92648

Somewhat Ridiculous Lawsuit Against Healthpoint Regarding Would Care Drug/Ointment Medicaid Reimbursements

Xenaderm has been around since the 70s and the problem here with the billing is that prescriptions were written for the product so Medicare and Medicaid would cover.  If you are not aware, many over the counter drugs are given prescription forms for those covered by Medicaid especially.  If a prescription is written, then the drug or treatment is free versus paying the over the counter cost for the drug.

Why did it take since the 1970s for all of this to come to light when the drug has been used pretty imageheavily for years for wound treatment?  The company, Healthpoint is accused of submitting false statements about what it could do in the way of treating wounds.  If we really want to go there, let’s pick on aspirin next as it gets compensated by Medicaid?  Does the FDA give approval for every problem that aspirin could potentially solve?  If nobody was using the ointment, it would seem to me that it was not working, but that’s the not the case here.

Now we have the Department of Justice joining the lawsuit?  This lawsuit deserves a thumbs down for all of this and if the FDA doesn’t feel it’s appropriate to be used, then ban it.  It’s not the type of drug that’s going to kill anyone as it’s a topical solution for helping heal.  I looked up the drug along with the generic equivalent and not much price difference from what I saw and looked up a competitor that was a little more expensive, so what’s the real deal here? How many patients used it to remove dead skin if this is the case and how many really needed it for wound care?  I bet the wound care bunch will win out here and this sounds like a technicality to find some money.  If I missed something, please let me know but this looks like a big waste of time.  BD 

The U.S. government said Friday it filed a complaint against Healthpoint Ltd., saying the company sold an unapproved wound care drug and caused Medicare and Medicaid to be fraudulently billed tens of millions of dollars for coverage.

According to the complaint filed in the District of Massachusetts, Healthpoint has been marketing the drug Xenaderm as an ointment for the treatment of bedsores and pressure sores since 2002 even though the drug is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The U.S. Department of Justice said Healthpoint submitted false statements about Xenaderm so that prescriptions would be eligible for reimbursement by Medicare and Medicaid.

The main ingredient in Xenaderm is trypsin, which is intended to clear dead tissue from around a wound. But the government said the FDA determined in the 1970s that trypsin was not effective for that purpose and the agency rescinded approval for products containing the drug. The government says the company knew Xenaderm was not approved and "knew of or recklessly disregarded the FDA notices concerning trypsin's lack of effectiveness" as a way to remove dead tissue.

"This action reflects our continued efforts to ensure that drug manufacturers do not evade the drug approval process or cause the government to pay for less than effective drugs," said Carmen Ortiz, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

Healthpoint, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, said Xenaderm is an important option for patients.

The government joined a whistleblower lawsuit against Healthpoint, a unit of Fort Worth, Texas-based DFB Pharmaceuticals Inc. The Justice Department said that if the lawsuit succeeds, it can recover $5,500 to $11,000 from Healthpoint for each fraudulent Medicare or Medicaid claim, plus as much as triple damages. Healthpoint was investigated by the Justice Department's Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the FDA.

Gov't joins billing lawsuit against Healthpoint - BusinessWeek

Boehringer Ingelheim Receives FDA Fast Track Approval for Hepatitis C Virus Treatment and Moves In To Phase 3 Trials

The final results of each endpoint of the trials is to provide a “cure” as stated in the press release, so this is big news if chronic genotype1 hepatitis C virus can be literally cured.  When you read further here there are actually 2 trials with 2 different types of treatments.  image

“The primary endpoint of each trial is sustained viral response (SVR), which is considered viral cure.”

“BI 201335 is an investigational oral HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor, discovered from Boehringer Ingelheim 's own research and development, which has completed clinical trials through Phase 2b (SILEN-C studies). This Phase 2 program supports the investigation of BI 201335 in Phase 3 trials. Boehringer Ingelheim is also developing BI 207127, an NS5B RNA-dependent polymerase inhibitor that has completed Phase 1 clinical trials. Phase 2 trials evaluating BI 207127 with BI 201335 in interferon-sparing regimens, both with and without ribavirin, are currently underway.image

Both treatments involve taking a pill once a day and the FDA by giving fast track approval wants to ensure the drug is available as soon as possible.  Recently their blood thinning drug Pradaxa, an alternative to Warfarin was approved as they are busy moving into the old Amgen building they purchased in northern California.   

FDA Approves Pradaxa–An Alternative to Warfarin To Treat Blot Clots Associated With Atrial Fibrillation

Also in the news recently were Merck and Bristol-Myers with their Hepatitis C drugs for cures.  Hepatitis C, known as genotype 1 is the most prevalent form of the disease in the Americas, Europe, and East Asia.  BD

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., April 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Boehringer Ingelheim today announced a preview of the study designs for the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating BI 201335, its investigational once-daily oral protease inhibitor, in both treatment-naive and -experienced patients with chronic genotype-1 hepatitis C virus (HCV), the most challenging genotype to treat.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for the development programs for BI 201335  in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin and as part of an interferon-free combination with the polymerase inhibitor, BI 207127, in chronic genotype-1 HCV patients. Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious diseases and fill an unmet medical need. The purpose is to get important new drugs to patients earlier.

