News health 2008-06-09 Andanh.com

Fake patients test Vermont medical students
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- The patient talked a mile a minute, hopped off the exam table, paced around and poked through the cupboards when the medical students entered the exam room....

Patient Web sites used for news, support in crisis
NEW YORK (AP) -- When he was diagnosed with kidney cancer last year, Dave deBronkart needed an easy way to keep his far-flung friends and family updated. So did the president of the American Medical Association when he fell ill months ago. And so did the mother of a soldier wounded in Iraq who later suffered brain damage....

Lawmakers question program to cut medical equipment costs
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Makers and sellers of wheelchairs, oxygen machines and other medical equipment are on the verge of getting Congress to delay, if not scrap, a new program the Bush administration says would save Medicare about $1 billion a year....

CDC: Salmonella illnesses spread to 16 states
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Salmonella food poisoning first linked to uncooked tomatoes has spread to 16 states, federal health officials said Saturday....

Intense diabetes therapy didn't cut heart problems
NEW YORK (AP) -- Aggressively treating diabetes doesn't prevent heart problems and deaths any better than standard treatment for lowering blood sugar, Australian researchers reported Friday....

FDA adds cancer warnings to J&J foot ulcer cream
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration warned patients Friday that using large amounts of a Johnson & Johnson foot ulcer medication could heighten their risk of dying from cancer....

Bird flu detected in Hong Kong market
HONG KONG (AP) -- Hong Kong health workers slaughtered 2,700 poultry in a market Saturday after chickens were found to be carrying the dangerous H5N1 bird flu virus, officials said....

Health insurer moves away from online-only strategy Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
A health insurance company that began selling coverage online in Texas a year ago has abandoned that effort and switched to using agents.

Insurers balk at state mandate on autism coverage Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
TALLAHASSEE -- A new state mandate for health insurance companies to cover services for people with autism has ruffled some feathers among insurers.

Kaiser to offer self-funded plan in Maryland next year Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Rockville-based health insurer Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States plans to offer self-funded insurance plans in Maryland by January.

Reimbursement climate has HMOs feeling fiscally healthy Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Aging baby boomers are helping drive gains in profit at Florida's health maintenance organizations. (HUM) (WCG)

Insurance industry shakeup Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Anemic first-quarter earnings for Oregon's eight major health insurance companies could signal the start of a rocky business cycle, complete with higher health care premiums and industry consolidation.

Texas near bottom of ranking for children's health care Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
A nationwide study ranking child health care system performance from state-to-state rates Texas in the bottom 12 of states for access and quality of children's health care.

Online insurance company opting to use agents Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
A health insurance company that began selling coverage online in Texas a year ago has abandoned that effort and switched to using agents.

JUA proposes cutting malpractice insurance premiums by 4.4% Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
The Pennsylvania Professional Liability Joint Underwriting Association, the state's insurer of last resort for malpractice coverage, filed plans with the state Department of Insurance to decrease rates next year for health-care providers by an overall average of 4.4 percent.

Alternative Home Care Solutions faces $200,000 lien Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
A home care provider is facing a federal tax lien of more than $200,000 as similar companies in the state deal with rising fuel costs and insufficient insurance payments.

Triad Isotopes on growth spurt with four new nuclear pharmacies Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Triad Isotopes Inc. will build and open four new nuclear pharmacies during the third quarter -- and may acquire six others before the end of the year, as it builds its national footprint in secondary markets.

FDA clears H.P.'s Banner to produce flu medicine Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Banner Pharmacaps Inc., an international contract pill manufacturer as well as generic pharmaceutical developer, will send a new flu drug to the market later this year following approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week.

Warning: In rare instances, this drug might cause tax pain Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Guilford County tax auditors have told a Greensboro physicians group they must pay property taxes on their inventory of free drug samples.

Altus CEO: Restoring investor confidence a priority Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
As Georges Gemayel explains it, Altus Pharmaceuticals Inc. started with a bang in January 2006 when it launched a well-received IPO that raised over $95 million. For a time shares were trading at over $20. (DNA)

Gilead Sciences to freeze price for some HIV drugs Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Gilead Sciences Inc. is freezing prices on most AIDS/HIV drugs it sells to government drug-assistance programs, and limiting even patients with private insurance to payments of $50 per month.

UNM tech investor opens local office Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Utah-based NuView Radiopharmaceuticals Inc. has opened an office in Albuquerque to be closer to investment opportunities at the University of New Mexico.

From sprawling new HQ in Mason, drug distributor Prasco to live corporate ideals Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Faith, family, fitness and pharmaceuticals - those are the major elements of Cincinnati's newest and arguably most unique headquarters campus. It includes an office, warehouse, distribution and athletic facility that will open in August to house drug distributor Prasco Laboratories.

Indigene, backed by Tata, signs growth funding Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
The India-based conglomerate behind the $2.3 billion purchase of Ford Motor Co.'s Jaguar and Land Rover businesses, has invested in a Boston-area biopharmaceutical firm.

Outbreak a reminder to follow food safety tips
A salmonella outbreak linked to raw tomatoes serves as a reminder to take extra care with summer fruits and vegetables. At least 23 people have been hospitalized as the government investigates the source of the tomatoes responsible for the illnesses in at least 16 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention....

