Bioness foot drop gets APTA approval

Bioness (Valencia, California) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) said that the NESS L300 Foot Drop System received official product endorsement from APTA. The foot drop system is the first functional electrical stimulation (FES) foot drop system to be endorsed by APTA.

The NESS L300 is a prescription device used by nearly 400 rehabilitation facilities and select orthotic and prosthetic patient-care facilities across the United States to treat foot drop. Foot drop is partial leg paralysis that prevents the foot from lifting, causing instability and making walking difficult.

Foot drop often occurs in persons who have conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, incomplete spinal cord injury and cerebral palsy. The NESS L300 uses FES to stimulate the muscles and nerves that lift the foot.

Meridios gets CMS PQRI status

Meridios (Coshocton, Ohio) received notification from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that it has earned the status of "CMS PQRI qualified registry" using its healthMATRIX health registry/disease management application.

Physician Quality Reporting Initiative is currently a voluntary CMS reporting program that provides a financial incentive to physicians and other eligible professionals. Eligible professionals who satisfactorily report at least three applicable quality measures shall be paid a maximum of one incentive payment, which will be equivalent to 2% of Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) allowed charges for all covered professional services furnished during the longest reporting period for which he or she has satisfied reporting.

Reporting can be accomplished using one of two methods. Claims-based reporting is a manual process of completing and submitting forms. Registry-based reporting is more automated and uses electronic data transfers. healthMATRIX is a healthcare quality tracking application with the ability to perform CMS registry reporting.

Health Affairs releases new nursing studies

Healthcare policy publication Health Affairs has unveiled a series of six studies examining the nursing workforce in the context of health reform. The papers were released at a forum presented by Health Affairs and the Center to Champion Nursing in America (CCNA) that featured a discussion among policy-makers, nursing leaders and researchers, and health reform experts. The Center is a joint initiative of AARP, the AARP Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

According to one of the studies, the continuing recession will contribute to an easing or temporary end to the current registered nurse shortage, as older nurses delay retirement or return to work, and part-time nurses seek full-time jobs. However, as the baby boom generation's health needs increase and the economy rebounds, the nursing shortage will intensify again in the next decade, according to the study, which provides detailed workforce and compensation projections.

Other studies released at the meeting addressed nursing education, workforce development, increased quality and efficiency and patient satisfaction.

The studies are available at http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/hlthaff.28.4.w620/DC2.

Relocating companies get Michigan tax credits

Axiobionics (Columbus, Ohio) and Dexter Research (Dexter, Michigan) were approved by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEGA; Ann Arrbor) for tax credits from the State of Michigan. Both companies plan to expand in the Ann Arbor region.

To support its expansion and renovations, Dexter Research will invest $3 million over the next five years and add 47 new employees -- nearly doubling its workforce from its current 58 employees. Based on the MEDC's recommendation, the MEGA board today approved a state tax credit valued at $313,000 over seven years to encourage the company to expand in Michigan over competing sites in Ohio and Massachusetts.

With its relocation to Ann Arbor, Axiobionics will invest $2.89 million in its new Ann Arbor facility. Based on the MEDC recommendation, the MEGA board approved a state tax credit valued at $1.4 million over seven years to encourage the company to relocate to Michigan over competing sites in Ohio, Washington, North Carolina and Arizona.

Delcath Systems added to Russell Index

Delcath Systems (New York), a medical technology company testing its treatment method for primary and metastatic cancers to the liver, said that it will be added to the broad-market Russell 3000 Index when Russell Investments reconstitutes its comprehensive set of U.S. and global equity indexes on June 26.