Medicare News and Research

RSS

Research shows major shift in eye surgeries from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers

National data shows a major shift in eye surgeries from hospitals to less expensive ambulatory surgery centers where care may be delivered faster and closer to home for some patients.

22 Nov 2017

This Thanksgiving, carve out time for lively discourse on end-of-life wishes

The roast turkey and pecan pie may be the same as always, but growing numbers of families plan to add a tradition to their Thanksgiving holiday this week: a frank talk about their wishes for end-of-life care.

22 Nov 2017

Problems with your hospital care? Speak up!

My dad was in excruciating pain over Labor Day weekend, so my mom rushed him to the emergency room of a renowned university hospital.

22 Nov 2017

Massachusetts grabs spotlight by proposing new twist on Medicaid drug coverage

In the absence of new federal policies to tame break-the-bank drug prices, Massachusetts’ state Medicaid program hopes to road-test an idea both radical and market-driven. It wants the power to negotiate discounts for the drugs it purchases and to exclude drugs with limited treatment value.

21 Nov 2017

Displaced Puerto Ricans face obstacles getting health care

The federal government has granted people affected by the devastating hurricanes that wracked coastal states and Puerto Rico 15 extra days to sign up for health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

21 Nov 2017

Most older Americans prefer to actively participate in medical decision making

Although most older Americans prefer to actively participate in making health care decisions, those with four or more chronic conditions are less likely to prefer active decision making.

21 Nov 2017

Study: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants linked to reduced kidney risks

Mayo Clinic researchers have shown a link between which type of oral anticoagulant (blood-thinning medication) a patient takes to prevent a stroke and increased risks of kidney function decline or failure.

20 Nov 2017

Canadians root for an underdog U.S. health policy idea

Ask people in Canada what they make of American health care, and the answer typically falls between bewilderment and outrage.

20 Nov 2017

Podcast: ‘What the Health?’ Tax bill or health bill?

Republican efforts to alter the health law, left for dead in September, came roaring back to life this week as the Senate Finance Committee added a repeal of the "individual mandate" fines for not maintaining health insurance to their tax bill.

17 Nov 2017

Medicaid expansion takes a bite out of medical debt

As the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress look to scale back Medicaid, many voters and state lawmakers across the country are moving to make it bigger.

17 Nov 2017

Medicare seeks comment on ways to cut costs of Part D drugs

Noting that the true price of a drug is often hidden from consumers, Medicare officials requested comments late Thursday on how to use discounts and rebates to help decrease what enrollees pay for prescriptions.

16 Nov 2017

Tax reform proposal could impact care for older Americans

Earlier this week, the Congressional Budget Office advised members of Congress that the U.S. House of Representative's tax reform bill (the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act," or H.R. 1) would result in automatic cuts to key federal programs, including a $25 billion cut to the Medicare program in 2018 as a result of existing Congressional "pay-go" rules.

16 Nov 2017

California firm running physician practices is closing down as scrutiny ramps up

SynerMed, a company that manages physician practices serving hundreds of thousands of Medicaid and Medicare patients across California, is planning to shut down amid scrutiny from state regulators and health insurers.

15 Nov 2017

Some states roll back ‘retroactive Medicaid,’ a buffer for the poor — and for hospitals

If you're poor, uninsured and fall seriously ill, in most states if you qualify for Medicaid — but weren't enrolled at the time — the program will pay your medical bills going back three months. It protects hospitals, too, from having to absorb the costs of caring for these patients.

14 Nov 2017

Hospital Readmission Reduction Program linked to increase in death rates, study finds

Federal policymakers five years ago introduced the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program to spur hospitals to reduce Medicare readmission rates by penalizing them if they didn't.

13 Nov 2017

Laws to equalize cancer patients’ out-of-pocket costs provide uneven protection

Laws passed by many states that require health plans to charge the same cost-sharing amounts for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy — regardless of whether they get the medication intravenously or take a pill or liquid by mouth — are providing uneven pocketbook protection, according to a new study.

10 Nov 2017

Pressure builds to cut Medicare patients in on prescription deals

Medicare enrollees, who have watched their out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs climb in recent years, might be in for a break.

10 Nov 2017

FDA grants clearance to new blood cell count test that allows faster availability of results

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today cleared a complete blood cell count (CBC) test that, based on its categorization, can be run in more health care settings, including physicians' offices, clinics or other types of health care facilities, by a wider range of personnel (e.g. support staff). This broadened test access will allow for faster availability of results.

6 Nov 2017

Military veterans with VA insurance have greater barriers to kidney transplantation

Military veterans with VA insurance experience low rates of transplantation and high rates of death while on the transplant waiting list, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2017 October 31–November 5 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA.

6 Nov 2017

$Drug holiday from bisphosphonates for more than two years linked to higher hip fracture risk in women$

Drug holiday from bisphosphonates for more than two years linked to higher hip fracture risk in women

Women who took a drug holiday (temporary or permanent discontinuation of a medicine) from using bisphosphonates for more than two years have a significantly higher risk of a hip fracture compared to others who continued their treatment, according to new research findings presented this week at the 2017 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in San Diego.

6 Nov 2017

Medicare News and Research

Research shows major shift in eye surgeries from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers

This Thanksgiving, carve out time for lively discourse on end-of-life wishes

Problems with your hospital care? Speak up!

Massachusetts grabs spotlight by proposing new twist on Medicaid drug coverage

Displaced Puerto Ricans face obstacles getting health care

Most older Americans prefer to actively participate in medical decision making

Study: Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants linked to reduced kidney risks

Canadians root for an underdog U.S. health policy idea

Podcast: ‘What the Health?’ Tax bill or health bill?

Medicaid expansion takes a bite out of medical debt

Medicare seeks comment on ways to cut costs of Part D drugs

Tax reform proposal could impact care for older Americans

California firm running physician practices is closing down as scrutiny ramps up

Some states roll back ‘retroactive Medicaid,’ a buffer for the poor — and for hospitals

Hospital Readmission Reduction Program linked to increase in death rates, study finds

Laws to equalize cancer patients’ out-of-pocket costs provide uneven protection

Pressure builds to cut Medicare patients in on prescription deals

FDA grants clearance to new blood cell count test that allows faster availability of results

Military veterans with VA insurance have greater barriers to kidney transplantation

Drug holiday from bisphosphonates for more than two years linked to higher hip fracture risk in women

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Latest News