News and notes from the day in MedCity, Ohio.
Laid-off workers and dependents who were the first to receive federal COBRA subsidies to help pay for health care coverage will lost those subsidies today. That means some of the estimated 7 million adults and dependent children receiving subsidies under COBRA — the law that enables workers who lose their jobs to continue paying former employers for health insurance — now will pay the full cost of the insurance or go uninsured, according to a report (pdf) by liberal consumer health organization Familes USA. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided for federal subsidies to cover 65 percent of the cost of COBRA premiums for nine months, beginning March 1.
PFC Pharma Focus in Zurich, Switzerland, has joined the CRO Connect Program of DATATRAK International Inc. in Mayfield Heights, which provides electronic solutions for the clinical trials industry. PFC will have access to DATATRAK’s contract research organization partner training and be able to offer its clients the DATATRAK eClinical product suite. PFC is a premium contract research organization for the pharmaceutical/biotech, life science and health care industries. Â
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
Cardinal Health in Dublin is among 21 companies to receive shareholder resolutions from a coalition of faith-based institutional shareholders asking them to publicly disclose the total compensation packages of their top executives, including their health care packages, vis-à -vis that of their lowest paid U.S. workers. Among the insurers, medical device makers and other companies receiving the resolutions are many of the leading opponents of Congressional action on health care reform, according to Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.
Parma Community General Hospital has been named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals for cardiovascular care by Thomson Reuters. Winners named to this list have shorter, less costly hospital stays with fewer complications, according to the study based on analysis of publicly available data over the past two years. “Our heart program is a shining example of how our unique brand of excellent, personalized care yields outstanding results,” said Patricia A. Ruflin, president and chief executive officer of the independent Parma hospital.
