30-07-2012 15:29 Contraception is basic preventive health care for women—a simple truth that is too often lost in our political discourse. This video puts key facts front and center: Proper timing and spacing of births leads to healthier pregnancies; contraception, when used consistently, is highly effective; and cost can be a barrier to a woman using the contraceptive method that's right for her. This video was created by the Guttmacher Institute, a leading research and policy organization on sexual and reproductive health. Full transcript available: COMMENT POLICY: Comments reflecting the spectrum of opinion are welcomed. However, we ask that they be constructive and respectful in tone and content. Comments containing profanity, abusive or inflammatory language, misinformation or that are otherwise inappropriate will be removed. Comments appearing on this site are not endorsed by the Guttmacher Institute nor should they be taken to reflect the Institute's point of view.

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Benefits of Contraceptive Use in the United States - Video

30-07-2012 22:50 Report: ObamaCare expected to cost taxpayers $805 billion

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Consumers bracing for tax hikes from the health care law - Video

By Chelsea Conaboy, Globe Staff

Lawmakers are expected to vote Tuesday on a 350-page bill that would make Massachusetts the first state to impose limits on how much health care providers can spend on medical costs. Its a complicated, far-reaching bill that depends on the states ability to collect massive amounts of data and to make it usable by regulators and consumers.

Leaders in the House and Senate prepared summaries of key provisions in the bill. Below, see some early reaction from consumer advocates and others.

The bill comes after more than a year and a half of negotiations on Beacon Hill. But the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, which has served as a consumer advocate on health costs, urged people not to see the bills expected passage as an end to the debate.

We invite all stakeholders to meet with us publicly at a gathering of GBIO leaders on Tuesday September 17th, 2013 -- one year from now -- to evaluate the progress in controlling costs and assess the effectiveness of this legislation, President Rev. Burns Stanfield said in a press release.

The group lauded the bills allocation of $60 million for public health programs and its setting of a spending target:

Specifically, per person health care spending is targeted to grow no more than the Gross State Product during the years of 2013-2017. Then a more aggressive target of GSP minus .5% is established for the years 2018-2022.

These targets have the potential to establish a clear incentive to make real changes that will reduce costs; eliminate waste; and improve patient care. However, to accomplish these aims an enhanced enforcement mechanism will likely be necessary.

Eric Schultz, chief executive of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, congratulated lawmakers on the bill, in an e-mailed statement:

While we continue to review its many complex elements, it is clearly a meaningful step forward in the effort to control health care spending. We look forward to working with our partners in state government and other key stakeholders to fully implement the law so that we, as a Commonwealth, are able to fully realize its potential to improve care and control the rate of increase in health care costs for Massachusetts consumers and businesses.

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Digesting the health care compromise bill

CHICAGO, July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic private equity firm focused exclusively on the health care industry, announced today the closing of its third private equity fund, Water Street Healthcare Partners III, L.P. ("Fund III"). The fund closed at its cap of $750 million of investor commitments, exceeding the original target of $650 million when fundraising began in early June. Investors in the fund include leading domestic and international pension funds, endowments and financial institutions, most of which have invested in Water Street since the firm raised its first fund in 2006.

"We are very pleased with the value Water Street has built in its group of health care companies, and the strong results its team has achieved over the past six years," said Investment Director Brian Welker, Allianz Capital Partners, an investor in Water Street since 2006. "What we appreciate most about Water Street is how it engages its entire team in the value creation process. It leverages the vast experience of its operating partners with the financial expertise of its investment partners to proactively source and invest in attractive companies, strategically expand their products and services, and build them into market leaders."

Water Street has completed more than 30 strategic acquisitions and mergers, the majority of which were privately negotiated, to build 16 market-leading health care companies in six years. The firm has acquired and grown its companies through partnerships with the world's premier health care corporations including Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Inc. and Gentiva Health Services, Inc., as well as founders and executives of middle-market companies. In the past three months, Water Street acquired Breg, Inc. from Orthofix International, N.V., divested its dental pharmaceutical company, OraPharma, to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc., and divested Physiotherapy Associates after building into a national outpatient rehabilitation services leader.

"We are deeply grateful to our investors for their overwhelming support of Water Street. Their recognition of the results our team has achieved and enthusiasm for our strategy enabled us to raise this fund efficiently. Importantly, by extending our partnership, investors continue to support our strategy of building market-leading companies of greater long-term value in targeted growth segments of health care. We will continue to invest our team's deep health care expertise, extensive operating experience and network of industry relationships to create transformational growth for our companies and deliver outstanding results for our investors," said Tim Dugan, managing partner, Water Street.

