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Roundup: Democratic opponents arise over Calif. governor's health care budget cuts; Veto of medical charity tax break scrutinized in Ga.

But Brown vowed to continue to resist pressure from fellow Democrats and interest groups to restore some money to adult dental care and to doctors who treat the poor. … Sacramento will oversee the expansion this year of Medi-Cal, California's health care program for the poor, to more than 1 million Californians who do not have health insurance now.

16 May 2013

Viewpoints: Obama took risk on budget offer and was slammed by Rep. Ryan; Health law could 'quash' progress on spending

Obama took a risk and proposed a budget containing cuts to entitlements cherished by his party. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, and his cohorts were unmoved; they wouldn't give an inch on new revenue. Simpson and Bowles gave Obama a pat on the back and largely refrained from criticizing Ryan or House Speaker John Boehner, while corporate leaders ducked.

14 May 2013

Viewpoints: The threat from 'contagion exhaustion;' An economist sees humor in hospital pricing

There has been a flurry of recent attention over two novel infectious agents: the first, a strain of avian influenza virus (H7N9) in China that is causing severe respiratory disease and other serious health complications in people; the second, a coronavirus, first reported last year in the Middle East, that has brought a crop of new infections.

13 May 2013

Feds offer positive signals about progress on health exchanges

USA Today reports that federal officials say the government is meeting deadlines, testing systems and putting the infrastructure in place to get these online insurance marketplaces up and running. Also, Modern Healthcare reports that the National Association of Health Underwriters is urging extensive training for the exchange navigators.

13 May 2013

State roundup: Medicaid contractor sues La. over canceled deal

A Maryland-based company whose nearly $200 million Medicaid contract was canceled amid an ongoing federal investigation sued Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration Monday for terminating the deal (5/6).

8 May 2013

Roundup: Texas lawmakers quietly work to restore women's health services; brighter Calif. budget could mean new safety net cut fights

The political fireworks and high-octane drama that accompanied lawmakers' 2011 fight over women's health care and abortion has been absent this legislative session. It has been replaced with some semblance of concession, as legislators on both sides of the aisle work quietly to restore financing for women's health services.

7 May 2013

Highlights: New health care oversight laws in Md.; Texas hospitals negotiate over uncompensated care payments; Colo. considers psychiatric hospital for homeless

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed three laws Thursday that will give more protection for patients. The measures provide more state oversight of cosmetic surgery centers, pharmacies that make sterile medications and staffing agencies that find temporary jobs for health care professionals (Sun, 5/2).

4 May 2013

Roundup: Battles in five states become central to abortion fight; Calif. prison spending on anti-psychotics raises treatment questions

Five states have moved to adopt tighter abortion regulations, including North Dakota, where a new law prohibits abortions as soon as a fetal heartbeat is detected. Jeffrey Brown gets perspectives from Charmaine Yoest of Americans United for Life and Ilyse Hogue of NARAL Pro-Choice America (4/30).

2 May 2013

Federal gov't. moves against Nevada hospital for alleged patient dumping

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services gave Nevada 10 days to correct problems at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital following reports it may have improperly discharged patients and bused them out of state.

30 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 29, 2013

Today's headlines include a report that hospitals are questioning Medicare's rules on readmissions.

29 Apr 2013

State roundup: Calif. lawmakers push for health plan for immigrants in U.S. illegally

A selection of health policy stories from Massachusetts, California, Michigan, Texas, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee.

23 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Karl Rove says GOP reluctance isn't hampering exchanges; CDC's efforts on 'sugary' snacks assailed

In congressional testimony last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius blamed Republican governors for her department's failure to create a "model exchange" where consumers could shop for health-insurance coverage in states that don't set up their own exchange.

19 Apr 2013

Animal medication studies may lead way in discovering new drugs to relieve human suffering

It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to a University of Michigan ecologist and his colleagues.

18 Apr 2013

Roundup: Ariz. gov. vetoes bill that would require docs to post prices online, long-term care costs soar in Virginia

Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed legislation Friday that would have required doctors, hospitals and other health care providers to post prices for their most common services, a move the bill's sponsor said was a blow to consumers and driven by industry pressure.

16 Apr 2013

New nanosponge safely removes dangerous toxins from bloodstream

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have invented a "nanosponge" capable of safely removing a broad class of dangerous toxins from the bloodstream - including toxins produced by MRSA, E. coli, poisonous snakes and bees.

15 Apr 2013

State Medicaid news: California, N.C. officials explore cost-saving measures

Media outlets report proposals to reduce Medicaid costs in California and North Carolina. In Maryland, the leader of a company with a $200 million Medicaid contract says he has not been told why that contract is being probed by state and federal investigators.

15 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Looking for the budget's true bottom line; The debate on Plan B reignited; Medicare cuts have impact

President Obama will release his overdue budget on Wednesday. It will doubtless project a reduction in the federal budget deficit - a projection that journalists, commentators and policy makers should ignore.

10 Apr 2013

Oregon offers guide to states eyeing potential of putting Medicaid enrollees in private insurance

In the last days of Georgia's General Assembly, lawmakers eliminate cuts in Medicaid payments to providers, while the state's Medicaid agency gives initial approval to a hospital fee.

30 Mar 2013

Colorado, Maryland make progress on how to fund state-run health exchanges

Also in the news, reports about early efforts in Connecticut to find and enroll uninsured people in the state's health insurance marketplace and about emerging details for a call center in California.

26 Mar 2013

Adding lubricin to fluid in our joints may prevent osteoarthritis, researchers find

Think new discoveries are the bee's knees? This one is even better -- this research out of Rhode Island Hospital is the mice's knees. Researchers have found that adding lubricin, a protein that our bodies naturally produce, to the fluid in our joints may reduce the risk of or even prevent osteoarthritis.

25 Mar 2013