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Some Small Businesses Must Cut Employee Health Benefits Or Lay Off Workers Amid Economic Recession
Small businesses increasingly are eliminating their employee health coverage plans because of rising health care premiums and declining revenue attributed to the current economic recession, the Wall Street Journal reports. About 10% of small companies are considering ending their employee health coverage plans over the next year, compared with 3% of small businesses in 2005, according to a recent survey by the National Small Business Association. In 2008, 38% of small companies offered health coverage, compared with 41% in 2007 and 61% in 1993, according to NSBA. According to a Hewitt Associates survey, 19% of all U.S. businesses plan to halt providing health care benefits to their employees in the next three to five years.A rise in health care coverage premiums has contributed to employers eliminating plans, according to the Journal. Premiums for single policies increased by 74% for small businesses from 2001 to 2008, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. According to Scott Krienke, senior vice president of product lines for Assurant Health, health insurance premiums for small businesses increase by 8% to 16% annually on average, with smaller firms often having the highest increases. According to the Journal, many employers are choosing to eliminate health coverage instead of eliminating jobs or closing down their business. Some businesses have chosen instead to shift more health care costs to workers, change health insurers, switch prescription drug plans to encourage employees to purchase more generic drugs or offer employees wellness plans that encourage healthy habits as a strategy to reduce health care costs, the Journal reports (Mattioli, Wall Street Journal, 5/26).

Presidio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Selects PPI-461 As A Clinical Candidate In Their Hepatitis C Virus NS5A Program
Presidio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that they have selected one of the lead compounds in their hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5A program to advance toward clinical development.
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What Is a Nail Fungal Infection? What Causes Nail Fungus Infections?
Also known as onychomycosis and tinea unguium, nail fungal infections are the most common diseases of the nails, making up about 50% of nail abnormalities. Both fingernails and toenails are susceptible to the infection, which usually manifests as discoloration and thickening of the nail and crumbling edges. The condition most commonly occurs in toenails.
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Fingerprint Reader Improves Telehealth Security For Patients

A new generation of innovative Telehealth products that include an integrated fingerprint reader for improved patient security; a web camera facility for video conferencing and a novel, intuitive touch screen interface will be showcased at the NHS Innovation EXPO taking place on 18 and 19 June at London"s Excel Centre. TeleMedCare Ltd is an established designer, developer and provider of health technologies. Its products and services support people with long term conditions, such as heart failure and lung disease, in their own homes or in community/nursing care settings. TeleMedCare medical systems monitor physiological signs (such as ECG, SP02, blood pressure and lung function) and these are integrated with medication reminders and questionnaires to deliver self care and early interventions. The data collected is securely transferred via the internet to a central point for easy access by clinicians. TeleMedCare will be showing its new TMC Home and the TMC Care products. These provide remote monitoring in patient"s homes, nursing care establishments and extra care facilities. The multiuser TMC Care System can be linked with TMC MEDSafe medications management system. Visitors to the EXPO can find TeleMedCare on stand No. 5. They will be able to test and use the new products and learn about how Telehealth is being used in variety of environments. They will also have opportunity to meet NHS clinicians and commissioners who have used Telehealth to enhance services and bring down costs. Saneth Wijayaratna, Sales and Marketing Director for TeleMedCare Ltd commented, "This new generation of systems have improved on the design and ergonomics from the old whilst still maintaining a high level of clinical safety and ease of use for patients. I am really looking forward to seeing the response from people at the exhibition when they see how our new Telehealth system will improve patient care. I believe that our novel products will set a new standard in remote monitoring." About EXPO 2009 Innovation EXPO 2009 is a major healthcare event to be held on 18 and 19 June at London"s Excel Centre. Bringing together people and businesses from the public, private, scientific, academic and voluntary sectors, the EXPO will be a showcase for new ideas and the epicentre of innovative thinking in the world of healthcare; with over 3500 plus delegates per day, more than 250 organizations, 130 seminars and more than 60 speakers. Outstanding thinkers, practitioners, academics, companies and NHS stakeholders will be demonstrating their commitment to innovation, and cross government involvement will underline its determination to keep the NHS at the forefront of healthcare developments. The EXPO will promote UK PLC and reaffirm the continuing contribution of healthcare to the nation"s heritage of innovation. The EXPO will be relevant to everyone in the healthcare sector. Innovation in healthcare is not limited to clinical techniques - innovation is a way of thinking that runs through every aspect of healthcare in the UK. The EXPO will help to show how innovation can be fast-tracked from initial idea to adopted practice. TeleMedCare will be running demos; discussing different ways to use and implement Telehealth; and presenting novel Telehealth solutions to improve ways of working. Visit TeleMedCare at the Healthcare Innovations EXPO on stand five. TeleMedCare Ltd


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