With Fund III, Water Street's total capital under management increases to nearly $2 billion. Water Street will continue to pursue proprietary investments in four segments of health care: medical and diagnostic products and devices, specialty distribution, outsourced health care services, and specialty pharmaceutical products and services. Target investments range in size from $50 million to $500 million in value. Water Street will continue to grow its companies through a combination of strategic acquisitions and organic initiatives.

Water Street closed its inaugural equity fund of $370 million in 2006 and its second equity fund of $650 million in 2008.

About Water Street

Water Street is a strategic private equity firm focused exclusively on health care. The firm has a strong record of building market-leading companies across key growth sectors in health care. It has worked with some of the world's leading health care companies on its investments including Gentiva, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and Smith & Nephew. Water Street's team is comprised of industry executives and private equity professionals with decades of experience investing in and operating global health care businesses. The firm is headquartered in Chicago. For more information about Water Street, visit waterstreet.com.

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Water Street Closes $750 Million Private Equity Fund

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

While facing the prospect of living more years in retirement, women nearing retirement underestimate how much they will need to pay for their future health care costs even more so than men nearing retirement, according to a Nationwide Financial survey released today.

According to the survey conducted by Harris Interactive of 1,250 Americans with at least $250,000 in household assets, women close to retirement estimate they will spend $4,624 each year on health care beyond what Medicare covers. Thats 21 percent less than the $5,882 men nearing retirement estimate they will spend each year on things like premiums, copayments and deductibles. However, both are way off. A 2012 study found a 65-year-old couple retiring today would need $240,000 to cover medical expenses during their retirement years and that doesnt include long-term care costs. 1

The fact is women live longer than men, which means they will spend more time in retirement and that places women at a greater risk of outliving their retirement assets, said John Carter, president of sales and distribution for Nationwide Financial. It also may increase their chances of incurring long-term care costs during their golden years. Thats why its especially important for women to plan for health care costs in retirement.

According to the survey, nearly half of both women and men say they are terrified of what health care costs may do to their retirement plans. Yet, women respondents nearing retirement are much more likely than men respondents to say they have not estimated:

On average, women estimate that Medicare will cover 65 percent of their annual health care costs. But, similar to men respondents, when asked how they came to this percentage, 85 percent either guessed or did not know. Only 2 percent said they were told this by a financial advisor.

Women are also slightly more likely than men to say they are somewhat unconfident to not at all confident in their plan to live comfortably in their retirement years (46 percent vs. 39 percent men).

Opportunity for advisors

While 65 percent of women have discussed their retirement with a financial advisor of those who have, only one in 10 talked about how much they should expect to pay in health care costs apart from Medicare (compared to one in four men).

Of those who have discussed retirement with a financial advisor, 77 percent of women say they were helpful to very helpful estimating health care costs in retirement (63 percent men) and a whopping 86 percent say they were helpful to very helpful discussing the role Medicare will play in their retirement (52 percent men).

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Women Nearing Retirement Underestimate Future Health Care Costs More Than Men

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Forty-seven million women are getting greater control over their health care and access to eight new prevention-related health care services without paying more out of their own pocket beginning Aug. 1, 2012, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today.

Previously some insurance companies did not cover these preventive services for women at all under their health plans, while some women had to pay deductibles or copays for the care they needed to stay healthy. The new rules in the health care law requiring coverage of these services take effect at the next renewal date on or after Aug. 1, 2012for most health insurance plans. For the first time ever, women will have access to even more life-saving preventive care free of charge.

According to a new HHS report also released today, approximately 47 million women are in health plans that must cover these new preventive services at no charge. Women, not insurance companies, can now make health decisions that will keep them healthy, catch potentially serious conditions at an earlier state, and protect them and their families from crushing medical bills.

President Obama is moving our country forward by giving women control over their health care, Secretary Sebelius said. This law puts women and their doctors, not insurance companies or the government, in charge of health care decisions.

The eight new prevention-related services are:

The health care law has already helped women in private plans and Medicare for the first time gain access to potentially life-saving tests and services, such as mammograms, cholesterol screenings, and flu shots without coinsurance or deductibles. Todays announcement builds on these benefits, generally requiring insurance companies to offer, with no copay, additional vital screenings and tests to help keep women healthy throughout their lives.

These services are based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine, which relied on independent physicians, nurses, scientists, and other experts as well as evidence-based research to develop its recommendations. These preventive services will be offered without cost sharing beginning today in all new health plans.