BI 201335 will be evaluated in multiple randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in combination with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV), the current HCV standard-of-care (SOC). The Phase 3 trials include two studies in treatment-naive and one study in treatment-experienced chronic genotype-1 HCV patients.

The two studies in treatment-naive patients will be conducted in the European Union, Japan, the U.S., Canada, Taiwan and Korea. The study in treatment-experienced patients will be conducted in the European Union, U.S., Canada and Japan. BI 201335 will be dosed once-daily at either 120mg or 240mg for 12 to 24 weeks, in combination with PegIFN/RBV for 24 to 48 weeks. The primary endpoint of each trial is sustained viral response (SVR), which is considered viral cure. These studies are part of a broader Phase 3 trial program expected to commence in the second quarter of 2011.

*Final results of the Phase 2b studies SILEN-C1 and SILEN-C2 for BI 201335 were presented yesterday at the International Liver Congress™ 2011, the 46th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the study of the Liver (EASL) in Berlin.

Boehringer Ingelheim's Lead Hepatitis C Compound Moves into Phase 3 - the... -- RIDGEFIELD, Conn., April 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Kaiser Permanente Opens New South Los Angeles Medical Center With “Green” Incorporated Technologies

I can’t think of a needier area for medical care as we have all read some of the imagenews about the closing of the hospital, MLK, in recent years.  Residents will have a bran new clinic, and a quality care facility to go to.  You can read through the press release that “green” was the theme with building the new center. 

As with every other Kaiser facility, patients will have access to their medical records and be able to communicate electronically with their doctors and be able to get lab results on line, etc.  Also worth reading about is how they are going to install the energy saving “Bloom Boxes” at their hospitals, such as EBay, Google and others have already done.  Don’t know what a Bloom Box is?  Use the link below to watch the video that will explain.  BD 

Kaiser Permanente to Install Bloom Box Fuel Cells at California Facilities

Press Release:

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joined other local community leaders including Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Los Angeles City Councilmembers Bernard C. Parks and Jan Perry to celebrate the opening of the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Offices. The new facility, at the intersection of Manchester and Denker, will serve more than 80,000 Kaiser Permanente members who live in the South Los Angeles area.

“The opening of the new Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Office Building is one example of ways we can address the need for quality health care in the South Los Angeles community,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“The new facility is especially meaningful for South Los Angeles residents like Elmae Robinson, the 81-year-old mother of one of my staff members, who has been a Kaiser Permanente member for more than 30 years and is thrilled to now have her doctors and all of these services just down the street.”

The new 15,000 square foot facility represents a $10 million investment in South Los Angeles. Kaiser Permanente members throughout the area will be able to get primary care, X-rays, lab tests and pick-up prescriptions – all in one convenient location closer to home.

Kaiser Permanente has a long history of serving members who reside in South Los Angeles and supporting clinics, grassroots organizations and schools in the area with more than $8 million in grants and services to South Los Angeles organizations. Kaiser Permanente's Watts Counseling and Learning Center has offered counseling and education services to community members since 1967.

“Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to improving the health of people living and working in the communities we serve,” said Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “With the opening of the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles Medical Offices, we reinforce our commitment to South Los Angeles, which we have been serving for the past 60 years. We will continue to invest in organizations and resources that help make South Los Angeles a healthier place.”

Kaiser Permanente members who visit the Kaiser Permanente South Los Angeles medical offices will have access to Kaiser Permanente HealthConnect™, their electronic health record, giving them quick access to their personal health information.

Recognizing the link between the health of the environment and the health of people, the new medical office building incorporates many elements of environmentally friendly design including a “cool roof” to cut energy use; landscaping with native plants to lower water use; PVC-free carpeting and materials with lower toxin emissions; and safer cleaning products that help ensure everyone’s health.

“Through our advanced technology, our physicians will be able to coordinate care with every other physician, pharmacist, and specialist that is treating our members,” said Tumani Leatherwood, MD, physician in charge for Kaiser Permanente’s South Los Angeles Medical Offices. "With our electronic health records, expert physicians and staff all in place, we look forward to welcoming our members to our new South Los Angeles Medical Offices.”

The South Los Angeles Medical Office Building will begin providing services to members on Monday, April 11.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 3.3 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

South Los Angeles Welcomes New Medical Office Building | Business Wire

3M To Buy Zargis Medical-Software Used by the Blue Tooth Stethoscope (video)

This makes sense as the stethoscope was a combined effort of 3M and Zargis.  imageThe Littmann Electronic Stethoscope, packs features most headphone users would be familiar with, such as noise cancellation and greater sound clarity.  The device has been around for a while now and the video below is kind of cool to let you see what actually appears on the computer and more on how it works. 

