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HPM recognizes 19 Michigan health care providers for outstanding quality, service

The 19 Michigan health care providers were identified as the top primary care offices through a rigorous selection process that was based on Health Plan of Michigan's 2009 quality incentive plan. "We wanted to show our gratitude to our highest ranking health care providers for their excellence in quality and service," said Raymond D. Pitera, Vice President of Provider Service for Health Plan of Michigan. "We truly appreciate the access to quality services they provide to our Medicaid Members."

23 Jul 2010

GOP questions math of HHS' premium hike estimates; Abortion issue defining implementation

Senate Republican leaders are questioning an estimate by the Department of Health and Human Services that the effect of the new health law on insurance premiums will likely be less than 1 percent, The Hill reports.

23 Jul 2010

States still hoping for extra Medicaid money but also developing contingency plans

Kaiser Health News reports that states and hospital groups continue to lobby for a six-month extension of enhanced Medicaid money despite funding concerns and the lack of a way forward for such an extension.

23 Jul 2010

Most Americans with disabilities still struggle with lifestyle, economic issues: Survey

On the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, a new survey sponsored by Kessler Foundation and National Organization on Disability finds that most Americans with disabilities are still struggling with many of the same lifestyle and economic issues they confronted in 1990 when the ADA became federal law.

23 Jul 2010

MAXIMUS operates health care appeal programs for state regulatory agencies

The United States Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and the Treasury announced yesterday a new internal claims and appeals and external review process for group health plans under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

23 Jul 2010

New data on health insurance to be included in AHRQ's 2009 State Snapshots

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's annual release of state-by-state quality data has been expanded to include new data on health insurance, including data on health care quality categorized by source of payment, including private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and those without insurance.

23 Jul 2010

New appeal regulations empower consumers to better control their health care decisions

Today, the Obama Administration is announcing both new regulations to empower consumers to appeal decisions made by their health plans or insurance companies and the availability of resources that will be used to help give consumers more control of their health care decisions. These provisions of the Affordable Care Act will help support and protect consumers and help end some of the worst insurance company abuses.

23 Jul 2010

Senior Smart introduces online tool for seniors looking for quality assisted living facilities

In response to the "graying of America" phenomena, Senior Smart announced today the inception of http://www.assisted-living-info.org, an online tool that provides the perfect match between families and seniors actively looking for assisted living and quality assisted living facilities nationwide.

23 Jul 2010

Emotional barriers, structural barriers can prevent PLWHA from seeking care, treatment: Survey

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today presented results from a national survey which found that emotional barriers, such as stigma, fear, denial and shame, and structural barriers, such as lack of knowledge, transportation, and insurance coverage, can prevent people living with HIV/AIDS from seeking care and treatment.

23 Jul 2010

New rules Thursday on appealing insurance claims, states take lead in health reform implementation

Kaiser Health News /The Washington Post obtained a summary of new rules to be released Thursday by the Obama administration that will make it easier for consumers to appeal the denials of their health insurance claims as the White House tries to "boost political support" for the new health law.

23 Jul 2010

Choice between late-term abortion or keeping an unhealthy foetus

Most pregnant women whose foetus is proven to have a genetic abnormality choose to have an abortion, but reaching that decision is a painful, exhausting process for most of them. "The women's doubt, pain and sorrow make abortion more moral - in the eyes of society as well as her own," says Sølvi Marie Risøy, a researcher at the Stein Rokkan Centre for Social Studies, University of Bergen.

23 Jul 2010

Premier awards Press Ganey contract to measure, improve patient satisfaction across member organizations

Press Ganey Associates, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded contracts by Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., Inc., the group purchasing unit of Premier, Inc., to help measure and improve satisfaction and engagement among patients, employees, and physicians at its member organizations.

23 Jul 2010

New model for scaling up treatment, prevention of HIV amongst IDUs

Against the backdrop of some of the globe's fastest growing HIV epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, a report launched today at the XVIII International AIDS conference in Vienna makes the case for a new model for scaling up treatment and prevention of HIV amongst Injecting Drug Users.

