Posted on Friday, January 23, 2015

Helpful Health Care Links: January 23, 2015

Our helpful health care links focus primarily on a variety of topics– Government healthcare website sharing personal data and an update of where Michigan falls with health insurance sign-ups. We also include an article from The Washington Post about The House of Representatives approving two bills revising healthcare legislation for small businesses. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Healthcare Is Headed Down A New Road With New Rules In 2015

Here is the trend of the top ten trends shaping healthcare for 2015.

Government Health Care Website Quietly Sharing Personal Data

The government’s health insurance website is quietly sending consumers’ personal data to private companies that specialize in advertising and analyzing Internet data for performance and marketing.

House Approves Two Obamacare Tweaks Intended To Help Small Businesses

The House of Representatives has already approving two bills that would revise some of the legislation’s most controversial rules for business owners.

Michigan Health Insurance Sign-Ups Near 300,000

Nearly 300,000 Michiganians have signed up for health insurance through the federal government with just over three weeks remaining to enroll.

Hospitals’ Medicare Quality Bonuses Get Wiped Out By Penalties

What Medicare gives with one hand, it’s taking away with another. Most government quality bonuses to hospitals this year are being wiped out by penalties issued for other shortcomings.

Posted on Friday, January 16, 2015

Helpful Health Care Links: January 16, 2015

Our helpful health care links focus primarily on Obamacare and privacy news — Johnson and Johnson working with Yale to make clinical trial data available to outside researchers and the head of the California Obamacare exchange warning residents about potential penalties. We also include an article from The Wall Street Journal about a new dieting device for your stomach. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Johnson & Johnson Will Make Clinical Data Available to Outside Researchers

Healthcare giant, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to make detailed clinical trial data on its medical devices and diagnostic tests available to outside researchers through a collaboration with Yale University.

Obamacare ‘Fine’ Not Dandy, Says California Exchange Boss

The head of California’s Obamacare exchange warns California residents about increased fines under Obamacare this year for not having health insurance.

Still Waiting For Strong Privacy Laws

President Obama this week proposed privacy laws that could give Americans greater control over their personal information.

U.S. Healthcare Executives Say Obamacare Is Not Going Anywhere

U.S. healthcare executives say Obamacare is likely here to stay, despite repeated calls from Republican lawmakers for repeal of the 2010 law aimed at providing health coverage for millions of uninsured Americans.

FDA Clears ‘Pacemaker For The Stomach’

Federal regulators approved a novel dieting device that acts like a pacemaker for the stomach by manipulating the nerve pathway that makes people feel hungry or full.

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Posted on Friday, January 9, 2015

Helpful Health Care Links: January 8, 2015

Our helpful health care links focus on a variety of topics — Measles making an appearance at Disneyland and a court making a decision of whether a teen can deny medical treatment. We also include an article from The Washington Post about a new antibiotic discovered to potentially fight drug resistance. All are worth your time. And, as always, if you ever come across a healthcare story that you think merits more attention, please send it our way!

Mickey, Minnie And Measles For Nine Disneyland Tourists

Public health officials in California and Utah confirmed nine cases Wednesday, all of them visitors of either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim between December 15 and December 20.

New Class Of Antibiotic Found In Dirt Could Prove Resistant To Resistance

The new antibiotic could be used for decades against MRSA and some TB before they get wise.

Crittenton Hospital In Rochester To Be Sold

One of the area’s last independent hospitals, Crittenton Hospital in Rochester, could soon be sold to St. Louis-based Ascension Health.

Connecticut Teen With Curable Cancer Fights To Stop Chemo

A Connecticut court is set to weigh whether a 17-year-old girl with life-threatening cancer can refuse a treatment she views as “poison.”

Congressional Republicans Take Another Swing At ObamaCare

On Thursday, the House will debate, and likely pass, a bill that would make a change in Obamacare. It would raise the law’s definition of full-time work from 30 hours to 40 hours a week, reducing the number of workers to whom employers would have to offer health insurance.

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