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HDCN News Archive -- Policy |
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| Feb03 |
New Engl J Med Op Ed article questions wisdom of Medicare 3 year limit on immunusuppressive drugs after transplantation. |
| Jan26 |
New NKDEP educational material for patients regarding CKD |
| Dec26 |
Some dialysis centers to get less money for failing to meet CMS quality targets. |
| Dec22 |
MMWR: Transmission of hepatitis C through transplanted donor organs. |
| Dec20 |
FDA issues draft guidance that medical device tests should include women. |
| Nov28 |
Amgen negotiates 2 large anemia drug contracts with DaVita and Fresenius. |
| Nov04 |
Medicare issues final rule for ESRD prospective payment system. |
| Oct28 |
Super Committee Dems ready a revised, scaled down Medicare health plan. |
| Oct26 |
National Kidney Foundation names Bruce Skyer as new CEO. |
| Oct26 |
17 years in prison for two Brazilian doctors for removing kidneys for transplant prior to brain death. |
| Oct26 |
FTC orders DaVita to divest itself of 29 /106 dialysis units purchased from DSI to maintain competition. |
| Oct26 |
Patients who skip or shorten dialysis treatments will lower reimbursement to facility under new guidelines. |
| Oct20 |
Final CMS ACO rule relaxes some requirements for doctors and hospitals. |
| Oct19 |
ASN alert regarding Deficit Reduction Committee and expenditures of critical importance regarding CKD |
| Oct18 |
Electron-beam sterilization of certain polysulfone dialyzer membranes linked to thrombocytopenia. |
| Oct14 |
National Renal Administrators Association Annual Meeting talks |
| Oct04 |
DaVita piloting use of solar power in one of its Indiana dialysis clinics |
| Oct04 |
Washing your hospital scrubs at home? Water may not be hot enough to kill drug-resistant bacteria. |
| Sep28 |
Congressional debt panel meeting in secret, looking at Medicare/Medicaid cuts. |
| Sep15 |
Grady hospital and Fresenius reach deal on dialyzing indigent undocumented immigrant patients. |
| Sep03 |
Atlanta undocumented immigrant dialysis patients at risk of losing access to care. |
| Aug30 |
FDA recall: H and P povidone iodine prep solutions, swabsticks. |
| Aug30 |
Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic en route to becoming national brands. |
| Aug30 |
Higher patient costs for home dialysis patients in Australia. |
| Aug30 |
Survey of U.S. dialysis patients contends that they are largely unprepared for disasters. |
| Aug19 |
HHS cutting red tape to speed clinical trials |
| Aug17 |
Web cam used to monitor hand hygiene in Japanese ICU hospital. |
| Aug17 |
Airborne latex allergens spread by cornstarch used to powder gloves |
| Aug03 |
Effect of the debt deal on Medicaid and Medicare. |
| Aug03 |
DaVita launches pilot dialyzer recycling project in Southern California |
| Aug02 |
FDA to seek public comment on Institute of Medicine's rec to eliminate 510k program |
| Aug02 |
Fresenius acquires Liberty Dialysis and American Access Care Holdings. |
| Jul28 |
Baxter establishes Baxter Ventures to invest in developing therapies. |
| Jul25 |
Fixdialysis.com cites recent newspaper articles about the dialysis industry. |
| Jul15 |
CDC infection prevention guidelines for outpatient settings released. |
| Jul12 |
HHS releases health insurance exchange rules. |
| Jul12 |
French manufacturer Degremont buys Ameriwater. |
| Jul08 |
CMS-sponsored ICD-10 slideshows, teleconferences. |
| Jul07 |
CMS to hold open forum on its proposed ESRD Quality Improvement Program changes on July 14th. |
| Jul05 |
CMS proposes eliminating the minimum 10 g/dL Hgb target for ESAs. |
| Jul05 |
CMS looking at physician reimbursement and at auditing high-value codes. |
| Jul01 |
New rules provide relief for sleep-deprived medical residents (16-hour shift limit) |
| Jul01 |
CMS proposes rescinding signature requirement on lab requisitions. |
| Jun16 |
Skype helps home hemodialysis patients link up with health care providers. |
| Jun09 |
Hospitals turn to nocturnists to improve care. |
| Jun09 |
NEJM Perspective: Dialysis and U.S. Immigration Law |
| Jun07 |
CMS to host Webinar on new features in Crown Web III on June 30th. |
| Jun07 |
Medicare to offer more waivers pertaining to e-prescribing noncompliance penalty. |
| Jun07 |
Universal flu vaccine trials show promise |
| May28 |
Biotrends report documents changes in vitamin D use with bundling. |
| May28 |
Whistleblower lawsuit against Renal Care Group for home dialysis supplies nets 82 million. |
| May22 |
Analysis of the new Accountable Care Organization regulations from Kaiser. |
| May19 |
CMS offers new Accountable Care Organization options. |
| May16 |
CMS relaxes telemedicine privileging rules. |
| May12 |
Five Star Healthcare offers insurance policy for dialysis unit providers. |
| May03 |
DaVita launches wireless internet for its dialysis patients and physicians. |
| Apr26 |
CROWN Web 4.0 release documents now available on the Web. |
| Apr25 |
Dialysis facility inspections in the news (Des Moines Register) |
| Apr22 |
CDC issues new guidance on preventing bloodstream infections. |
| Apr22 |
Canadian patient data analysis emphasizes high mortality risk of central venous catheters. |
| Apr14 |
ACO regulations: Some answers, more questions. |
| Apr12 |
Evaluation of three disease management approaches to ESRD patient care (large pdf) |
| Apr12 |
Diesel engine exhaust filter can reduce heart-harmful particle level by 98%. |
| Apr08 |
Accountable Kidney Care Collaborative to host webinar on April 26th detailing nephrology-based accountable care organizations. |
| Apr07 |
CMS eliminates 3.1% transition payment reduction from bundle. Kidney Care Partners comments. |
| Apr04 |
New York Times article weighs in on palliative care and eligibility for dialysis. |
| Mar31 |
HHS releases proposed rule regarding Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). |
| Mar29 |
Feds to follow ProPublica and release previously confidential dialysis clinic outcomes data. |
| Mar25 |
GAO issues reports on monitoring of oral drugs for ESRD patients |
| Mar24 |
CMS considering eliminating physician signature requirement for certain laboratory tests. |
| Mar17 |
CDC recommends retesting live donors for HIV just prior to organ donation. |
| Mar17 |
CMS declines to issue a National Coverage Determination for ESAs |
| Mar17 |
Intensive care unit central line infections drop by 60% over a 10-year period. |
| Mar09 |
Doctors try new models to push health insurers aside. |
| Mar02 |
Whistle-blowing nephrologist gets award from the FBI. |
| Feb22 |
More CrownWeb simulations available |
| Feb16 |
RPA Public Policy in a Minute for February video |
| Feb16 |
FDA finalized regulations concerning software that accompanies medical devices. |
| Feb11 |
UK's NICE updates its anemia treatment guidelines for CKD, lowering target Hb to 10-12 g/dL |
| Feb11 |
Arizona seeks to remove 280 K people from Medicaid coverage |
| Feb08 |
Vermont governor proposes single-payer health plan |
| Feb07 |
DaVita acquires Nashville-based DSI renal |
| Jan26 |
RPA and AMA recommend physician-led Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) |
| Jan26 |
Fresenius implements bundled dialysis care agreement in Spain. |
| Jan26 |
Nearly half of dialysis technicians in California failing newly required skills test. |
| Jan21 |
Cost savings of transplantation compared to dialysis in the news. |
| Jan21 |
Fresenius to sell bonds to fund new acquisitions |
| Jan21 |
Propublica dialysis unit tracker allows patients to check on unit mortality data. |
| Jan10 |
Dialysis units - the last open wards of medicine |
| Jan04 |
KCER: Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition to host Community Partner meeting at the Annual Dialysis Conference, Feb 22, 2011. |
| Jan04 |
Dr. Suhail Ahmad named Chief Medical Officer of Northwest Kidney Centers |
| Jan04 |
Euromedic sells Eastern European dialysis units to Fresenius. |
| Dec29 |
CMS finalizes quality incentive program for dialysis units |
| Dec22 |
U.S. House votes to exempt doctors from ID theft red flags rule. |
| Dec16 |
US Veterans Administration to Medicare-based fees to non-VA docs providing dialysis services to veterans. |
| Dec03 |
Fresenius enters into agreement with Galenica pharma to develop new IV iron products. |
| Nov16 |
Nevada doctor in hot water for prescribing BP pills over the phone without seeing the patient. |
| Nov10 |
Second 'Pro Publica' article focuses on dialysis needle dislodgement. |
| Nov09 |
ProPublica article on dialysis care in the United States |
| Nov08 |
AAKP awards 2011 Medal of Excellence Award to Ray Hakim and Allen Nissenson. |
| Nov08 |
Doctors abandon traditional practice modes for concierge medicine and hospital-owned care. |
| Nov08 |
Solar-powered BP device could be valuable in underdeveloped countries. |
| Nov05 |
Liberty Dialysis and Renal Advantage merge to become 3rd largest dialysis provider. |
| Nov02 |
Crown Web update: 2 security IDs may be needed to access the system by some users. |
| Nov02 |
Fresenius Medical Care to opt into bundling payment system for ESRD care. |
| Nov02 |
Salaries for Life Science majors dropping in the United States. |
| Oct27 |
What is the AMA relative value scale update committee and what does it do? |
| Oct25 |
Coverage denials by insurers for pre-existing conditions rise sharply. |
| Sep30 |
United States Renal Data Systems 2010 annual report now available on-line. |
| Sep28 |
HHS asking for comments on their action plan to prevent healthcare-associated infections. |
| Sep28 |
EDTNA/ERCA Recommendations for Prevention and Management of Violence and Aggression in renal units |
| Sep22 |
FDA advisory committee to meet on October 18 to consider the results of the TREAT anemia study. |
| Sep17 |
Conference call for Medicare Prospective Payment System on Sept. 27th. |
| Sep08 |
RPA vascular access initiative launched. |
| Sep06 |
Fresenius to manage dialysis units in Abu Dhabi. |
| Sep03 |
Deal would provide dialysis for illegal immigrants in Atlanta |
| Aug27 |
Bleeding during dialysis: VA patient advisory that led to the decision to adopt Redsense technology |
| Aug26 |
European data shows no increased mortality risk with increased Hb variability. |
| Aug26 |
Redsense blood leak alarm to become mandatory for Veterans Administration dialysis patients in the U.S. |
| Aug26 |
Baxter fined in Australia for alleged anti-competitive behavior. |
| Aug26 |
Fresenius to acquire peritoneal dialysis business from Gambro. |
| Aug20 |
National Renal Administrators Association offers new bundlng tool. |
| Aug15 |
CMS to host confernce call on its Quality Incentives Program on Aug 24, 2:00 PM EST |
| Aug15 |
Type of insurance markedly affects creation of AV fistula rate in incident dialysis patients. |
| Aug12 |
CMS may require one physician visit/month to home dialysis patients in order to get paid. |
| Aug02 |
Mix-ups of reused dialyzers in the newspapers. |
| Jul28 |
Biotrends data suggests that use of ESAs for stage 4 CKD is falling. |
| Jul26 |
CMS issues final rule for bundling and prospective payment (large .pdf file) |
| Jul25 |
UK National Health Service rumored to be planning draconian cuts in service. |
| Jul21 |
FDA freezes enrollment in pioglitazone vs. rosiglitazone safety study. |
| Jul20 |
Fresenius signs licensing agreement with company specializing in anti-thrombotic coating technology. |
| Jul16 |
RPA Public Policy in a Minute webcast |
| Jul12 |
Who is new CMS head Donald Berwick? |
| Jul12 |
Florida group to market automobile designed specifically to accommodate a wheelchair. |
| Jul12 |
UK national health service to undergo massive structural overhaul |
| Jul06 |
Healthcare.gov -- the U.S. government's new website providing insurance plan info to patients. |
| Jul06 |
CROWN Web phase III coming in January of 2011. |
| Jul02 |
Bundling rule proposal goes to Office of Management and Budget for approval. |
| Jun30 |
Effect of moving to a high-diagnostic geographic region on patient risk scores. |
| Jun24 |
First year residents to be limited to work shifts no longer than 16-hours |
| Jun22 |
Medicare physician payment cut could cost millions more in reprocessing. |
