| December 7, 2007 | America's Health Insurance Plans |
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- Treatment advances lead to decline in childhood cancer deaths
A CDC report shows that deaths from childhood cancers such as leukemia dropped 20% from 1990 to 2004, due in part to improvements in drug and bone marrow transplant treatments. The report's authors note regional and racial discrepancies in the numbers, including a lower rate of improvement for Hispanic Americans. Yahoo!/Reuters
(12/6)      
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| | Do your provider networks trust your physician measurement strategy?
Explore how Physician Performance Assessment from Thomson Healthcare can help your organization launch or improve your physician measurement program. Attend the Webcast "Emerging Practices in Physician Performance Measurement" on December 13. Download your Information Toolkit. | |
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 | The right predictive modeling tool can bridge the gap between clinical and financial objectives, providing a consistent approach to strategically managing medical and revenue enhancement opportunities. Learn how our solution achieves this and more at WRG's Predictive Modeling Implementation for Underwriting conference January 2008. |
 | Free Case Study: Impact of a Monitored Dispensing Program for Fertility Medications. Schraft's, A Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy has the flexibility to provide plan-specific solutions to meet the cost-saving goals of payors, providing members with access to fertility medications and support services. Call toll free 800-876-4545, or e-mail us at schrafts@walgreens.com. |
- Health IT groups unveil regulatory timeline
The North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communications Alliance and the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange have launched their first regulatory timeline to help inform industry stakeholders about health IT initiatives. The timeline outlines the implementation of version 5010 of the HIPAA standard transactions and estimates completion by 2014. Health Data Management
(12/6)
- Personal health record model gets approval
The Personal Health Record System Functional Model has received approval as a trial draft standard from Health Level Seven. The model outlines several security features and functions that may be present in PHR systems and provides guidelines for exchanging data among PHRs or with EHR systems. Health Data Management
(12/6)
| Other Company News from AHIP Solutions |  | |
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| Pharma News | | |
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- Drug industry to bolster pediatric drug development
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations on Thursday pledged to strengthen efforts to develop children's medicines amid concerns about the off-label use of treatments for the age group. The trade group's director general, Harvey Bale, called for better access to new and more suitable treatments, and stressed the need for more studies focused on the safety and efficacy of existing drugs for children. Financial Times (free content)
(12/7)
- FDA to issue new advice on Prilosec, Nexium heart risks
The FDA is expected to release new safety guidance within days on AstraZeneca's heartburn drugs Prilosec and Nexium. It previously announced that it found no evidence of an increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure and heart-related sudden death when compared with surgery, but two others studies have suggested such links. Reuters
(12/6)
- Amgen in talks with FDA over Epogen, Aranesp safety labels
California-based Amgen said it is working with the FDA to decide whether to revise warning labels on anemia drugs Aranesp and Epogen, in view of two studies that reported more deaths and incidence of tumor growth in breast and cervical cancer patients taking the drugs. The treatments already carry "black box" warnings about their link to a higher risk of death, heart attack, stroke and cancer progression. Reuters
(12/7)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
Complimentary Webinar: Toolkit for Optimizing Provider Network Management from Portico Systems. Learn how the country's largest and most forward-thinking health plans are creating best-in-class toolkits for streamlining operations, increasing staff efficiency and more effectively managing provider relations. Click here to register.
How to Succeed in Asia: Subscribe to PharmAsia News, from the publisher of "The Pink Sheet." Starting in January 2008 PharmAsia News will become a paid subscription publication with expanded original and exclusive coverage of drugs, biologics and devices in key Asian markets including China, India and Japan. Sign up now while it's still free.
Interested in learning more about advertising in the AHIP Solutions SmartBrief? Contact Matt Kavney at (202) 737-5500 x244 or mkavney@smartbrief.com.
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- Medicare to reduce reimbursement for lymphoma treatments
Medicare has issued new rules for a cluster of cancer drugs, including GlaxoSmithKline's Bexxar and Biogen Idec's Zevalin, and will reimburse hospitals about $16,000 per treatment. The drugs' market price ranges between $30,000 to $50,000. Some patient advocates say the rules could deny lymphoma patients access to the treatment, but Medicare officials say the prices are fair and are based on what hospitals actually pay for the drugs. NYTimes.com
(12/7)
 | Get expert coverage of critical health care policy developments. CQ HealthBeat offers twice-daily e-mail briefings and a robust Web site that tracks legislation, provides breaking news and includes a schedule of important events. Understand how Washington decision making affects your business. Visit CQ HealthBeat to request a complimentary trial. |
| AHIP News | | |
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Plan now to attend AHIP's 2008 Law Conference
Join AHIP on March 6 in Washington, D.C., for "2008 AHIP Law Conference: Strategies to Address Key Legal Issues for Health Insurance Plans." In-house and outside counsel, legal experts, government representatives, and others will analyze and discuss topics such as electronic information exchange, HIPAA and privacy issues, employer wellness programs and more. Visit the Web site for more information or to register.
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TPA Direct -- Growing profitable returns
TPA Direct provides health insurance plans, payers and administrators interested in outsourcing a direct path to our TPA members. AmeriHealth Administrators, a member of TPA Direct, provides health plans with customized health benefits, administration services and other outsourcing services.
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More than 350 health plans cutting credentialing costs through CAQH
Join the army of health plans that have put paper credentialing forms in their place. By using the CAQH Universal Credentialing Datasource, they're saving time, money and administrative aggravation. With more than 540,000 providers using the service, UCD is the premier provider data-collection solution nationwide. What are you waiting for? Call CAQH at 202-861-6381 to schedule an online demonstration.
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