July 29, 2010: Vitter: FDA’s Avastin rejection analogous to govt. death panels
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on Wednesday reignited the politically charged debate over healthcare rationing, arguing a recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommendation against using Avastin to treat breast cancer marks a “sickening” case of...
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July 29, 2010: Business model woes traps doctors and impedes health care
If you are a physician, therapist or any other helping professional whose business model relies on third party manged care reimbursement you are engaged in the world’s worst business model.
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July 28, 2010: Advocates warn of scams involving Medicare rebates
Advocates for senior citizens are reminding people on Medicare that they don’t have to do anything to receive a $250 rebate check if they hit the gap in prescription drug coverage.
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July 28, 2010: Ellen Tauscher diagnosed with cancer
Former East Bay Rep. Ellen Tauscher, a top arms control official in President Barack Obama’s administration, has been diagnosed with early stage esophageal cancer.
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July 28, 2010: Commentary: Prognosis from health care reform: Higher premiums
Health care reform has been in force for more than three months, yet most Americans are still in the dark about what’s actually in the law.
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July 28, 2010: NCCN Receives $4 Million in Oncology Research Funding from GlaxoSmithKline
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has been awarded two individual $2 million grants from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to support clinical studies of ofatumumab (Arzerra(R), GlaxoSmithKline) in the treatment of hematologic malignancies and pazopanib...
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July 27, 2010: Physicians doubt value of PQRI changes
Proposed changes to the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, the CMS’ effort to aggregate claims-based quality data and reward the physicians who submit them, are meeting with no small amount of skepticism among doctors.
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July 27, 2010: NHS missing out on cancer drug payments
The NHS may be missing out on millions of pounds of reimbursement for cancer drugs because of onerous paperwork, say researchers.
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July 27, 2010: Health care reform’s impact on employers
While at present there are no mandates on employers – either in or out of the construction industry – to provide health coverage to independent contractors or even to employees, those businesses that do provide health coverage are finding...
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July 27, 2010: Physician Need Still Outstrips Rising Supply In California
The number of physicians in California has been increasing faster than the state’s population, but not as fast as the state needs, especially as both state and federal legislation strive to increase the number of people who receive healthcare services.
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July 27, 2010: Her next appointment: Defeat cancer again
The 254 customers at Noggins Barbershop in downtown Tacoma agree on one thing: It’s not about the hair.
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July 27, 2010: Former Steeler’s Coach, Bill Cowher’s Wife, Kaye Dies of Skin Cancer
Bill Cowher’s wife, Kaye Cowher, 54, died of skin cancer on Friday. Along with her husband, Kaye is survived by her daughters Meagan, Lauren and Lindsay.
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July 27, 2010: Maryland to save $829 million under national health care reform
National health care reform is expected to save Maryland $829 million over the next decade and provide coverage to nearly 350,000 people — reducing the number of uninsured in the state by half, according to a report released by state officials Monday.
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June 26, 2010: Cancer Docs ‘Frustrated’ By Lack of Useful Info in Journal Articles
Medical journals should include more clinical details in cancer research studies to help doctors better understand and utilize results, according to U.S. researchers.
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June 26, 2010: Bottom Lines: Health reform qualifies businesses for tax credit
More than 4 million small businesses – 126,800 of them in New Jersey – will qualify this year for tax credits to help them pay for health care benefits for their workers under health care reform, consumer health care advocate Families USA...
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June 26, 2010: Sen. Baucus Won’t Say If Obama’s Controversial Recess-Appointee to Run Medicare Will Get Confirmation Hearing
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) would not say whether the recently recess-appointed Dr. Donald Berwick to run the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would ever receive a Senate confirmation hearing in the committee...
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June 26, 2010: Stronger children’s coverage rules may raise insurance costs
Some families may face higher insurance premiums because of a requirement in the new healthcare law that plans cover sick children, state insurance commissioners said Friday.
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July 22, 2010: Avastin faces breast cancer setback but will likely retain leading position in oncology
Following a review of two clinical trials, the FDA’s oncology advisory panel has voted against the use of Avastin in metastatic breast cancer, urging the regulator to revise the drug’s label to exclude this patient population.
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July 22, 2010: Ark. surgeon general says state needs more doctors
Arkansas’ surgeon general told lawmakers Wednesday that he’s worried the state won’t have enough medical providers to care for the thousands of newly insured covered under the federal health care overhaul.
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July 22, 2010: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40048.html
Almost four months before the midterm election that could catapult Majority Leader John Boehner into the speakership, he’s beginning to build up his personal image and launch a PR offensive to explain what he’d do if he ran the House.
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July 21, 2010: Poll shows GOP lead in generic ballot
Republicans have a five-point lead over Democrats in a generic congressional ballot, the latest Quinnipiac poll shows.
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July 20, 2010: New Physician Survey Finds Medicare Payment Change Hurts Care Coordination Efforts
The elimination of Medicare’s consultation codes has had a negative impact on physician efforts to improve care coordination and reduced the treatment options available to Medicare patients, according to a new survey released today by medical specialty...
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July 20, 2010: Poll shows Georgia voters are worried, angry
Heading into Tuesday’s primary elections for governor, Rob Hainer is looking for the answer to just one question: Who is going to bring jobs to Georgia?
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July 20, 2010: The economics of dying in one graph
And that graph — which shows different incomes groups — still hides huge inequality:
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July 20, 2010: Four House Democrats revolt
Four junior House Democrats frustrated with leadership’s approach to deficit spending are going rogue.
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