| Jun22 |
Price comparison shopping enters the medical marketplace. |
| Jun18 |
Senate fails to spare doctors from Medicare cuts. |
| Jun02 |
DSI Renal named Dr. Mark Kaplan as chief medical officer. |
| May26 |
Watson files abbreviated new drug application for sevelamer carbonate. |
| May26 |
Fresenius buys Asia Renal Care. |
| May20 |
Federal Trade Commission targets privacy concern about copy machine storage of files on internal hard drive. |
| May18 |
Medicare cuts for physicians loom yet again. |
| May12 |
Grandfather clauses may represent a sizeable loophole in the health care reform bill. |
| May10 |
New law could help hospice patients continue dialysis |
| May10 |
GAO report validates physician complaints on Medicare claims contractors |
| May05 |
New health law will require industry to disclose payments to physicians |
| May05 |
New meta-analysis (Annals Int Med) accentuates increased stroke and thrombosis risk of ESA therapy |
| May05 |
NxStage's Q1 revenues jump, losses narrow |
| May04 |
FDA orders recall of all Baxter Colleague infusion pumps |
| May04 |
Fresenius Q1 report shows increased revenues. |
| May03 |
GAO report regading CMS need to evaluate effect of bundling (large .pdf file) |
| Apr30 |
GAO recommendation that CMS monitor dialysis quality after implementation of bundled payment. |
| Apr28 |
U.S. federal judge dismisses complaint against Amgen alleging use of kickback to increase Aranesp use. |
| Apr28 |
B.Braun announces U.S. availability of dialysis machines with built-in Kt/V monitors based on dialysate UV absorbance measured on-line. |
| Apr28 |
DaVita reports 1st quarter financial income growth of about 13% higher than previous year. |
| Apr22 |
University of Chicago to sell 3 off-site dialysis units to DaVita |
| Apr14 |
US Renal to acquire Dialysis Corp of America for 112 million dollars |
| Apr14 |
28 states poised to expand role of nurse practicioners. |
| Apr13 |
Health Bill Provision On Long-Term Care Will Affect Baby Boomers |
| Apr11 |
VA planning to pay Medicare rates (39% reduction) to nonVA clinics for dialysis. |
| Apr11 |
Medicare pay cut so that Congress can undo 21% reduction in payments. |
| Apr11 |
Generic losartan and losartan + HCTZ now available |
| Mar31 |
Home dialysis patients anxiously wait for health care reform to unfold. |
| Mar31 |
ASN World Kidney Day 2010 video |
| Mar30 |
HHS has 90 days to set up a high-risk pool for patients with pre-existing conditions. |
| Mar29 |
U.S. judge invalidates gene patent |
| Mar29 |
ANNA action alert - write Congress regardling bundling issues for ESRD care. |
| Mar29 |
NKF's legislative action center releases position paper on Health Care Reform bill |
| Mar29 |
OIG audit targets Spectra laboratories over billing procedures. |
| Mar26 |
House passes edited version of Health Care Reform Reconciliation Bill |
| Mar26 |
FDA advisory panel review of ESA risks in CKD (2 hr video) |
| Mar24 |
Estimated GFR reporting by laboratories increases nephrology referral; effect on outcomes not yet clear. |
| Mar24 |
Fresenius appeals 19.4 M verdict relating to use of Method II billing by Renal Care Group. |
| Mar20 |
Gov. Schwarzenegger, Steve Jobs, lobby for new organ donor legislation in California. |
| Mar19 |
Sen Kent Conrad's letter to CMS concerning the ESRD bundling proposal. |
| Mar12 |
New RPA website on-line. Annual Meeting starts today, March 12th. |
| Mar11 |
Today is World Kidney Day |
| Mar11 |
Fresenius to offer online hemodiafiltration to its UK clinics. |
| Mar05 |
Fresenius acquires National Vascular Care |
| Feb22 |
Checklists reduce complications in surgical procedures |
| Feb22 |
5-diamond safety program for missed HD treatments (Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition) |
| Feb12 |
Texas jury acquits nurse who complained about a physician's care to the Texas Medical Board. |
| Feb11 |
Medicare pay fix for doctors hitches a ride on the jobs bill |
| Feb04 |
Who will provide unreimbursed dialysis to immigrant dialysis patients in Atlanta? |
| Feb01 |
CMS issues new guidelines for adequacy, infection, and access reporting. |
| Jan27 |
Financial burden of providing emergency dialysis to illegal immigrants at Las Vegas UMC. |
| Jan26 |
AJKD: Series of editorials from different perspectives on CMS 2009 prospective payment system. |
| Jan25 |
Providing dialysis to illegal immigrants costing one university dialysis center 2 M dollars/month. |
| Jan25 |
FDA schedules premarket clearance meeting re medical devices on 18 Feb, 2010 |
| Jan20 |
Gambro announces agreement to acquire CHF solutions. |
| Jan20 |
New business analysis published on global trends in dialysis markets. |
| Jan17 |
Why some doctors are opting out of Medicare. |
| Jan16 |
National CKD surveillance system is in the works |
| Jan16 |
Uncomfortable arithmetic: whom to cover vs. what to cover. |
| Jan15 |
Comments to CMS regarding effect of bundling on frequent hemodialysis |
| Jan07 |
Miami's Jackson County health system can no longer pay for dialysis of poor patients. |
| Jan06 |
Temporary reprieve eases crisis for dialysis-dependent illegal immigrants. |
| Jan05 |
Sharing a hospital room increases the risk of C. difficile infection |
| Dec31 |
Political cartoons dealing with health care reform |
| Dec29 |
High price of FDA approval - the case of colchicine. |
| Dec26 |
Interview with DaVita CEO Kent Thiry re health care reform. |
| Dec17 |
Physicians advocate for repeal of Medicare sustainable growth rate approach. |
| Dec17 |
House votes to delay Medicare physician reimbursement reductions until March. |
| Dec16 |
Mostly immigrant dialysis patients lose lawsuit against closure of Grady dialysis unit. |
| Dec16 |
RPA final comments on ESRD prospective payment system. |
| Dec15 |
Kidney Care Partners letter to senators regarding immunosuppressive drug reimbursement issues. |
| Dec15 |
Reducing dialysis reimbursement to pay for transplant drugs draws opposition. |
| Dec08 |
Compilation of international human subject protection laws (large .pdf file) |
| Dec08 |
Drug reimportation re-emerges in health care debate. |
| Dec02 |
American Indian health care in the U.S. may be reorganized. |
| Nov27 |
Interview with NxStage CEO Jeff Burbank discusses home dialysis, impact of bundling. |
| Nov27 |
Diabetes expected to double, costs to triple, by 2034 in the United States. |
| Nov19 |
What happens to data privacy when a personal genomics company goes bankrupt? |
| Nov19 |
ESRD-related language in candidate Senate healthcare reform bill. |
| Nov17 |
In LaCrosse, WI, "everyone" has filled out an advance directives form |
| Nov15 |
Health Care marketplace: Make and offer on PriceDoc.com |
| Nov14 |
New database for out-of-network pay set to replace disputed Ingenix system |
| Nov10 |
Amgen lawsuit highlights industry practice of overfilling vials. |
| Nov10 |
AMA news reviews current status of health care reform legislation. |
| Nov05 |
RPA releases an analysis of the Final Rule for the 2010 Medicare Fee Schedule.. |
| Nov05 |
Home dialysis experts questions CMS decision to merge home training costs into the bundle. |
| Nov04 |
FDA unveils "Safe Use Initiative" to reduce medication-related side-effects. |
| Oct19 |
DaVita real estate shopping in Denver for new corporate headquarters |
| Oct10 |
American Society of Transplantation pushing to include transplant drug extension in health reform legislation. |
| Oct10 |
Fistula first releases strategic plan to get fistulas up from 53 to 66%. |
| Oct06 |
CMS to host ESRD and clinical laboratories open door forum 10/15 and town hall 10/23 |
| Oct01 |
Senate Finance Committee passes a Public Option for persons just above Medicaid income limits. |
| Sep28 |
I love my socialist kidney - a patient perspective |
| Sep28 |
Funding concerns cause dialysis patients to be steered away from transplantation. |
| Sep25 |
When Grady hospital dialysis unit closes, what will happen to its immigrant patients? |
| Sep25 |
Study dispels myth that new residents cause increased medical errors in July. |
| Sep24 |
Hospital closure of its dialysis unit leaves immigrants with few alternatives. |
| Sep24 |
USRDS Annual Report now available for download. |
| Sep23 |
New CMS reimbursement rules could help home dialysis companies like NxStage. |
| Sep19 |
Just say no to antibacterial burgers |
| Sep18 |
Government inspection of dialysis facilities in Texas causing delays. |
| Sep18 |
CMS announces details of town hall meeting on ESRD prospective payment system. |
| Sep17 |
Satellite Healthcare announces recipients of 2009 extramural grant program |
| Sep17 |
CMS prospective ESRD payment system posted on the web for comment |
| Sep15 |
Device makers object to new fees in health bill. |
| Sep11 |
Fresenius launches telemonitoring system for dialysis patients. |
| Sep05 |
Real Canadians talking about their health care system. |
| Sep01 |
Fresenius and its mobile generator truck to power dialysis units in times of weather emergencies. |
| Aug21 |
CMS panel to review use of ESAs, will meet in March of 2010. |
| Aug20 |
OIG audits of dialysis centers comparing ESAs billed for with ESAs ordered. |
| Aug20 |
Sharing the load? For profit Las Vegas dialysis centers turfing illegal immigrant patients to university hospital. |
| Aug18 |
Providing dialysis to 80 illegal immigrants driving Las Vegas hospital into debt. |
| Aug11 |
ANNA: Aug 10-14th is Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week |
| Aug11 |
Canadian Health Care system: How effective is it? |
| Jul09 |
Unsung heroes work hard to cut hospital-acquired infection rates. |
| Jul03 |
Kidney disease education to be part of CMS 2010 proposal for coverage. |
| Jul03 |
CMS releases proposed changes to physician payment schedule for 2010. |
| Jul02 |
Fresenius opens specialty pharmacy for renal patients in Nashville. |
| Jul02 |
Fresenius inks agreement with ART to market Citrasate dialysate. |
| Jul02 |
CME proposes changes to physician payment in 2010, including dropping consultation codes. |
| Jul01 |
Institute of Medicine Comparative Effectiveness Report lists 100 priorities, including evaluation of different forms of dialysis. |
| Jul01 |
Nephrology consults via telemedicine in California hospital |
| Jun30 |
Doctors increasingly communicate with patients on-line. |
| Jun30 |
Jeddah to have Middle East region's largest dialysis center, will treat 800 patients |
| Jun30 |
Da Vita and Colorado physicians' group in legal battle over non-compete clause. |
| Jun26 |
CJASN: Study highlights long term kidney impairment associated with contrast nephropathy. |
| Jun24 |
Steve Jobs' liver transplant - why Tennessee? |
| Jun23 |
Archives: Meta-analysis suggests QOL benefits largely dissipate at Hb levels above 12 g/dL. |
| Jun23 |
Edwards Life Sciences to sell its CRRT product line to Baxter for 56 M. |
| Jun10 |
Ferric citrate found to bind phosphate in phase II study with no marked adverse effects. |
| Jun10 |
Florida legislation passed that gives access to Medigap coverage to ESRD Medicare beneficiaries. |
| Jun04 |
Sixty percent of United States bankruptcies driven by medical problems |
| Jun04 |
One in four nursing home residents in the UK carries MRSA. |
| May29 |
Holistic approach to CKD offers dialysis in a spa-like environment with numerous support services. |
| May28 |
DaVita to move its corporate headquarters to Colorado |
| May25 |
Search all abstracts from the World Congress of Nephrology 2009 |
| May22 |
Institute of Medicine publishes recommendations for controlling conflicts of interest in the NEJM. |
| May22 |
Libel laws threaten peer-reviewed publication of data critical of medical devices, procedures. |
| May20 |
Donations of organs decline in the U.S. with the economic downturn. |
| May15 |
Study emphasizes burden and cost of physician administrative work dealing with health plans. |
| May15 |
Congressional Health Subcommittee considers legislation that would allow lawsuits against FDA-approved medical devices in state courts. |
| May15 |
Virtual doctor visits similar to real visits in terms of patient and doctor satisfaction in RCT. |
| May14 |
New projection is that Medicare funds will be gone by 2017. |
