The US healthcare system is the best in the world! — Only if you can access and afford it. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a good healthcare system should ideally comprise of state of art medical facilities being fairly distributed across the entire population at fair and affordable rates. Contrary to this, the healthcare system in the United States is not only the most expensive in the world but also is unfairly distributed among its population. People who have access to an insurance cover may have some respite, but the scenario is hopeless for the poor, uninsured and the underinsured. The rising costs of technology and high administrative costs have escalated the overall medical expenses to such an extent that it has become too expensive for the people at large. On the other hand, the availability of similar medical facilities at fair rates in some of the offshore countries has made them a promising medical destination for the US citizens. This has led to the emergence of a phenomenon called medical tourism.

The recent years has seen an upsurge in the number of US citizens opting for medical treatment at offshore locations such as India, Singapore, Bangkok and Thailand. Most medical procedures in these countries are conducted at one-tenth of the cost of a similar procedure at the United States. The low cost of medical facilities in these countries may raise a few eyebrows regarding the quality of the medical services being offered. These countries offer world-class medical facilities that are at par with the best. Some of the doctors administering the patients have even been trained in US. The success rate and medical achievements has also been a major draw among the medical tourists. In the year 2005, around 3,74,000 medical tourists opted for a treatment at Singapore; a Bangkok hospital admitted over 1,50,000 foreign patients and approximately 1,00,000 tourists chose India as their medical destination.

However, among the various medical tourism destinations, India is on it’s way to becoming the most preferred destination among the medical tourists. The Indian healthcare industry with employee strength of over four million is among the largest service sectors in the economy. The government and the private hospitals are working together towards the objective of making India the leader in this sector. Well-trained and experienced doctors, state of art medical facilities and personalized care have helped India to register the fastest growth rate in this Industry. The number of patients seeking treatment in India has gone up from 10,000 in the year 2000 to 100,000 in the year 2005. If the estimates are to be believed, the medical tourism industry in India has the potential to be a 2 billion dollar industry by the year 2012.

Medical tourism is the best alternative for people belonging to countries such as the United States, where the entire healthcare system is unfair both in terms of cost and accessibility. The situation has become so precarious that it seems beyond repair. However, on the other side of the Pacific, the Asian countries have succeeded in offering a combination of world-class medical services, good care and prompt attention that has made them an instant favorite among patients throughout the world.

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, recently announced that 150 CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery Systems now have been installed worldwide. This milestone was achieved when Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), a leading healthcare services company, installed a CyberKnife System in collaboration with consultant clinician partners at The Harley Street Clinic in London. HCA’s addition of this CyberKnife System marks the installation of its seventh system companywide, including its first outside the United States.

“The combination of the CyberKnife Systems’ robotic mobility and integrated imaging system provides us with a powerful tool for treating tumors with a precision that wasn’t possible before,” said Nick Plowman, M.D., oncologist and clinical director of The CyberKnife Centre London. “The CyberKnife System not only improves the accuracy with which we can target tumors, but provides the patient with a pain-free experience that minimizes side effects and shortens treatment time.”

Availability of the CyberKnife System has grown dramatically, increasing by 50 percent since May 2007 when the company announced that the 100th CyberKnife System was installed at Centre Oscar Lambret in Lille, France. Additionally, patient demand for CyberKnife radiosurgery is on the rise with the number of patients treated increasing more than 34 percent during fiscal year 2008. Prostate and lung radiosurgery seem to be driving the demand, having grown approximately 95 percent and 44 percent respectively during the last fiscal year.

“The rapid growth in deployments of the CyberKnife System around the world is a testament to the promise of robotic radiosurgery for the treatment of a wide variety of tumors,” said Euan S. Thomson, Ph.D., president and CEO of Accuray. “The accuracy and non-invasive nature of CyberKnife radiosurgery gives patients a more convenient and less intrusive option for the treatment of tumors anywhere in the body.”

Currently, HCA has installed CyberKnife Systems in six facilities, including CyberKnife Center of North Florida Radiation Oncology in Gainesville, Fla.; CyberKnife Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.; St. Lucie Medical CyberKnife Treatment Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Fla.; Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park, Kan.; and Methodist CyberKnife Center in San Antonio, Texas.

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6 /PRNewswire/ — Researchers today report that after the implementation of Medicare coverage limitations for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), a significantly greater proportion of anemic cancer patients who were on chemotherapy and who received ESAs needed blood transfusions and utilized more units of blood per patient than those patients who received ESAs prior to implementation of coverage limitations. The findings from this observational study will be presented at the 50th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology on Saturday, December 6th at 9:00 a.m. PST.

In July 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued coverage limitations, in the form of a National Coverage Determination (NCD), for the use of ESAs in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. An ongoing, prospective, observational study [Dosing and Outcomes Study of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Therapies (DOSE) registry] is evaluating ESA-treated anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The present analyses were conducted using data from this study, focused on patients covered by Medicare before and after implementation of the CMS NCD for ESAs.

“We wanted to examine the potential impacts on transfusion patterns and hematologic changes in anemic Medicare patients receiving chemotherapy treated with ESAs before and after implementation of the ESA coverage limitations,” said study director Chris L. Pashos, PhD, Vice President, Abt Bio-Pharma Solutions, Inc. “Our analyses found increased transfusion rates and greater blood utilization in anemic Medicare patients receiving chemotherapy and treated with ESAs after implementation of the ESA NCD compared with before implementation of the ESA NCD.”

Study Methods and Results

Data from 288 Medicare patients (pre-NCD: 230, post-NCD: 58) from 41 sites included in the DOSE registry were analyzed. Data were categorized into two timeframes based on date of initial ESA administration (pre-NCD: April 2006 through April 2007; post-NCD: October 2007 through May 2008). Baseline characteristics of pre-NCD and post-NCD patients were similar for age, gender, weight and tumor type.

Compared to the pre-NCD patient group, a significantly greater proportion of Medicare patients in the post-NCD group received blood transfusions (post-NCD 32.8 percent vs. pre-NCD 18.3 percent, p= 0.0157), with greater blood utilization per patient (mean units of blood/patient: post-NCD 1.1 vs. pre-NCD 0.5, p= 0.0089). Significantly lower mean Hb levels (g/dL) were reported in the post-NCD group at all time points [Hb level (g/dL): post-NCD vs. pre-NCD: 9.6 vs. 10.6, 9.9. vs. 11.1, 10.4 vs. 11.2, 9.8 vs. 11.1 and 9.7 vs. 11.0 at baseline, Week 4, Week 8, Week 12 and Week 16, respectively]. The post-NCD ESA dosing guideline that impacts ESA utilization for anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is the requirement to discontinue ESA dosing for Hb levels exceeding 10 g/dL. Safety, including thrombovascular events, was not examined in this analysis. An increased relative risk of thrombovascular events has been observed in ESA-treated patients; physicians should use the lowest dose needed to avoid red blood cell transfusion.

About the DOSE Registry

The Dosing and Outcomes Study of Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Therapies (DOSE) Registry is an ongoing prospective, observational study that aims to characterize ESA dosing patterns, hematologic outcomes, costs and patient-reported outcomes of anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treated in United States (U.S.) oncology clinics. Centocor Ortho Biotech Services, LLC, supported the DOSE registry and this study.

About PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa)

PROCRIT is an ESA used for the treatment of anemia in patients with most types of cancer receiving chemotherapy, with chronic renal failure who are on dialysis and those who are not on dialysis, who are being treated with zidovudine for HIV infection, and to reduce the need for transfusion in anemic patients who are scheduled for elective noncardiac, nonvascular surgery. Depending on the country in which Epoetin alfa is marketed, these indications may differ.

Important Safety Information

WARNINGS: Increased Mortality, Serious Cardiovascular and Thromboembolic Events, and increased risk of tumor progression OR recurrence

Renal failure: Patients experienced greater risks for death and serious cardiovascular events when administered erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to target higher versus lower hemoglobin levels (13.5 vs. 11.3 g/dL; 14 vs. 10 g/dL) in two clinical studies. Individualize dosing to achieve and maintain hemoglobin levels within the range of 10 to 12 g/dL.

Cancer:
— ESAs shortened overall survival and/or increased the risk of tumor
progression or recurrence in some clinical studies in patients with
breast, non-small cell lung, head and neck, lymphoid, and cervical
cancers (see WARNINGS: Table 1).
— To decrease these risks, as well as the risk of serious cardio- and
thrombovascular events, use the lowest dose needed to avoid red blood
cell transfusion.
— Use ESAs only for treatment of anemia due to concomitant
myelosuppressive chemotherapy.
— ESAs are not indicated for patients receiving myelosuppressive therapy
when the anticipated outcome is cure.
— Discontinue following the completion of a chemotherapy course.

