MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Health care spending increased by 3.9 percent last year, the lowest growth in spending in the entire history of Medicare and Medicaid.
Last year’s rate beat out 2009’s record of 4 percent growth. Last year’s spending added up to 17.6 percent of the economy.
Read the whole story at Gooznews.com.
New Jersey insurance mandate challenges thrown out of court
The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal dismissed a case brought by a New Jersey doctor and one of his patients who claimed that the individual insurance mandate would cause them harm.
Read the whole story at Healthwatch.
Bioengineered spinal discs could mean relief for back pain sufferers
Cornell researchers have successfully implanted animals with bioengineered spinal discs that have the same structural components as real discs. The discs could replace spinal fusion procedures that commonly follow disc removal surgeries in treatment of degenerative disc disease or herniated discs.
Read the press release from Cornell University.
Magnets + robots = catheter guidance system
Magnetic field catheter guidance systems were proven safe and effective, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Assn. this month.
Read the Magnetecs Corp. press release.
U.S. gives up on pharma CEO
The U.S. government gave up on pushing Forest Laboratories CEO Howard Solomon into retirement on misdemeanors involving marketing of its Celexa antidepressant.