| May11 |
CDC issues guidance for H1N1 influenza prevention and management in dialysis settings. |
| May08 |
New mapping tool to track emerging diseases. |
| May07 |
Debate about pros and cons of comparative effectiveness research in the NEJM. |
| May05 |
Fresenius launches national retail pharmacy for dialysis patients. |
| May01 |
Survey company releases report on usage trends for vitamin D, phosphate binders, and calcimimetics. |
| May01 |
Cyclohexanone, found in plastic IV tubing (dialysis tubing?) and bags, causes taste alterations, myocardial stunning. |
| Apr27 |
CDC swine flu guidance for healthcare professionals |
| Apr27 |
CDC swine flu update website |
| Apr27 |
OSHA pandemic flu guide (2007) for health care workers and employers (104 page .pdf file) |
| Apr23 |
Download KDQOL forms and tools |
| Apr22 |
Fresenius research focuses on KDQOL-36 and other measures of quality of life. |
| Apr20 |
New Medicare billing rules emphasize prompt reporting of change of billing address and billing for retroactive services. |
| Apr16 |
J. Michael Lazarus to retire as CMO of Fresenius Medical Care NA; Raymond Hakim to replace him. |
| Apr14 |
Medicare announces participants in pilot program designed to prevent hospital readmissions. |
| Apr12 |
Pharma support of medical societies raises conflict of interest concerns. |
| Apr11 |
One thousand 2007-2009 audiofiles and slide/audio talks added to HDCN's 20 topic-related channels. |
| A09 |
The stimulus package and its links to health information technology discussed in NEJM. |
| A09 |
Why premature application of guidelines may be dangerous |
| A07 |
Has the economic recession temporarily alleviated the nursing shortage? |
| A02 |
GAO sting reveals that 1 of 3 commercial IRBs approves clearly risky protocol |
| M29 |
Link to slide/audio and audio symposia on HDCN |
| M26 |
AHA supports a lower sodium intake limit (1.5 g Na/day) for most Americans. |
| M12 |
Dr. Margaret Hamburg proposed as new head of the FDA. |
| M03 |
Obama's health czar, Nancy-Ann DeParle, previously worked for DaVita dialysis. |
| F25 |
CMS requests feedback on information to be collected via CrownWeb |
| F25 |
New position of NKF re incentives for kidney donation in the news. |
| F17 |
CMS to cover bariatric surgery in obese type 2 diabetics. |
| F16 |
FDA approves Uloric (febuxostat) for treatment of gout. |
| F16 |
Restaurant reviewer Zagat plans to review doctors. |
| F10 |
Vancouver sets up pilot self-care nocturnal dialysis unit in one of its hospitals. |
| F05 |
Regulatory approval for self-care dialysis (discussion blog) |
| F03 |
FDA web pages, teaching program, focus on errors in luer-lock connections of IV tubing. |
| F02 |
ICD-10 diagnostic code compliance requirements postponed until 2013. |
| J30 |
NKF launches program designed to reduce the wait for a transplanted kidney. |
| J29 |
Medicaid cuts and payer mix affect financial viability of dialysis units |
| J29 |
NEJM Perspective: Universal health care coverage vs. economic relief - a false choice |
| J23 |
Mississippi state house of representatives passes bill to fund dialysis patient transportation costs. |
| J21 |
Health information technology may be part of the economic stimulus bill. |
| J20 |
NICE or not so nice? Congressional bill considers cost-effectiveness of prescribed drugs. |
| J19 |
CMS rescales launch of Crownweb to a pilot group of dialysis units. |
| J19 |
A look at U.S. government factors that may affect kidney care in 2009 |
| J17 |
CMS announces start of implementation of CROWNWeb data system to begin February 1. |
| J17 |
New 2009 CPT codes for outpatient dialysis |
| J16 |
GAO report criticizes FDA on device testing |
| J16 |
Obama and Reid take aim at Medicare HMOs |
| J15 |
NEJM perspective on chances of health care reform under Obama (.pdf) |
| J15 |
Telemedicine outpatient consultations predicted to become more popular in 2009. |
| J14 |
Codapedia - a free wiki dealing with proper coding for medical reimbursement, to launch in April of 2009 |
| J10 |
MedPac approves increased payment to dialysis units |
| J08 |
Rep. Stark introduces Americare Health Act of 2009. |
| J07 |
CDC reports on outbreaks of hepatitis B or C in outpatient clinics due to staff failures. |
| J06 |
NIH Consensus Conference: Management of Hepatitis B |
| J01 |
New Year's Resolution? Quit smoking. American Lung Association support info. |
| J01 |
Sorin sells its renal care business (Bellco-Soludia) to investor group. |
| J01 |
MMWR: Lower acute MI rates after city implements smoke-free ordinance |
| D24 |
Bone disease in CKD management tool developed in the UK wins IT award |
| D23 |
Court dismisses lawsuit by seven health plans against Amgen |
| D19 |
CMS now rating nursing homes with 1 - 5 stars. Are dialysis units next? |
| D18 |
FDA raises the bar for new diabetes drugs |
| D17 |
Study backs the effectiveness of soap operas and dramas in health education. |
| D15 |
Lithonia, GA school sugar-free for 10 years with positive results. |
| D15 |
DaVita gets subpoena related to Medicare claims for injectables. |
| D13 |
CROWNweb data implementation costs being stressed in the blogosphere |
| D08 |
Reducing stress in laboratory mice by allowing nest-building; plus importance of temperature |
| D05 |
How many happy people are in your surroundings? Happiness found to rub off on others. |
| D05 |
Health care rationing and quality-adjusted years of life: Implications for dialysis in the blogs. |
| D04 |
Cleveland Clinic discloses all industry ties of its doctors on the Clinic's website. |
| D03 |
Senators Baucus and Kennedy release their vision for health care reform. |
| D02 |
Cardiologists debate NEJM study comparing coronary CT scans with percutaneous angiography. |
| N21 |
Dialysis Compare website will now report patients with Hb above 12 as well as below 10 g/dL and will also change how patient survival is reported. |
| N21 |
MMWR: Survey of implementation of hepatitis B vaccination at birth in various countries |
| N20 |
Bill Peckham blogs about Sen. Daschle and what his appointment as HHS secretary might mean for CKD care. |
| N19 |
Did you know that your prescribing history is for sale? Fed appeals court supports NH law banning the practice. |
| N18 |
CDC updates guidelines for disinfection and sterilization in health care facilities. |
| N18 |
AAKP announces the death of its former Executive Director and CEO Kris Robinson |
| N18 |
AMA: Obama win accelerates drive for health care reform. |
| N18 |
NY Times article highlights growing burden of CKD. |
| N17 |
Network 9/10 and RPA sponsored symposia on Conditions for Coverage and Medical Director Responsibilities |
| N13 |
Sen.Baucus unveils Universal Health Care proposal |
| N06 |
MMWR: CDC recommendations against multiple puncture of parenteral medication vials. |
| N06 |
CMS announces Open Door Forum on CrownWeb and Dialysis Facility Compare on Nov 19. |
| N06 |
KDOQI announces expansion plans |
| O29 |
Comments on KDIGO guidelines on prevention and treatment of hepatitis C in CKD. |
| O28 |
Market research firm releases reports detailing changes in management of anemia, phosphate, and PTH. |
| O27 |
Costs of treating diabetes has nearly doubled in past 7 years. |
| O23 |
Dennis Kogod promoted to be DaVita's Chief Operating Officer (COO) |
| O23 |
Kaiser analyzes Presidential candidates' health care plans |
| O22 |
JAMA: Adverse case-mix disadvantages some hospitals in terms of pay for performance scores. |
| O16 |
Baxter earnings rise 19% in third quarter on sales of plasma-derived products. |
| O07 |
Medicare carrier switch causing payment delays and other problems nationwide. |
| O07 |
NRAA: Advance copy of ESRD program interpretive guidelines. (pdf) |
| O06 |
National Renal Administrators' Association requests that small dialysis organizations be allowed to data batch CPM reporting to Crown Web. |
| O06 |
One-dollar-a-month polypill containing ASA, thiazide, ACEI, and statin to undergo clinical testing. |
| O04 |
Scandal breaks surrounding pharma payments to Emory University Psychiatry Department Chairman. |
| O03 |
On Nov 3, U.S. Supreme Court to hear key product liability court regarding use of FDA-recommended drug labels. |
| O01 |
Medicare stops paying for 10 reasonably preventable medical errors. |
| S26 |
FDA early communication regarding ongoing safety review of German ESA stroke study. |
| S26 |
FDA involving itself in the use of ESAs as part of study trials after increased deaths in German stroke study. |
| S24 |
Joint Commission issues safety alert regarding heparin dosing errors in hospitals. |
| S22 |
NY dialysis center shut down for unsanitary conditions; story hits the New York Times. |
| S16 |
How should one properly dispose of unused drugs? No one seems to know. |
| S16 |
US Federal Trade Comission (FTC) restricts FMC's ability to set its pricing on Venofer IV iron using its licensing agreement. |
| S16 |
Conbining thiazides with potassium-sparing diuretics markedly lowers cardiovascular mortality. |
| S14 |
Hospitals and nursing homes contribute to water contamination with pharmaceuticals through their disposal methods. |
| S10 |
University of Pittsburgh to partner with DaVita, FMC in 18 regional dialysis clinics. |
| S05 |
Alternating linezolid and vancomycin usage periods in the ICU lowers MRSA prevalence. |
| S05 |
High gas prices hit dialysis patients and others who need frequent medical treatment. |
| S05 |
Vaccination against core influenza virus antigens may obviate need for annual shots. |
| S03 |
RPA and ESRD networks launch kidney patient safety initiative, including a new website. |
| S02 |
Genetic data stored at NIH temporarily withdrawn due to privacy concerns raised by new method of forensic SNP analysis |
| S02 |
How Tulane University hospital coped with Gustav evacuation |
| S02 |
AJKD: Temporary iron depletion and relative thrombocytosis may underline increased mortality with high doses of EPO. |
| A29 |
Study suggests that flu shots may not reduce mortality in the elderly. |
| A29 |
Morton salt notifies customers of potassium chloride shortage due to labor strike at Canadian potash mines. |
| A27 |
Webcam doctor visits take off in Hawaii |
| A22 |
Some evidence that Vytorin is, or maybe is not, associated with an increased cancer risk; FDA gets involved. |
| A22 |
Fresenius stays strong in tough economic times. |
| A21 |
DaVita establishes Florida hotline for dialysis patients to be used during hurricanes. |
| A20 |
79 million US adults have problems related to medical care induced debt. |
| A18 |
Wall Street Journal health blog debated ethics of organ donation, focusing on NKF opposition to the concept. |
| A18 |
Medicare finalizes its list of - no pay - preventable conditions in hospitalized patients. |
| A15 |
Infection control requirements from CDC incorporated into CMS conditions for coverage for dialysis units. MMWR, see p. 875. |
| A14 |
CMS issues draft interpretive guidelines for surveyors re new conditions for coverage; requests comments (pdf). |
| A08 |
FDA-mandated new labeling and medication guide for ESAs now activated. |
| A08 |
Dr. Stan Lindenfeld appointed as Chief Medical Officer of U.S. Renal Care |
| A07 |
Proposed legislation would protect physicians who volunteer to treat poor patients from medical liability. |
| A07 |
Some foreign-trained physicians working under the J-1 visa waiver program complain of abusive working conditions. |
| A07 |
U.K. National Health Service decides that 4 new drugs with some activity against kidney cancer are not cost-effective. |
| A05 |
Physician and nurse blogs not uncommonly intrude on patient privacy rights and have undeclared conflicts of interest. |
| A01 |
FDA forces new labeling changes for ESAs under new law. |
| J30 |
A year of quality-adjusted human life is worth 129,000 dollars? |
| J30 |
Incenter 3x/week nocturnal hemodialysis in the news. |
| J29 |
Difficult patient kicked out of local dialysis center forced to dialyze in local hospital emergency room. |
| J28 |
E-prescribers see Medicare bonus, but late adopters will face pay cut |
| J25 |
U.S. House approves delay of Medicare trigger measure. |
| J22 |