Bluetooth stethoscope Available from 3M HealthCare – Wireless Heartbeats

The software as shown on the video offers a lot more information and data and you also have a record.  Also stated is that there are some trouble areas shown, but the software can also detect the difference between critical and non critical issues.  BD

Blue Tooth Stethoscope

3M announced today it has acquired certain assets of Zargis Medical Corp., maker of the only FDA-approved diagnostic software to classify suspected systolic and diastolic heart murmurs. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

This acquisition builds on the existing global marketing and distribution alliance between 3M and Zargis Medical. The combination of electronic stethoscopes and telemedicine/diagnostic software enables new and innovative healthcare practices for auscultation, which refers to listening to internal sounds of the body with a stethoscope.

3M announces acquisition of Zargis Medical assets

Mayo Closes Hospital In Wisconsin

From reading this article it sounds like a lack of business might be why the hospital is closing; however the nursing home and outpatient services will remain.  BD 

The Mayo Clinic has closed its hospital in Arcadia, Wis. Officials said the static population, limited demand and the cost of upkeep prompted the imagedecision to close the 100-bed Franciscan Skemp Healthcare-Arcadia Campus, according to a news statement on the decision from the Mayo subsidiary.

The hospital had two admitted patients per day and fewer than five emergency room patients, on average, according to Franciscan Skemp. Meanwhile, the facility requires up to $1 million per year for upkeep. Outpatient clinic and nursing home services continue at the location, a spokesman said. The regional system has also planned construction of a new clinic and is awaiting approval, he said.

Mayo closes Wis. hospital - Healthcare business news, research, information and opinions | Modern Healthcare

The Medical Quack Aprils Fool’s Day Activity–Jockeying for Position in Aflac Duck Contest

Here’s the lighter and the silly side of this blogger.  As you can see I have no problem making a complete fool of myself and if one is going to do this, well Aprils fool’s day is the right time to do it. <grin>.

If you have not seen or heard this on the news, Aflac is in fact looking for a new duck so being the “Duck” that I am I felt it was only appropriate to put my beak in place and give it a try.  The contest rules state that you are only allowed to say the word “Aflac” and they welcomed various version and translations (quack) of the word and thus this is what you see, some participatory and foolish quacking.  I welcome any comments here and I’m sure I may get a few on this being outside my normal parameters, but when you have the name sake, it would almost unrealistic not to quack and carry on a bit.  So when the time comes for the Duck to arise to the occasion and quack, well you get the picture.  The CEO of Cisco sits around and quacks with duck callers in his spare time, and Ducks can get the attention when humans sometimes can’t as we saw happen with the President.

Aflac-Medical Quack

Last week, even before the contest was announced I posted the video liked below with the Al Yankovich video song he did about wanting a new duck and perhaps it gave imageAl an idea as I saw a tweet where he suggested a possible license for the song <grin>.  I don’t know if that was a result of this post or not but was kind of timely.  Of course it’s a favorite song at the Medical Quack too.  I also suggested on Twitter that the Aflac Duck might like the search engine DuckDuckGo (that is for real), no duck tracking there.

Aflac Duck Gets Fired -“I Want A New Duck” (Video)

One of my all time favorite reports on ducks is the story imagethat the news in Los Angeles did about a companion duck, and as he says “everyone should have a duck in their life as they might not be so mad at each other”, <grin>.  The truck driver spent money on an expensive dog to hunts ducks and should have just bought the duck, the duck in the truck. 

I had a great time laughing and bringing the old beak out of mothballs for some fun and I guess I will see how my quacking stacks up as there’s a lot of folks who want to be that Aflac duck and at least I have good start with actually being a duck!  You can’t go through life with a name like Duck and not have a sense of humor and tough feathers to boot!  BD 

Steward Health (Cerberus Capital) Buys Another Massachusetts Hospital–Morton

Massachusetts is not the only state where they have purchases hospitals and the on in Florida with buying a public hospital was in the news. We keep seeing imagefinancially strapped hospitals being gobbled up with private equity firms and yet lawmakers all over still have not figured out they are not really a source of revenue to be taxed, go after the investors who buy them maybe. 

Steward HealthCare (Cerberus Capital Management) Makes Offer to Buy Public Jackson Health System in Florida

The company has also expressed interest in purchasing Landmark Hospital on Rhode Island but that deal appears to have fallen through.

Blue Cross Sues Financially Stressed Landmark Hospital in Rhode Island-Court To Determine New Owner in April

From the Website:

“Cerberus Capital Management, L.P., along with its affiliates, is one of the world's leading private investment firms. Through its team of investment and operations professionals, Cerberus specializes in providing both financial resources and operational expertise to help transform undervalued companies into industry leaders for long-term success and value creation. Cerberus holds controlling or significant minority interests in companies around the world.
Cerberus is headquartered in New York City with affiliate and/or advisory offices in the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.”

Steward Health Care System, Boston, has agreed to acquire 132-bed Morton Hospital and Medical Center, Taunton, Mass., giving the newly minted investor-owned system pending deals to acquire three hospitals, according to a joint news release.

Steward was formed in November by the conversion of six-hospital Caritas Christi Health Care to for-profit status through an acquisition by private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. Steward agreed in December to acquire two Massachusetts hospitals from investor-owned Essent Healthcare, Nashville.

