Healthcare

  May 24, 2013, 6:01 pm

Drug company pleads guilty to felony kickback scheme, pays $33.5M

By Julian Hattem

A pharmaceutical company is admitting that it marketed a drug for unapproved uses and tried to buy off doctors with golf outings and wine tastings.

On Friday, ISTA Pharmaceuticals pled guilty to conspiracy to introduce a misbranded drug and to pay illegal kickbacks for its eye drug Xibrom.

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Archived under: Medical Devices and Prescription Drug Policy, Healthcare
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  May 23, 2013, 5:46 pm

Businesses share ObamaCare wellness program worries with White House

By Julian Hattem

Business groups are weighing in on an ObamaCare proposal governing incentives for employees to stay healthy.

The White House is currently reviewing a proposed rule for wellness programs that give workers incentives to take part in healthy habits such as joining a gym, signing up for a weight-loss plan or participating in a scheme to stop smoking. The proposal is part of the Affordable Care Act. 

Proponents say that the programs have a documented history of lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol and making workers healthy. Plus, they make good business sense.

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Worker safety, Healthcare
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  May 20, 2013, 12:24 pm

Healthcare regs move forward

By Ben Goad

Two key rules within ObamaCare are set to be published this week in the Federal Register.

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Health Insurance, Healthcare
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  May 16, 2013, 2:21 pm

Feds propose stronger child care standards

By Julian Hattem

The Obama administration wants higher standards for federally funded child care.

A proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services issued on Thursday would strengthen standards for the 1.6 million children who are served by providers that get money from the Child Care and Development Fund, a federal program to aid low-income children under the age of 13.

The administration claims that current regulations resemble a patchwork of regulations for child care centers, with state laws varying on whether providers need background checks or first aid and CPR training. One in 10 children who are served by the program are cared for in totally unregulated facilities, the department asserts in the proposal, which "can leave children in unsafe conditions, even as their care is being funded with public dollars."

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Archived under: Other, Healthcare
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  May 15, 2013, 12:15 pm

Feds ease rules for 'smart pills' that track patients from their stomachs

By Julian Hattem

The Obama administration is taking steps to codify looser regulations on "smart pills" that transmit messages from inside a patient's stomach.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is formally classifying the miniature medical device in a way that relaxes the government's control over the technology. The device can be attached to pills and send time-stamped messages about how drugs are being ingested.

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Archived under: Other, Healthcare
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  May 13, 2013, 5:04 pm

Medical device companies more frequently investigated under Obama

By Megan R. Wilson

Federal regulators issued the highest amount warning letters to medical device companies in 2012 than over the last seven years, according to a new study.

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Archived under: Medical Devices and Prescription Drug Policy, Healthcare
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  May 13, 2013, 7:24 am

News bites: Small businesses dread health insurance tax

By Ben Goad

An Affordable Care Act tax on health insurance providers “scares the daylights” out of some small-business owners, The Washington Post reports.

Some states are also lining up in opposition to the health insurance providers fee, according to The Hill's RegWatch. Read more...

Archived under: Healthcare
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  May 9, 2013, 2:33 pm

Angus King: Regulators could jeopardize ObamaCare

By Julian Hattem

Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) is worried that unaccountable and overly aggressive regulators will undermine the Affordable Care Act.

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Healthcare
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  May 9, 2013, 12:24 pm

HHS issues new funds for ObamaCare enrollment efforts

By Elise Viebeck

The Obama administration announced new funding Thursday for efforts to help the uninsured find coverage through ObamaCare.

The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department will spend $150 million on enrollment assistance through community health centers, which serve an estimated 21 million patients annually.

The funding comes as Democrats are expressing concerns about implementation of the landmark law. Polls show that few people understand it, or how they might benefit. 

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Archived under: Health reform implementation, Healthcare
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  May 9, 2013, 11:42 am

Republicans probe state abortion regs, citing Kermit Gosnell

By Elise Viebeck

Republicans have requested state health agencies provide records of regulators' dealings with abortion clinics since 2008. 

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Archived under: Abortion, Healthcare
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