As travel costs rise, more meetings go virtual. |
| J22 |
The cold, cruel facts?: Disease prevention programs may not lower costs in the long run? |
| J21 |
Drug industry: No more free pens, pads, or mugs for docs. |
| J21 |
Singapore mulls legal kidney trading. |
| J16 |
Congress overrides Bush veto on Medicare bill that prevents physician payment cuts. |
| J15 |
GAO recommends prior authorization by Medicare of physican office-based diagnostic imaging tests. |
| J15 |
Bush to veto Medicare physician's pay patch bill today; Congress set to override. |
| J14 |
Nurses struggle with implications of new CMS policy re non-reimbursable adverse events. |
| J11 |
Dialysis patients in Scotland can access their lab results on-line. |
| J11 |
U.S. News issues its annual rankings of hospitals by specialty. |
| J11 |
White House threatens to veto bill rescinding physician Medicare payment cuts. Does the Senate have the votes to override? |
| J10 |
U.S. National Public Radio examines health care system in 5 European countries. |
| J09 |
Medicare bill that rescinds physician payment cuts passes in Senate with veto-proof majority. |
| J09 |
ESRD Network 14 (Texas) alert regarding contamination of at least one lot of Morton salt pellets by sodium ferrocyanide. |
| J09 |
Fresenius signs sublicensing agreement with Luitpold to use Venofer in United States patients. |
| J08 |
Transplant tourists running out of destinations. |
| J07 |
Medicare double delay: Senate fails to act and CMS holds physician claims. |
| J07 |
Fresenius Medical buys heparin-maker APP pharmaceuticals. |
| J03 |
Pfizer will no longer work directly with for-profit CME companies. |
| J03 |
CMS releases 2007 ESRD Clinical Performance Measures report (.pdf) |
| J01 |
Medicare proposes changes for dialysis reimbursement. |
| J01 |
More on the physician Medicare payment cut battle in the Congress. |
| J01 |
FDA may start focusing more on software reliability in medical devices. |
| J01 |
Bills pending in Congress would remove Supreme Court shield for medical device manufacturers. |
| J30 |
Doctors get temporary reprieve on Medicare cuts. |
| J30 |
AMA delegates oppose CMS no pay policy for "preventable" conditions that develop during hospital stay. |
| J28 |
Mortality rates similar at for-profit and not-for-profit dialysis chain patients; former use more EPO and IV iron. |
| J28 |
Senate fails to take up legislation that would delay Medicare physician fee cut. |
| J26 |
Allen Nissenson hired as Chief Medical Officer of DaVita |
| J25 |
House Medicare bill and the politics of competitive bidding for medical equipment |
| J25 |
House votes to block cut in physician Medicare fees. |
| J25 |
Impending Medicare reimbursement cuts may affect delivery of care |
| J24 |
Take your meds and have a chance at winning the lottery. |
| J24 |
House reps Dingell and Barton plan bill pushing nationwide adoption of electronic medical record systems. |
| J23 |
Some academic sites offering on-line second opinion services. |
| J23 |
Brouhaha over inclusion of Social Security numbers on Medicare ID cards: Would take 8 years to change? |
| J19 |
FDA cautions about increased mortality in elderly patients with dementia who had been treated with antipsychotic drugs |
| J19 |
Investigation of deaths at Lufkin dialysis center: How alleged criminal activity was uncovered. |
| J18 |
Computer generated warfarin dosing as effective as dosing by expert prescribers. |
| J16 |
Transportation fees impact some Canadian diaysis patients. |
| J16 |
Patients only rarely use online ratings to pick physicians. |
| J13 |
Senate Republicans block debate on Baucus bill, that would have delayed Medicare payment cuts. |
| J13 |
FDA and EMEA to consider biomarkers of renal injury in animal studies evaluating renal safety of new drugs. |
| J12 |
Baxter avian flu vaccine shows promise in early testing. |
| J12 |
FDA approves generic form of ramipril made by Lupin pharmaceuticals. |
| J11 |
CMS gives researchers access to parts of the Medicare prescription drug benefit database. |
| J11 |
Doctor of nursing practice degree - will this grant clinical privileges similar to that of an MD? |
| J10 |
Would the proposed Baucus bill threaten smaller dialysis providers? |
| J10 |
Baucus unveils Medicare payment reform legislation that would impact on ESRD reimbursement. |
| J09 |
Study suggests benefits of a short nap for night-shift healthcare workers. |
| J05 |
HHS releases comprehensive plan to speed nationwide adoption of health information technology. |
| J05 |
Is your health record already on-line on your health insurer's website? If so, how tightly is this protected? |
| J03 |
Senate Bill would delay Medicare payment cuts to physicians. |
| M27 |
Louisiana Senate passes bill that would shield disaster responders from civil liability lawsuits. |
| M23 |
Automated CPR machine helps save lives. |
| M21 |
CMS launches hospital comparison website. |
| M21 |
President Bush signs genetic anti-discrimination act (GINA) into law. |
| M20 |
NEJM: Palevsky-VA/NIH study shows that daily HD or more intense CRRT of no benefit in acute kidney injury |
| M20 |
Google health now accepting patient information. |
| M17 |
FDA convenes to examine impact of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical, and now, medical device, advertising. |
| M16 |
Heparin-coated thoracic drainage catheters being recalled because of OSCS contamination. |
| M16 |
MMWR: CDC recommends herpes zoster vaccine for all persons over age 60. |
| M15 |
AFP Pharma raises price of heparin. Cost of a typical dialysis treatment will go up by a half-dollar. |
| M12 |
U.S. Health Secretary: Chinese heparin now should be safe. |
| M08 |
Dr. Marmot honored as recipient of Baxter-funded health services research prize for his work describing links between heart failure and socioeconomic status. |
| M07 |
New hospital superbug to worry about: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia |
| M05 |
ASN Renal Week abstract archives 2003-2006 now available on-line in .pdf format. |
| M05 |
National Physician Identifier number must be used on insurance claim forms to get paid after May 23rd. |
| M04 |
Give young persons 50,000 dollars to donate a kidney? Skeptics fear abuse and exploitation. |
| A29 |
Families, CEOs, to testify before Congress on tainted heparin. |
| A28 |
AAMC taskforce frowns on free pizzas for medical school lunch gatherings, and faculty participation in pharma speaker bureaus. |
| A28 |
Am J Med supplement (May, free full text) focuses on computer-assisted diagnosis and errors in diagnosis by physicians. |
| A25 |
Lancet Inf Dis: Five percent of health care workers have MRSA. |
| A22 |
CMS releases standards for e-prescribing of drugs. |
| A21 |
Massachusetts Senate unanimously passes a law banning all pharma gifts to doctors. |
| A17 |
NEJM sounding board article considers impact of patient controlled health records on medical research. |
| A16 |
Advanced practice nurses seek wider scope in 24 states. |
| A15 |
CMS adopts 26 new CPMs effective April 1, 2008 |
| A12 |
Admissions clerk at New York hospital charged with identity theft; sold data on 50,000 patients. |
| A12 |
Cited Arizona dialysis clinic institutes corrective measures. |
| A12 |
Fourteen physicians not involved in Britney Spears' case peeked at her records. |
| A11 |
Drug companies and device makers to voluntarily reveal CME grants to physicians. |
| A10 |
Fresenius in talks to buy Italian group Sorin's renal care business. |
| A03 |
New conditions for CMS coverage (.pdf file) |
| A03 |
CMS releases new conditions for coverage of ESRD care. |
| A02 |
DaVita CMO Charles McAllister, MD, to retire. |
| M13 |
CMS: Medicare will continue to pay for CT cardiac scans for coronary artery calcification detection. |
| M12 |
Planned U.S. events for World Kidney Day, March 13th. |
| M11 |
FDA releases briefing document for Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee on ESAs in cancer. |
| M10 |
Hepatitis cluster prompts Nevada-wide inspection of outpatient surgery units. |
| M07 |
Bill to encourage e-prescribing for Medicare-reimbursed encounters likely to pass this year. |
| M06 |
Kidney Community Emergency Response Coalition website |
| M06 |
Massachusetts Blues health plan concludes that EMRs for physician offices may not be cost-effective. |
| M05 |
Las Vegas endoscopy clinic responsible for spreading hepatitis C after reusing syringes, allegedly to cut costs. |
| M05 |
Supreme court votes 4 vs. 4 regarding pharma immunity from product liability for FDA-approved prescription drugs. |
| M01 |
Screening test for CKD (SCORED) developed by Cornell and UNC Chapel Hill outperforms NKF KEEP approach. |
| F28 |
Google. reveals plans for its health database. |
| F26 |
Dr. Jones of Kidney Care Partners issues response to CMS proposal to bundle ESRD payments. |
| F23 |
Are medical records stored by Google or Microsoft subject to HIPAA? |
| F21 |
Commonwealth Fund prepares report detailing extent of e-health activities across the U.S. |
| F21 |
Google partners with the Cleveland Clinic to store patient health records on-line. |
| F20 |
Fresenius reports Q4 and 2007 financial results. Revenues grow for both products and services. |
| F20 |
Full CMS report to Congress on proposed bundled ESRD payment system (.pdf) |
| F20 |
CMS reports to Congress on a fully bundled payment system for ESRD. |
| F19 |
Baxter rival APP steps in quicklyl to supply heparin to dialysis clinics. |
| F14 |
Three Cornell NY dialysis units show markedly lower mortality after adopting MIQS electronic medical record system (.pdf) |
| F13 |
UK's National Health Service approves pancreatic islet cell transplants for type 1 DM. |
| F11 |
New website gives comparative prices of various care packages available in Minnesota |
| F09 |
Death of waitress after acute asthmatic attack on entering workplace full of cigarette smoke. |
| J29 |
Study suggests that overbooking is a good solution to patient no shows for office practice. |
| J28 |
Problem of lifetime health insurance caps (1 or 2 million dollars) in the news, because they now are being exceeded. |
| J28 |
Vytorin lowers cholesterol, but does not impact on endpoints; House asks FDA to reconsidering hard vs. soft endpoints in proving drug value. |
| J28 |
Overzealous Canadian nuclear regulator gets fired for shutting down reactor producing isotopes needed for medical practice. |
| J28 |
Need a kidney? Don't become a politician, or you'll run afoul with ethics rules about accepting donations. |
| J28 |
Indiana legislature to consider bill affecting insurance company payment for out-of-plan dialysis services. |
| J24 |
U.S. News and World Report ranks best hospitals for kidney care. |
| J19 |
Study finds significant differences among hospital protocols to determine brain death. |
| J16 |
National Renal Alliance files lawsuit against Blue Cross of Georgia |
| J15 |
AAKP awards its Medal of Excellence for 2008 to nephrologist Dr. Todd Ing. |
| J14 |
Kidney Care Partners lobbying Congress to raise payments for dialysis. |
| J13 |
UK considers proposal to remove organs from patients after death without their explicit consent. |
| J04 |
DaVita and Phoenix-based Southwest Kidney Institute form broad partnership |
| J04 |
U.S doctors prescribe placebos on occasion - now this is in the news. |
| J02 |
Doctors express empathy in only 15% of visits where empathy would be expected. |
| J02 |
Labeling on adrenaline vials in terms of concentration are confusing, lead to errors. |
| D28 |
Widow sues Air France, claiming that bumping led to death of her husband, who was on dialysis. |
| D18 |
California House passes bill that would cover 70% of uninsured. |
| D15 |
U.S. dialysis center revenue grows by 11%, in 2006 vs. 2005, from 11.63 to 12.95 billion dollars per year. |
| D15 |
Dialysis patient dies after being denied boarding on flight from Paris to San Francisco due to overbooking. |
| D14 |
Medical transport driver named in lawsuit in dialysis patient death due to fall from wheelchair. |
| D12 |
New NIDDK director Rogers shares vision for kidney research. |
| D11 |
MedPac debate pay changes for doctors, dialysis, home health care. |
| D05 |
