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Tax them, not us, interest groups say to Congress’ health proposals

Interest groups battle to deflect health taxes

Johnson & Johnson: Senate health plan’s proposed tax on medical device makers could cost jobs

TRENTON, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson executives said Tuesday a proposed tax on medical device makers, part of the health care reform package moving in the Senate, is too high and could cost jobs in the industry.

Study: Less-invasive prostate surgery may mean higher risk of incontinence, sexual problems

CHICAGO — A new study suggests less-invasive keyhole surgery for prostate cancer may mean a higher risk for lasting incontinence and impotence when compared with traditional surgery.

AP Enterprise: United States has no reliable system to track defective medical implants

NEW YORK — Three years ago, the maker of a surgical clip called the Hem-o-lok issued an urgent recall notice warning doctors to stop using the fasteners on living kidney donors. It said the clips could dislodge in their bodies, with “serious, even life-threatening consequences.”

National network for sharing e-health records still in infancy, will get boost from stimulus

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Dr. James E. Sanders is a big believer of switching patient records from old paper files to sophisticated computer databases.

Institute of Medicine will review FDA’s system for clearing low-risk medical devices

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is asking the government’s top medical advisers to review its system for approving certain types of medical devices, which has been criticized by safety advocates and government watchdogs.

Senator backs off from tax on contact lenses, tampons; power wheelchairs still get hit

WASHINGTON — They were calling it the tax on Q-tips. Amid Republican ridicule, a Democratic chairman backed down Tuesday and exempted consumer items of $100 or less — from condoms to contact lenses — from a proposed tax on medical device manufacturers. It would help pay for health care coverage for the uninsured in comprehensive legislation.

Appeals court upholds Kan. Internet pharmacist’s conviction, acquits computer technician

WICHITA, Kan. — An appeals court panel upheld on Wednesday the conviction of a pharmacist for conspiracy to unlawfully distribute prescription drugs through a Wichita-based Internet pharmacy.

The robot will see you now: Army deploys robot to link doctor with patients, trainees

SAN ANTONIO — Staff Sgt. Juan Amaris laid in intensive care recovering from life-threatening burns when he got a peculiar visit from his doctor. Dr. Kevin Chung — rather, a 5-foot-tall camouflage-clad robot with Chung’s face on a monitor — rolled in to check on him.

For rural hospitals, move to digitize records on federal incentive carries costs, and risks

OSCEOLA, Mo. — Electronic medical records are a life-or-death issue at Sac-Osage Hospital — not necessarily just for the patients, but for the hospital itself.

FDA says electronic cigarettes contain same cancer-causing ingredients as tobacco cigarettes

WASHINGTON — Federal health officials said Wednesday they have found cancer-causing ingredients in electronic cigarettes, despite manufacturers’ claims the products are safer than tobacco cigarettes.

HEALTHBEAT: Paperless hospital points the way but digital health records by 2014 will be hard

PITTSBURGH — Baby Riley Matthews wheezed noisily on the exam table. “He’s belly-breathing,” the emergency-room doctor said worriedly — Riley’s little abdomen was markedly rising and falling with each breath, a sign of respiratory distress.

Obama health czar served on several health care company boards

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s White House health care czar earned at least $2.3 million working for health care companies in 2008 and early 2009, including several that lobby in Washington.

GE to provide loans for electronic medical records with stimulus money lagging

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — General Electric Co.’s health care division said Monday it will offer financing to doctors and hospitals that buy GE’s electronic medical records equipment in an effort to cover an expected lag in the flow of federal stimulus money meant for the medical technology.

Wisconsin passes bill requiring insurers to cover cochlear implants; gov. promises to sign

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin could become the first state requiring private insurance companies to cover cochlear implants for children with severe hearing problems.