Steward Health Care to buy Morton Hospital - Healthcare business news, research, information and opinions | Modern Healthcare

Arizona Governor Proposes Adding “Evil People” Surcharges to Medcaid Fees

Keep in mind that these so called “evil people” are also the same ones struggling with money and enough to cover healthcare.  It is slated as a reward but I still think education is the way to go with all of this.  So much in the press today about obesity and yes it needs to be addressed and lots of folks can use some help, but attraction I think is better.  What happens when such articles appear, the obese end up being profiled as “evil” and the reason for all out healthcare problems and they are not. They are part of it like a lot of other things but these are folks that need guidance and should be profiled as “evil”.  Speaking of evil the Governor has her own issues there with the transplant laws, not to mention a big case of digital illiteracy when it comes to using business intelligence information.  It shows. image

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer-Rootin’ Tootin’ IT Illiteracy Riding High Lacking Digital Literacy With Budget Algorithmic Solutions to Find Funding for Transplant Patients

It goes on to say though if one is obese and has a child, then that’s ok.  You can’t force people to go to the doctor and education here is such a better route.  It’s a good thing CMS has to approve some of this or gosh knows what they heck and in what format they could start publishing laws that will create multitudes of unintentional consequences.  We all took different paths to get to where we are today and besides obesity, there’s a lot of other evils out there too that create higher costs in healthcare.  I’m not saying that being obese is something to ignore but rather an issue that is better off being handled in an intelligent manner and again as mentioned above, as stories like this continue to roll in the press all the time, it’s not fair that discriminations and undue criticisms end up as a result.  I wish she had some decent “Algo Men” around before opening mouth sometimes.  BD   

Arizona's governor on Thursday proposed levying a $50 fee on some enrollees in the state's cash-starved Medicaid program, including obese people who don't follow a doctor-supervised slimming regimen and smokers.

Republican Gov. Jan Brewer proposed the idea as part of a broader plan to raise money that would allow the state to offset recent cuts she engineered to its Medicaid program. If ratified, the measure would revive coverage of organ transplants, which Arizona limited last year as a way to save money. It would also reduce the number of childless adults disqualified from Medicaid to 135,000, compared with the original proposal of 250,000.

Arizona Proposes Medicare Fat Fee - WSJ.com

CIGNA Enters Global Health Insurance Market-New Area of Focus for US Expatriates

The insurance offered is a “private” plan to give access to a number of hospitals, doctors and other healthcare facilities that are “in network” across the globe.  One imagearea covered is China and there’s and entire page on the site that gives more information on coverage there.  Also you can review a couple other major countries they have listed in Europe such as the UK and Switzerland.  Interesting that China is selected as a major market, so are we anticipating a lot of US Citizens taking up a new residence over there?  That was just something that came to mind while reading.  Back in August of 2010 the former Cigna CEO joined the board of a major medical tourism company in San Diego.

Former Cigna CEO and Founder Joins Board of Directors With Medical Tourism Company–Accounting and Algorithmic Business Model Expertise Hired

Also worth a note was when I attended the Medical World Tourism Conference, Cigna was pretty well represented there with exploring what care and companies were being presented.  BD

World Medical Tourism Conference 2009 – A Learning Awareness

CLAYMONT, Del., March 31, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ -- CIGNA (NYSE: CI), the global leader in serving expatriates and other globally mobile imageindividuals, has launched an international health care plan for qualified individuals who seek access to high-quality health care facilities across international boundaries.

The individual consumer market is a new area of focus for CIGNA's expatriate benefits operation. With CIGNA Global Health Options, individuals have access to high-quality medical care worldwide backed by CIGNA's expertise and capabilities in serving the group employer market.

image

"CIGNA Global Health Options is an innovative international health care plan that suits individuals' unique needs, and it also marks an important milestone in CIGNA's growth strategy. As the leader in the globally mobile market, the launch of this innovative, modular product extends our reach to support the needs of new customer segments around the world," said Andrew Kielty, President, CIGNA International Expatriate Benefits. "Our knowledge and strength in the group market, coupled with our expertise in direct marketing, presented a natural opportunity to offer the same access to quality health care to individuals that we currently provide to organizations."

The plan, which is available at www.cignaglobal.com, is designed for customers who want the flexibility of having easy access to quality health care around the world.

