Popular Articles

Data Ranks Insurers According To Speed Of Claim Payment, Share Of Denials
Aetna, Cigna and Humana ranked highest nationally on criteria including speed of health claim payments and fewest claims denied, according to the 2009 PayerView Rankings, the Boston Globe reports. The rankings -- prepared by Athenahealth in collaboration with Physicians Practice management journal -- evaluated 172 national, regional and government payers in 40 states.According to the data, insurers paid physicians an average 5.3% faster in 2008 and denied an average of 9% fewer medical claims compared with 2007 figures. On average, national health insurers paid physicians in 33 days and denied 9.2% of claims.According to the Globe, the rankings reveal some of the obstacles that can result from the complexities and bureaucracy involved in the medical billing process, with each insurer operating in different ways. Jonathan Bush, chair and CEO of Athenahealth, said, "This is the biggest problem we have in health care -- the inability to close supply chains and to practically and tactically connect doctors with payers and patients," adding, "These connections are broken" (Weisman, Boston Globe, 5/28).
generic viagra online
DrugScope Welcomes APHO Report On Drug Use In England
DrugScope has welcomed the publication of the Association of Public Health Observatories report into drug use in England.
News of the day
Inviragen Researching Vaccines To Protect Against Pandemic And Seasonal Influenza Viruses
Based on its ongoing avian influenza vaccine research, Inviragen is designing vaccines to protect against multiple influenza strains, including seasonal influenza and the recently emerged H1N1 influenza strain. The H1N1 influenza virus has caused nearly 30,000 cases worldwide in 74 countries leading to 144 deaths. In contrast, while no H5N1 avian influenza strain capable of human-to-human transmission has yet emerged, the high mortality of the virus represents a threat for future epidemics. In addition, conventional seasonal influenza continues to impact public health, causing an estimated 250,000 deaths worldwide every year. Inviragen will leverage its success in designing avian influenza vaccines to identify vaccine candidates that protect against pandemic and seasonal influenza viruses.
Medical Devices

FDA Approves Multaq To Treat Heart Rhythm Disorder

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Multaq tablets (dronedarone) to help maintain normal heart rhythms in patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (heart rhythm disorders). The drug is approved to be used in patients whose hearts have returned to normal rhythm or who will undergo drug or electric-shock treatment to restore a normal heart beat. Multaq may cause critical adverse reactions, including death, in patients with recent severe heart failure. The drug"s label will contain a boxed warning, the FDA"s strongest warning, cautioning that the drug should not be used in severe heart failure patients. "Multaq represents a therapeutic innovation for treatment of the heart rhythm disorder of atrial fibrillation," said Norman Stockbridge, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular and Renal Products in the FDA"s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. In a multinational clinical trial with more than 4,600 patients, Multaq reduced cardiovascular hospitalization or death from any cause by 24 percent, when compared with an inactive pill (placebo). Most of that effect represents reduced hospitalizations, especially hospitalizations related to atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter cause the heart to beat abnormally fast and sometimes prevent blood from being properly pumped out of the heart. The most common adverse reactions reported by patients in clinical trials were diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fatigue and loss of strength. Multaq is manufactured by Paris-based sanofi-aventis. U.S. Food and Drug Administration


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):