| December 6, 2007 | America's Health Insurance Plans |
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- Studies link childhood obesity to heart disease risk
Excess weight in children could lead to heart disease later in life, and the rate of heart disease could increase by 16% when today's teens are middle aged, according to two studies in The New England Journal of Medicine. The risk of heart problems increased with any extra weight in childhood, but the heaviest older children had the highest risk in adulthood, researchers said. Yahoo!/Associated Press
(12/5), The Washington Post
(12/6)     
- Study: Emergency room visits increasing among U.S. seniors
A study found the number of seniors visiting emergency rooms in the U.S. is rising, especially among blacks, and researchers expect the overcrowding of these facilities to continue to rise "dramatically." The findings showed there was a 34% increase in visits from 1993 to 2003 among those ages 65 to 74. Yahoo!/Reuters
(12/5)
- Walk-in clinics, doctor networking sites on the rise
Walk-in clinics -- which aim to provide basic health care services for all patients and could help expand preventive medicine services without burdening physicians -- are becoming common in drugstores and retail stores in the U.S. Meanwhile, networks, such as Sermo, have emerged for doctors, allowing them to discuss cases, get information on drugs and treatments, and improve their business operations. Financial Times (free content)
(12/6)
 | Don't fall victim to fraudulent health care claims! Let ViPS' overpayment and fraud protection solutions help you discover the "fingerprints" perpetrators leave behind. Our technologies help health plans identify a majority of fraud and abuse claims without slowing processing rates. Visit www.vips.com to learn more. |
- Study: Flu raises heart attack, stroke risk
A new study shows the flu and other serious respiratory infections double the risk of heart attack or stroke in the week following infection. Researchers emphasized that heart patients should get flu vaccinations. Reuters
(12/5)
- Teen, unmarried birth rates rise
Pregnancies among teenagers and unmarried women in the U.S. have risen, with the teenage birth rate increasing in 2006 for the first time since 1991, and the rate among single women hitting an all-time high of 38.5% of all live births. Rates for black and Hispanic women were considerably higher than those for whites. Reuters
(12/5)
- Report: Deaths from methadone overdose on the rise
The number of methadone-related deaths has increased 390% from 1999 to 2004, according to a new report from the Justice Department's National Intelligence Drug Center. The report found that most of the deaths occurred when methadone, a prescription drug to control heroin addiction, was taken with alcohol or other drugs. Yahoo!/Associated Press
(12/5)
 | Want to access over 100,000 connected physicians? Quest Diagnostics Care360 ePrescribing with integrated labs and meds offers health plans ways to drive efficiencies and improvements at the point of care. Call 800-444-6235 or click Care360 Physician Portal to learn more about our Universal Lab Orders and Results solution. |
- SureScripts: E-prescribing to nearly triple in 2008
A new SureScripts report estimates its network will process 100 million prescription and refill requests next year, nearly triple the 35 million requests in 2007. However, the report also noted only 6% of U.S. physicians use e-prescribing, and only 2% of prescriptions and renewals are electronically prescribed. Health Data Management
(12/4)
- More physicians embracing technology
More physicians are encouraging patients to incorporate technology into their health care by checking lab results and records online, requesting refills and appointments over the Internet and e-mailing providers with nonurgent questions. Some physicians also are starting to blog and create videos and podcasts. Chicago Tribune
(12/3)
- Wireless patch allows continuous heart monitoring
Dutch researchers have developed a wireless cardiac patch that could help doctors continuously monitor heart conditions and record electrocardiograms of patients. The device, which features a circuit board used to detect and transmit electrocardiograms up to 10 meters, could also allow early detection of heart troubles in healthy people and immediate treatment of cardiac patients, the inventor said. M.I.T. Technology Review
(12/6)
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| Company News from PR Newswire |  |  |
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| Other Company News from AHIP Solutions | | |
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| Pharma News | | |
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- Avastin fails to win FDA panel support
An FDA advisory panel voted 5-4 Wednesday against approving Genentech's cancer drug Avastin as a first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. A National Cancer Institute study showed no significant difference in overall survival for patients who took Avastin with Taxol compared to those taking Taxol alone. The Wall Street Journal (free content)
(12/6), NYTimes.com
(12/6)
- FDA approves generic Norvasc from Caraco Pharma
Amlodipine, a generic version of Pfizer's blood pressure drug Norvasc, has been granted final FDA approval, Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd. said Wednesday. The decision allows Caraco to market 2.5-mg, 5-mg and 10-mg dosages of amlodipine besylate, which also treats chronic stable angina and vasospastic angina. Forbes/AFX News Limited
(12/5)
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| The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
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.
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.
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TMG Health, the leading BPO administrative services provider to the Medicare and Medicaid managed care markets, was featured on Health Journal Television. The program was broadcast on CNBC and Bravo. TMG Health discussed their innovative business process services which address the administrative and compliance needs of insurers, providers and employers. To view the video, please visit www.tmghealth.com.
Interested in learning more about advertising with SmartBrief? Click here for detailed industry information and media kits.
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- Texas plan would extend coverage to state's poor
Texas has submitted a plan to the federal government that seeks to use funding, which would traditionally go toward hospitals that treat the poor and uninsured, to help low-income adults buy private health insurance. State officials hope the policies, which would charge co-payments and might offer leaner benefits than Medicaid, will offer affordable primary and preventive care to poor adults. The Dallas Morning News (free registration)
(12/5)
 | 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. |
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Courses to help grow your career
The AHIP Center for Insurance Education and Professional Development's 30+ courses provide product knowledge that helps to improve job skills. You can enroll in courses online, study at your own pace and test online when you're ready. Become your company's expert in such areas as long-term care, fraud, disability, customer service, HIPAA, care management, employee benefits and more.
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Reform is in the air
AHIP Coverage magazine offers the latest news, views and trends affecting the health insurance industry. The January/February issue will explore ideas for reform, including the presidential candidates' reform proposals, how the Dutch and Swiss health systems could be models for the U.S., and why medical homes may transform primary care. To subscribe, call the AHIP Customer Solutions Center at 877-291-2247.
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