News
Companies increased philanthropic giving in 2010, with a large portion of the increase coming from pharmaceutical companies, according to preliminary survey findings announced by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).
After reaching a historic low in April, the Thomson Reuters Consumer Healthcare Sentiment Index found that Americans' confidence in their ability to pay for and access healthcare rose in May. The index rose three points from 95 in April to 98 in May, a statistically significant increase.
Recently, studies and news reports have focused on the acceleration of for-profit hospices and questioned those facilities' marketing practices. In response to these questions, and those raised by its members, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), a nonprofit member group, released marketing ethics guidelines for hospice and palliative care organizations yesterday.
The National Quality Forum Board has approved for endorsement a list of 29 serious reportable events in healthcare. Of the events submitted, 25 were updated from their earlier endorsement in 2006, and 4 new events were added to the list.
A bipartisan group of senators is questioning the legality of physician-owned distributors (PODs). The group, lead by Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), sent letters late last week to CMS and HHS asking for an investigation into the legality of PODs.
Aetna has agreed to buy the Medicare supplement and related blocks of in-force business of Genworth Financial for $290 million.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation has announced it is initiating the Health Information Relief Operation (pronounced "Hero") Fund as an ongoing recovery source to assist health information management (HIM) professionals whose lives have been shattered by natural or man-made disaster.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance is seeking public comment on the development of standards and measures for an optional patient-centered medical home recognition in patient experiences.
Fallon Clinic has announced that 96 percent of its doctors have achieved meaningful use. The clinic has been selected by HIMSS as a finalist for a 2011 Ambulatory Care Davies Award of Excellence.