Can exercise help prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol?
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sure, exercise is good for your waistline, your heart, your bones - but might it also help prevent addiction to drugs or alcohol?...

Study: 1 in 4 adults in NYC have herpes virus
NEW YORK (AP) -- A city Health Department study finds that more than a fourth of adult New Yorkers are infected with the virus that causes genital herpes....

Teens may be more susceptible to some cancers
LONDON (AP) -- Teenagers may be more susceptible than adults to certain types of cancer, including cervical, testicular and skin cancer, British scientists said Monday....

Noven names chief scientific officer Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:45:40 GMT
Noven Pharmaceuticals said Monday it has appointed Steven M. Dinh to the newly created position of vice president and chief scientific officer. In this role, Dinh is to be responsible for the functioning, expansion and productivity of the Miami-based drug maker's transdermal drug delivery program and related product development activities. (NOVN)

Mylan gets federal OK for generic Sonata Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:22:16 GMT
Mylan Inc. said Monday that it received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell a generic version of King Pharmaceuticals' insomnia drug Sonata. (KG) (MYL)

Hologic plans $580M buyout of Third Wave Technologies Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:55:59 GMT
Hologic Inc., a maker of medical products for women, plans to acquire molecular diagnostics firm Third Wave Technologies Inc. for $580 million in cash, according to the companies.

Targanta asks for EU approval of new antibiotic Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:53:55 GMT
Cambridge biotech firm Targanta Therapeutics Corp. reports it has filed an application with the European Medicines Agency to seek approval of its experimental antibiotic oritavancin.

Targanta files for European regulatory approval for new antibiotic Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:35:09 GMT
Targanta Therapeutics Corp. is seeking European regulatory approval for its new antibiotic.

Biotech, IT stalemate puts breaks on IP reform law Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
The first major overhaul of the U.S. patent system in over half a century will have to wait a little bit longer.

Shorenstein Properties, SKS Development bag biotech land Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
A joint venture team of Shorenstein Properties and SKS Development is in contract to buy 25 acres of waterfront land at Oyster Point, a deal that will put the team in control of the largest and most valuable biotech play left in South San Francisco.

Tough biotechs get going in trying economic times Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Tough times are strengthening the Bay Area's biotech resolve.

Startup Stemgent among the stem cell firms shifting from treatments to tools Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
A group of biotech scientists and entrepreneurs from the Boston area and the West Coast have quietly formed a life sciences startup to sell consumable materials and tools based on stem cell science.

Microchip Biotechnologies nears $15M in new funding Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
Microchip Biotechnologies Inc. of Dublin is near closing as much as $15 million in new venture funding as it prepares to launch a compact machine that makes preparing DNA for analysis cheaper and less labor-intensive.

East Bay researchers tackle cancer Mon, 09 Jun 2008 04:00:00 GMT
With the American Cancer Society predicting more than 1.4 million new cancer cases and about 560,650 people expected to die from the disease in the U.S. this year, three East Bay researchers have their work cut out for them.

Riley to sign health insurance bill Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:49:11 GMT
Gov. Bob Riley is scheduled to sign a law Tuesday that provides tax incentives to help small businesses afford health insurance for employees.

Companion Life buys International Specialty Underwriters Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:25:13 GMT
A South Carolina insurance company has bought Jacksonville-based International Specialty Underwriters (ISU) for an undisclosed price.

Webster graduates first gerontology class Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:47:21 GMT
Webster University's Albuquerque campus has graduated the first class to enroll in its non-clinical gerontology master's degree program.

Executive director appointed at Morningside Ministries at The Chandler Estate Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:04:20 GMT
Morningside Ministries has a new head of its Chandler Estate assisted living, nursing and hospice care facility.

Zotec gets contract with Radiology Specialists Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:09:16 GMT
Zotec Partners has been awarded a contract to perform billing and accounting services for Radiology Specialists of Florida, a radiology group formed by Florida Hospital following the end of its 40-year relationship with Florida Radiology Associates.

NY's Medicaid program to stop paying for hospital blunders Mon, 09 Jun 2008 17:32:48 GMT
This October, the New York state Medicaid program will stop paying hospitals for what it calls "never events."

Saint Martin's president-elect dies Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:18:04 GMT
Bryan Johnston, who was named the new president of Saint Martin's University last month, died Friday at his home in Oregon.

InGenesis wins medical staffing contract with Fort Bliss Army hospital Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:14:30 GMT
InGenesis Medical Staffing has won a $7.7 million contract with the U.S. Army to provide medical coding services for the William Beaumont Army Medical Center at Fort Bliss, Texas.

GBBN to open Louisville office Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:05:15 GMT
GBBN Architects said Monday it is extending its health-care design practice to Louisville.

Grady gets $12.7M in state trauma care funding Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:57:50 GMT
Grady's share was 26.6 percent, or about $12.7 million, which was nearly half of the $25 million Grady had expected.

Wal-Mart hospital donations hit $541K Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:51:05 GMT
Wal-Mart stores and Sam's Clubs have donated $541,000 to Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo. The money was raised through several in-store fundraisers throughout 2007, including the "Round Up" program when customers were asked to round up their change from purchases.

1 2 Next

Chinese Dir