Content about Health care

August 1, 2011
Affordable Care Act ensures women receive preventive services at no additional cost

New guidelines that will ensure women receive preventive health services at no additional cost were announced Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services.

WASHINGTON — New guidelines that will ensure women receive preventive health services at no additional cost were announced Monday by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Developed by the independent Institute of Medicine, the new guidelines require new health insurance plans to cover women’s preventive services, such as well-woman visits, breast-feeding support, domestic violence screening and contraception without charging a co-payment, co-insurance or a deductible.

August 1, 2011
Fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress brings together retail healthcare professionals

This year’s fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress kicked off on Monday, bringing together hundreds of retail healthcare professionals to network, receive exclusive accreditation and honor those providers and key executive leaders whose work throughout the year has distinguished them among their peers in retail health care.

ORLANDO, Fla. — This year’s fourth annual Retail Clinician Education Congress kicked off on Monday, bringing together hundreds of retail healthcare professionals to network, receive exclusive accreditation and honor those providers and key executive leaders whose work throughout the year has distinguished them among their peers in retail health care.

July 25, 2011
Self-care could save U.S. $5 bn annually

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association recently issued the first piece in its “Your Health at Hand” awareness campaign with a cost analysis that found Americans can avoid approximately 50 million unnecessary visits to primary care physicians each year, resulting in $5 billion in annualized savings thanks to self-care. 


WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association recently issued the first piece in its “Your Health at Hand” awareness campaign with a cost analysis that found Americans can avoid approximately 50 million unnecessary visits to primary care physicians each year, resulting in $5 billion in annualized savings thanks to self-care. 


According to physicians surveyed, at least 10% of their office visits could have been resolved instead with a trip to the front-end of the pharmacy. 


July 21, 2011
Take Care's enhanced website offers visibility to real-time information to patients

Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has revamped its website to now provide patients with online access to estimated clinic wait times, clinical quality scores and cost of services at Take Care Clinics across the country.

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has revamped its website to now provide patients with online access to estimated clinic wait times, clinical quality scores and cost of services at Take Care Clinics across the country.

July 19, 2011
Take Care enters collaboration with LSU Health Sciences Center, Healthcare Network

Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has entered a collaborative agreement with Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and LSU Healthcare Network to enhance coordination of care in the greater New Orleans region.

NEW ORLEANS — Take Care Health Systems, which is owned by Walgreens, has entered a collaborative agreement with Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and LSU Healthcare Network to enhance coordination of care in the greater New Orleans region.

June 20, 2011
Mining prospects in health industry's 'new gold rush'

It’s like if KITT, the talking car on the 80s TV hit “Knight Rider,” consulted Hasselhoff about his excessive drinking while the two used advanced automotive and information-based technology to fight crime — and improve health outcomes.

It’s like if KITT, the talking car on the 80s TV hit “Knight Rider,” consulted Hasselhoff about his excessive drinking while the two used advanced automotive and information-based technology to fight crime — and improve health outcomes.

June 20, 2011
PwC points health prospectors to retailers

The booming healthcare market, which is expected to reach 19.6% of gross domestic product by 2019, is driving a surge of activity from companies looking to develop new products and services to bolster profits and create more convenient patient care, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute. 


NEW YORK — The booming healthcare market, which is expected to reach 19.6% of gross domestic product by 2019, is driving a surge of activity from companies looking to develop new products and services to bolster profits and create more convenient patient care, according to a new report by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute. 


June 7, 2011
Take Care joins forces with Jacksonville, Fla., health system

Take Care Health Systems and Memorial Health on Tuesday announced a new relationship that will increase opportunities for clinical collaboration and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable healthcare options in the greater Jacksonville region.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Take Care Health Systems and Memorial Health on Tuesday announced a new relationship that will increase opportunities for clinical collaboration and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable healthcare options in the greater Jacksonville region.

May 19, 2011
Adflow Health Networks announces full-scale deployment of Personal Health Center

Adflow Health Networks announced a large-scale deployment of its consumer health platform.

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa. — Adflow Health Networks announced a large-scale deployment of its consumer health platform.