Dennis Quaid sues Baxter over label similarities between low- and high-dose heparin vials. |
| N29 |
CMS publishes final Medicare physician fee schedule changes for 2008. |
| N29 |
Fresenius Medical Care acquires Renal Solutions for up to 190 million dollars. |
| N26 |
CMS asks for feedback on its (non)payment policy on hospital-acquired conditions. |
| N26 |
Illinois judge voids legislative cap on medical liability awards for pain and suffering. |
| N16 |
CMS pushing e-prescribing for Medicare beneficiaries. |
| N15 |
FDA approves Roche ESA anemia drug Mircera |
| N12 |
Baxter receives 510k clearance for FDA to test a silver-coated IV line luer-lock connector. |
| N08 |
Link to new FDA boxed labels for ESAs. Their target Hb range is 10-12 g/dL. |
| N08 |
FDA modified boxed warnings, indications, for ESA drugs. |
| N07 |
Survival doubles with adoption of new AHA resuscitation guidelines. |
| N01 |
Legislation introduced in the House to fight spread of drug-resistant bacteria. |
| O31 |
Fresenius Medical 3rd quarter profits up 30% |
| O31 |
AAKP helps defeat legislation to extend period of Medicare Secondary Payer coverage for ESRD |
| O26 |
Legislation aims to require disclosure of implantable medical device prices paid by hospitals. |
| O25 |
AAMI to issue TIR34 - a new guidance document for water quality for reprocessed devices. |
| O23 |
AJKD article, editorial, question relevance of Dialysis Compare quality measurements. |
| O19 |
Baxter reports strong 3rd quarter sales and earnings |
| O19 |
For cancer patients, Aetna will no longer reimburse for epogen unless Hb falls below 10 unless patient is symptomatic. |
| O17 |
MRSA-infected high school student dies. Twenty-one schools closed for cleaning. |
| O10 |
FDA seeks nominations for new foundation to focus on unmet needs in innovation. |
| O10 |
National Provider Identifier must be on Medicare claims as of Jan 1, 2008. |
| O04 |
Battle erupts over Medicare coverage of dialysis |
| S25 |
Benefits of influenza vaccination in older adults questioned. |
| S18 |
New CMS rules changes constraints on dialysis unit medical director salaries. |
| S18 |
Representative Pete Stark writes about Epogen reimbursement policy on his blog. |
| S18 |
Medicare starting to reject claims with NPI number discrepancies. |
| S17 |
Brits will be mandating that doctors wear short-sleeved shirts/coats only, to help reduce spread of infection. |
| S12 |
FDA advisory panel rejects idea of setting 11 g/dL as the upper limit of target Hb with ESAs. |
| S11 |
FDA advisory panel meeting today in the news |
| S03 |
Sheet Metal Workers health plan sues DaVita, Amgen, and Fresenius in a civil action claiming overuse of EPO. |
| A31 |
RPA letter to CMS regarding lack of an increase in work value units for dialysis. |
| A27 |
Economic issues relating to EPO usage - 5 full text articles from AJKD, September, 2007 |
| A22 |
59% of DaVita patients have fistulas (52% national average), and 4 have their fistula for 35 years. |
| A17 |
Patients who develop kidney failure after use of phosphate-based laxatives initiate lawsuits. |
| A09 |
2006 ESRD CPM (Clinical Performance Measures) report now available on CMS website. |
| A07 |
ASN: August issue of Renal Policy Express |
| J25 |
Genzyme doing well - raises 2007 outlook |
| J20 |
CMS: Line item billing requirement for ESAs in program manual update. |
| J19 |
FDA meeting planned in September to scrutinize ESA use in ESRD patients. |
| J19 |
Kidney patients more likely to reach - doughnut hole gap - in Medicare Part D coverage. |
| J18 |
Dutch organ donor numbers soar after - win a kidney - show hoax |
| J18 |
Renal Care Group faces lawsuit for false medical care billing. |
| J16 |
Older, cheaper pills just fine to treat diabetes. |
| J14 |
Robot telerounds reduce length of stay after bariatric surgery. |
| J09 |
MMWR: Prevention and Control of Influenza: 2007 update |
| J07 |
Waging war on C. difficile - the deadliest superbug. |
| J06 |
Medical tourism a growing industry. |
| J29 |
Fresenius presents new award for excellence in nephrology nursing. |
| J29 |
New ideas re ESRD funding presented at House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing. |
| J28 |
Robot fleet for high-tech hospital. |
| J22 |
Hospital Compare website link - see where your hospital ranks on the list. |
| J22 |
Federal government gets back into rating hospitals - this time lists those where patients most likely to die after heart surgery. |
| J20 |
For profit dialysis center proposal in state of New York draws opposition |
| J05 |
NxStage announces agreement to acquire Medisystems |
| M23 |
Medicare issues proposed coverage decision to limit payment for ESAs in patients with cancer. |
| M23 |
FDA orders black box warnings for gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents regarding NSF. |
| M21 |
VA rolls out MRSA control strategy to all of it medical centers |
| M11 |
Report on FDA panel meeting looking into safety of ESA drugs in cancer treatment. |
| M07 |
Bridgepoint to buy Gambro Healthcare. |
| M03 |
NEJM: Drug risks and free speech - can Congress ban direct-to-consumer ads? |
| M02 |
Early start? How about very late start in patients over 70 with very low protein diet? |
| A20 |
Baxter doing well, 1st quarter profits up. |
| A20 |
Congressman Stark favoring new ESA reimbursement policy in letter to colleagues. |
| A20 |
Wall Street Journal video interview with Fresenius CEO Ben Lipps about ESAs. |
| A19 |
Fewer heart patients need antibiotics prior to dental procedures. |
| A18 |
Wallenberg family may sell Gambro Health Care. |
| A18 |
JAMA: EPO utilization higher in certain for-profit dialysis chains. |
| A12 |
NKF releases preliminary anemia guideline update |
| M20 |
Medicare contractors owe huge amount of taxes, GAO says. |
| M20 |
Lawsuit forces state of Arizona to pay for dialysis for legal and illegal immigrants. |
| M16 |
Medicare to review payment policies for ESAs in view of FDA black box warning |
| M16 |
Debate about proposed new rules for organ allocation in the news. |
| M13 |
Copper in doorhandles and hospital fixtures may fight MRSA |
| M09 |
Fresenius gets license to use HITS medical software for its nephrology patients |
| M09 |
FDA to require black box warnings on ESAs regarding complications associated with higher Hbs. |
| M08 |
UK National Health Service launches tool to help prevent infections in dialysis units. |
| M02 |
FDA warns about potential impact of change in calendar onset of daylight savings time on medical devices. |
| M02 |
ASN Renal Policy Express. February, 2007. |
| M01 |
Medicare financing for dialysis vs. transplant in the news: One patient's story |
| F27 |
BBC documentary highlights dangers to hospital and dialysis staff from violence-prone patients |
| F20 |
Sick teens in crisis: Organ transplant patients may die when insurance for medicine runs out. |
| F14 |
Robot-assisted telemedicine rounds growing in popularity |
| F08 |
Stricter standards for dialysis workers proposed by Georgia State Senate. |
| F06 |
Allied against kidney disease on World Kidney Day |
| F04 |
Annual Dialysis Conference 2007 abstracts (Denver, Feb 18-20, 2007) |
| F04 |
International Center / Website for nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy. |
| F04 |
Limit Hb to 12 g/dL in dialysis patients? Not so fast! (New study from Europe suggest that 13-15 g/dL may be OK if not better) |
| F02 |
National Renal Alliance expands into Indiana |
| F02 |
The politics and cost issues relating to EPO in the news |
| F01 |
Biotrends report of Dec 2006 survey on use of ESAs and phosphate binders. |
| J30 |
DaVita says that government has closed the investigation into its business practices. |
| J28 |
New necrotizing toxin identified in dangerous, community acquired strain of multidrug-resistant Staph. aureus |
| J16 |
Doctor's sloppy handwriting alleged to kill 7,000 people annually. |
| J15 |
House passes Medicare drug bill. |
| J09 |
Fresenius buys 51% stake in major dialysis service provider in Taiwan. |
| J08 |
California considers widespread changes in its healthcare delivery system |
| J03 |
Renal Advantage completes acquisition of Renalab. |
| D28 |
NY Times article questions whether blocking for-profit dialysis chains in New York is a good idea. |
| D27 |
FDA: Dr. Kessler to Chair Global Task Force for Harmonization of Medical Device Practices |
| D21 |
President Bush signs bill that stops reimbursement rate reduction for docs and that ups dialysis payment amount by 1.6%. |
| D21 |
Patient sent home from ER complaining of bleeding from access site dies; family files and wins lawsuit. |
| D19 |
Last minute Medicare pay package freezes rates, postpones 5% pay cut. |
| D14 |
AJKD: Some chains adjust EPO doses more diligently than others when Hb values are high. |
| D13 |
Budget increase for VA health care unlikely for 2007. |
| D13 |
Kidney Care Partners applauds U.S. Congress legislation incorporating inflation adjustment for dialysis services. |
| D12 |
FDA campaigns against use of quinine for conditions other than malaria; cautions against use of quinine for leg cramps. |
| D12 |
CMS policy update: Implementation of changes in ESRD payment for calendar year 2007. |
| D11 |
FDA proposes rules overhaul to expand access to experimental drugs. |
| D11 |
Congress votes to increases the dialysate composite rate by 1.6%. |
| D10 |
Three cases of vCJD (mad cow) disease transmitted by blood transfusion in the UK. |
| D06 |
GAO report on bundling Medicare's payment for drugs with all ESRD services (pdf). |
| D04 |
NIH researcher who received money from pharma and failed to disclose it facing criminal chargers. |
| N30 |
MRSA infection becomes the basis for malpractice suits against hospitals in Britain. |
| N30 |
House Ways and Means committee schedules hearing (viewable on the internet) on anemia drug safety for December 6th. |
| N26 |
HDCN: Search index updated for audiofiles, slide/audio talks, articles, and abstracts |
| N22 |
Tail coverage a problem for docs wanting to move to another state, |
| N10 |
ASN Renal Policy Express; November, 2006. |
| N09 |
US FDA will be strenghtening its postmarket program to monitor medical device safety. |
| N01 |
Flat computer keyboard could reduce risk of MRSA spread in hospitals |
| O30 |
CMS to fine tune its policy on covering costs of procedures performed in the course of clinical trials |
| O30 |
Pharma supported patient education sites under the microscope. |
| O24 |
CMS proposes limits on billing for diagnostic tests orders through self-referral. |
| S29 |
Utah offers Fresenius tax rebates to expand its operations in state. |
| S29 |
US OIG (Office of the Inspector General) upcoming audits to focus on EPO (p. 26, PDF) |
| S27 |
U.S. House and Senate pass bill allowing purchase of drugs from Canada |
| S14 |
Multidrug-resistant TB spreading in South Africa. |
| S11 |
Canadian home dialysis patients seek rebate for water, electricity costs. |
| S03 |
Medicare chief McClellan is resigning. |
| A31 |
Security, privacy risk from information retrievable from discarded cell phones |
| A28 |
DaVita amends supply agreement with Gambro because of import ban. |
| A10 |
CMS proposes payment changes for docs and drug add-on adjustment for dialysis centers in 2007. |
| A10 |
Record fine expected against Kaiser Permanente for transplant debacle. |
| A05 |
Rapist jailed for attacks on dialysis unit staff |
| J31 |
Primary care doctors failing to diagnose and refer chronic kidney disease |
| J15 |
NEJM: Transmission of tuberculosis from health care workers. |
| J15 |
Does the electronic medical record threaten patient confidentiality? |
| J11 |
CORA signs agreement with Renal Advantage, Inc. |
| J07 |
Florida dialysis units prepare for hurricanes with generators and tanker trucks. |
| J02 |
MMWR: Updated 2006 influenza prevention and control guidelines from the CDC. |
| J28 |
How to restrict access to your medication prescribing data |
| J28 |
Did you know that drug companies have full access to your medication prescribing data? |
| J24 |
US berates Kaiser over kidney effort |
| J21 |
Woman accused of embezzling 1.5 M from dialysis clinic to buy furs and fancy cars. |
