Health Inc. Mass. Hospitals With Big Names Bring In Bigger Fees January 29, 2010 • A new report by the Massachusetts Attorney General finds brand name, location and niche specialties have more to do with hospitals' prices than quality, disease burden, or results.
Health Inc. Radiation Meant To Help Cancer Patients Can Sometimes Harm January 25, 2010 • Accidents involving medical radiation are uncommon. But the potential for harm and the cases of unintended injuries to patients serve as reminders for vigilance.
Health Inc. Brown's Win Kindles Mixed Emotions For Health Industry January 21, 2010 • Analysts say Scott Brown's electoral victory will be good for health-related stocks. Insurers could benefit from expanded coverage under health overhaul, but they may be just as happy to live without some of its restrictions.
Health Inc. Care Outside Insurer's Network Proves Costly, Despite Approval January 19, 2010 • Even when an insurer has approved payment for medical care, the out-of-pocket costs can be considerable when a patient goes outside the company's network.
Health Inc. Johnson & Johnson Recalls Tylenol, Rolaids And Motrin Over Bad Odor January 15, 2010 • A chemical from treated wood in shipping pallets appears to be causing a musty, mildewy odor in packages of some non-prescription medicines. Some customers have complained, the company says, and there have been a few reports of temporary stomach t...
Health Inc. GAO Finds 'Extraordinary' Price Hikes For Hundreds Of Drugs January 11, 2010 • More than 300 brand-name drugs had individual price increases of 100 percent or more between 2000 and 2008, a government analysis found. Many of the prices rose after middlemen repackaged the drugs and charged higher unit prices for them.
Health Inc. Despite Rhetoric, Unions Push For Cadillac Compromise January 11, 2010 • Beyond the public eye, union leaders are pushing for a deal to reduce the impact of a tax on their members' high-end health plans.
Health Inc. Health Care Jobs Grew As Other Sectors Withered January 8, 2010 • Today's jobs report shows resilient health businesses have added jobs throughout the recession even as virtually every other sector of the economy shed them by the thousands.
Health Inc. Health Spending Outstrips Economic Growth January 5, 2010 • Health spending slowed in 2008 but remains out of whack, growing faster than the rest of the economy yet again. Even though the increase was the smallest since the feds have been keeping track, health care accounted for 16.2 percent of the nation'...
Health Inc. Harvard Hospitals Limit Industry Pay To Doctors January 4, 2010 • Starting this year, doctors at Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's Hospitals who serve as board members for drugmakers and biotech companies can't make more than $5,000 a day for doing so. Other rules prohibit doctors from serving as pai...
Health Inc. CBO Affirms Savings From Malpractice Reform December 30, 2009 • The Congressional Budget Office explains how an estimate of just $5 billion in deficit-reduction from malpractice reform swelled to $54 billion less than a year later.
Health Inc. FDA Impostors Shake Down Internet Drug Buyers December 30, 2009 • Some of the victims became targets after responding to telemarketing calls offering cut-price drugs. Other say they ordered drugs from Web sites, then got threatening calls from purported FDA agents who said they would arrest the buyer unless a la...
Health Inc. Heart Devices Often Approved On Weak Evidence December 29, 2009 • An analysis of approvals for cardiovascular devices found shortcomings were common in the evidence relied upon by the Food and Drug Administration to make decisions. The researchers argue for higher standards.
Health Inc. We Want A Lego MRI For Christmas December 24, 2009 • If you love Lego and health care, then how about making your own toy MRI scanner and popping it in a CT machine for some clean, cool images.
Health Inc. Merck Hires Ex-CDC Chief Gerberding To Run Vaccines Unit December 21, 2009 • Gerberding, an infectious disease specialist, made her name as a physician in the early days of HIV/AIDS. She came to the CDC in 1998, and was credited with smoothly handling the media after the mysterious anthrax attacks that followed the World T...