The "core" International Medical Insurance covers hospitalization, surgery, emergency care, cancer treatment, and maternity. All customers then have the flexibility to customize their overall solution by choosing from a range of four additional options:

  • International Medical Insurance Plus (outpatient): doctor visits, prescription drugs, and other outpatient treatments  
  • International Health and Well-being: routine exams, preventive screenings, and life management services
  • International Vision and Dental: routine exams
  • International Emergency Evacuation: transfer to the nearest world-class medical facility if required treatment is not available in the local country

CIGNA Enters Global Individual Private Medical Insurance Market - PR News Wire | Centre Daily Times - State College, PA | Penn State, Nittany Lions, weather, news, jobs, homes, apartments, real estate

Cryo-Save Group Offering to Store Adult Stem Cells for The Japanese Workers Dealing with Nuclear Plant Damage

Cryo-Save is Europe’s largest stem cell bank.  With those who have been working imagearound the nuclear plants, bone marrow damage from radiation is a big fear and would be for anyone exposed.  Obviously the ideal situation would be to have had cells stored ahead of time but this is certainly a step in the right direction by all means as we still do not know how many have really been affected and how far reaching this will all be.  Below is a video showing one hospital and what they are dealing with for care to some of those affected by both the earthquake and the resulting tsunami that devastated almost everything in it’s path.  BD

Tsunami-Hit Hospital in Japan Still Struggling To Care for Patients (Video)

Cryo-Save Group NV, the largest stem cell bank in Europe, is offering to store adult own stem cells for Japanese people. Japanese authorities want to harvest stem cells from the rescue workers, as recent scientific studies have shown that stem cells can repair damage caused by exposure to high radiation.

Stem Cell Laboratory

Japan is worried that it may run out of storage capacity and asked for help. At the present time, iodine tablets are the main way of protecting the people living in rural radioactive environment.

Dots Press » Stem Cells could Save Lives of the Irradiated Japanese

Tri-Care Formularies To Be Listed on Epocrates

Last month Epocrates announced they too are entering the medical records market, so add one more.  It is interesting to see how some of this is evolving today with imagecompanies that have perhaps a portion of the puzzle and then expand to bring in the one stop shop concept with expansion, seeing a lot of this of late.

Epocrates Entering the Mobile EHR Market

For years I have relied just as a consumer on looking up medications through my imagemobile device and have shown it to countless physicians.  The free offerings from Epocrates are great for consumers as well.  I can subscribe to and look up coverage on pretty much any drug I desire.  Pretty much since I stared this blog there’s also a quick look up box that goes to Epocrates.  I try to make things easy and accessible around here and so while reading here, if you need to do a drug look up, it’s here.  BD 
FALLS CHURCH, VA – TRICARE, the Department of Defense healthcare program, has contracted with San Mateo, Calif.-based Epocrates to offer physicians mobile access to the TRICARE formulary list.
Officials say that improved access to drug information at the point of care will translate into improved the doctor-patient relationships, better care delivery, and cost savings for military families.
“Epocrates provides a convenient way for healthcare professionals to keep up to date on formulary information and make appropriate prescribing decisions for our patients," says LTC Stacia Spridgen, director of the TRICARE Management Activity's Pharmacoeconomic Center.
DoD enlists Epocrates for TRICARE formulary access | Healthcare IT News

The Center For Total Health From Kaiser Permanente In Washington DC-Healthcare Technology Showcase and Learning Center

Back in February I wrote about the new Kaiser Permanente facility that opened in imageWashington DC.  There’s a whole lot more to the story as you can see here with the Total Health User side at the same location.  When you watch the video it’s impressive with the formats used and simplicity for those who visit to check in and see what’s happening today.  If you don’t read here or have missed the technological advances in healthcare, it’s a good idea to check in once in a while as it is moving fast, as research and development has accelerated on so many levels.  I do like the look of this huge multi touch video wall.  Now if that is not making it easy and accessible for anyone, I don’t know what is.  image

Kaiser Permanente Opens State of the Art Facility in Washington DC-Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center

It also looks like you get to play around and look at a hand held ultra-sound device.  Didn’t know those exist, well check in at the Quack and I try too keep all updated on all types of both clinical and Heath IT devices as they too are meshing together for better care and information today. image

The medical center is equipped with digital signage technology, video walls that enhances the member experience while reinforcing preventive care resources. The Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center

Also what I found out about a lot of interesting stuff with  my interview with Chris McCarthy of their “Garfield” innovation center in Oakland to back a few months too.   He clearly has a great job with not only creating solutions, but also being the open ear to communicate with clinicians and other personnel at Kaiser to find solutions for those situations that arise with new technologies and procedures and you can almost bet his department was right in the middle of the planning and creation here.

Innovation and Learning at Kaiser Permanente – Interview With Chris McCarthy
Kaiser Permanente Total Health

Perhaps we can get some of our folks  in Congress to pay a visit to perhaps bet updated on where healthcare technology is?  This is good to have it so close and offer a sort of fun way to check it out and look around.  Last but not least on the video is the demonstration of the personal health records that Kaiser uses, so perhaps this will also help educate those on what electronic medical records can do with using a personal health record for the consumer as “their” Health IT partner.  Great video and well done and worth a watch by all means.  We just need more of these centers around the US, you think?  I’m all in there for education that is easy and simple and gets consumers involved.  That I think is what the center will do well as the “first hand” experience that I always talk about here, is the best.  BD 

Welcome to the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health—a place to talk about health. We invite you to join the conversation. Together, we can explore solutions that improve health. Along the way, we hope you'll be inspired to improve your own health through walking.image

Located near Union Station in Washington, D.C., the center is a unique educational venue. With interactive touchscreen exhibits, state-of-the-art health technology displays, and a conference center, the Center for Total Health contains many unique activities that provide a memorable experience for visitors interested in their health, their families' health, and the health of the community.

