| May 2, 2012 | America's Health Insurance Plans |
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- Obesity costs are on the rise in the U.S.
 The costs of the rising rate of obesity in the U.S. for government, businesses and individuals is greater than previously estimated and is spurring efforts to find solutions to the obesity epidemic. Research estimates that obesity-related absenteeism costs employers up to $6.4 billion a year while presenteeism due to obesity comes in at about $30 billion a year. A new study calculated $190 billion annually in additional medical spending as a result of obesity, higher than previous estimates. Reuters
(4/30)     
| Providers & Suppliers | | |
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- 5-part strategy helps reduce MI deaths, study says
Hospitals that used a five-prong strategy reduced the risk of patient death 30 days after myocardial infarction by more than 1%, compared with facilities that did not use any of the methods, Yale University researchers reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The five elements included not cross-training ICU nurses for the cardiac catheterization lab, monthly meetings for clinicians and transport staff, having a cardiologist always available, encouraging providers to solve problems creatively, and having both physician and nurse champions. MedPage Today (free registration)
(4/30)
| Medical Update | | |
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- ICD patient deaths shift to heart failure, noncardiac causes
A study of 2,859 patients with implantable defibrillators or resynchronization devices including a defibrillator faced a higher risk of dying from heart failure or a noncardiac reason than from sudden death, according to researchers at Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands. The study in the journal HeartRhythm looked at patients in a clinical practice. MedPage Today (free registration)
(5/1)
- Risk of depression is not higher after hysterectomy
Researchers monitored almost 2,000 women for 10 years and found no significant difference in the change in depression scores of those who went through natural menopause, those who had hysterectomies and those who had hysterectomies with their ovaries removed. The findings appear in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. Reuters
(4/30)
| Emerging Trends | | |
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- Nephros wins FDA nod for chronic renal failure device
The FDA has granted Nephros 510(k) clearance for its Hemodiafiltration system, which is used to help treat patients with chronic renal failure. The device features the company's OLpur MD220 Hemodiafilter and OLpur H2H Hemodiafiltration module. Reuters
(4/30)
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| Pharma News | | |
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- IOM suggests FDA monitor drugs' safety regularly
The Institute of Medicine recommended the FDA oversee drug safety regularly to address additional risks. The FDA indicated reservation about the cost of "life cycle" drug monitoring because this could compromise other regulatory tasks. Reuters
(5/1)
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| AHIP News | | |
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Health reform implementation workshop at Institute 2012
Attend a health care reform implementation update workshop (June 20) and you’ll gain an even better understanding of the Affordable Care Act, including long-term care, disability income, wellness and more. Continue your learning at Institute 2012 (June 20 to 22), filled with general, concurrent and breakfast sessions, networking events, and a solutions-filled Exhibit Hall. Register now.
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Reach your ideal audience through AHIP
Whether you want to reach health plans in person at an AHIP conference, or online through webinars, podcasts or white paper sponsorship, we can help. With our flexible and competitively priced array of sponsorship options, we can tailor sponsorship packages for budgets of all sizes. For more information, contact our Business Development Team today at BusinessDevelopment@ahip.org or 866-707-AHIP (2447).
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Latest news and the health plan perspective
AHIP Coverage highlights breaking news and developments in the health care system and provides insight on how these issues impact consumers, businesses and the economy.
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