| J20 |
ISMP and FDA issue medical abbreviation blacklist - QOD, IU, ug, qHS, all likely to cause errors (pdf) |
| J16 |
Spill of dialysis concentrate causes panic in NY city :-) |
| M16 |
CMS web course (CME): Medicare Preventive Services Series: Part 3 Expanded Benefits |
| M09 |
Recommendations from joint ASN-RPA-NKF-NIH conference on dialysis facility research |
| M05 |
NEJM (full text): Injury to research subjects |
| M01 |
A way to increase organ donation: Change default policy to YES. |
| A25 |
University of Michigan to pay for preventive diabetes meds for its employees. |
| A02 |
CMS trumpets success of increasing use of fistulas from 2003 to 2005. |
| M31 |
OIG report documents dialysis units profits from darbepoetin - may affect future CMS payment rates. |
| M30 |
Federal Trade Commission gives final approval to sale of Renal Care Group to Fresenius. |
| M27 |
CMS asks health care providers to rate Medicare FFS contractors |
| M24 |
What is XDR tuberculosis? You don't want to get this. |
| M22 |
New CMS EPO and Aranesp payment policy in effect after April 1, 2006 - Listen to conference call. |
| M13 |
ASN: Contact your Senator to support the Specter-Harkin Health Education Amendment. |
| M09 |
Dr. Monaco editorial in KI: In favor of monetizing kidney donation. |
| M07 |
Wellbound expanding network of self-care dialysis units |
| M06 |
Annals: Dramatic recent rise in community-acquired MRSA infections. |
| M02 |
DaVita CEO Kent Thiry testifies before Congress requesting annual Medicare payment review for ESRD. |
| M01 |
Aging boomers lining up for dialysis in Canada. |
| F26 |
New Zealand kidney foundation launches a campaign for people to drink water vs. soft drinks. |
| F26 |
Dialysis for illegal immigrants remains a problem in US southern border states. |
| F21 |
ISN and IFKF team up to put together a World Kidney Day each year. |
| F20 |
CMS: Update to the composite rate: adjustment of drug add-on percentage |
| F17 |
DSI to acquire 100 dialysis clinics from Fresenius Medical Care. |
| F07 |
Bush 2007 budget would double time that dialysis costs are covered by commercial payers |
| F06 |
Survey of UK dialysis units focuses on late referral, AV fistula use, MRSA. |
| F01 |
US House of Representatives passes 1.6% increase in the composite rate. |
| J25 |
32% of Americans carry S. aureus in their noses, and 1% (2 million) carry MRSA. |
| J23 |
CMS conference call on Part B vs. D medicare drug coverage issues: Tuesday Jan 24, 1 PM. |
| J21 |
British study shows that work stress linked to both heart disease and metabolic syndrome. |
| J21 |
FDA announces new program to monitor safety of medical devices. |
| J21 |
Medicare Part D changeover leaves some Florida patients without payments for transport to dialysis. |
| J20 |
CMS relaunches its ESRD reimbursement calculator |
| J19 |
New drug label rule intended to reduce medical errors. |
| J19 |
Tufts nephrologist Dr. Klemens Meyer wins award from US National Kidney Foundation. |
| J17 |
US Supreme court backs Oregon assisted suicide law 6-3. |
| J13 |
AAKP to honor Dr. H. Keith Johnson at its Medal of Excellence Awards Dinner on March 19th. |
| J12 |
Monitoring your dialysis water treatment system (.pdf) - by Northwest Renal Networks |
| J10 |
Satellite Healthcare acquires Peninsula Nephrology patients. |
| J10 |
CORA (Clinical Outcomes Resource App) signs data use agreements with over 100 independent dialysis providers. |
| J06 |
MedPac (Medicare Payment Advisory Commission) to discuss payment adequacy at Jan 10 meeting. |
| J04 |
MMWR: Guidelines to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in health care settings, 2005. |
| J03 |
Calendar and Events: ANNA (American Nephrology Nurses Association) |
| J01 |
Some Mississippi dialysis patients lose funds to pay for rides to their units. |
| D29 |
ANNA hired government relations firm to expand legislative initiatives. |
| D26 |
Need a used medical device? Try Ebay. |
| D23 |
Amgen's monopoly on EPO-related drugs coming to an end with Roche's CERA (NY Times) |
| D23 |
Fresenius acquisition of Renal Care may be delayed until Jan/Feb of 2006. |
| D23 |
Joint Comission (JCAHO) launches chronic kidney disease management certification program. |
| D21 |
Dialysis consortium praises Congress for passing a 1.6% increase in composite rate. |
| D21 |
New tax law slows donations to the NKF's Kidney Cars program in Tennessee. |
| D21 |
New study says that two million Americans are nasal carriers of MRSA. |
| D20 |
Allergic reactions from drug-eluting stents |
| D19 |
Pioneering woman nephrologist Dr. Mary Lou Lewis retires. |
| D15 |
MedPac meeting on adequacy of dialysis payments - transcript (pdf) |
| D13 |
Baxter recalls dialysis machines due to possible blood tubing kinks. |
| D11 |
Tulane University cuts 180 medical school positions after Katrina. |
| D11 |
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission pushes for 3.2% rise in dialysis payments. |
| D08 |
No one injured in acid spill in dialysis clinic. |
| D05 |
Sally Burrows-Hudson, RN to head up business development for CORA. |
| D05 |
Medpac advisory meeting Dec 8-9 to discuss adequacy of payment for dialysis. |
| D03 |
New CPR device improves blood return to the heart. |
| D02 |
Telephone doctors worry medical industry. |
| D01 |
CMS releases EXCEL spreadsheet calculator to compute ESRD reimbursement |
| N24 |
South Korean cloning pioneer quits over ethics re sources of donor human eggs. |
| N24 |
CMS posts draft statement of work for ESRD networks. |
| N23 |
Baxter recalls Accura CRRT machines due to software glitch (Search for "Accura") |
| N23 |
Baxter to set up home dialysis care centers in India. |
| N18 |
Rockwell Medical appoints Scientific Advisory Board |
| N15 |
NEJM: Papers on renewal of board certification for subspecialties. |
| N09 |
Fresenius among those awarded ESRD demonstration project by CMS. |
| N07 |
AAKP patient education plan available in Spanish |
| N07 |
ASN special session: Responding to Katrina - lessons learned |
| N06 |
More on the new FDA digital drug label submission requirement. |
| N06 |
New FDA-supported website lists latest approved drug labels for all meds. |
| N02 |
JASN: USRDS predicts 713,000 prevalent ESRD patients by 2015. |
| O31 |
Probiotics to prevent MRSA? Wash your hands with soap and apply yogurt. |
| O30 |
Kidney thieves prowl Pakistani earthquake zone. |
| O30 |
Head of ambulance transport company convicted of fraud over dialysis billing. |
| O30 |
Miami-Dade County: Finding dialysis provider difficult for some patients. |
| O28 |
Dozens subpoenaed in New Orleans hospital deaths. |
| O28 |
American Kidney Fund Disaster Relief Fund for Wilma-affected patients. |
| O27 |
South Florida power outages hamper treatment of dialysis patients. |
| O26 |
Colorado nephrologist dues Denver-area hospital over dialysis monopoly. |
| O26 |
Aksys announces Q3 earnings conference call. |
| O20 |
Amgen reports Q3 results; earnings quadruple. |
| O20 |
U.S. Japanese and other U.S. Asian dialysis patients live longer. |
| O17 |
Two new "ethical" ways to harvest stem cells. |
| O17 |
DaVita patient group lobbies Congress and CMS. |
| O17 |
Dialysis Corp. of America ranked #17 of America's Best Small Companies. |
| O17 |
Death risk 65% higher at "one-star" vs. "five-star" rated hospitals. |
| O14 |
Stocking up on Tamiflu vs. bird flu? May not do you much good. |
| O14 |
Fresenius to buy hospital chain for 1.8 billion dollars. |
| O14 |
Probe of possible mercy killings at New Orleans hospital begins. |
| O14 |
NEJM: Hurricane Katrina articles (free full text) |
| O14 |
Fresenius third quarter profits up 13% |
| O12 |
China ranked 2nd in world incidence of diabetes. |
| O12 |
DCA launches 9-station mobile dialysis facility in South Carolina. |
| O12 |
JAMA: ESRD incidence, prognosis improving in diabetics. |
| O11 |
NxStage Medical sets number and price of shares for its IPO. |
| O11 |
USRDS: US rates of kidney failure stabilize, ending a 20-year climb! |
| O10 |
Fresenius Medical Care AG involved in shareholder lawsuit. |
| O09 |
AJKD: Increased visits by nephrologists do not raise quality of care. |
| O09 |
USRDS 2005 Annual Data Report Atlas now available on-line. |
| O09 |
Fresenius details its responses to help support Katrina-affected patients. |
| O07 |
Toronto mystery illness that killed 16 in nursing home is Legionnaire's disease. |
| O07 |
Fraud trial underway of company that transported NC dialysis patients. |
| O07 |
Renal Advantage now fourth largest US chain after buying 70 units from DaVita. |
| O06 |
1918 killer flu came from birds |
| O05 |
Charity and University hospitals in New Orleans "unsalvageable". |
| O05 |
HCV cross-infection in Malaysian dialysis unit - poor use of UP highlighted. |
| O04 |
DaVita agrees to sell 70 dialysis clinics to seal Gambro deal. |
| O04 |
National Renal Alliance secures 30 M financing to fund growth. |
| O04 |
Federate Trade Commission approves DaVita acquisition of Gambro units. |
| S30 |
Chinese horseshoe bats identified as animal reservoir for the SARS virus. |
| S29 |
DaVita opens new dialysis centers to help hurricane victims. |
| S26 |
UK experimenting with privatisation of some dialysis services. |
| S26 |
Genzyme could see upside if Renagel included in Medicare Part D. |
| S26 |
Hurricane Katrina may have displaced up to 6000 physicians. |
| S22 |
Past lessons help hospitals prepare for Rita. |
| S21 |
Haaretz: Organ donor shortage in Israel: Problem and possible solutions. |
| S21 |
Nabi launches study to see if StaphVax will protect dialysis patients long-term. |
| S21 |
Sept 21 issue of JAMA focuses on administrative aspects of medical research. |
| S21 |
Nashville also to get part of Gambro - Medicaid settlement payment. |
| S21 |
Ohio to receive settlement money in Gambro Medicaid overpayment case. |
| S19 |
SIMS project Katrina update: Is your dialysis unit open? |
| S17 |
DaVita slowly reopening Katrina-affected dialysis clinics. |
| S16 |
Focus on dialysis: Medical system strains to cope in Louisiana. |
| S16 |
FDA advice on ensuring water quality on reopening dialysis clinics: updated. |
| S14 |
Katrina highlights need for electronic medical records |
| S12 |
CMS issues correction to proposed 2006 ESRD reimbursement |
| S09 |
Double-membrane dialysis system uses nanotech to control pore size. |
| S07 |
Shot dialysis technician on the mend. |
| S06 |
Network 8 Katrina update |
| S06 |
Number of dialysis patients in Scotland rises by 50%. |
| S06 |
Dialysis patient shoots technician at Queens dialysis center. |
| S02 |
Hospitals in crisis in New Orleans |
| S01 |
Backup generator fuel shortage, unrest, plague New Orleans hospitals. |
| A31 |
West Nile virus returns - 17 new cases near Chicago. |
| A31 |
FDA approves new influenza vaccine for upcoming flu season. |
| A30 |
ESRD Network 13: Hurricane Katrina alerts, phone numbers. |
| A29 |
AAKP presses Congress to structure Medicare payments rewarding use of AV fistula |
| A28 |
New Orleans dialysis patients evacuated to other cities. |
| A28 |
Medicare fraud investigation focuses on physician and dialysis billing issues. |
| A25 |
Walter Reed military hospital slated to close. |
| A25 |
Ten Canadian pharmacies apply for license to sell Rx drugs in Nevada. |
| A25 |
Renal Care Group shareholders approve merger with Fresenius. |
| A24 |
NKF launches new public service campaign about early detection of CKD. |
| A24 |
The American Society of Hypertension ditches AmJH for JCH. |
| A23 |
AJKD: More frequent nephrologist visits fail to impact dialysis patient outcome |
| A19 |
Report examines use of electronic health records. |
| A18 |
Alabama changes rule requiring dialysis units to be within 10 miles of hospital. |
| A16 |
CMS Proposed Rule Would Reduce Medicare ESRD Reimbursement |
| A11 |
Renal Care Group served with broad-ranging federal subpoena. |
| A09 |
Study shows large burden placed on hospitals by Staph. infections. |
| A04 |
FMC reports very good Q2 results. |
| A03 |
Renal Care Group announces 2nd quarter results. |
| A03 |
JASN articles focuses on poor medical care received by CKD patients. |
| A02 |
Medlearn: Paying for vaccinations in dialysis facilities. |