Perisurgery: PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa) increased the rate of deep venous thromboses in patients not receiving prophylactic anticoagulation. Consider deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis.

Contraindications
— PROCRIT is contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled hypertension
or with known hypersensitivity to albumin (human) or mammalian
cell-derived products.
Additional Important Safety Information
— Patients with chronic renal failure experienced greater risks for
death and serious cardiovascular events (including myocardial
infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, and hemodialysis
vascular access thrombosis) when administered ESAs to target higher
versus lower hemoglobin levels (13.5 vs. 11.3 g/dL; 14 vs. 10 g/dL) in
two clinical studies; these risks also increased in controlled
clinical trials of patients with cancer. A rate of hemoglobin rise of
1 g/dL over 2 weeks may contribute to these risks.
— Dose of PROCRIT
— Chronic renal failure patients: The dose of PROCRIT should be
titrated for each patient to achieve and maintain hemoglobin
levels between 10 to 12 g/dL. If a patient does not attain
hemoglobin levels of 10 to 12 g/dL despite 12 weeks of appropriate
PROCRIT therapy, see DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION in the PROCRIT
Prescribing Information.
— Cancer patients: PROCRIT therapy should not be initiated at
hemoglobin levels greater than or equal to 10 g/dL. The dose of
PROCRIT should be titrated for each patient to achieve and
maintain the lowest hemoglobin level sufficient to avoid the need
for blood transfusion. Discontinue if after 8 weeks of therapy
there is no response as measured by hemoglobin levels or if
transfusions are still required (see recommended Dose Modification
section in DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION of the PROCRIT Prescribing
Information).
— HIV patients: The dose of PROCRIT should be titrated for each
patient to achieve and maintain the lowest hemoglobin level
sufficient to avoid transfusion and not to exceed the upper safety
limit of 12 g/dL.
— Monitor hemoglobin regularly during therapy, weekly until hemoglobin
becomes stable.
— Cases of pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and of severe anemia, with or
without other cytopenias, associated with neutralizing antibodies to
erythropoietin have been reported in patients treated with PROCRIT;
predominantly in patients with chronic renal failure receiving PROCRIT
by subcutaneous administration. If any patient develops a sudden loss
of response to PROCRIT, accompanied by severe anemia and low
reticulocyte count, and anti-erythropoietin antibody-associated anemia
is suspected, withhold PROCRIT and other erythropoietic proteins.
Contact ORTHO BIOTECH (1-888-2ASKOBI or 1-888-227-5624) to perform
assays for binding and neutralizing antibodies. If erythropoietin
antibody-mediated anemia is confirmed, PROCRIT should be permanently
discontinued and patients should not be switched to other
erythropoietic proteins.
— The safety and efficacy of PROCRIT therapy have not been established
in patients with a known history of a seizure disorder or underlying
hematologic disease (e.g., sickle cell anemia, myelodysplastic
syndromes, or hypercoagulable disorders).
— In some female patients, menses have resumed following PROCRIT
therapy; the possibility of pregnancy should be discussed and the need
for contraception evaluated.
— Prior to and regularly during PROCRIT therapy monitor iron status;
transferrin saturation should be greater than or equal to 20% and
ferritin should be greater than or equal to 100 ng/mL. During therapy
absolute or functional iron deficiency may develop and all patients
will eventually require supplemental iron to adequately support
erythropoiesis stimulated by PROCRIT.
— Treatment of patients with grossly elevated serum erythropoietin
levels (e.g., >200 mUnits/mL) is not recommended.
— During PROCRIT therapy, blood pressure should be monitored carefully
and aggressively managed, particularly in patients with an underlying
history of hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
— In studies, the most common side effects included fever (pyrexia),
diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, swelling of hands or feet (edema), lack or
loss of strength or weakness (asthenia, fatigue), shortness of breath,
high blood pressure, headache, joint pain (arthralgias), abnormal skin
sensations (as tingling or tickling or itching or burning;
paresthesia), rash, constipation and upper respiratory infection.

Please visit www.procrit.com for the full Prescribing Information, including the Boxed WARNINGS, and for the Medication Guide and Patient Instructions for Use.

About Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. is a leading biopharmaceutical company devoted to helping improve the lives of patients with cancer and with anemia due to multiple causes, including chronic kidney disease. Since it was founded in 1990, Ortho Biotech and its worldwide affiliates have earned a global reputation for researching, manufacturing and marketing innovative products that enhance patients’ health. Located in Bridgewater, N.J., Ortho Biotech is an established market leader in Epoetin alfa therapy for anemia management. The company also markets treatments for recurrent ovarian cancer, rejection of transplanted organs and other serious illnesses. For more information, visit www.orthobiotech.com.

Note: Data in this release correspond to ASH abstract 1301

Source: Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

Hospitals and healthcare are definitely on the reliable growth pace. Current industry trend is really reverse to what you would expect, being new to this sector – this is shortage of nurses and medical professionals, meaning that it is rather challenge to find certified applicants, and not really to get new contracts from healthcare organizations. This trends requires the investors to look at healthcare staffing agency from the perspective of its popularity among nurses community – getting nurses opinions on which company is “better” – in the senses of being more friendly, offering better conditions, including faster paychecks issuance. As medical staffing companies actually sells services in the form of recruiting fees, plus W2 services to their medical temps – you should feel the nature of the risks and the opportunities: they are at the management experience, passion and competence side, not in real material assets, such as plants, production tools or even buildings. Let’s try to see the pro and contra arguments:

1. Economy Cycles: Booms and Recessions – healthcare is always in demand, so it should be considered stable and not really exposed to economy cycling. This statement might be considered as a trend, however some companies will suffer from bad economy, but in our opinion mostly due to the recession “atmosphere”.

2. US population “aging” – this is similar to what was long times seen in Europe and Japan, where immigration offset (or even new young immigrants inflow reversed the aging process) was not as active as in United States. Senior population requires more medicine attention and potentially will increase the workload for healthcare staffing organizations, who supply hospitals, nursing homes and retirement communities with nurses and medical doctors.

3. Baby Boomers “contribution”. It is believed to be a factor and it should begin its population aging contribution, in the sense that baby boomers will approach retirement age in five-ten years from now. Maybe it is over estimated, however as new population is growing due to current high rate of immigration into US.

4. Healthcare placement competition is rising. Still, we see large number of privately owned recruiting firms, who are strong on the local and sub-regional markets, so the best way to grow is merges and acquisitions, it is not a good time for new operations launching in the regions. Obviously it is too optimistic to predict that all of these healthcare staffing firms will be absorbed by public healthcare placement providers, however the trends are out there.

5. Sun belt states syndrome. Retiring population has a trend to sell their mortgage paid single family houses in New England, New York, Illinois, California and other mid-west or northern states and move down to Florida, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, and others sun belts states, where they surge new medical nurse inflow.

Andrew Karasev is an independent technical writer for AudioStocks. Crdentia Corp. (CRDT.OB) http://www.crdentia.com 800.803.1777, is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare staffing services. Crdentia seeks to capitalize on an opportunity that currently exists in the healthcare industry by targeting the critical Nursing, Physician and Allied Health shortage issue. Crdentia has locations in the following states: Alabama: Birmingham, Arizona: Phoenix and Tucson, North Carolina: Charlotte, Texas: Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Odessa, Lubbock, Temple, Austin. Author opinion is personal and may not coincide with the company official policy, author agrees with free press rules and article free republishing rights.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/737326

The Case Management Society of America (CMSA) and TCS Healthcare Technologies (TCS) have recently announced a partnership to bring a care management software application, called ACUITY AnyWare, to case managers as a membership benefit of CMSA.

This new application, called ACUITY AnyWare, will support individual case managers and small groups through a web-enabled app without having install expensive software or have technical support maintain it.

ACUITY AnyWare allows independents and small groups to transition from paper…to easily run reports. ACUITY AnyWare is the first software that has the Case Management Adherence Guidelines (CMAGs) as an integrated tool.

CMSA members can license ACUITY AnyWare for less than $200 per month.

For more information about ACUITY AnyWare, please contact John Sekerak ([email protected]) at (530) 886-1700 ext. 211 or Robert Pruss ([email protected]) at (501) 673-1142.

