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Research roundup: Structural concerns in ACOs; public's view of mandated contraception coverage

The Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) programs reward participating health care provider groups that achieve slower spending growth and high quality of care.

26 Apr 2014

Consumers in high-risk pools can sign up for plans until June 30

The federal program that provided coverage for people with chronic health problems, which often prevented them from being able to buy private insurance, is shutting at the end of the month, but participants can buy coverage through the exchanges until the end of June.

26 Apr 2014

Aetna wary about exchange expansion as earnings climb

The insurer, which is participating in health insurance exchanges in 16 states and the District of Columbia, reported strong growth in the first quarter tied to its acquisition of Coventry Health Care Inc. The company said it expected to seek premium increases for next year's exchange plans ranging from "low single digits to over double digits."

26 Apr 2014

Highlights: New abortion restrictions in Mississippi; political ad calls Maryland exchange a 'failure'

Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill on Wednesday to ban abortion starting at the midpoint of a full-term pregnancy. Supporters say the measure will protect women's health; opponents say it is unconstitutional (4/24).

25 Apr 2014

Researchers study likely effects of radiation on brain during deep space mission

Johns Hopkins scientists report that rats exposed to high-energy particles, simulating conditions astronauts would face on a long-term deep space mission, show lapses in attention and slower reaction times, even when the radiation exposure is in extremely low dose ranges.

25 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 25, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about a recommendation that Oregon switch its troubled health exchange from a state-run marketplace to healthcare.gov.

25 Apr 2014

Longer looks: Terri Schiavo case; stem cell tourism in China; fall protection for the elderly

Increasingly, Big Pharma is betting on new blockbuster cancer drugs that cost billions to develop and can be sold for thousands of dollars a dose. In 2010, each of the top 10 cancer drugs topped more than $1 billion in sales, according to Campbell Alliance, a health-care consulting firm. A decade earlier, only two of them did.

25 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Blum's departure is a serious loss; GOP fighting Medicaid expansion with new tactic

The official who matters most when it comes to controlling U.S. health-care spending has just resigned, leaving behind a program with serious fiscal problems that badly needs further reform.

25 Apr 2014

SGO welcomes new options for detecting and preventing cervical cancer

The FDA approval of primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing will provide doctors one more tool to use in cervical cancer screening, a health routine responsible for saving countless lives. As the largest organization of doctors specializing in the treatment of women's cancers, including cervical cancer, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology welcomes new options for detecting and preventing this terrible disease.

25 Apr 2014

CBO lowers spending forecast for states that expand Medicaid coverage

The Congressional Budget Office updated its February forecast, which pegged the cost at $70 billion over the next 10 years. The new figure puts the cost at $46 billion. In other Medicaid expansion news, Virginia's charged debate on this question appears to be spilling over to other issues before the General Assembly, Louisiana rejects expansion again and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer continues to confront opposition.

25 Apr 2014

Washington, Minnesota tout exchange sign-ups, while Oregon official exits

Another top official for the Cover Oregon exchange submitted her resignation this week, while a technology committee decides whether the state should participate in the federal exchange or fix the existing website with the help of a new contractor.

25 Apr 2014

NPF researchers to get access to Corrona’s psoriatic arthritis registry to improve patient outcomes

To improve treatment decisions and patient outcomes for psoriatic arthritis (PsA)—a chronic inflammatory arthritis that affects the joints and tendons—the National Psoriasis Foundation and Corrona, LLC are collaborating to give NPF-affiliated researchers access to Corrona’s psoriatic arthritis registry, which is the largest psoriatic arthritis registry in the world.

25 Apr 2014

Johns Hopkins hosts World Malaria Day to combat malaria in Africa

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is bringing together some of the best minds in academia, government and faith-based organizations on World Malaria Day, Friday, April 25, 2014, for a day of discussion on leveraging community involvement to combat malaria in Africa.

25 Apr 2014

Employers increasingly see positives in wellness programs

More companies are starting or expanding wellness programs that aim to reduce their medical costs by improving their employees' health.

25 Apr 2014

Amedisys to pay $150 million to settle Medicare fraud case

Amedisys Inc., one of the nation's largest home health providers, will pay $150 million to settle claims that it exaggerated Medicare billings and had improper financial relations with referring physicians, the Department of Justice revealed. Meanwhile McClatchy is reporting that, based on an analysis of Medicare's list of banned providers, Miami is at the top for Medicare fraud.

25 Apr 2014

State highlights: Ohio hospital merger struck down; Okla. abortion drug use limited; Calif. exchange and felons

A federal appeals court on Tuesday ordered a major health system in northwest Ohio to unwind its merger with a local hospital on antitrust grounds. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati comes amid growing concerns about hospital mergers and their effect on prices against the backdrop of America's health care upheaval (Gershman, 4/22).

25 Apr 2014

Poll finds dislike of health law, but lack of support for its repeal

In the run up to the midterm congressional elections, this and other polls find hope for Democratic incumbents while also probing the difficulties that continue to make the health law unpopular among many Americans. Also in the headlines, new ads from Americans for Prosperity take on the overhaul.

25 Apr 2014

Biomedical engineer develops highly innovative technology to make blood transfusions safer

A biomedical engineer at the University of Houston (UH) is working to develop highly innovative technology to make blood transfusions safer. His work is supported by a $1.8 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

25 Apr 2014

Va. lawmakers back at work, but not dealing with Medicaid impasse

Republicans in the General Assembly are opposed to expanding the program for low-income residents, but that could threaten the passage of a state budget. Meanwhile, news outlets look at the issue in North Carolina, Missouri and Arizona.

25 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Health spending ready to start climbing again; Cruz's 'nightmare' comes true

Standing before a roomful of economists, policy makers and health care experts earlier this month, Amitabh Chandra, director of Health Policy Research at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, closed a presentation about the slowdown in health care spending over the last decade by citing an article in The New York Times.

25 Apr 2014

Health Care News and Research

Research roundup: Structural concerns in ACOs; public's view of mandated contraception coverage

Consumers in high-risk pools can sign up for plans until June 30

Aetna wary about exchange expansion as earnings climb

Highlights: New abortion restrictions in Mississippi; political ad calls Maryland exchange a 'failure'

Researchers study likely effects of radiation on brain during deep space mission

First Edition: April 25, 2014

Longer looks: Terri Schiavo case; stem cell tourism in China; fall protection for the elderly

Viewpoints: Blum's departure is a serious loss; GOP fighting Medicaid expansion with new tactic

SGO welcomes new options for detecting and preventing cervical cancer

CBO lowers spending forecast for states that expand Medicaid coverage

Washington, Minnesota tout exchange sign-ups, while Oregon official exits

NPF researchers to get access to Corrona’s psoriatic arthritis registry to improve patient outcomes

Johns Hopkins hosts World Malaria Day to combat malaria in Africa

Employers increasingly see positives in wellness programs

Amedisys to pay $150 million to settle Medicare fraud case

State highlights: Ohio hospital merger struck down; Okla. abortion drug use limited; Calif. exchange and felons

Poll finds dislike of health law, but lack of support for its repeal

Biomedical engineer develops highly innovative technology to make blood transfusions safer

Va. lawmakers back at work, but not dealing with Medicaid impasse

Viewpoints: Health spending ready to start climbing again; Cruz's 'nightmare' comes true

Event guide: 3rd Measuring Patient Engagement Summit eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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