Health Inc. : Shots - Health News As spending on care rises, the business of health keeps getting more important. We feature news on and analysis of drugmakers, health insurers, hospitals, doctors and others in the business of providing health care.

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Friday January 28, 2011

Administration Says Health Law Will Lower Premiums, But Critics Disagree

President Barack Obama said he was open to improvements to the health overhaul law during his State of the Union speech earlier this week. Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images hide caption

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Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

Health Inc.

Administration Says Health Law Will Lower Premiums, But Critics Disagree

January 28, 2011 • An analysis from the administration shows that health insurance premiums are expected to be lower than they otherwise would be without the overhaul law. But opponents say the numbers don't add up.

Thursday January 27, 2011

Doctors Were Big Spenders On Health Lobbying in 2010

The AMA spent nearly $22 million in 2010. Scott Hales/iStockphoto.com hide caption

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Scott Hales/iStockphoto.com

Health Inc.

Doctors Were Big Spenders On Health Lobbying in 2010

KFF Health News

January 27, 2011 • Amid last year's debate over the federal health overhaul, the American Medical Association was the biggest spender for lobbying operations among health care groups. Overall, though, the top 10 health care players spent 9 percent less than they did the year before.

Monday January 24, 2011

Health Inc.

Glaxo Exec Concedes Industry 'Lost Its Way'

January 24, 2011 • GlaxoSmithKline's U.S. President Deirdre Connelly acknowledged huge fines paid by drugmakers and the low esteem consumers have for the companies these days. She said Glaxo will no longer pay bonuses for U.S. sales representatives based on prescriptions.

Friday January 14, 2011

Snooping Tucson Hospital Workers Fired In Records Breach

The flag of the state of Arizona flies at half-staff outside University Medical Center in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 8. Chris Morrison/AP hide caption

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Chris Morrison/AP

Health Inc.

Snooping Tucson Hospital Workers Fired In Records Breach

January 14, 2011 • Management at University Medical Center fired three employees and let go a nurse working for a contractor because they accessed confidential computerized medical files of patients injured in the Tuscon, Ariz., shooting rampage.

Thursday January 13, 2011

FDA: Lower Acetaminophen In Prescription Drugs

Vicodin and other popular prescription painkillers also contain acetaminophen, which can damage livers in high doses. Amayzun/Flickr hide caption

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Amayzun/Flickr

Health Inc.

FDA: Lower Acetaminophen In Prescription Drugs

January 13, 2011 • The painkiller, sold separately under the brand name Tylenol, can cause serious liver damage in high doses. Many popular prescription medicines for pain contain both acetaminophen and narcotics. People can inadvertently overdose.

Thursday January 6, 2011

Health Inc.

Chemist Laments Illicit Drugmakers' Use Of His Discoveries

January 6, 2011 • In an emotional essay published in a top scientific journal, an esteemed pharmacologist says he's stunned and saddened that underground chemists have used his inventions to make street drugs that kill people.

Tuesday January 4, 2011

Health Inc.

Study: Implantable Heart Devices Often Overused

January 4, 2011 • Some 23 percent of implanted cardioverter defibrillators don't meet guidelines, researchers found. Some patients who received implants were recovering from a heart attack or heart bypass surgery.

Monday January 3, 2011

J&J, Mass General Team Up On Cancer Blood Test

Metastatic breast cancer cells found in a lymph node. National Cancer Institute hide caption

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National Cancer Institute

Health Inc.

J&J, Mass General Team Up On Cancer Blood Test

January 3, 2011 • An experimental plastic chip could be used to find even a few cancer cells floating in the blood. Now the health products giant Johnson & Johnson is investing in the technology being developed at a Boston hospital.

Tuesday December 28, 2010

Health Inc.

Why Scientists Think Salvia Could Lead To Medical Treatments

December 28, 2010 • Salvinorin A activates something called the kappa opioid receptors. When turned on, opiod receptors are responsible for the high you get from drugs like heroin and opium. The type affected by the chemical in salvia could help modulate mania.

Monday December 27, 2010

Don't Stay Up Waiting For A Pill To Fight Jet Lag

Sleeping off jet lag is still the way to go. iStockphoto.com hide caption

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iStockphoto.com

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Don't Stay Up Waiting For A Pill To Fight Jet Lag

December 27, 2010 • Regulators just gave a second thumbs down to drugmaker Cephalon's application to sell Nuvigil as a remedy for jet lag. The company said it won't try again to win them over.

Tuesday December 21, 2010

Health Inc.

Feds Propose To Scrutinize Health Insurers' Big Rate Hikes

December 21, 2010 • Federal officials are pushing ahead with new rules that would let them weigh in on whether a health insurance company’s proposed premium increases are reasonable.

Monday December 20, 2010

Health Inc.

Academic Docs Kept Speaking On Big Pharma's Dime, Despite Bans

December 20, 2010 • Several top medical schools and academic medical centers have not effectively enforced restrictions on pharmaceutical companies' payments to physicians, an investigation by Pro Publica finds. A check of data released by drugmakers reveals problems.

Friday December 17, 2010

Could This Woman Persuade You To Donate Bone Marrow?

Natasha Smahlei, a model, works at the Caitlin Raymond International Registry exhibit in October during the New England Business Expo at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. Paul Kapteyn/Courtesy of www.telegram.com hide caption

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Paul Kapteyn/Courtesy of www.telegram.com

December 17, 2010 • Documented fraud by the pharmaceutical industry has been accelerating lately, an advocacy group finds. Fines and settlements paid by drug companies since 1991 those penalties totaled $19.8 billion. Most were levied in the past five years.

Thursday December 16, 2010

Health Inc.

FDA Moves To Pull Approval Of Cancer Drug

December 16, 2010 • The Food and Drug Administration says data from recent clinical studies show the benefits of the drug Avastin for breast cancer patients don't outweigh the risks. Roche's Genentech unit disagrees and wants to keep marketing the drug for that use.