| J29 |
Frist now backs bill to allow use of stem cells in research. |
| J29 |
House approves malpractice noneconomic damage cap - Senate fate uncertain. |
| J29 |
Davita to sell 70 dialysis units to Renal America. |
| J28 |
Fire destroys Sacramento, CA dialysis unit building. |
| J26 |
Medical scans using isotopes set off airport alarms. |
| J26 |
Gary Brukardt and other Renal Care execs to join Fresenius Medical Care. |
| J25 |
FMC closes 5 dialysis units in DC area due to insufficient funding. |
| J23 |
Modernizing renal workforce and services in the UK (.pdf) |
| J23 |
Popularity of reimbursable e-visits to physicians is growing. |
| J20 |
House bill seeks to reorganize the NIH and its Institutes. |
| J20 |
NxStage medical (maker of home dialysis machine) files for IPO. |
| J19 |
Reductions in Medicare payments for IVIG lead to problems: Portent for EPO? |
| J14 |
NIH finds ethics violations by its employees in 44 cases. |
| J13 |
DaVita-RMS gets Medicare demonstration project for CKD patients. |
| J08 |
Illinois Public Health directed by governor to establish CKD detection program. |
| J07 |
ANNA: Resource guide for use with Hispanic dialysis patients (.pdf) |
| J06 |
House bill to mandate reporting of all pharma clinical trials in registry. |
| J06 |
Expanding definitions of disease: economic consequences |
| J06 |
Renal Care Group acquires mobile apheresis provider in San Francisco. |
| J06 |
Law introduced to help prevent counterfeit drugs, especially EPO. |
| J06 |
AAKP endorses Grassley-Baucus bill for improved dialysis quality. |
| J04 |
Medlearn matters (SE0541) Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage |
| J30 |
Canadian Health Minister to restrict U.S. access to Canadian meds. |
| J30 |
Genzyme, Bone Care International, announce shareholder approval of merger. |
| J28 |
Researchers link nursing injuries to staffing levels. |
| J25 |
VA faces 1 billion dollar budget shortfall this year. |
| J23 |
NIH provides toolkit for African Americans to discuss CKD at family reunions. |
| J17 |
Regulatory concerns delay sale of Gambro dialysis units to DaVita. |
| J16 |
Rodham-Clinton, Frist, introduce health care IT bill. |
| J16 |
FTC wants more info regarding sale of Renal Care Group. |
| J16 |
Medicare's investment in quality improvement may not be paying off. |
| J08 |
Dialysis technician training school opens in San Francisco area. |
| J07 |
What is a kidney worth? Special article on organ transplantatiýon. |
| J07 |
FMC: Fresenius unveils new 5008 HD-HDF machine ýn Istanbul. |
| J07 |
FMC: European registry data shows 35% lower death risk wýth hemodiafiltration |
| J07 |
Bacteria can survive for weeks on hospital surfaces |
| J04 |
Editorials, opinions (via Kaiser) on disclosing results of clinical trials. |
| J03 |
JHU project connects dialysis kids with on-line games, communities. |
| J03 |
Kaiser electronic med system reduces medication errors in CKD patients. |
| J01 |
Malpractice premiums of over 200K driving OB-GYNs from some counties, states. |
| M31 |
Int Fed Kidney Foundations (IFKF) meeting opens in Dublin. |
| M30 |
Kaiser malpractice update: Illinois, Maryland, NH, and Washington, DC. |
| M27 |
ESRD Clinical Performance Measures (CPM) 2004 report now available. |
| M22 |
Electrostatic charge on plastic nurses' aprons attracts bacteria, ups risk. |
| M21 |
Hospitalists coming into their own as a medical specialty. |
| M21 |
Medicare to pay for ESRD telehealth services (pdf). |
| M20 |
New telemedicine company treats patients by phone without seeing them. |
| M19 |
Am J Nephrol: Carnitine therapy associated with decreased hospitalizations |
| M19 |
Renal Care Group says class action lawsuit on Fresenius merger is without merit. |
| M18 |
US consumers increasingly using websites for health information. |
| M18 |
Medicare backs off of initiative to limit procedure at ambulatory surgicenters. |
| M16 |
Renal Care Group to take over dialysis for 900 patients in Georgia and Florida. |
| M13 |
Dingell re-introduces patients' rights legislation. |
| M13 |
Malpractice update: New developments in 5 states (Kaiser) |
| M12 |
ESRD outpatient medications project: Request for public comment (via Network 8) |
| M12 |
Kennedy-Murphy Bill would promote and standardize Health Info Technology. |
| M12 |
Neurochem to plead its case before the FDA for Fibrillex approval. |
| M12 |
University Med Center accuses dialysis competitor of overbilling in Las Vegas. |
| M10 |
Am Soc Hypertension focuses on Hispanic hypertension. |
| M09 |
Two studies document the rise of superbugs in the environment. |
| M09 |
Dialysis patient goes on home dialysis strike - insists on in-center treatment. |
| M09 |
Is a Medicare Physician COMPARE project in the works? |
| M09 |
Subspecialties, including nephrology flourish as IM resident choices. |
| M04 |
Genzyme to buy Bone Care International for 600 M. |
| M04 |
Fresenius to buy Renal Care Group for 3.5 billion dollars. |
| M03 |
Consumer Reports website suggest Best Buys for ACE inhibitors. |
| M01 |
Recent malpractice developments in five states. |
| A30 |
Advisory Board for bundled case-mix ESRD payment system to meet May 24, 2005. |
| A29 |
CMS stakeholder's meeting April 14th: Agenda and speaker slides. |
| A29 |
Gambro hiring, expanding manufacturing, in Lakewood, CO. |
| A29 |
ESRD patient dies after stopping dialysis to follow alternative health regimen. |
| A29 |
Shire first quarter profits fall on higher costs. |
| A29 |
Baxter sales growing internationally, but barely in the U.S. |
| A28 |
Volunteer / contribute to the RPA PAC (Political Action Committee) |
| A28 |
Gambro to make Polyflux dialyzers in Alabama. |
| A28 |
DaVita reports first quarter results. |
| A27 |
New ID guidelines recommend screening HIV-infected patients for kidney disease. |
| A27 |
Substituting nurses for doctors results in high quality care, but few savings. |
| A27 |
HCPRO offers dialysis quality and reimbursement newsletter for $299/yr. |
| A27 |
Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee top 3 states in terms of CKD risk. |
| A26 |
ASN Renal Policy Express, April, 2005. |
| A26 |
Keyboards latest culprit in hospital infections. |
| A26 |
Charles Bishop returns to Bone Care International |
| A26 |
CMS: Billing guidelines for syringes used in ESRD treatments. |
| A25 |
Medpac transcript: Modernizing dialysis payment (.pdf, see p. 96-133) |
| A25 |
Ray Hakim to retire as Chief Medical Officer of Renal Care Group. |
| A25 |
Dialysis unit in Malta being promoted as a tourist service center. |
| A24 |
Florida may increased reimbursement for Medicaid dialysis treatments. |
| A24 |
Poughkeepsie dialysis unit employees settle contract dispute. |
| A24 |
Orlando dialysis unit workers overcome by fumes when cleaning up bleach spill. |
| A22 |
MedPAC recommends changes to outpatient drug, dialysis payments |
| A21 |
Fosrenol competing with Renagel for phosphate binder market |
| A21 |
Baxter profits rise, margins improve. |
| A21 |
Amgen's first quarter profits rise 26 percent. |
| A21 |
Fresenius acquires Haemotec - Canadian dialysate concentrate manufacturer. |
| A19 |
Medpac Public Meeting April 21: Improving outpatient dialysis payment policy. |
| A18 |
Kaiser and Wellbound partner to offer home HD and PD. |
| A18 |
Tougher CME conflict of interest rules take effect. |
| A16 |
Canada: National standards urged for nurse practitioners. |
| A16 |
To boost efficiency, hospitals borrow principles from factory floor. |
| A14 |
Rockwell Medical Technologies, Inc. Secures $6.5 Million in Business |
| A14 |
Medical journal editors condemn ghostwriting of scientific articles. |
| A14 |
ESRD Composite Payment Rate System Education News |
| A13 |
Rochester dialysis unit workers call in federal mediator |
| A11 |
Pathogenic bacteria survive on hospital computer keyboards for up to 24 hours. |
| A11 |
Physicians in 4 states score tort reform wins. |
| A11 |
Deleting computer files is not enough to ensure patient record privacy. |
| A11 |
CMS concerned about spike in expenditures for MD services. |
| A11 |
April 20th is HIPAA compliance deadline for medical record privacy. |
| A09 |
National Renal Alliance secures 43 M funding; plans to double dialysis centers. |
| A07 |
Renal Care Group adds three dialysis programs. |
| A07 |
House speaker Dennis Hastert has kidney stones surgically removed. |
| A07 |
Indentured worker sells kidney to pay off debt - set himself free. |
| A06 |
Kidney unit firebugs branded insane. |
| A06 |
California hospitals struggling over new nursing to patient ratio requirements. |
| A06 |
FMC receives subpoena from US Dept. of Justice regarding physician relations. |
| A05 |
Bush malpractice reform legislation stalled in the Senate. |
| A04 |
Trial registration policy adhered to by nephrology journal editors. |
| A04 |
How new bankruptcy laws affect physicians faced with malpractice suits. |
| A04 |
Medicare trustees: Gloomy forecast for physician pay rates. |
| A04 |
Physicians lobby Congress to prevent scheduled payment reductions. |
| A04 |
Another NIH official to retire because of conflict of interest policy. |
| A04 |
RPA NCAP (Nephrology Coverage Advisory Panel) website now live. |
| A02 |
Home HD Medicare FAQs for medical professionals |
| A01 |
Medicare Part B premiums to rise; physician costs are being blamed. |
| A01 |
Hospital compare website |
| A01 |
CMS launches Hospital Compare website; rankings based on 17 quality measures. |
| A01 |
FDA getting interested in follow-up after market studies for medical devices. |
| A01 |
Community MRSA is re-emergence of 1950's pandemic |
| M31 |
Dialysis Corp. of America reports record results for 2004. |
| M31 |
CMS Medlearn: ESRD provider training guide |
| M30 |
New HHS secretary Leavitt announces new goals, appointments. |
| M30 |
NKF Singapore hosts swimathon to raise money for ESRD care. |
| M30 |
Judge to rule today in med center vs. dialysis unit breach of contract lawsuit. |
| M29 |
National Renal Alliance to open new dialysis units in Georgia. |
| M29 |
NY dialysis center workers plan 1-day strike. |
| M26 |
Dr. Steve Bander to get 56M for exposing Gambro fraudulent billing scheme. |
| M25 |
FDA orders seizure of killer hospital beds - 7 patients die. |
| M23 |
Tort reform associated with lower liability rates in 3 crisis states. |
| M21 |
US Congress debates legislation on a national patient safety database. |
| M19 |
Ambulance company gets probation for criminal charges related to dialysis. |
| M19 |
US population trends drive growth in dialysis patients. |
| M17 |
CDC survey shows 30% of hospitals, and 17% of MD offices have EMR systems. |
| M17 |
CMS officially launches FISTULA FIRST initiative. |
| M17 |
Feds subpoena Baxter over dialysis filters. |
| M16 |
ESRD Outpatient Medications Project: Request for Comments (Network 8) |
| M16 |
10,000 petitions in Florida protesting inadequate reimbursement for dialysis. |
| M15 |
CMS decides to pay for melphalan with autologous stem cell tx for amyloidosis. |
| M15 |
Medpac advisory meeting transcript: Improving outpatient dialysis payment. |
| M15 |
Problem with access to dialysis in one part of Florida. |
| M15 |
Dialysis corp to acquire Medicore. |
| M14 |
Videoconferecing costs drop; teleconsultation applications multiply. |
| M14 |
Postcall resident crashes while driving home - is the hospital liable? |
| M11 |
JAMA: Unintended consequences of publicly reporting quality information. |
| M11 |
JAMA: Computerized physician order system facilitates medical errors. |
| M11 |
Uninsured patients who are overcharged are suing. |
| M11 |
Medical malpractice developments in seven states. |
| M11 |
Senate Committee approves bill to establish medical error reporting database. |
| M11 |
FDA issues cancer warning over tacrolimus/pimecrolimus eczema creams. |
| M11 |
Senate bill aims to ease fears about genetic testing. |
| M10 |
CMS provides calculator to compute reimbursement based on case-mix. |
| M10 |
Tumor-targeted immune cells cure prostate cancer in mice. |
| M08 |
NY judge denies claim over "misdirected" kidney. |
| M07 |
DaVita gets another DOJ subpoena |
| M06 |