23 Jul 2010

Health bodies to discuss steps to further reduce mother to child HIV transmission

Transmission of HIV to children before or at birth has dropped dramatically around the country in the last decade since the advent of powerful new therapies. That certainly is true for Florida, where each year, fewer than 10 babies are born with the disease despite the fact that more than 600 HIV-positive women each year, on average, give birth.

23 Jul 2010

Fla. doctors consider cutting ties to AMA; Indiana seeks to get more uninsured covered; LA continues to seek leader for troubled health department

The House of Delegates of the Florida Medical Association is scheduled to consider a resolution severing ties with the American Medical Association because of its support for the healthcare reform law. The Florida group will consider the move at its annual meeting next month. The scathing resolution takes the AMA to task for having 'failed to achieve one single concession' in the healthcare reform bill.

23 Jul 2010

NVCI, CSN and Workforce CONNECTIONS partner to launch ARRA funded nursing internship program

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) is launching its Plus One Program, a paid nursing internship initiative to equip nursing graduates with advanced training to give them an edge in today's competitive nursing job market. After completing a paid one-year internship at NVCI, participants will become oncology nurses, a highly sought-after specialty. These specialized jobs have the potential to pay increased wages, provide excellent benefits and support articulated career ladders within the field of oncology.

23 Jul 2010

Businesses prepare for health IT push; AMA worries small practices might struggle

In expectation of expansive new federal spending on electronic medical records, technology firms are expanding their health care businesses, Politico reports. "Now that the Obama administration has finalized the rules by which health care providers can be reimbursed for the systems with billions in stimulus dollars, they're making serious plans to transition from paper to digital records — an expensive process that information technology and telecom companies are eager to help with."

23 Jul 2010

Annual premium for employer sponsored family health plan costs 54% more in 2009 than in 2000: AHRQ

The annual premium for a family health plan sponsored by an employer cost about 54 percent more in 2009 than it did in 2000, $13,027 and $8,437 (adjusted for inflation), respectively, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

23 Jul 2010

Kaiser Permanente's Total Joint Replacement Registry enhances patient safety, quality of care

A total joint replacement registry based on carefully designed and integrated technology can enhance patient safety, quality of care, cost-effectiveness and research, according to a paper published in the online and print editions of Clinical Orthopedics and Related Research, a journal of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.

23 Jul 2010

African Americans at increased risk of kidney failure caused by hypertension

Regardless of demographics, African American patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis have a higher rate of developing end stage renal disease than dying prematurely, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.Earlier studies showed patients of all races with Chronic Kidney Disease were at greater risk of dying prematurely from cardiovascular disease than reaching ESRD.

23 Jul 2010

Health Care News and Research

HPM recognizes 19 Michigan health care providers for outstanding quality, service

GOP questions math of HHS' premium hike estimates; Abortion issue defining implementation

States still hoping for extra Medicaid money but also developing contingency plans

Most Americans with disabilities still struggle with lifestyle, economic issues: Survey

MAXIMUS operates health care appeal programs for state regulatory agencies

New data on health insurance to be included in AHRQ's 2009 State Snapshots

New appeal regulations empower consumers to better control their health care decisions

Senior Smart introduces online tool for seniors looking for quality assisted living facilities

Emotional barriers, structural barriers can prevent PLWHA from seeking care, treatment: Survey

New rules Thursday on appealing insurance claims, states take lead in health reform implementation

Choice between late-term abortion or keeping an unhealthy foetus

Premier awards Press Ganey contract to measure, improve patient satisfaction across member organizations

New model for scaling up treatment, prevention of HIV amongst IDUs

Health bodies to discuss steps to further reduce mother to child HIV transmission

Fla. doctors consider cutting ties to AMA; Indiana seeks to get more uninsured covered; LA continues to seek leader for troubled health department

NVCI, CSN and Workforce CONNECTIONS partner to launch ARRA funded nursing internship program

Businesses prepare for health IT push; AMA worries small practices might struggle

Annual premium for employer sponsored family health plan costs 54% more in 2009 than in 2000: AHRQ

Kaiser Permanente's Total Joint Replacement Registry enhances patient safety, quality of care

African Americans at increased risk of kidney failure caused by hypertension

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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