Case Management Society of America (www.cmsa.org) is an international non- profit 501(c)(6) multi-disciplinary professional association established in 1990. CMSA is dedicated to the support and advancement of the case management profession through educational forums, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy, and establishing standards to advance the profession. The association is based in Little Rock, AR and serves more than 20,000 members/subscribers and 70 affiliate and pending chapters. Since its inception, CMSA has been at the forefront of setting professional standards for the industry, which allows for the highest level of efficiency and integrity, as well as developing national and local leaders who are recognized for their practice and professional excellence. For more information on CMSA, call CMSA at (501) 225-2229 or go to www.cmsa.org .

TCS Healthcare Technologies (www.tcshealthcare.com) is a leading provider of software and clinical solutions that improve medical management (UM/CM/DM) performance and effectiveness for health plans, insurers, providers, third party administrators, medical management companies, and other health care organizations, who serve both the private and public sectors. For more information about TCS, call (530) 886-1700 ext. 211 or go to www.tcshealthcare.com .

Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the global leader in the fight to end breast cancer forever, has been recognized for her leadership in business at the 16th annual Trumpet Awards event in Atlanta with a ‘High Heels in High Places’ award.

The Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc. recognizes the contributions and accomplishments of black women and men, including the part they play in ensuring the continued vitality of the nation’s economy. Special recognition is given to ‘the few who symbolize the many who have overcome the ills of racism and poverty to achieve special greatness.’ The Trumpet Awards Foundation, Inc.’s ‘High Heels in High Places’ award salutes women in leadership positions in both the corporate and non-profit worlds. The award made its debut at the 2007 Trumpet Awards gala held in Las Vegas.

Moddelmog, a former Fortune 500 executive, became Komen’s CEO in the fall of 2006. In her first year at Komen, she leveraged unique opportunities presented by Komen’s 25th anniversary, its accompanying name change and brand transformation, effectively re-igniting the organization’s promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever while solidifying its position as the global leader in the breast cancer movement.

Prior to coming to Komen, Moddelmog served as founder and CEO of Catalytic Ventures, a consulting firm that worked with private equity investments in the food service industry. She was the first woman in corporate America to lead an international quick service restaurant brand when in 1995 she was named president of Church’s Chicken, a division of Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises. Church’s subsequently realized record sales and profit performance. Moddelmog also held management and marketing positions at Church’s Chicken, Arby’s Franchise Association and BellSouth.

Moddelmog has led Komen in building new alliances with leading cancer organizations in order to reduce duplicated efforts and maximize resources. She has assembled a group of breast cancer thought leaders chaired by distinguished Dana-Farber clinician and Harvard educator, Dr. Eric P. Winer, to form Komen’s new Scientific Advisory Board. Komen has implemented new grants mechanisms to speed the delivery of discoveries and breast cancer cures.

In 2007, Moddelmog saw the organization make the largest grants investment in its 25-year history, more than $77 million. In addition, she encouraged Komen leadership to make public its pledge to invest no less than $2 billion in the coming decade on research and community outreach programs. Moddelmog inaugurated Komen’s global expansion into 10 foreign countries, including several in the Middle East. In the fall of 2007, she led a delegation of breast cancer advocates from the United States to an historic meeting held in Budapest, Hungary with breast cancer advocates from 30 other countries.

Under Moddelmog’s leadership, Komen last year embarked on its 25-city Komen Community Challenge, an educational tour designed to help select U.S. communities close existing gaps in breast cancer and breast health services for the medically uninsured and underserved. The organization published the first-ever State of Breast Cancer report, which has helped people appreciate the advances that have been made in diagnosing and treating breast cancer while understanding the extent of healthcare disparities that keep the latest treatments as well as basic health care out of the reach of millions. In recognition of the tremendous toll breast cancer takes on African Americans in the United States, Circle of Promise, a campaign to engage African Americans with Komen in the fight against breast cancer was launched last fall.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure(R), we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit http://www.komen.org/ or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

MED3OOO Group, Inc., a privately held national healthcare management and technology company, recently entered into an agreement to implement and deploy InteGreat EHR, a true browser-based electronic health record (EHR) application, within the Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) community-based clinics throughout Tulare and Kings Counties in California. The installation of InteGreat EHR is designed to improve patient care within the 11 ambulatory clinics with intuitive workflows and clinical decision support, while minimizing bandwidth requirements and improving FHCN’s long-term operations.

Family HealthCare Network serves the healthcare needs of the community within Tulare and Kings Counties of California. Since 1976, they have been dedicated to providing access to care for local farm workers and others who may encounter barriers to healthcare because of financial or transportation issues. The clinic will leverage the InteGreat EHR platform for their 90+ providers to document clinical findings to enhance patient care and improve productivity while securely sharing information from disparate lab and hospital systems.

“Family HealthCare Network spent a considerable amount of time investigating the right EHR choice for our community-based centers,” said Jay S. Kelley, Chief Information Officer of Family HealthCare Network. “We selected the InteGreat EHR because of its ease of use, as well as the expertise the MED3OOO team has in implementing the EHR in community healthcare centers and clinics of all sizes.”

The InteGreat EHR browser-based application costs less for network infrastructure and produces higher levels of satisfaction among clinical staff because it offers a reliable connection without the need for a dedicated line. This technology will save the community health center several thousand dollars in IT costs per year.

“We believe the healthcare management and technology experts at MED3OOO will not only be able to help us successfully implement the InteGreat EHR, but also help us grow our network and proactively manage our patient outcomes,” said Harry Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Family HealthCare Network.

“MED3OOO is excited to have Family HealthCare Network implementing the InteGreat EHR product,” said Patrick Hampson, Chairman and CEO of MED3OOO. “We will be working with the community network with an approach to improve patient and financial outcomes. Our IT operational process and technologies will help the network streamline clinical workflows.”

About MED3OOO

MED3OOO is a national leader in advancing Healthcare Management and Technologies focused on improving performance and adding value to the delivery of healthcare. MED3OOO’s vision is to be considered a “premier operations partner” for physicians, hospitals, employers, and municipalities throughout the U.S. Founded in 1995, MED3OOO provides services to over 15,000 physicians and has become one of the largest and most advanced private management, technology, and information management companies in the United States. InteGreat EHR is a proprietary browser-based technology of MED3OOO used by over 13,000 users to improve clinical and operational outcomes. It adapts to clinical workflows with the highest degree of physician acceptance. InteGreat EHR automates common physician activities, including prescribing, capturing charges, ordering lab tests, viewing results, and documenting clinical encounters. InteGreat EHR uses MEDCIN to document visits, and supports HIPAA compliance programs through comprehensive access audits. For more information, please contact Karla Sartori, MED3OOO Corporate Marketing at 412-937-8887 or [email protected]

MED3OOO logo: http://www.ereleases.com/pr/MED3OOO_logo.jpg

About Family HealthCare Network

Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) is a private, non-profit community-based organization established in 1976 to provide access to care for those in the community who would encounter barriers to healthcare. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and has developed a comprehensive primary healthcare delivery system with 11 clinical sites located throughout Tulare and Kings Counties in California’s Central Valley. Family HealthCare Network was the first freestanding ambulatory healthcare center in Tulare County to be accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. FHCN is licensed by the State of California as a community clinic and is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Family HealthCare Network is one of the largest employers in Tulare County with over 700 employees as well as the largest Primary Care Provider. For more information about Family HealthCare Network, visit http://www.FHCN.org.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted LEVAQUIN(R) (levofloxacin) an additional six months of marketing exclusivity, known as “pediatric exclusivity.” The action attaches to the U.S. patent covering LEVAQUIN, extending exclusivity from December 2010 to June 2011. This decision was based on five, company-sponsored pediatric studies conducted at the request of the FDA.

The studies included trials to determine the pharmacokinetic profile and the efficacy and safety of LEVAQUIN in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and recurrent and/or persistent acute otitis media. The studies were conducted in close collaboration with leaders in the pediatric and infectious disease communities and in consultation with the FDA. LEVAQUIN is not indicated for use in children and adolescents (under 18 years of age).

Since its U.S. introduction in 1996, LEVAQUIN has gained widespread use in the treatment of adults for a variety of bacterial infections caused by specific pathogens(1), including: acute bacterial sinusitis, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, nosocomial pneumonia, community-acquired pneumonia, complicated and uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections (mild to moderate), chronic bacterial prostatitis, complicated and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (mild to moderate) and acute pyelonephritis (mild to moderate).