The Center For Total Health | Kaiser Permanente

How the Federal Government Plans to Spend $79 Billion in IT Investments in 2011 from the-Chart from General Accounting Office

We keep hearing that healthcare is eating us out of house and home, which it literally is, and here’s a good visual of where the money for IT expenditures lies.  Remember though we do not get to take advantage of any savings that cloud services may represent here as the Senate doesn’t understand this and will not fund cloud services.  Is that nice or what, duh? 

Senate Cuts Cloud Services From Budget That Would Allow for Data Center and IT Infrastructure Consolidation–Back to the 8 Track Tapes Next?

It makes as much sense as having a 91 year old head the Science and Research Committee in the house, both of the above are true statements.  No office but I won’t either be as sharp at 91 if I make it that far either, happens to all of us.  Defense as you can see is big and HHS funding is #3 on the list due to size.  We all know there’s 8 years of total IT neglect from the prior administration that we have to deal with and we can’t change that but rather have to move forward and make sure it doesn’t continue if we want to build and get jobs back.

image

Again, what’s up with these folks in Washington, at times?  I really want them to try and utilize some technology to make it easier for them as with using IBM Watson and speech recognition, even the lowest participant elected to office can query and find information easily. 

IBM Watson Did Get a Chance to Go To Congress-Should be a Permanent Home For Greater Intelligence for Creating Laws

They need some “Algo Men” on staff soon

More Congressional Testimonies About Health IT–Members of Congress Could Entertain Getting an “Algo Man” on Staff As Wall Street and Health Insurers Have Them–Don’t Leave Home Without One

Goldman is investing in what they know – ALGORITHMS.  That’s what runs their shop and they have plenty of Algo Men on board to produce all their predictive analysis of what will occur in the future.  There’s one other element of predictive behaviors and to get those, you need some behavioral analytics too and I could almost bet there’s some those algorithms rolled in there too. Somebody takes Goldman’s code, the geek goes to jail. 

I do still like to look back on this bit of 8 track technology and watch Lloyd Blankfein mess with those reams of paper that Congress gave him to look at during testimony time, do you think he looks at his information and data this way, hell no

Goldman-Sachs Announces Their Intentions to Enter Health IT Consulting – Pitching Those Algorithms

I’m strictly talking here about how intelligent minds who can grab all the money and pass go function and we are a far cry from it, so how do folks make laws when hanging out with 8 track tapes?  Do you have an answer?  BD

The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates federal government IT spending for fiscal year 2011 will be $79 billion, as outlined by GAO Director of Information Technology Management Issues David A. Powner in testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held March 17.

GAO: How the Federal Government Plans to Spend $79 Billion in IT Investments in 2011 | FedScoop

CardioHealth® Station Cleared By FDA-An Automated and Portable Cardiovascular Imaging Device for Physician’s Offices, Hospitals and Clinics-Got Plaque?

This device, the CardioHealth Station combines the Framingham Risk Score with carotid IMT and plaque assessments and allows internists and family practice physicians to provide non invasive procedures in the office.  Gee is this going to put more cardiologists out of business is one of the first questions that comes to my mind? 

A handheld ultrasound probe to scan the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck and to detect hidden plaque build up and it sounds like there will be no plaque secrets left when done.  You can watch the video below that shows how a doctor would use the device with a patient. 

CardioHealthStation

Jack and Joe

My next question that comes to mind is that will this gravitate to the drug store clinics?  I have a feeling it will in time.  Obviously my thoughts here would be the ER room as a first targeted location.  The entire idea is pre-risk assessment so soon we are going to know more about a heart and arteries than maybe we want or thought was possible.  No mention yet or at least on their website as far as medical record integration but you can bet that will more than likely follow.  BD 

Press Release:

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CardioNexus Corporation (www.cardionexus.com) an affiliated company of Panasonic Healthcare Co. Ltd., will introduce Panasonic CardioHealth® Station at the 2011 Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology. The device, which has just received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, is an automated and portable cardiovascular imaging device which aims to complement traditional blood pressure and cholesterol measurement in physicians’ offices and to help detect the hidden risk of heart attack and stroke.

The FDA decision allows Houston-based CardioNexus to sell the CardioHealth® Station for use not only in hospitals and community clinics, but also in cardiologist, internist and family physician offices, as well as in retail healthcare clinics. image

The device, which relies on Panasonic’s advanced, high-resolution, real-time, ultrasound technology, measures the thickness of the arterial wall through the skin quickly and reproducibly. It is considered a major advancement in the automation of medical technologies which enable physicians, their assistants, and nurse practitioners who are not specialized in ultrasound imaging to use the device and detect High Risk patients.