Fraudulent medical discount cards widespread in the U.S. |
| M05 |
Medpac advisory meeting 3-11: Improving outpatient dialysis payment policy. |
| M04 |
Curis issued patent for use of BMP-7 to treat CKD. |
| M04 |
Some NIH scientists chafe at new ethics guidelines. |
| M02 |
ESRD composite rate system fact sheet |
| M02 |
FDA posts warning: Reduce starting dose of Crestor in Asians. |
| M02 |
Bill would require disclosure of clinical trial results in electronic database. |
| M02 |
Fresenius North America chooses Siemens for its Info Technology system. |
| M01 |
Renal Care Group Q4 profits up 15%. |
| F24 |
Fresenius Medical Q4 net rises 14% on patient-derived revenues. |
| F24 |
MRSA-associated hospital death rate becomes political issue in the UK. |
| F24 |
Consumer group sues FDA demanding that salt in foods be regulated. |
| F23 |
Transfer of VRE by health care workers' hands. |
| F22 |
Bush plan slows Medicaid, research funding. |
| F22 |
Tort reform for nonphysicians sparks debate. |
| F22 |
New CMS payment system from ESRD: Impact and effect of political action. |
| F21 |
Big three automakers launch e-prescribing initiative. |
| F18 |
FTC (Federal Trade Commission) sends query about Gambro-DaVita merger. |
| F17 |
Community nurses in Ireland being outfitted with Blackberry handheld computers. |
| F16 |
City of Evanston donates dialysis machines to sister city in Belize. |
| F15 |
AAKP's Kris Robinson, and Owen and Wish to serve on CMS Advisory Board |
| F15 |
MMWR: Blacks and Hispanics less aware of high cholesterol problems. |
| F15 |
Older docs adhere less rigorously to some standards of care (Annals paper) |
| F15 |
Medicare tests pay for performance: 10 large practices chosen for demo project. |
| F14 |
Hypertension awareness among Hispanics found to be critically low. |
| F14 |
Fresenius deploys Applix data management software at multiple business units. |
| F14 |
Virtual training used to school physicians in practice management. |
| F10 |
Serious MRSA infections linked to two strains. |
| F06 |
NIH publication policy in PubMed database released. |
| F03 |
NIH asks for internet access to funded studies 1 year after publication. |
| F03 |
Not for profit publishers call NIH access rule a missed opportunity. |
| F03 |
Illinois may streamline nursing licensing in face of shortage. |
| F03 |
NIH bans all consulting |
| F03 |
New recs to improve care in CKD, ARF, and palliation put forth in the U.K. |
| F03 |
Australian group calls for government to pay kidney donors. |
| F02 |
AAKP to honor Dr. John Sadler and Dr. Mark McClellan |
| F01 |
CMS announces centers participating in pay for perfomrance demo project. |
| F01 |
Brazil reshapes debate on intellectual property. |
| F01 |
Open-source software to store gigabyte-sized CT scans on I-PODs |
| F01 |
Avoiding malpractice lawsuits: Prompt apology and cash up-front. |
| F01 |
Non-physicians gaining legal right to write drug prescriptions. |
| J30 |
CMS posts draft Conditions for Coverage for ESRD facilities |
| J24 |
Physicians being targeted in identify theft scheme. |
| J24 |
New Medicare bonus payments kick in for rural doctors. |
| J21 |
Sen. Bill Frist outlines new vision for Healthcare in 21st century (NEJM). |
| J21 |
ESRD Stakeholders meeting set for April 14, 2005 in Baltimore. |
| J20 |
Merck threatens to cut off supply to Canadian pharmacies that sell to U.S. |
| J19 |
Spire gets contract to sell dialysis catheters to hospitals. |
| J18 |
New research shows that all COX-2 inhibitors may have CV health risks. |
| J18 |
U.S. launches diabetes campaign aimed at seniors. |
| J18 |
Dialysis Corp America opens new units in South Carolina. |
| J17 |
National Patient Safety group puts up web-CME educational module for physicians. |
| J15 |
MedPac recommends 2.5% increase in payments to dialysis providers. |
| J15 |
RPA files lawsuit against HHS-CMS on Stark II Interim Final Rule |
| J14 |
Computer crash blamed for adverse effect on dialysis patient care. |
| J14 |
Open access announcement regarding NIH research withdrawn for unknown reasons. |
| J14 |
One third of world population expected to have HTN by 2025. |
| J13 |
Sleep-deprived residents at risk for motor vehicle crashes. |
| J13 |
AAKP Washington policy report, Jan 2005. |
| J11 |
US Supreme Court rejects HMO appeal against racketeering charge. |
| J11 |
NIH implements royalty disclosure policy among its staff. |
| J10 |
Medical Economics: Special issue devoted to malpractice crisis. |
| J10 |
Tort reform loophole in Wisconsins excludes first year resident physicians. |
| J07 |
Text message cellphone alerts could provide geographical disaster warning system |
| J06 |
Pharmacy prescription errors increase at the start of each month. |
| J06 |
Canada considers shutting down internet drug trade. |
| J06 |
Baxter participating in relief efforts to aid tsunami victims. |
| J06 |
Publication bias in the news - leads to incorrect regulatory decisions. |
| J05 |
Florida dialysis center reopens months after hurricane Frances shut it down. |
| J05 |
RCG group acquires dialysis program in Missouri |
| J05 |
Bush to open major campaign to cap NEDs in malpractice lawsuits. |
| J05 |
Fresenius raises more than 1.1 million for tsunami disaster victims. |
| J04 |
Amgen donates $1M for tsunami relief programs. |
| J03 |
Bismarck, ND dialysis center receives 300K donation. |
| D30 |
Changes in U.S. physician ESRD payments summarized on ANNA website. |
| D30 |
Importance of specifying payment schedules in insurer contracts underlined. |
| D30 |
AMA t o work with CMS for clarification on E&M coding. |
| D23 |
Davita acquires more U.S. dialysis units |
| D23 |
CMS decides to cover HDM/AuSCT for elderly patients with amyloidosis. |
| D22 |
CMS: Emergency change to carrier instructions re ESRD 50/50 rule. |
| D22 |
CMS: Coverage of routine costs of clinical trials using IDE Category A devices |
| D22 |
Mayo clinic researchers find that PDAs do not interfere with pacemakers. |
| D21 |
Kaiser Foundation launches Medicare HMO health plan tracker. |
| D21 |
Fresenius Medical Care expanding services in Romania. |
| D20 |
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission: Payment for Dialysis (pdf) see p.228 |
| D19 |
Consumer Reports: How to save money on buying statins. |
| D19 |
Consumer reports BEST BUY website now operational |
| D19 |
Grassley to introduce bill in U.S. Congress to mandate clinical trials database. |
| D16 |
JASN: Payment for quality in ESRD |
| D16 |
RPA: Analysis of Medicare 2005 Medicare Fee Schedule Final Rule |
| D14 |
EPA Chief Leavitt picked for Secretary of Health & Human Services. |
| D10 |
NKF Singapore to co-develop non-profit management program in India |
| D10 |
FMC not worried about Davita acquisition of Gambro dialysis units. |
| D08 |
Amgen announces 5 billion dollar stock repurchase plan |
| D08 |
RPA lawsuit against CMS over Medical Director Fees safe harbor provision. |
| D08 |
Davita pays 3 billion for Gambro's U.S. dialysis clinics |
| D07 |
Gambro may agree to sell dialysis operation to Davita; share trading suspended. |
| D02 |
Gambro reaches full settlement with U.S. Department of Justice |
| D02 |
Fresenius buys dialysis units in Memphis |
| D01 |
Todd Ing to be honored by American Kidney Fund at Torchbearer Award |
| N29 |
Voluntary self-regulation of CMEs and MECCs debated |
| N29 |
Blood product study sparks informed consent debate |
| N26 |
WHO warns of bird flu and possible upcoming flu pandemic. |
| N26 |
HHS-OIG advisory opinion (11/24/04) nixes lab support to units for sample prep. |
| N20 |
Dialysis Corporation of America reports Q3 results |
| N20 |
Sit-down rounds improve outcomes for dialysis patients |
| N14 |
Community-associated MRSA becoming more prevalent |
| N13 |
Allan Collins voted President-Elect of the NKF |
| N12 |
Rockwell Med Technologies reports Q3 sales |
| N09 |
Gambro gets DOJ subpoena as well regarding vitamin D usage |
| N07 |
Lawsuits against health plans crumble in wake of Supreme Court ruling |
| N07 |
Church-based program focuses on increasing organ donation from African Americans |
| N07 |
Fresenius expands to 19 clinics in Puerto Rico |
| N03 |
Fresenius Medical raises forecast on more patients |
| N03 |
Medicare Program published revisions to MD payment policies for 2005 |
| N03 |
Research confirms that mad cow disease prions can be removed from blood |
| N03 |
Transmission of mad cow disease by transfusion leads to fears of a second wave |
| O29 |
Bone Care International receives DOJ subpoena |
| O27 |
Fresenius Medical receives U.S. subpoena |
| O27 |
Bone Care Int;l. reports Q1 results |
| O27 |
Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) decision charts |
| O26 |
KDIGO.org website now up for international kidney disease guidelines |
| O26 |
Renal Care Group receives Justice Department subpoena |
| O26 |
DaVita gets Justice Department subpoena |
| O25 |
CDC refines flu vaccine allocation strategy |
| O25 |
Congress renews visa waiver program for IMGs |
| O25 |
CME providers face stricter financial disclosure |
| O25 |
Dialysis Corp of America to open new dialysis unit in Cincinnati |
| O24 |
Tech whiz uses handheld computers to improve 3rd World health care |
| O22 |
Free computers not enough to get doctors to use technology |
| O22 |
Is Baxter on the rebound? |
| O20 |
Ambulance company pleads guilty to fraud relating to dialysis patient transport |
| O19 |
Denver hospital OKs web-arranged live-donor kidney transplant |
| O19 |
NEJM: Weathering the influenza vaccine crisis (.pdf) |
| O18 |
Internet service automates process of appealing disputed claims |
| O18 |
CMS trades payment for new technology with requirement for study enrollment |
| O18 |
Physicians scramble to direct high-risk patients to scarce flu vaccine |
| O15 |
Mississippi agrees to restore Medicaid benefits |
| O15 |
AAMI: Plumbing codes put dialysis patients at risk |
| O14 |
Ethnic nursing homes grow in Chicago |
| O14 |
Nightline on ABC covers drug reimportation: video of Frist vs. Stabenow |
| O14 |
AAKP requests open formulary for kidney patients without restrictions |
| O14 |
Tax law changes reduce deductions for car donations, but NKF optimistic |
| O14 |
U.S. NKF announces availability of nephrologist toolkit for CKD |
| O14 |
Flu crisis need not cost lives |
| O13 |
RPA announces multifaceted educational initiative |
| O10 |
Massachusetts e-health network to go live in 2005 |
| O10 |
ACCME changes conflict-of-interest rules |
| O08 |
FDA unlikely to clear Chiron flu vaccine for the U.S. |
| O06 |
CDC director urges voluntary rationing of flu vaccine due to shortage |
| O06 |
Court rules dialysis a disability; chastises Walmart for not allowing CAPD |
| O05 |
City utilities accused of misconstruing lead levels in water supply |
| O05 |
Renal Care Group acquires dialysis clinics in Danville, VA |
| O04 |
Should I buy EMR now? The experts weigh in. |
| O02 |
Booming business in hospital equipment to care for extremely obese |
| O02 |
Consortium of Cleveland Hospitals wins NIH grant to train clinical researchers |
| O02 |
House Ethics Committee Admonishes DeLay, Miller, Smith re Medicare vote conduct |
| O01 |
House Judiciary Committee approves extension of J-1 Visa waiver program for FMGs |
| S27 |
Class action suit against Gambro in favor of former REN stockholders |
| S27 |
Lawsuit attempts to halt Medicaid cuts in Mississippi affecting ESRD pts. |
| S24 |
NCQA reports that half of patients get bad care, esp. HTN management is poor |
| S24 |
MMWR: Tuberculosis transmission in a dialysis unit |
| S22 |
Wellbound signs contract with Kaiser to supervise self-care dialysis program |
| S22 |
CMS Manual Transmittal: Change in payment for outpatient ESRD services |
| S20 |
Medicare part B premium rise blamed partly on payments to doctors |
| S17 |
Ambulance company fined over questionable billings for dialysis transport |
| S16 |
Dialysis center in Montana to shut down because of financial woes. |
| S16 |
Denise Fletcher joins DaVita |
| S14 |
A third of patients who forego meds because of costs don't volunteer this info |
| S14 |
Staff less tolerant of rude doctors |
| S14 |
Well-educated patients guide their own care |
| S13 |
|