LEVAQUIN is available in 250 mg, 500 mg and 750 mg doses in both oral and I.V. formulations. The safety profile of LEVAQUIN is similar across doses. LEVAQUIN is marketed to healthcare providers by Ortho-McNeil, Inc., and PriCara, Unit of Ortho-McNeil, Inc.

At a time when there are growing concerns about a national epidemic of obesity among teenagers, a new study focusing on morbidly obese teens who have last-resort bariatric surgery has found that the procedure poses no greater risks for them than for adult patients, and that, in fact, they have a zero death rate and a faster rate of recovery than older patients.

Gastric bypass, stapling or similar procedures known as bariatric surgery is an approach to weight management for morbidly obese patients, which has documented results in improved health outcomes for adults.

Now researchers at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have used data from a large national database to examine nationwide trends from 1996 to 2003 in the use of adolescent bariatric surgery in the first effort to compare the early postoperative results following bariatric surgery in adolescents and adults.

The study, published in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, shows that surgery among teens has tripled in recent years, increasing in the U.S. from an estimate of just over 200 procedures in 2000 to almost 800 procedures in 2003.

The new study also compared the costs of surgery for adults and teens, finding that adolescents had lower hospital charges. Total hospital charges in 2003 for adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery were $23.6 million and for adults was $3.8 billion. The average hospital charges associated with these procedures were 15 percent lower for adolescents than for adults. Similar to adults, most adolescents had private insurance.

Although bariatric surgery among adolescents has increased, it is by no means a common procedure, representing fewer than one percent of the bariatric procedures performed nationwide. The study found that although the majority of surgery recipients are female, more male adolescents are requesting it.

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: ACCP) and Somanta Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: SMPM) have signed a letter of intent for Access to acquire Somanta. Somanta is an Irvine, California based biotechnology company with four novel anti-cancer compounds in development, one of which is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.

Each of Somanta’s drug candidates acts by a unique mechanism of action, and has the potential to target a wide range of different cancer types. In addition to its significant product pipeline, Somanta brings an experienced team of clinical development and regulatory professionals who have an established track record of guiding compounds through the FDA and EMEA approval processes.

Upon consummation of the acquisition, Somanta’s preferred and common shareholders will receive an aggregate of 1.5 million shares of Access common shares which would represent approximately 13% of the combined company assuming the conversion of Access’ existing convertible debt under existing terms of conversion. The letter of intent is non-binding. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter.

“The proposed acquisition of Somanta is very exciting for Access from a number of perspectives,” stated Stephen R. Seiler, Access’ President and CEO. “Somanta comes with four very interesting anti-cancer compounds, one of which is already in Phase 2 clinical trials. Each compound acts by a novel mode of action, and one represents a novel platform technology. As a result, the combined Access and Somanta will have a broad cancer-focused portfolio which will include one approved product, two drug candidates in Phase 2 trials and three novel and exciting pre-clinical products. Our goal has always been to make Access a leader in the oncology space and this acquisition fills out our product pipeline extremely well.”

“In addition, the Somanta clinical development team fits well with our current management group,” continued Mr. Seiler. “I look forward to leveraging their expertise to assist in accelerating and broadening the clinical program for Access’ ProLindac which is in Phase 2 trials in the EU and in the U.S. as well as on our oral insulin program.”

“The proposed combination of Somanta with Access is highly synergistic,” added Agamemnon Epenetos, M.D., Ph.D., Somanta’s CEO. “Each company is at a position where the combination makes strategic sense, and the product pipelines and management teams come together very well, with little overlap. I believe the combined product and technology pipeline is extremely exciting, and I look forward to working closely with the Access team to advance both companies’ products through the development and regulatory process.”

About Somanta
Somanta Pharmaceuticals is a company focused on the development of novel oncology compounds and anti-cancer agents. Somanta’s lead clinical product Sodium Phenylbutyrate (PB) is currently in Phase 2 development. In National Institute of Health sponsored trials, PB has demonstrated the greatest activity in CNS cancers, several of which are “orphan” indications such as Glioblastoma Multiforme. Moreover, promising data has also emerged which suggests PB may be an effective therapy for certain blood cancers and other solid tumors. PB has been well tolerated; its safety profile has generally been established due to its many years of clinical use in pediatrics for inherited urea cycle disorders.

Somanta’s other drug candidates include Alchemix, Prodrax and Angiolix. Alchemix is pan-target inhibitor that is effective in tumor cells resistant to conventional chemotherapy by targeting and irreversibly binding to DNA. Prodrax, a technology platform, is a novel family of prodrugs that enables compounds to remain inert until they reach the hypoxic region of tumors where they become toxic, thus targeting tumor cells which are typically difficult to kill. Somanta believes Alchemix and Prodrax have the ability to overcome many different pathways of drug resistance, and will be studied in a broad range of cancers including lung, colon, ovarian and renal. Proof-of-principle pre- clinical studies have been completed in both of these compounds, and Phase 1 dose escalation trials are being planned. Additionally, Somanta is developing a humanized monoclonal antibody, Angiolix, which appears to induce cell death selectively to tumor blood vessels using a different mode of action than VEGF- oriented therapies. Somanta has prepared clinical development plans for all preclinical projects. For additional information on Somanta Pharmaceuticals, please visit http://www.somanta.com/ .

About Access
Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an emerging biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes propriety products for the treatment and supportive care of cancer patients. Access’ products include ProLindac(TM), currently in Phase II clinical testing of patients with ovarian cancer and MuGard(TM) for the management of patients with mucositis. The Company also has other advanced drug delivery technologies including Cobalamin(TM)-mediated targeted delivery and oral drug delivery. For additional information on Access Pharmaceuticals, please visit our website at http://www.accesspharma.com/ .

About ProLindac(TM)
Access’ lead compound, ProLindac(TM), is a novel DACH platinum prodrug which has been shown to be active in a wide variety of solid tumors in both preclinical models and in human trials. The Company believes that ProLindac’s unique molecular design potentially could eliminate some of the toxic neurological side effects seen in currently marketed DACH platinums. The Company is currently enrolling patients in two Phase II clinical trials, one in ovarian cancer and one in head and neck cancer, and plans to initiate one or more additional Phase II trials, including one in colorectal cancer in 2007.

About MuGard(TM)
Access has received 510(k) clearance from the FDA to market MuGard(TM) in the United States. MuGard(TM) is Access’ proprietary oral rinse product for the management of oral mucositis, the debilitating side-effect which afflicts more than 40% of cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy. There is currently no well-accepted treatment for mucositis. Access is actively seeking marketing partners in Europe and the US.

About Cobalamin(TM)
The Company is actively pursuing development of its novel Cobalamin(TM) drug delivery technology, particularly as it pertains to the oral delivery of large molecule drugs that are only currently deliverable by injection or subcutaneous administration. Pre-clinical animal studies utilizing Access’ Cobalamin(TM) technology have demonstrated the ability to deliver insulin by oral administration in therapeutic levels.

The conclusion of the acquisition of Somanta by Access as anticipated in the Letter of Intent is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation negotiation of a definitive acquisition agreement which will contain standard and customary provisions, completion of due diligence to the full satisfaction of each party, approval by the respective Boards of Directors and by Somanta shareholders, completion of all government filings and receipt of all necessary government approvals and all required third party consents.

Allied Healthcare International Inc. (Nasdaq: AHCI; AIM: AHI), a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom, has announced the financial results of its fiscal 2006 fourth quarter and year-end.

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006, the Company generated revenues of $294.6 million, compared with $351.2 million reported in 2005. The $56.6 million decline was mainly due to a reduction in NHS business, which was again driven by a decrease in expenditures and the NHS’s downward price pressure on the cost of agency nurses. Revenues were also impacted by the unfavorable effect of changes in foreign exchange of $8.0 million. Net income for the year, before impairment charges, totaled $7.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared with net income, before charges, of $20.2 million, or $0.45 per diluted share for the comparable period last year. With the addition of impairment charges, which reduced 2006 results by $131.4 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, the Company reported a net loss of $123.8 million, or $2.75 per diluted share, compared with earnings after charges in 2005 of $18.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share.

The Company’s 2006 fourth quarter and year-end results were negatively impacted by a total of $131.4 million of impairment charges, net of taxes, resulting from charges for goodwill and long-lived assets of $120.1 million and $11.3 million, respectively, which were determined after the company completed its annual impairment testing in the fourth quarter. The long-lived asset impairment charge represents $4.3 million for cylinders, redundant plant and software related to the transfer of the Company’s historical oxygen distribution business, $6.3 million associated with the decision to discontinue the implementation of the Oracle front-office operating system, and $0.7 million related to impairment of other intangibles.

