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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

Wisconsin residents may switch health insurance due to reform; Florida lawmakers seek changes to Medicaid

Some 60,000 Wisconsin residents could be shifted in the coming years from the state's BadgerCare Plus health coverage for the poor to commercial plans, under the federal health reform law. That's just one option that Wisconsin officials will have as they work through the effects of the sweeping federal law on the state's own extensive Medicaid health programs.

7 Apr 2010

Medicare advantage insurers won't see increase in 2011

Payments for Medicare Advantage plans, which are operated by private health insurers, will be frozen at this year's rates in 2011, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports.

7 Apr 2010

Berwick, Blumenthal may form dream team at CMS

Healthcare IT News: "If Donald Berwick, MD, is confirmed as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, he and David Blumenthal, MD, the national coordinator for health IT, would be a 'dream team' in pursuing a coherent national healthcare and health IT strategy. At least that's the assessment of Kerry Weems, who spent 25 years in senior roles at the Health and Human Services Department and was acting administrator of CMS from Sept. 2007 until the Obama administration took over.

7 Apr 2010

Health care reform will have negative effect on cardiology patients, practices: American cardiologists

American cardiologists believe that recently passed health care reform will have a negative effect on both their cardiology patients and their practices, according to a new survey.

6 Apr 2010

New health law will ban future physician-owned hospitals; The trauma and cost of patient "dumping"

One of the more obscure components of the landmark health care reform bill passed by Congress includes a provision to ban future physician-owned hospitals and crimp the growth of this rising market niche. Northwest Indiana is home to five hospitals owned wholly or partly by doctors practicing here.

6 Apr 2010

CMS aids Medicare counseling programs

In the latest healthcare reforms there was a mandatory freeze in payments of $130 billion over the next decade. This was criticized by President Obama as a corporate giveaway. Initially Medicare had proposed a preliminary increase of 1.28% in February. Since this was vetoed due to the new health care law that mandates the rates remain unchanged, an announcement under the Medicare Advantage program from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was made yesterday. Under this program it was expected that it would be 14% of the total earning in 2011 at Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth and 42 percent for Louisville, Kentucky-based Humana, Dave Shove.

6 Apr 2010

Preventive care, illegal immigrants and other health law notes

Reports continue to explore elements of the health reform debate such as the politically contentious issue of illegal immigrants' coverage, health care coverage for young adults, disease prevention and the next tanning-salon tax.

6 Apr 2010

States, hospital systems puzzling over possible effects of health reform

The Los Angeles Times: "Over the next decade, many of [the new health law's] consequences will play out at places like St. Joe's, a 431-bed nonprofit hospital founded by the Sisters of Providence in 1943, and in surrounding community clinics."

5 Apr 2010

Health law may worsen primary care doctor shortage

NPR: "The new health bill signed by President Obama includes an incentive for doctors to serve the poorest patients by increasing their federal Medicaid payments. This could be quite a significant inducement, as an additional 16 million people are expected to join the Medicaid rolls in the next 10 years."

5 Apr 2010

Ingen Technologies's SMART Nasal Cannula to be featured at upcoming Las Vegas MedTrade convention

Ingen Technologies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of respiratory medical devices, recently announced today that the SMART Nasal Cannula is a featured new product at the upcoming MedTrade convention in Las Vegas from May 10 through May 13, 2010. The Las Vegas MedTrade convention is the largest home health care expo in the world. Ingen is an exhibitor and will be part of the New Product showcase at MedTrade. The SMART Nasal Cannula is the Next-Generation of cannulas that improve oxygen therapy and reduce expenditures.

5 Apr 2010

Desert Valley Hospital, Montclair Hospital Medical Center named winners of Top 100 Hospitals

Thomson Reuters announced today that Desert Valley Hospital and Montclair Hospital Medical Center are among the winners of its prestigious Top 100 Hospitals® in the Nation award. Desert Valley Hospital, Victorville, CA, is now among an elite group of hospitals who have received this award five times in the category of small community hospitals. Montclair Hospital Medical Center, Montclair, CA. received the award for the first time in the class of medium size community hospitals.