Adflow Health Networks' Personal Health Center, an interactive digital media platform, provides consumers with access to trusted healthcare content and services, together with the ability to perform a wide range of Food and Drug Administration-cleared screenings, Adflow Health said. The full-scale deployment includes implementation across retail locations, worksites and high traffic areas.

May 12, 2011
Health Choices Coalition urges Congress to repeal OTC restrictions on FSAs

The Health Choices Coalition sent a letter to members of Congress, urging them to repeal legislation that limits coverage of over-the-counter medicines.

WASHINGTON — The Health Choices Coalition sent a letter to members of Congress, urging them to repeal legislation that limits coverage of over-the-counter medicines.

The coalition is looking to Congress to repeal a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that prevents consumers from using their flexible spending accounts to purchase OTCs without first getting a doctor's prescription. Members of the Health Choices Coalition are urging Congress to take action in order to allow consumers to use their FSAs for OTCs.

May 10, 2011
NRF supports repeal of employer-mandated health care

The National Retail Federation announced that it is endorsing legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of last year’s healthcare-reform law.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it is endorsing legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of last year’s healthcare-reform law.

April 29, 2011
Retail clinics level playing field in healthcare system

The emergence of the reports by Kalorama Information and Rasmussen Reports are important because they underscore the important role that retail-based healthcare clinics — and the nurse practitioners who work within them — increasingly play in the nation's healthcare system.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The emergence of the reports by Kalorama Information and Rasmussen Reports are important because they underscore the important role that retail-based healthcare clinics — and the nurse practitioners who work within them — increasingly play in the nation's healthcare system.

(THE NEWS: Kalorama projects retail clinic growth. For the full story, click here)

April 26, 2011
Most U.S. voters believe an expanded role for nurse practitioners will boost quality of health care

Many U.S. voters are in favor of expanding the use of nurse practitioners for routine medical care, and most believe that the quality of health care would improve if routine care was handled by nurse practitioners and doctors were able to focus more on challenging healthcare issues, according to the findings of a recent survey.

NEW YORK — Many U.S. voters are in favor of expanding the use of nurse practitioners for routine medical care, and most believe that the quality of health care would improve if routine care was handled by nurse practitioners and doctors were able to focus more on challenging healthcare issues, according to the findings of a recent survey.

According to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of 1,000 adults, 67% of likely U.S. voters favored training and licensing nurse practitioners to expand the level of routine care they provide.

April 21, 2011
Take Care Health Systems teams up with Ochsner Health System

Take Care Health Systems on Thursday announced a new relationship with Ochsner Health System that is expected to increase opportunities for clinical collaboration and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable healthcare options in the greater New Orleans area.

NEW ORLEANS — Take Care Health Systems on Thursday announced a new relationship with Ochsner Health System that is expected to increase opportunities for clinical collaboration and improve patient access to high-quality, convenient and affordable healthcare options in the greater New Orleans area.

April 13, 2011
Diabetes stakeholders discuss how healthcare-reform law affects patients

Healthcare reform has remained a major subject of debate since President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last March, but what the law means for diabetes care was the particular focus of a conference call with diabetes stakeholders Tuesday.

NEW YORK — Healthcare reform has remained a major subject of debate since President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act last March, but what the law means for diabetes care was the particular focus of a conference call with diabetes stakeholders Tuesday.

April 13, 2011
NCPA backs bill to enhance pharmacy competition

The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday announced support for the Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2011 (H.R. 1409), which was introduced last week by House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, in an effort to improve the quality of patient care by leveling the playing field between healthcare professionals and insurance companies in the healthcare industry.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday announced support for the Quality Health Care Coalition Act of 2011 (H.R. 1409), which was introduced last week by House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, in an effort to improve the quality of patient care by leveling the playing field between healthcare professionals and insurance companies in the healthcare industry.

April 11, 2011
Endo to acquire American Medical Systems

Endo Pharmaceuticals will buy American Medical Systems for $2.9 billion, the drug maker said Monday.

CHADDS FORD, Pa. — Endo Pharmaceuticals will buy American Medical Systems for $2.9 billion, the drug maker said Monday.