Gross profit margins for the year, as adjusted, remained strong and increased to 30.4%, compared with 29.5% reported in 2005. The increase in gross margin resulted from the Company’s continued emphasis on its higher-margin, Social Services business, and a decreased emphasis on its lower-margin, NHS business. The Company’s reported gross profit mix for the year, as adjusted, is as follows: 65% Social Services, 16% Nursing homes, 14% NHS, and 5% Oxygen.

For the fourth quarter ended September 30, 2006, the Company generated revenue of $74.5 million, compared with $84.3 million reported for the comparable quarter last year. Net income for the quarter, before impairment charges, reached $0.3 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, compared with net income before charges of $5.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share for the comparable period in 2005. Net loss in the fourth quarter, after impairment charges, was $131.1 million, or $2.92 per diluted share, compared with net income after charges of $4.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2005.

Gross profit margins for the fourth quarter, as adjusted, remained strong at 29.8%, absorbing the full impact of the lower respiratory margins, compared to 30.9% reported for the comparable quarter last year. The strong gross margin resulted from the Company’s continued emphasis on its higher-margin, Social Services business, and a decreased emphasis on its lower-margin, NHS business. The Company’s reported gross profit mix for the fourth quarter, as adjusted, is as follows: 69% Social Services, 15% Nursing Homes, 11% NHS, and 5% Oxygen.

The Company reported selling, general and administration (SG&A) costs for the year of $75.6 million, compared with $74.0 million last year. The increase was a result of significant investments in its Allied Respiratory division where patient numbers more than doubled from that which was originally anticipated, and the Company is now servicing over 12,500 individuals. As a result, the Company had a disproportionate increase in SG&A expenses of $3.6 million, and anticipates costs relative to the oxygen business to significantly decrease going forward. Additional costs were also related to increased levels of IT depreciation and maintenance costs of $2.7 million, and stock based compensation costs of $0.7 million. These costs were partially offset by savings in the Company’s flexible staffing division of $3.6 million, and the effects of foreign exchange.

The Company reported selling, general and administration (SG&A) costs for the fourth quarter of $20.7 million, compared with $20.4 million last year. Similarly, the increase was a result of costs associated with the investment in the respiratory business, and an increased level of IT depreciation and maintenance costs associated with the implementation of the Oracle accounting and payroll systems.

The Company will maintain its emphasis on growing the Social Services business and is poised to continue to deliver services at home.

“The positive results in our core social services business were obscured by the contraction in the nursing market and the investment in the Oxygen business,” said Timothy Aitken, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite these challenges, the Company successfully transitioned the flexible staffing business to homecare services and the emerging complex care market, which is the foundation for our future growth.”

Mr. Aitken concluded: “During 2006, management focused on improving the operating structure of the Company, rationalizing the branch network and reducing costs relative to the NHS business. In 2007, the Company is poised to leverage our branch network to deliver Community Care in partnership with Local Government and achieve improved operating results.”

Allied Healthcare invites all those interested in hearing management’s discussion of the results to join the call by dialing 877-407-9205 for domestic participants and 201-689-8054 for international participants at 10:00 AM EST on Thursday, December 14, 2006. A replay will be available for one week following the call by dialing 877-660-6853 for domestic participants and 201-612-7415 for international participants, and entering account number 286 and conference ID number 223788 when prompted. Participants may also access a live Webcast of the conference call through the “Investors” section of Allied Healthcare’s Website, www.alliedhealthcare.com. The presentation will be available and archived for 90 days.

In addition to disclosing results of operations that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (”GAAP”), this press release also discloses non-GAAP results of operations that exclude or include certain charges. These non-GAAP measures adjust for charges that are unusual. Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provides useful information to investors regarding the Company’s results of operations, as these non-GAAP measures allow investors to better evaluate ongoing business performance. Management also uses these non-GAAP measures internally to assess the performance of its business and to establish operational goals. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP.

About Allied Healthcare International
Allied Healthcare International Inc. (http://www.alliedhealthcare.com) is a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom. Allied operates a community-based network of approximately 100 branches with the capacity to provide carers (known as home health aides in the U.S.), nurses, and specialized medical personnel to locations covering approximately 90% of the U.K. population. Allied meets the needs of Private Patients, Community Care, Nursing Homes and Hospitals. The Company also supplies medical-grade oxygen in the form of cylinders and concentrators to patients in the U.K.

Nationally recognized healthcare reimbursement experts, Tracy Knowles, Esq., Senior Vice President for AHC, and Maria Persons, Corporate Director of Patient Financial Services for Tucson Medical Center, recently provided education to the Texas Chapter of American Association of Health Care Administrative Management.

Their seminar, Managing Usual and Customary Denials, discussed the manner in which healthcare providers can develop a payer specific approach to resolve reimbursement reduction issues. The educational conference was attended by over 60 individuals from hospitals and health systems, specialized healthcare providers, and sponsoring organizations.

Representative provider organizations in attendance included:
Arlington Memorial Hospital
Baylor Health Care System
Children’s Medical Center
East Texas Medical Center
Harris Methodist Southlake
HCA Healthcare
Hill Country Memorial Hospital
Hopkins County Memorial Hospital
Hunt Memorial Hospital District
Methodist Health System
Parkland Health & Hospital System
Texas Health Resources
Triumph Healthcare
University Medical Center
UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas
Wilson N. Jones

Workshop attendees received education on the various tactics employed by payers, state statutes, federal regulations, case law, correct guidelines utilized in determining “reasonableness” of charges for each payer type, and appropriateness of patient involvement in each payer situation.

Having completed over 160 seminars this year, AHC maintains their commitment to the healthcare community by providing complimentary, on-site healthcare reimbursement education. Interested parties who wish to schedule a complimentary workshop for their hospital business office staff may contact AHC at (888) 511-7901 or visit www.ahcinc.com.

About AHC
AHC Healthcare Receivables Management (www.ahcinc.com) provides technology enabled accounts receivables management solutions and complimentary education offerings for the healthcare community. Employing over 500 healthcare reimbursement professionals, approximately 100 of which are attorneys, AHC utilizes federal and state regulations, established case law, and client specific protocols to provide guaranteed results to our 760 clients nationwide. AHC has offices in Virginia, New York, Florida, Illinois, and California.

American Community Mutual Insurance Company has introduced two new consumer-choice health insurance plans for employer groups, families and individuals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. The new plans are designed to make health insurance more affordable, especially for small employer groups that may not be able to afford traditional coverage, the self-employed, and those not in employee-sponsored group plans, such as young adults who may no longer be eligible under a parent’s coverage.

The Next Generation HSA and Triple Tier PPO are low-cost PPO (preferred provider) health plans that take a creative approach to risk- and cost-sharing to reduce premiums, while assuring financial protection against catastrophic hospital and medical costs. The plans were introduced earlier this year in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Both plans include an industry-leading assortment of self-directed care management tools to help insureds stay healthy, make more informed use of health services, and receive access to health experts 24-hours a day.

The Next Generation HSA is a qualified high-deductible health insurance plan with unique features. These types of plans typically allow the insured to pay deductibles and co-payments from a tax-free Health Savings Account, but American Community adds three innovations, according to Gerald Meach, President and CEO.

First, it offers multiple payment-sharing options to help people select coverage to best fit their needs. Second, the family plan offers the option of a separate, lower deductible for individuals, letting them begin benefits earlier. Third, the deductible is waived for the first 30 days of care after an accident. “This best-in-class benefit saves members from being hit hard with unexpected expenses,” said Meach.

The Triple Tier PPO plan offers lower premiums by providing different benefit levels based on type of care. “The plan provides higher benefits for hospitalizations, emergency care and injuries, the most serious and costly treatments, with lesser benefits for outpatient, non-emergency care where the policyholder can take the time to evaluate, with our assistance, alternatives that can be more cost effective,” he explained.

Both the Next Generation HSA and Triple Tier PPO allow choice of doctors and healthcare providers, with highest benefits for insureds who use preferred providers recognized by American Community.

The company’s new plans offer a TelaDoc physician phone line, 24-hour nurse line, treatment cost calculator, web-based medical library, personal health & symptom evaluation tool, prescription drug pricing and research info, hospital cost comparisons, and health helper tips.

