Big Pharma spends almost $170M on lobbying; WellPoint hopes e-prescribing will ease MDs into HIEs;

> It looks like Big Pharma has spent another record-breaking chunk of change on political lobbying--a full $168 million during last year alone. Article

> WellPoint seems to believe that if doctors adopt e-prescribing, they'll eventually be lured into participating in health information exchanges. Article

> Consumers have been deeply shaken by the death of newsman Tim Russert, who died abruptly of a heart attack despite following doctors' advice on drugs, diet and exercise. Now, many following the same course fear they could be next. Article

> A North Carolina hospital, Franklin Regional Medical Center, has corrected problems related to drug administration and respiratory services that put it at risk of losing its CMS certification. Article

And Finally... A study in hospital ratings warns American women to research carefully, because ratings matter. Article