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Viewpoints: Debating P4P; ‘Tactical retreat' by GOP; The virtues of across-the-board spending cuts

Instead of granting automatic pay increases, N.Y. City's public hospital system will pay them based on how well they reduce costs, increase patient satisfaction and improve the quality of care. The Health and Hospitals Corporation, which runs the city's 11 public hospitals, deserves praise for an ambitious proposal that will need to be refined as it is put into practice.

28 Jan 2013

Poll: 6 in 10 oppose cutting Medicare to lower deficit

A new poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation has found that most of the public wants deficit reduction, but they want it without cutting major social programs like Medicare and Medicaid. On health care, the public favors requiring drug makers to give the government 'a better deal' on medications for low-income seniors and making higher-income seniors pay more for coverage to reduce the deficit. Kaiser Health News is an editorially independent program of the Foundation.

28 Jan 2013

First Edition: January 25, 2013

Today's headlines include various state-level reports about how budget issues are impacting health policy decisions.

28 Jan 2013

New research on flavonoids and nutritional health in older adults from JONGG

Routledge Journals is pleased to announce a Special Issue from the Journal of Nutrition in Gerontology and Geriatrics focusing on the impact of flavonoids on the nutritional health of older adults.

27 Jan 2013

Parents not very concerned about misuse of narcotic pain medicines by children and teens

Despite data on rising rates of abuse and overdoses of narcotic pain medicines across all age groups, in a new poll from the University of Michigan, most parents said they are not very concerned about misuse of these medicines by children and teens.

24 Jan 2013

Medicare initiative for enhanced community care helps lower readmission, study finds

The pilot project in 14 communities looked at a variety of strategies, including patient coaches, medication-management and better hospital discharge plans.

24 Jan 2013

Capsules: CMS community initiatives could reduce health costs; Report: States making it easier to apply for Medicaid

Now on Kaiser Health News' blog, Phil Galewitz reports on a study finding that states are making it easier to apply for Medicaid: "Despite the reluctance of some Republican governors to expand Medicaid next year under the 2010 health law, most governors are making it easier for people to apply for coverage in the state-federal program for the poor".

23 Jan 2013

AANS, CNS join other medical societies in endorsing Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act

The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) joined 24 other medical societies in endorsing the "Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act." Sponsored by Reps. Phil Roe, MD (R-TN) and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), this bipartisan legislation would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), thereby protecting seniors from Medicare cuts that could threaten their access to care.

23 Jan 2013

GOP House members back plan to raise debt ceiling but still expect entitlement cuts

House Republican leaders abruptly announced they would vote next week to temporarily extend the nation's debt limit, sharply reducing the threat that the government might default on its obligations, but leaving the party still divided as it casts about for the best way to pressure President Obama for more budget cuts.

21 Jan 2013

New review examines role of nutrition in sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, or the gradual loss of muscle mass, is a common consequence of ageing, and poses a significant risk factor for disability in older adults. As muscle strength plays an important role in the tendency to fall, sarcopenia leads to an increased risk of fractures and other injuries.

19 Jan 2013

Research roundup: Ameliorating physician shortages; Patients' perceptions of bias

The authors note that there is a consensus "that the current shortage of primary care physicians will worsen over the next ten years as the nation's population grows and ages and as insurance coverage expands as a result of the Affordable Care Act." They examine whether workplace changes will impact that assessment.

19 Jan 2013

Business Roundtable offers Medicare plan to increase eligibility age to 70

The Associated Press reports that, under this plan, "people 55 and older would be protected from cuts but younger workers would face significant changes." Meanwhile, CNN Money takes a look at the cost of such a move.\

18 Jan 2013

Efforts to correct false beliefs about health care reform may backfire

Efforts to correct false beliefs about health care reform may backfire, depending on individuals' political views and level of knowledge, suggests a study in the February issue of Medical Care.

18 Jan 2013

Study: Star rating system resonating with seniors

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that first-time enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans are relying on Medicare's star-rating system to make plan choices.

17 Jan 2013

Partisan strife, interest group concerns emerge in spending debate

The New York Times explores how intra-GOP allegiances to the business community are changing. Meanwhile, AARP acknowleges that adjustments must be made, but argues against cutting back entitlements. Also in the news, the director of the National Institutes of Health expresses his wariness about the impact sequestration could have on biomedical research.

17 Jan 2013

Political cartoon: 'Paved Paradise?'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Paved Paradise?" by Chip Bok.

16 Jan 2013

First Edition: January 16, 2013

Today's headlines include reports examining how mental health issues play a role in efforts to curb gun violence and expand gun control efforts.

16 Jan 2013

Advocates place focus on need for 'seamless transitions' between Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance

A Medicare Rights Center report cautioned that seniors will face coverage gaps unless officials streamline enrollment for Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance under the health law's state exchanges.

16 Jan 2013

Viewpoints: The country's deep health problems; Anthem's Rx policy in Calif. may not be legal; Wis. Gov. Medicaid decision looming

It is now shockingly clear that poor health is a much broader and deeper problem than past studies have suggested. An authoritative report issued by the Institute of Medicine this week found that, on average, Americans experience higher rates of disease and injury and die sooner than people in other high-income countries.

15 Jan 2013

Boston declares flu emergency as aggressive viruses spread across the nation

The country is in the grip of three emerging flu or flulike epidemics: an early start to the annual flu season with an unusually aggressive virus, a surge in a new type of norovirus, and the worst whooping cough outbreak in 60 years. And these are all developing amid the normal winter highs for the many viruses that cause symptoms on the "colds and flu" spectrum.

11 Jan 2013

Seniors News and Research

Viewpoints: Debating P4P; ‘Tactical retreat' by GOP; The virtues of across-the-board spending cuts

Poll: 6 in 10 oppose cutting Medicare to lower deficit

First Edition: January 25, 2013

New research on flavonoids and nutritional health in older adults from JONGG

Parents not very concerned about misuse of narcotic pain medicines by children and teens

Medicare initiative for enhanced community care helps lower readmission, study finds

Capsules: CMS community initiatives could reduce health costs; Report: States making it easier to apply for Medicaid

AANS, CNS join other medical societies in endorsing Protecting Seniors' Access to Medicare Act

GOP House members back plan to raise debt ceiling but still expect entitlement cuts

New review examines role of nutrition in sarcopenia

Research roundup: Ameliorating physician shortages; Patients' perceptions of bias

Business Roundtable offers Medicare plan to increase eligibility age to 70

Efforts to correct false beliefs about health care reform may backfire

Study: Star rating system resonating with seniors

Partisan strife, interest group concerns emerge in spending debate

Political cartoon: 'Paved Paradise?'

First Edition: January 16, 2013

Advocates place focus on need for 'seamless transitions' between Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance

Viewpoints: The country's deep health problems; Anthem's Rx policy in Calif. may not be legal; Wis. Gov. Medicaid decision looming

Boston declares flu emergency as aggressive viruses spread across the nation

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