American Community is licensed in 38 states and has embarked on an aggressive program of geographic growth and coverage innovations to help keep health care affordable, according to Meach. The company plans to launch two new consumer-choice products in early 2007.

With beginnings dating back to 1938, American Community is one of the nation’s oldest health insurance companies. Today it markets coverage in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Arizona through more than 6,000 independent insurance agents.

For more information about these new products, visit www.american-community.com.

In May 2004, Jonas Slonaker participated in a nine-day, on-camera retreat to focus on using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) to address his symptoms of prostate cancer. He continues to do EFT daily; and today he is still free of any cancer symptoms, and his last three PSA (prostate-specific antigen) counts were “barely over two.”

EFT involves fingertip tapping on select acupressure points while focusing on the physical symptom or unresolved emotion in question. EFT claims an 80% success rate in calming symptoms associated with serious diseases like cancer. It can be learned without cost by downloading the free EFT Manual here.

“What is remarkable about using EFT for serious diseases,” says EFT Founder Gary Craig, “is that when we persistently address unresolved emotional issues and traumas, the symptoms associated with the disease tend to fade … often permanently. In Jonas’s case, he was harboring a deep and unresolved anger at his abusive father. In about 40 minutes of doing EFT together, he no longer felt the explosive anger towards his father.”

Jonas reports, “I urinate just fine and have no pain down there. I stopped taking the medication that helped me urinate. My story is simple. I use EFT everyday to release emotional energy blocks in my system. If I don’t have a particular issue or emotion to release, then I tap and sing the word Love over and over. I tap every morning for fifteen minutes to get my day started. Then I tap whenever the need arises. If someone snaps at me at work, I tap and let that go before it can become a repetitive resentment. Many of the times when I tap, I go into a deep state of peace and now and again I experience radiant joy. EFT helped me reach a place of great love and acceptance and I honestly don’t believe the cancer can survive in that environment.”

To witness Jonas’s on-camera EFT session, the combined set of DVD’s, which contains 40 hours of instruction and demonstrations, costs only $72 at https://www.emofree.com/Store/store.aspx.

More than a decade of reports from thousands of EFT users has convinced Craig of the connection between people’s unresolved emotions and their physical issues. Now an increasing number of medical studies are making the same connections, but EFT claims to offer a simple solution to resolving the emotional component of disease.

Craig says, “We are not advocating that people adopt EFT instead of conventional medicine to treat serious diseases. But medical research is consistently showing that unresolved emotional traumas, anger, and resentment contribute to disease. EFT provides a drug-free way for people to permanently clear the unresolved emotions that are disrupting their energy systems, taxing their immune systems and causing disease.”

Belgian physician Dr. Tania de Winne uses EFT in her medical practice and sees consistent evidence of the mind-body connection with her patients. “While I have no proof that EFT prevents cancer,” she says, “I’m convinced that it does just that. Negative thoughts are a major cause of not just cancer but all illnesses, and since EFT quickly eliminates the energy blocks that contribute to negative thoughts and emotions, I believe cancer and most other diseases can ultimately be eradicated by using EFT on a daily basis.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 1500 people in the U.S. die of cancer each day and another 3400 are diagnosed with cancer daily. “In my view,” says Craig, “people are dying needlessly from unresolved emotions like anger, fear, guilt and resentment.”

Physician, Dr. Eric Robins adds, “Some day the medical profession will wake up and realize that unresolved emotional issues are the main cause of 85% of all illnesses. When they do, EFT will be one of their primary healing tools …. as it is for me.”

EFT is still a new procedure, but already over 350,000 — including thousands of health care practitioners have downloaded Craig’s free training manual and another 10,000 download it each month. EFT often works when nothing else will, even on serious diseases like cancer. Word of mouth is making EFT a top self-healing modality. The EFT website is the fifth most actively visited natural health site in the world.

The EFT Manual gives anyone all the basics so they can apply it right away. It can be freely downloaded here.

A White Paper issued today by AMD Alliance International (AMDAI) reports that the impact of vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on patients’ Quality of Life and psychological well-being is comparable to that of cancer or coronary heart disease. The White Paper also shows the diagnosis of AMD and the threat of blindness increases depression and the risk of suicide.

America’s leading vision, seniors and research organizations have joined forces, under the umbrella of AMD Alliance International, to call on health policy makers, healthcare professionals and the AMD community to take immediate action to combat the risks of depression, suicide and social isolation linked to age related macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in the USA. According to AMD Alliance International, the dire consequences of AMD can be prevented by early detection, measures taken during diagnosis, and providing access to low vision rehabilitation and support services. More than 15 million American seniors live with some form of AMD, and this number is expected to reach potentially epidemic proportions as the population ages.

“AMD is no longer just about vision loss. It’s also about mental health and quality of life, which is why identifying and catching AMD at its earliest stages is critical. People, especially those over 50, must have regular eye examinations,” said Don Curran, Chairman, AMD Alliance International and AMD patient. “Further, health policy makers need to acknowledge that quality of life is an important patient outcome and recognize the urgent need to provide timely access to physicians, treatments, and support services to limit the damage caused by AMD. The pieces for optimal AMD care exist, but the puzzle must be put together. A good life with AMD is very possible, with the right supports at the right time.” According to Dr. Tara Cortes, RN, PhD President and CEO, Lighthouse International, “Early detection and treatment are essential, especially for those with wet macular degeneration. In addition, in many cases, low vision rehabilitation and counseling is the right support. We must accelerate our efforts to make low vision rehabilitation available to all those who need it.”

The White Paper, issued to kick off the 2006 AMD Awareness Week, September 18 to 24, 2006, also marks the start of a global outreach campaign to raise awareness of the little-known psychological effects of AMD. The campaign aims to demonstrate that basic supports to improve AMD patients’ quality of life – early access to medical expertise, early diagnosis and treatment, and referral to appropriate low vision programs, including counseling – are vital. As AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in the Western World in people 50 and older, and with cases rising as the baby boomer generation ages, more people are at risk of suffering from more than just vision loss.

People with vision loss are more than three times as likely to suffer from depression versus the general population. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with the loss of about 850,000 lives worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Further studies included in the White Paper analysis show quality of life for an AMD patient to be an underestimated outcome at both the clinical and public levels. Other studies show that the inclusion of low-vision care services help to reduce the negative impact of the AMD diagnosis, empower patients and help them adjust to living with the disease.

In addition to an increased risk of depression, the White Paper notes how AMD adversely affects day to day life. People with AMD are eight times more likely to have difficulties shopping, 12 times more likely to have problems using a telephone and nine times more likely to experience difficulties doing simple house work. The condition also puts patients at higher risk of accidents such as hip fractures, and many with the disease are unable to drive. All of these factors together lead to depression and sense of isolation that many people with AMD needlessly experience.

“Education, awareness, and good clinical care are important in reducing the impact of AMD on the quality of life. At the same time, investments in research are leading to more effective therapies to limit the effects of the disease,” says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). “Our goal is to fund research that will put an end to all retinal degenerative diseases including AMD. FFB-funded researchers are making excellent progress in identifying the genetic and lifestyle factors that lead to AMD, and they are moving promising preventions, treatments, and cures into clinical trials and the marketplace.”

About AMD
AMD is a degenerative disease that affects the central part of the retina – the area responsible for central vision, which allows us to read, drive and recognize faces. As central vision breaks down, only peripheral vision remains. There are two types of AMD: wet and dry. Dry AMD is the most common form of the disease, accounting for about 80 per cent of all cases. Dry AMD occurs when light-sensitive cells in the macula slowly break down. Approximately 10 to 20 per cent of cases will progress to wet AMD. Wet AMD occurs when abnormal blood vessels are formed under and leak into the macula. Blood vessel growth in wet AMD progresses much more rapidly than the dry form and accounts for the majority of cases in which severe vision loss occur.

AMD causes more than 14 million cases of visual impairment worldwide each year. More than 15 million American seniors live with some form of AMD, and this number is expected to reach potentially epidemic proportions as the population ages. AMD is even more prevalent among people who smoke. Evidence shows that smoking doubles the risk of developing AMD, while some studies suggest the risk could be as high as three- to four-fold. The World Health Organization recognizes smoking as the only modifiable risk factor for AMD. For more detailed information about AMD, consult http://www.amdalliance.org.