Endo said it and AMS had reached an agreement whereby Endo would acquire the maker of devices and therapies for pelvic health for $30 per share. AMS’ business focuses on men’s health, women’s health and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

April 6, 2011
Research analyzes impact of REMS programs across healthcare supply chain

The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, the research foundation of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, on Tuesday released “Assessing the Impact of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Requirements on the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain,” the first comprehensive research study analyzing the impact of REMS programs across the healthcare supply chain.

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Center for Healthcare Supply Chain Research, the research foundation of the Healthcare Distribution Management Association, on Tuesday released “Assessing the Impact of Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) Requirements on the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain,” the first comprehensive research study analyzing the impact of REMS programs across the healthcare supply chain.

March 30, 2011
Kline projects growth in professional skin care market

A rise in visits to professional outlets for skin care treatments in 2010 gave way to sales growth for the professional skin care products market, with Europe and the United States posting rebounds, according to a recently released study by consulting and research firm Kline.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — A rise in visits to professional outlets for skin care treatments in 2010 gave way to sales growth for the professional skin care products market, with Europe and the United States posting rebounds, according to a recently released study by consulting and research firm Kline.

March 15, 2011
Walgreens' Pegus discusses evolving role of pharmacists at colloquium

The evolving role of the pharmacist and the growing impact of pharmacist interventions on clinical outcomes were discussed Tuesday by Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus at the 11th annual Population Health and Care Coordination Colloquium.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The evolving role of the pharmacist and the growing impact of pharmacist interventions on clinical outcomes were discussed Tuesday by Walgreens chief medical officer Cheryl Pegus at the 11th annual Population Health and Care Coordination Colloquium in Philadelphia.

March 8, 2011
Walgreens' Pegus to present during colloquium session

Cheryl Pegus, chief medical officer at Walgreens, will make a presentation during the 11th annual Population Health and Care Coordination Colloquium in Philadelphia next week.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Cheryl Pegus, chief medical officer at Walgreens, will make a presentation during the 11th annual Population Health and Care Coordination Colloquium in Philadelphia next week.

Pegus, who was named the drug store chain's chief medical officer last May, will present during the “Impact and Value of Pharmacist Interventions in Different Settings” session, which will examine the growing role pharmacists are playing in improving clinical outcomes through interventions at community pharmacies and employer worksite health clinics, Walgreens said.

March 4, 2011
5 OTC remedies for American health care

The Obama administration on the official White House website identifies “5 Important Numbers on Health Reform.” These include:

  • Zero. The amount consumers would have to pay for premiums, co-insurance or co-payments on any preventive services;

  • Fifty. The number of states that now offer insurance options to all people, regardless of any pre-existing conditions;

  • One million. The number of doughnut-hole rebate checks mailed to seniors under Part D as of August 2010;

March 4, 2011
Manhattan Institute studies state of clinics

NEW YORK — The Manhattan Institute has come up with a novel idea to help New York state slash its healthcare costs by a hefty $350 million by 2020: Expand access to retail health clinics.

Sounds simple enough, right? Think again.

February 25, 2011
HSAs address rising healthcare costs

Give a man a doctor’s co-pay, and he is healthy for a day. Give him a health savings account, and that man becomes so much more vested in ensuring positive health outcomes that he may be healthy for a lifetime. Because in the long run, it’s cheaper.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Give a man a doctor’s co-pay, and he is healthy for a day. Give him a health savings account, and that man becomes so much more vested in ensuring positive health outcomes that he may be healthy for a lifetime. Because in the long run, it’s cheaper.

(THE NEWS: HSAs saw dramatic growth in 2010, study finds. For the full story, click here)

February 22, 2011
Zipnosis, Park Nicollet Health Services team up with Minn. service cooperative

Zipnosis, which offers online access to mainstream medicine by providing consumers with simple and convenient online diagnosis and treatment of common health needs, and Park Nicollet Health Services have announced a new initiative with Resource Training and Solutions that will bring online health care to people living in central Minnesota.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Zipnosis, which offers online access to mainstream medicine by providing consumers with simple and convenient online diagnosis and treatment of common health needs, and Park Nicollet Health Services have announced a new initiative with Resource Training and Solutions that will bring online health care to people living in central Minnesota.