“The CardioHealth® report which combines Framingham Risk Score with carotid IMT and plaque assessment provides a more accurate assessment of a patient’s risk than measuring blood pressure and cholesterol alone,” says Dr. Morteza Naghavi, President and CEO of CardioNexus Corporation. “It takes us beyond the status quo and empowers internists and primary care physicians to use noninvasive imaging in their office.” image

According to a 2010 study based on the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” initiative, only 23% of 136,905 patients hospitalized with coronary artery disease had high LDL, or “bad cholesterol” levels while 77% were reported to have normal LDL levels and therefore would not have been identified as High Risk.

The noninvasive imaging feature of CardioHealth® Station represents a breakthrough introduction into the primary healthcare market by the collaborative effort of CardioNexus and Panasonic Healthcare since their partnership was announced last October. Other features, such as Point-of-Care genetic testing for monitoring response to drug therapies, which collectively aim at Personalized Preventive Medicine will be introduced in the future. image

“We’ve already seen tremendous interest in the technology, particularly among internists and primary care physicians who up until now have not had an automated non-invasive imaging technology in their office,” says Steven Lynum, Director of Panasonic Healthcare’s Clinical Products who is also an Executive Vice President at CardioNexus. “CardioHealth® Station allows them to easily incorporate atherosclerosis imaging in their management of cardiovascular patients based on the recent guidelines.”

The CardioHealth Station includes a handheld ultrasound probe to scan the carotid arteries on both sides of the neck and to detect hidden plaque build up and increased thickness in the artery wall. Testing is performed in a matter of minutes without pain, discomfort or exposure to radiation; and the results are available immediately.

According to the American Heart Association there are over 60 million Americans at risk of a heart attack and in need of screening and preventive care.

“We are proud that Houston’s CardioNexus in partnership with the world’s largest consumer electronics manufacture, Panasonic Corporation, is introducing breakthrough medical technologies,” said Leo Womack, a well known Houston life science investor who chairs CardioNexus’ Board of Directors. “Texas needs more of these CardioNexus type initiatives.”

For details and to view a demonstration video, visit www.cardionexus.com.

About CardioNexus Corporationimage

CardioNexus Corporation is an affiliated company of Panasonic Healthcare dedicated to reducing cardiovascular disease through early detection and prevention. CardioNexus’ flagship product, the CardioHealth® Station, is a new multi-modality initiative to advance cardiovascular health assessment for the prevention of heart attack and stroke. The advanced, automated features of the CardioHealth® Station enable physicians, especially primary care physicians and internists, to perform atherosclerosis imaging and cardiovascular risk assessment in their offices, without need for outside referral.

About Panasonic

Based in Secaucus, NJ, Panasonic Corporation of North America provides a broad line of digital and other electronics products for consumer, business and industrial use. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC), and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. branding, marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. Panasonic Corporation of North America’s newly formed Healthcare Group brings together Panasonic’s expertise in a wide range of health and medical device technologies, including hearing care. For more information visit www.panasonic.com/hearing. Additional Panasonic information for journalists is available at www.panasonic.com/pressroom.

About Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd., headquartered in Matsuyama, Japan, is an internal division company of Panasonic Corporation (NYSE: PC) that specializes in the development and manufacture of healthcare products, including blood glucose monitoring systems, ultrasound diagnostic systems and hearing instruments. Founded in 1948, the company has been developing cutting-edge technologies in in-vitro diagnostic systems, medical imaging, hearing solutions, medical instruments and hospital systems to provide value-added solutions to healthcare professionals and patients. The previous corporate name was Panasonic Shikoku Electronics Co., Ltd., which was changed to the current Panasonic Healthcare Co., Ltd. on October 1, 2010.

Breakthrough CardioHealth® Station Cleared By FDA To Take Center Stage At The Annual Scientific Sessions Of The American College Of Cardiology 2011 | Business Wire

Former Hospital CFO Goes Back to Jail for Violating Bond Conditions-He Emailed His Probation Officer Under Wife’s Name

Ok now these folks are supposed to be the brains and money of hospitals here and this one obviously is struggling with that issue, since he has been charged with defrauding a hospital.  What’s wrong with a phone call to a probation officer? 

The problem was with using the email address was the fact that monitors had not been put in place yet so that’s the violation at hand here.  This was his second offense after the first time contacting the hospital CEO wanting to keep his job after being arrested.  He got into trouble for making out checks to a software company that he owns himself and I would say that’s a big issue right there as to when it came back to prove what services he provided, there appeared to be none from what I have read here.  Oh well in case of a crunch you can always hire a part time CFO these days too. <grin>.  This may or may not be the place for one of these.  BD

Part Time CFOs Hired By Biotech and Pharmaceutical Businesses-Virtual Executive Business Model To Work the Algorithms for Profit & Crunch Data

DANBURY -- William Roe, the former chief financial officer of Danbury Hospital who was arrested in 2010 and charged with defrauding the hospital, had his bond revoked Tuesday.

U.S. District Court Judge Vanessa L. Bryant ordered Roe's $150,000 bond to be revoked after federal authorities learned Roe had violated a condition of his bond by sending his probation officer an email using his wife's account and under his wife's name.