About AMD Alliance International
The AMD Alliance International is a global non-profit coalition of vision, seniors’ and research organisations working to raise awareness of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of vision loss in older populations. The AMD Alliance International promote regular eye examinations and provide education about prevention, treatments, rehabilitation, and support services available for AMD. Comprising 55 organisations in 22 countries, the AMD Alliance International is the only international organisation focused exclusively on AMD.

The mission of the Alliance is “to bring knowledge, help and hope to individuals and families around the world affected by AMD through:
– Generating awareness and understanding of AMD;
– Promoting the importance of education, early detection, knowledge of
treatment and rehabilitation options; and
– Preserving vision and improving the quality of life of individuals
affected by AMD.”

The American members of AMD Alliance International who join forces in this awareness effort are (in alphabetical order) The Alliance for Aging Research, The Deicke Centre for Visual Rehabilitation, The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Lighthouse International, Macular Degeneration Partnership, Macular Degeneration Support, Prevent Blindness America, and The Seniors Coalition.

Connetics Corporation (Nasdaq:CNCT), a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes dermatology products, today announces the use of its proprietary VersaFoam(R) technology in Pfizer Consumer Healthcare’s new Men’s Rogaine(R) Foam, now available wherever Rogaine is sold. In January 2006, Pfizer received FDA approval for Men’s Rogaine(R) Foam (minoxidil, 5%) developed under a license from Connetics’ VersaFoam technology.

“Rogaine is the most popular topical treatment for hair loss. A Rogaine formulation utilizing Connetics’ VersaFoam technology offers patients suffering from hair loss a convenient therapy that absorbs rapidly upon contact with the scalp leaving minimal residue,” said Thomas G. Wiggans, Chief Executive Officer of Connetics. “Connetics’ innovative skin delivery vehicles have created strong customer acceptance and leading brands in the prescription topical steroid and antibiotic markets. We believe the elegance of our VersaFoam delivery system also holds potential to increase patient compliance and to expand the current market for Rogaine.”

“We are very happy to be partnering with Connetics, a leader in foam technology, to provide this novel formulation for the hair loss patient,” says Dr. Bruce Kohut, Senior Director of Dermatology at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. “We expect that patients will find the new Rogaine Foam easy to use and an enjoyable experience.”

About VersaFoam Technology
As a leader in novel topical delivery systems, Connetics owns worldwide rights to a number of unique topical delivery systems and has branded its proprietary foam drug delivery vehicle, VersaFoam. This unique, versatile topical drug delivery vehicle quickly absorbs into the skin when applied and has versatility for application on multiple body sites. The formulation is thermolabile, which melts at skin temperature and evaporates quickly. In addition, it is easy to apply, non-dripping, stain-free and leaves minimal to no residue. It is also preservative-free. The VersaFoam system has important cosmetic and functional benefits compared with conventional delivery vehicles including creams, ointments, gels and lotions. Connetics’ VersaFoam-based products are OLUX(R) for scalp dermatoses and non-scalp psoriasis, Luxiq(R) Foam for scalp dermatoses and Evoclin(R) Foam for the treatment of acne. These formulations have earned wide acceptance by physicians and patients due to their clinical effectiveness, high quality and cosmetic elegance. For more information on VersaFoam, please visit www.VersaFoam.com.

About Connetics
Connetics Corporation is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapeutics for the dermatology market. Connetics’ innovative approach to product development includes the exploration of new ways to optimize drug delivery at targeted treatment sites on the skin, and the assessment of novel formulation and delivery technologies. The Company’s marketed products are OLUX (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%; Luxiq (betamethasone valerate) Foam, 0.12%; Soriatane(R) (acitretin) capsules; and Evoclin (clindamycin) Foam, 1%. Connetics is developing Desilux(TM) (desonide) Foam, 0.05%, a low-potency topical steroid formulated to treat atopic dermatitis; Primolux(TM) (clobetasol propionate) Foam, 0.05%, a super high-potency topical steroid formulation to treat atopic dermatitis and plaque psoriasis; Extina(R) (ketoconazole) Foam, 2%, to treat seborrheic dermatitis; and Velac(R) (a combination of 1% clindamycin and 0.025% tretinoin) Gel, to treat acne. Connetics’ product formulations are designed to improve the management of dermatological diseases and provide significant product differentiation. For more information about Connetics and its products, please visit www.connetics.com.

While researchers have spent ten years developing a cure for Huntington’s Disease (HD) in mice, people suffering with the disease have gained symptom relief with a simple do-it-yourself acupressure technique. According to the theory behind Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), illness and disease are caused by unresolved emotional issues and a disrupted energy meridian system (Chi or Qi). When emotional issues are resolved using EFT, physical symptoms associated with serious diseases have been shown to clear, sometimes immediately and often permanently.

EFT is a do-it-yourself acupressure technique that anybody can use to provide relief from the physical and emotional symptoms associated with HD. It involves fingertip tapping on select acupressure points while focusing on the symptom in question. EFT claims an 80% success rate in calming symptoms associated with serious diseases.

It and can be learned freely by downloading the EFT Manual at http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.asp?ref=prwHDcw

Researchers from the University of British Columbia have found a way to block the enzyme believed to be instrumental in the development of the disease. For the next five years, researchers will focus on developing and testing a drug that will achieve the same results in humans.

In the meantime, EFT is giving HD patients drug-free relief from the symptoms associated with this degenerative brain disease. EFT theory takes a very different approach to addressing symptoms associated with such diseases.

According to Gary Craig, the Stanford-trained engineer who developed EFT, “When EFT Practitioners approach serious diseases such as Huntington’s, we look at the person’s symptoms and the emotions associated with their symptoms. When we address illness-related emotions like fear, frustration, and grief, we repeatedly find that the symptoms subside, even disappear.”

Children of HD patients have a 50% chance of inheriting Huntington’s. If they have inherited the disease, symptoms generally appear later in life. “I can’t help but wonder whether applying EFT could postpone or even suspend the development of symptoms,” says Craig.

Diane Kendrick is an EFT Practitioner in the United Kingdom whose client had Huntington’s disease. The client presented as having a phobia about walking down stairs, but her HD was evidenced in her slurred speech, jerky gait, twitching and labored breathing.

Because of her symptoms, the woman had difficulty tapping the EFT points, so had her husband do it for her. When she returned a week later, Diane was surprised, “I couldn’t believe the changes in her. Her visual symptoms were about 60% improved.” Her jerkiness and twitching had subsided and her communication had improved. Her speech was less slurred and more clear. During the week between appointments, the woman had done EFT tapping every day on her own. It had become increasingly easy to do as her coordination and enthusiasm had improved.

They did a little more EFT for the phobia of stairs and the woman pinpointed having fallen down stairs ten years previously. With five minutes of EFT, she went up and down stairs with no trace of fear or anxiety. The phobia was gone, but more importantly, she had a considerable improvement in several of the symptoms associated with her incurable physical condition.

Craig explains, “We see this repeatedly with EFT, where addressing a specific issue like a phobia has a generalized positive result for the person’s health. We are not claiming that EFT cures diseases, but EFT users all over the world have experienced remarkable results in the reduction of symptoms associated with cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, lupus, Alzheimer’s disease, MS, arthritis and others. Fortunately, an increasing number of health professionals are incorporating EFT into their medical practices.”

There are no known side effects associated with EFT and it often gives symptom relief where nothing else works. “It is my goal,” says Craig, “to encourage the use of EFT to compliment any medical protocol employed to treat serious diseases. To this end, I make the EFT Manual available freely on the EFT website.”

Although most Americans have yet to hear of it, EFT may be the world’s fastest-growing self-help technique. Over 300,000 have downloaded Craig’s free training manual and another 10,000 download it each month. The official EFT Manual has been translated by volunteer practitioners into nine languages.

The EFT Manual explains the basics so that anyone can begin applying EFT right away. It can be freely downloaded at
http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.asp?ref=prwHDcw

For further information, contact Gary Craig at 707-785-2848.

Athens Medical Group and ADVANTAGE Health Solutions, Inc.(SM), a regional managed care health plan owned by the Sisters of St. Francis and Ascension Health, have signed a multi-year contract to provide health care in the Montgomery County region. This addition to ADVANTAGE’s local network of providers, which includes St. Clare Medical Center, was announced today by Brett Spencer, MD, CEO of Athens and Vicki Perry, president and CEO of ADVANTAGE.

