare community are supporting initiatives that will increase access to healthcare and make the nation's costly healthcare system more efficient and effective.

The rate of hospitalizations that involved an injury likely due to osteoporosis increased 55% since 1995, to just more than 254,000 hospital stays totaling $2.4 billion in hospital costs in 2006, according to AHRQ.

Activity and progress increase on the exchange of health information electronically between physicians, hospitals, plans and patients, while cost savings have been identified.

AHIP healthcare reform ads touted as one that will resonate with many Americans.

The University of Miami and technology partners Microsoft and Resolute Solutions Corp. are teaming up to see if patients with diabetes can self manage their disease virtually while replicating the traditional patient-provider relationship.

Bayonne Hospital Center-Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey heats up.

UnitedHealthcare's acquisition of Health Net's NE licenses and rights to renew membership underscores that scale in local markets is an important asset as companies pursue growth and local focus is key.

Like other health insurers before it, Aetna considers selling off its PBM unit.

In a retrospective analysis published in the journal Neurology, investigators demonstrated that previous treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was associated with a reduced risk of the development of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) in patients aged at least 65 years.

Rivaroxaban is a highly potent direct factor Xa inhibitor that is pending FDA approval for the indication of venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in patients undergoing total knee replacement or total hip replacement surgery.

Recent FDA action (through August 2009) related to trazodone, casopitant, sertindole, alogliptin, bepotastine, trabectedin, and velaglucerase alfa

Generic drug approved by FDA (through August 2009): ethinyl estradiol/norgestimate tablets

New molecular entity: Dronedarone (Multaq), a benzofuran derivative, was approved on July 1, 2009, to reduce the risk of CV hospitalization in patients with AF

New molecular entity: Prasugrel (Effient), a platelet activation and aggregation inhibitor, was approved on July 10, 2009, to reduce the rate of thrombotic CV events in patients with ACS undergoing PCI

Agents in late-stage development for the treatment of osteoarthritis and acute/chronic pain

Proactive organizations will begin a painful transition to emerge as larger, fuller enterprises with concentrated authority designed around very different roles and responsibilities than what they have today

Collaborative healthcare communities gather clinical and claims data to apply to real-world settings

Dean Health Plan and its PBM business seek sure footing for today's changing times in healthcare

Discussing hospice and palliative care with patients and families lowers healthcare costs and allows patients to realize maximum benefits of care

Outcomes-based contracting enables risk sharing between plans and manufacturers while also allowing better patient adherence to regimens

The United Kingdom implemented ICD-10 as far back as 1995, making the United States one of the last major global economies to begin the implementation process.

Straying from the popular opinion of the industry, a handful of medical device manufactures have aligned with Obama's proposed investment in comparative effectiveness research.

If these programs are executed correctly, they can educate patients about their medications, provide physicians with information about the effectiveness of drugs and facilitate communication

The Golden Gate Restaurant Association argues that contributions to San Francisco's Health Access Program under a 2006 ordinance are preempted by ERISA

Commonwealth Fund State Performance Ranking (2007): 14

While co-ops do provide good care and the right incentives, they still face market pressures that have historically destroyed them

Sensitive to market pressures, 67% of employers prefer a phased approach to reform and 68% believe the current tax treatment of coverage should not be changed

Democrats back insurance market changes, coverage mandates and a public plan option. House leaders generally ignored Republican protests.