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First Edition: February 24, 2014

Today's headlines include continuing coverage of Medicare Advantage payment rates, as well as a range of stories about the health law's Medicaid expansion and online insurance marketplaces.

24 Feb 2014

Feds propose Medicare advantage payment cuts, could have election impact

Medicare Advantage is the managed care program, run by private insurance companies, for seniors and disabled people.

24 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Palliative care and ACOs; employers and Supreme Court case on contraception

In preparation for the new ACO environment, leaders recognized the contribution palliative care can make to health care "value," especially in the care of our sickest (and most expensive) patients ...

24 Feb 2014

Physician performs research on cervical cancer

Research on cervical cancer performed by a physician at the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

24 Feb 2014

Legislature news: SEIU, hospitals, Ore. governor cut deal on hospital 'triple aim'

Elsewhere, Kansas lawmakers advance a bill that would exempt the state from the health law and some California lawmakers work to restore Medi-Cal cuts.

24 Feb 2014

Nurses who completed practice-based educational pathway report greater confidence in end of life care

District and community nurses who completed a practice-based educational pathway reported greater confidence in delivering palliative and end of life care to patients.

24 Feb 2014

For Virginia's Medicaid expansion plan, the House votes no but the Senate votes yes

The votes will likely set up a conference committee showdown related to the state's two-year budget plan. Meanwhile, news outlets also report on developments from Arkansas, Mississippi and California.

24 Feb 2014

Private exchange benefiting from health law; some state-run marketplaces still struggling

eHealthInsurance reports that interest in health coverage ginned up by the new federal law has helped new memberships rise 50 percent. Meanwhile, NPR examines the mixed record of the 14 states running their own marketplaces.

24 Feb 2014

State highlights: 'Health care homes' show promise in Minn.; Texas women's health providers; Fla.'s hidden costs

A selection of health policy stories from Minnesota, Texas, Louisiana, Florida, New York and Massachusetts.

24 Feb 2014

Self Regional Healthcare, Clemson University expand partnership to accelerate rate of innovation in genetic medicine

A new partnership will establish formal collaboration among genetic researchers and Clemson University faculty at the Greenwood Genetic Center and Self Regional Healthcare, expanding an already successful working relationship.

24 Feb 2014

Justice dept. joins in whistleblower suit against two hospital operators

This suit alleges that hospitals operated by Tenet Healthcare and Health Management Associates paid kickbacks to obstetrics clinics for referring certain patients.

24 Feb 2014

Feds charge 25 in D.C. with Medicaid fraud

Investigators said the scheme -- which rang up $75 million in fraudulent claims -- is the largest in the history of the city.

24 Feb 2014

Doctors' groups urge members to reduce number of C-sections

The move is designed to reduce the risk of unnecessary surgery, but some physicians may resist the effort. Women with low-risk pregnancies should be allowed to spend more time in labor, to reduce the risk of having an unnecessary C-section, the nation's obstetricians say.

24 Feb 2014

Computerized safety checklist shows threefold drop in rates of serious type of hospital-acquired infection

A computerized safety checklist that automatically pulls information from patients' electronic medical records was associated with a threefold drop in rates of one serious type of hospital-acquired infection, according to a study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford.

24 Feb 2014

GOP strategists prepare to pounce on Medicare advantage payment changes

The new payment rates for private Medicare Advantage plans -- expected to be announced Friday -- are likely to become political fodder in the midterm elections, reports Politico. Meanwhile, congressional Republicans come out against proposed changes in the Medicare prescription drug program which they say would increase seniors' costs.

24 Feb 2014

Political tactician applies skills to selling health insurance

The Washington Post profiles a White House staffer who went from being a field lieutenant in President Barack Obama's re-election campaign to helping oversee the effort to persuade people to sign up for insurance under the health law.

24 Feb 2014

Public sector reduces part-time shifts to avoid health law

Despite the administration's delays of the employer mandate, cities, counties and public schools have limited part-timers' work hours so they don't have to offer health insurance, reports The New York Times. Other media outlets report on targeted enrollment pitches to taxicab drivers, restaurant workers and artists, and on the GOP's probe of an Accenture contract for work on healthcare.gov.

24 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: Docs on drugmakers' payrolls; no comparison shopping in health care

Doctors have long gotten small favors from drug makers: pads with logos, a deli tray sent to the office, tickets to sporting events and free drug samples.

23 Feb 2014

Climate change is unlikely to reduce UK's excess winter death rate, says study

New research published today has found that climate change is unlikely to reduce the UK's excess winter death rate as previously thought.

23 Feb 2014

Study: Tooth decay may have detrimental effect on child's quality of life and success in life

Dental caries, commonly known as tooth decay, is the single most common chronic childhood disease. In fact, it is an infectious disease. Mothers with cavities can transmit caries-producing oral bacteria to their babies when they clean pacifiers by sticking them in their own mouths or by sharing spoons.

23 Feb 2014

Health Care News and Research

First Edition: February 24, 2014

Feds propose Medicare advantage payment cuts, could have election impact

Research roundup: Palliative care and ACOs; employers and Supreme Court case on contraception

Physician performs research on cervical cancer

Legislature news: SEIU, hospitals, Ore. governor cut deal on hospital 'triple aim'

Nurses who completed practice-based educational pathway report greater confidence in end of life care

For Virginia's Medicaid expansion plan, the House votes no but the Senate votes yes

Private exchange benefiting from health law; some state-run marketplaces still struggling

State highlights: 'Health care homes' show promise in Minn.; Texas women's health providers; Fla.'s hidden costs

Self Regional Healthcare, Clemson University expand partnership to accelerate rate of innovation in genetic medicine

Justice dept. joins in whistleblower suit against two hospital operators

Feds charge 25 in D.C. with Medicaid fraud

Doctors' groups urge members to reduce number of C-sections

Computerized safety checklist shows threefold drop in rates of serious type of hospital-acquired infection

GOP strategists prepare to pounce on Medicare advantage payment changes

Political tactician applies skills to selling health insurance

Public sector reduces part-time shifts to avoid health law

Viewpoints: Docs on drugmakers' payrolls; no comparison shopping in health care

Climate change is unlikely to reduce UK's excess winter death rate, says study

Study: Tooth decay may have detrimental effect on child's quality of life and success in life

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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