This agreement will allow those enrolled in ADVANTAGE’s Point of Service and HMO plans to select a physician from the Athens Medical Group for their primary care physician. In addition, this new agreement allows ADVANTAGE to kick off its marketing campaign in Crawfordsville, Ind., to health insurance brokers and employers. Employers such as IVY Tech, Eli Lilly, St. Clare, DaimlerChrysler and Subaru already offer the ADVANTAGE plan to their employees. More than 200 employer groups in Indiana offer ADVANTAGE.

With the addition of Athens Medical Group, ADVANTAGE now has more than 5,010 health care providers participating in managed care commercial products. This includes nearly 1,229 primary care providers, over 3,755 specialists, and 26 acute care hospitals throughout Indiana.

Athens Medical Group and ADVANTAGE pursue high standards of medical care and work diligently to improve the health of the communities they serve. “Thanks to our relationship with Athens Medical Group, we can bring our principles of outstanding service, individualized attention, and quality focus to Montgomery County,” said Perry. “Our goal is to enhance the health and well-being of our members, and we look forward to achieving that goal with our new network of providers.”

ADVANTAGE’s growing network in the Crawfordsville, Lafayette and Indianapolis areas serve employers large and small with a variety of benefit plan options, including preventive care, medical services, prescription drugs, vision and dental benefits. ADVANTAGE also offers health savings accounts, which allow employees more flexibility in their health care spending.

ADVANTAGE plans encourage members to practice prevention and healthy lifestyle habits. More than 25 percent of Indiana residents are overweight or obese. Reactionary health care is no longer enough to maintain public health. ADVANTAGE works with providers like Athens Medical Group to increase the number of members using preventative health care and to decrease the need for reactionary health care.

About ADVANTAGE Health Solutions, Inc.(SM)
ADVANTAGE is a managed care organization offering HMO, POS, and self funded benefit plans, as well as a high deductible plan with an HSA option and a Medicare Advantage product. Founded by four Catholic health care systems — Ascension Health, Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc., Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Inc., and Ancilla Health Systems, Inc., ADVANTAGE began its operations in 2000 as a spin-off from Sagamore Health Network. Since inception, ADVANTAGE has achieved significant milestones, such as its NCQA Excellent Accreditation status, and is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in Indiana, serving more than 65,000 members. For more information on ADVANTAGE or their ADVANTAGE Preferred Plus plans go to www.advantageplan.com.

CIGNA HealthCare* today announced an agreement with AMA Insurance Agency, Inc. (AMAIAI) to market the CIGNATURE Rx(SM) Medicare prescription drug plans to Medicare-eligible physicians and their spouses. “We are delighted AMAIAI has chosen to offer CIGNA’s Medicare prescription drug plans,” said Terri Swanson, vice president of CIGNA Senior Care. “This decision represents a strong new relationship based on a high level of trust in our Part D program.”

AMA Insurance Agency, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Medical Association, markets and/or administers insurance plans and related products to meet the needs of physicians and their families. AMAIAI chose the simple, affordable CIGNATURE Rx drug coverage because of several leading features:

comprehensive coverage and choice of plans, which align well with the prescription drug needs of physicians and their spouses; broad availability in all regions of the country and in more than 53,000 pharmacies nationwide; and high quality customer service, ensuring all calls are answered by experienced service representatives. For more details about CIGNATURE Rx for Medicare-eligible physicians, contact CIGNA at 1.800.374.3406.

About CIGNA
CIGNA is offering its Medicare Part D plans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in alliance with NationsHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ:NHRX)(NASDAQ:NHRXU)(NASDAQ:NHRXW). The alliance combines CIGNA’s pharmacy product capabilities with NationsHealth’s experience in service and distribution to the Medicare population.

*CIGNA HealthCare, headquartered in Bloomfield, CT, provides pharmacy benefits and products and services that integrate and analyze information to support consumerism and health advocacy. “CIGNA” and “CIGNA HealthCare” refer to various operating subsidiaries of CIGNA Corporation (NYSE:CI) including Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. Products and services are provided by these operating subsidiaries and not by CIGNA Corporation.

About AMAIAI
Established in 1988 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Medical Association, AMA Insurance Agency, Inc. markets and/or administers a variety of insurance plans and related products to meet the needs of physicians, resident physicians, medical students, and their families. Select products are available for physicians’ group practices.

AHC Healthcare Receivables Management, an industry leader in providing third-party reimbursement solutions and complimentary education offerings, announced today the completion of the company’s acquisition of Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions (CHS), a division of CB Accounts, Inc. CHS, with offices in Peoria and Jacksonville, Illinois and Baltimore, Maryland is a national healthcare accounts receivable management firm offering early-out self-pay programs, self-pay after insurance services, and Out-of-State Medicaid billing and follow-up.

This acquisition enables AHC to offer comprehensive “patient centric” reimbursement programs to healthcare providers. “Patient centric” reimbursement programs enable AHC, on behalf of its hospital clients, to address both third-party payer and patient follow-up requirements, including eligibility and enrollment services, ensuring maximum reimbursement for healthcare providers while offering a single, blended pricing structure. This integrated service approach will simplify invoices for healthcare providers, remove the challenges associated with managing multiple vendors, and improve patient satisfaction by reducing the number of parties a patient needs to interact with during the payment/recovery process. Most importantly, the hospital can be assured it is recovering the appropriate monies from the appropriate responsible party(ies).

“This acquisition provides us greater expertise in the patient recovery process, which, combined with our historic expertise and reputation recovering monies from insurance companies, gives us unlimited potential to meet the future needs of healthcare providers, ” states AHC President, David Langsam. “Expanding our product lines will allow us to deliver a more comprehensive service offering to our clients and the healthcare marketplace in general.”

For more information about AHC’s “Patient Centric” Reimbursement Programs or to schedule a complimentary, state specific, in-service workshop on “Insurance Reimbursement Law”, contact AHC toll free at (888) 511-7901.

About AHC:
AHC Healthcare Receivables Management (www.ahcinc.com) specializes in accounts receivable management solutions for the healthcare industry. Employing over 500 healthcare professionals, approximately 100 of which are attorneys, AHC utilizes federal and state regulations, established case law, and client specific protocols to provide guaranteed accounts receivable management solutions to our 750 clients nationwide. AHC operates out of eight locations, with headquarters located in Manassas, Virginia.

There are more and more forms of health insurance are showing in our society, since competition of health insurance is increase. Now I am list and briefly describe 10 of the most popular types of health inusrance plans in the United State below:

INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE: Ensuring a person individually is a common mode of insurance. This is a process through which one may be selective about what s/he wants in a plan. Accordingly, one’s required premium is calculated, and the insurance plan takes effect.

GROUP INSURANCE: Through this type of insurance, one is compelled to abide by what others are going for, and this is also dependent on the insurance providers. They are the ones that decide what is feasible to include in a plan, and on that basis a group insurance can take place.
PPO:This is the Preferred Provider Organization. If a person has membership of this organization, they can be treated by doctors within the setup. This is because of the arrangement they have; it is such that when a member gets ill, they are treated by their own panel. Otherwise, one has to pay for treatment outside the network.

HMO: The Health Maintenance Organization is one that allows a member to select a particular doctor off the panel. It is these selected doctors that will deal will with members’ problems. The selected doctor is the one that will be approached for checkups of any kind, and if there are problems with a member that cannot be handled by him or her, the member is referred to specialists.

MSA: This is a Medical Savings Account that is also tax-advantaged. It is used for health insurance policy that has high premiums to be paid. Members have to save money in this account in order to pay for their medical bills, which include checkups, treatments, etc. The fact that tax does not apply to it, makes it a good strategy towards coping with high premiums in health insurance.

POS: This is a Point-of-Service Plan, which implements properties of the HMO and PPO plans. Through this arrangement, a member of this plan can either go to any doctor in the network or go to one outside the network. However, generally this is the concept that allows flexibility.
INDEMNITY PLAN:This plan allows one to go to any doctor when one needs to; there are no restrictions on this, and it is believed to be more of a traditional plan. One does not need permission to go to a particular health care provider. However, usually what happens is that the member pays 20% of the total fee for treatment while the insurance provider pays 80%. In addition to this, there is a period through which one pays up in this manner, and then the company takes over paying the whole 100%.

THE PROVIDER: This insurance is like the services provided through the Medicare program.

PCP: This is Primary Care Physician, and it refers to the first provider that a member is associated with. This provider is responsible for making sure that all basic checks are made, and if there are further areas to check up on, the member has to be referred to a specialist.
GENERAL COVERAGE WITH HEALTH & LIFE PROTECTION:This form of insurance includes life coverage as well as health coverage.