5 Apr 2010

Sebelius: High risk health insurance pools to begin soon

In one of the first moves the Obama administration has taken under the new health care reform law, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Friday sent a letter to state governors and insurance commissioners intended to gauge interest in a new insurance high-risk pool program.

5 Apr 2010

Health care reform law still generating lots of questions

News organizations continue looking into the effects of the new health care law.

5 Apr 2010

UnitedHealth Group announces relief for Rhode Island flood victims

UnitedHealth Group and its family of companies, including UnitedHealthcare, Ovations, AmeriChoice, OptumHealth and Prescription Solutions, are taking immediate action to assist individuals who may have been affected by the recent floods in parts of Rhode Island.

3 Apr 2010

Washington state gets a health overhaul head start

Washington state's "patchwork of programs, pilot projects and other efforts" reflected in the health overhaul could give it a head start on implementing the new law, The Seattle Times reports.

3 Apr 2010

Colo. gets federal approval for new patient fees to help fund Medicaid; Ga. Senate passes hospital tax

Denver Business Journal: "A federal agency has approved Colorado's plan to charge a per-patient fee to hospitals in order to expand Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus eligibility and insure more state residents. Gov. Bill Ritter's office said Thursday that it had received notice from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services that it had given its OK to the hospital provider fee. Receiving that approval means that the state can match each dollar collected by the fee with one from the federal government and double the amount it raises through the plan."

3 Apr 2010

Aetna HealthFund study shows sustained cost savings for Aetna members

Aetna today announced the results of a study of health care claims and utilization for members in its Aetna HealthFund® consumer-directed plans. The study of two million Aetna members shows sustained savings over time and increased member engagement in their health.

3 Apr 2010

Tea Party Democratic candidate Warren Mosler releases hybrid health care proposal

Warren Mosler, the Tea Party Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, released his hybrid health care proposal that gives Americans a powerful market based incentive to use only what they need, while slashing the true cost of health care for the U.S. economy.

3 Apr 2010

Arizona approves bill to join health reform lawsuit, Colorado Democrats push back against their AG

After Arizona lawmakers give the go-ahead, the governor signed a measure into law Thursday that allows the state to join a lawsuit with other states challenging the constitutionality of the health reform overhaul passed by Congress.

3 Apr 2010

Dems tout savings from Medicare fraud crackdown, swindlers exploit health bill confusion

The Hill: "Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee are trying to make the case that the healthcare bill will strengthen Medicare and Medicaid by finding major savings through a crack down on fraud, waste and abuse."

3 Apr 2010

Medicaid News and Research

Wisconsin residents may switch health insurance due to reform; Florida lawmakers seek changes to Medicaid

Medicare advantage insurers won't see increase in 2011

Berwick, Blumenthal may form dream team at CMS

Health care reform will have negative effect on cardiology patients, practices: American cardiologists

New health law will ban future physician-owned hospitals; The trauma and cost of patient "dumping"

CMS aids Medicare counseling programs

Preventive care, illegal immigrants and other health law notes

States, hospital systems puzzling over possible effects of health reform

Health law may worsen primary care doctor shortage

Ingen Technologies's SMART Nasal Cannula to be featured at upcoming Las Vegas MedTrade convention

Desert Valley Hospital, Montclair Hospital Medical Center named winners of Top 100 Hospitals

Sebelius: High risk health insurance pools to begin soon

Health care reform law still generating lots of questions

UnitedHealth Group announces relief for Rhode Island flood victims

Washington state gets a health overhaul head start

Colo. gets federal approval for new patient fees to help fund Medicaid; Ga. Senate passes hospital tax

Aetna HealthFund study shows sustained cost savings for Aetna members

Tea Party Democratic candidate Warren Mosler releases hybrid health care proposal

Arizona approves bill to join health reform lawsuit, Colorado Democrats push back against their AG

Dems tout savings from Medicare fraud crackdown, swindlers exploit health bill confusion

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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

From Puberty to Menopause: Clue’s CEO, Audrey Tsang on the Power of Femtech

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