Thomas Carson, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said in a statement Tuesday that Carson said Roe was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service and taken to jail.

After authorities told Roe not to contact any hospital officials about his arrest, Roe was charged with frantically calling and emailing Dr. John Murphy, the hospital's president and chief executive officer, trying to find a way to keep his $267,990-a-year job.   Roe was arrested for authorizing two Danbury Hospital checks -- in June 2009 and January 2010 -- to Cycle Software Solutions, a software company he owned. Each check was for $45,000.

Former Danbury Hospital CFO returned to jail - NewsTimes

CMS Gives Dendreon Wins Full Reimbursement of $93k for Treatment of Prostate Cancer With No Apparent Off Label Restrictions In Draft Memo

The story of Provenge and the manufacturer has been interesting for all over the last few years. I have covered some small portions here, basically the side that relates to their software technology which I still will say has a lot to do with all items considered.  The price tag yes is still a big one that nobody can dispute.  It just appears to me they must be doing things in the right order to provide both the FDA and CMS with their appropriate data, back up systems as well as auditing functionality.  This is a new class of drugs and it’s not taking a pill but rather blood is taken from the patient, send to one of their centers, treated, incubated and returned back to doctor to re-inject back to the patient, so mix ups, logistics and more have play right here. 

Dendreon Corporation Selects Pilgrim Software As a Service Solution For Risk Management and Compliance Intelligence

Several large biotech and life sciences companies are listed as customers for Pilgrim.  The use their own software for tracking and more called Intelligence which I wrote a while back, even before the FDA approval was given.  Being a big bar code fan and the fact that I visualize a lot of cures with the technology, I can’t but help but think others saw some value here too. 

Dendreon “Intellivenge” Algorithmic Software Supporting Administration of Provenge – Seeking FDA Approval by May 1st

“Intellivenge was designed to be the information resource linking the physician’s office, the apheresis center (where the patient’s cells are collected), the Dendreon manufacturing facility and all of the transportation services imagerequired to ensure that the cells received from each patient are processed within the required window of time. Using proprietary technology,  Intellivenge coordinates the timing of all the resources each patient needs for the treatment cycle and tracks where a patient’s cells are at every stage of the processing cycle.  Intellivenge also assists patients, physicians and their office staff with follow up appointment timing and scheduling.”

As stated this is the draft so there could be room for additions and changes possibly when the final document is rendered.  How important is proper logistics today with life sciences-very.  You can see where UPS is gearing up and building warehouses for fulfillment in this area too and while I don’t this is a route that Dendreon would take, especially being brand new, but other medications and vaccines have and will.  BD 

UPS Expanding Healthcare Focus With Giant Warehouses for Temperature Sensitive Drugs and Vaccines

Chalk up another victory for Seattle-based Dendreon—it has persuaded Medicare officials to provide full reimbursement to doctors who prescribe its new $93,000 prostate cancer drug.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that runs the federal health insurance program for the elderly, said today in a draft memo that “the evidence is adequate” to say that Dendreon’s immune-booster, sipuleucel-T (Provenge), “improves health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries” with prostate cancer. The draft will now be subject to public comments for three months, at which point it is expected to become formal policy of the Medicare agency.

Dendreon Wins Full Reimbursement From Medicare for $93K Prostate Cancer Drug | Xconomy

Longtime CEO of Healthcare District of Palm Beach County Resigning to Take A Position at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida-A New Set of Managed Care Algorithms to Work With

Well here we go again, hospital systems don’t have much money and as a country with both federal and state lawmakers, they haven’t come to terms with this yet and imagecan’t figure it out.  Well the CEO at the top of the helm at this organization in Florida figured it out and is leaving to work with Blue Cross/Blue Shield to see if they can manage with their business model and see if we can find blood in those turnips out there.  Sorry to be so blunt but when you read this stuff every day, it is what it is. 

Granted there are a few exceptions in here but the Health Care District doesn’t seem to be one of them.  I wonder at times if all hospitals should take on the Cleveland Clinic model of research and development and then spinning off a company for some money, it seems to work well there and similar models at other systems.  Perhaps one day all hospitals will be fostering spin offs?  That’s just some of of my idle talk and observations here but gee what else is working out there by comparison???

Before working at the Healthcare district, Mr Chenette ’s background was insurance.  Palm Beach is also noted as a pretty affluent area in Florida too. BD

WEST PALM BEACH — WEST PALM BEACH – The longtime CEO of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, Dwight D. Chenette, says he will leave in May after a decade at the helm of the special taxing district and its HMO.

Chenette is resigning to become vice president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida's nascent Medicaid insurance line. The state's largest insurer has until now avoided that market. But with the likely expansion of state Medicaid managed care, and the passage of federal health reform, it's an area the non-profit insurer is exploring, a company spokesman said.

The district is facing uncertain times, as health reform has the potential to duplicate its coverage for lower income people. The health law faces multiple challenges in court and Congress, though, and Chenette advised against shutting health care district coverage down prematurely.

Health Care District CEO Chenette leaving after 17 years