ALSO NOTED: Roche willing to license Tamiflu; Study: Consumers want more info on cost, quality; and much more...

> With governments worried about H5N1 and threatening to break the drug's patent, Roche says it is willing to license Tamiflu to other companies. The company also announced a new US production facility. Article

> Varian Medical Systems, a maker of x-rays and cancer treatments, announced new products, including Aria, a new oncology information management system. Article

> A Merck scientist testified yesterday that the company weighed reformulating Vioxx to make it safer long before it went off the market. Article

> A study by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare finds that consumers want more data on cost and quality and suggests that they will be willing to reward those who provide it. Article

> Humana has settled its national class action case with physicians, joining Aetna, Cigna, Prudential and HealthNet. Release

> New York's Medicaid system is considered generous by most state's standards. It is also incredibly complex, leading to warnings that it is failing its constituents. Article

> Companion Technologies, a subsidiary of BCBS of South Carolina, announced the launch of a new product, Companion Direct Point of Care, designed to simplify transactions at doctors offices. Release

> Florida's MedGen has formed a subsidiary to pursue investments in early-stage companies targeting "healthcare communications/media/security and PDA applications." Release

And Finally... Triad Hospitals will invest in a new private hospital being built by Malulani Health Systems in Maui. The facility will be Hawaii's first for-profit hospital. Article