Group health plans and issuers that have maintained grandfathered status are not required to cover these services. In addition, certain nonprofit religious organizations, such as churches and schools, are not required to cover these services. The Obama administration will continue to work with all employers to give them the flexibility and resources they need to implement the health care law in a way that protects womens health while making common-sense accommodations for values like religious liberty.

For women who are pregnant or nursing, the new preventive services include gestational diabetes screening as well as breast-feeding support, counseling and supplies. Health services already provided under the health care law include folic acid supplements for women who may become pregnant, Hepatitis B screening for pregnant women, and anemia screening for pregnant women.

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Health care law gives women control over their care, offers free preventive services to 47 million women

What do health care, gun control, and cybersecurity have in common? Nothing. Unless you're the U.S. Senate.

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Senate Injects Health Care, Gun Control Into Cybersecurity Debate

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Center for Connected Medicine, a global thought leader defining the transformation of health care, today welcomed Varian Medical Systems as its newest strategic partner. A leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions, Varian joins five founding and nine other strategic partners contributing to the Centers mission of developing a blueprint to overcome the fragmented state of health care today.

The health care industry is undergoing rapid change, and the connected medicine model is vital for creating a more sustainable system, says Chris Toth, vice president of Oncology Systems marketing at Varian Medical Systems. Our collaboration with the Center allows us to showcase how our medical technologies can be integrated into a seamless environment that puts patients at the center of care.

Varian officially joined the Center earlier this spring. We are impressed with Varians corporate vision and mission, notes Angela Pantelas, Executive Director at the Center for Connected Medicine. Cancer treatment demands that multiple providers, often located in multiple facilities, become involved in a patients care. Varian recognizes how vital it is for these clinicians to be connected, communicating and coordinating their approaches for the ultimate wellbeing of the patient. We are delighted to add Varians perspective to the Centers efforts.

Established in 2009, the Center for Connected Medicine services as the worlds first collaborative health care executive briefing center and has hosted nearly 11,000 visitors representing 57 countries. Those touring the Center engage in discussions about how best to overcome barriers in order to achieve a more cohesive approach to medicine, and experience ways technology developed by each of the Centers partners can be integrated to transform and enhance care delivery.

Varian is a world-wide leader in medical technology, says Andrew Watson, MD, MLitt, FACS, Medical Director at the Center for Connected Medicine. The companys breadth of offerings for treating patients is invaluable, and the companys holistic point of view will help us further define solutions for health care. We are looking forward to leveraging the contributions Varian will make to the Centers mission.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CONNECTED MEDICINE

The Center for Connected Medicine is defining the transformation of health care by serving as a global thought leader. As the worlds first collaborative health care executive briefing center, it is committed to developing the blueprint for innovative patient-centered and population health models using strategically integrated health information technology. Established in 2009 and located in Pittsburgh, the Center for Connected Medicine is comprised of five founding partners Alcatel Lucent, General Electric, IBM, UPMC and Verizonand nine strategic partners representing various facets of the health information community. By creating connections among those who deliver, receive and support health care, the Center promotes cultural change, coordinated care delivery and greater patient engagement. To learn more about connected medicine, as well as the Centers vision and initiatives, please visit http://www.connectedmed.com.

ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies high-energy X-ray devices for cargo screening and non-destructive testing applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 5,900 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com.

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The Center for Connected Medicine Welcomes Varian Medical Systems as Newest Strategic Partner

WASHINGTON, DC -

Beginning Wednesday, August 1st, millions of women will have access to eight new preventative health care services, with no out of pocket cost.

The "Preventative Women's Health Care Amendment" is a part of President Obama's Affordable Care Act. The eight services were based on recommendations from the institute of medicine.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says the new services will improve health care for nearly 47 million women.

"Starting tomorrow, thanks to the new health care law, all insurance policies will be required to cover new vital care that women need to stay healthy. And they will have to cover the care without charging women anything out of pocket," Sebelius said.

It means that insurance companies that didn't cover the services at all will now have to provide them, and also, insurers that charged patients co-pays for those services will now have to provide them free of charge to the patient.

"It will also be illegal finally in America to charge women more than men just because they are women. In other words, being a woman will no longer be a preexisting condition in this country," said Sebelius.

The goal is to detect potentially serious conditions earlier, increasing the chances of survival and minimizing cost.

"One of the most important tools we women have is mammograms. But in the midst of the health care debate, they wanted to take our mammograms away from us. Well, hey, not while I'm here," said Sen. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland). "What we now will be able to do is that the top killers of women will no longer go undetected."

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No more co-pays for birth control, other preventative care