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Study reveals role of maternal sensitivity in language growth for deaf children

University of Miami Psychologist Alexandra L. Quittner leads one of the largest, most nationally representative studies of the effects of parenting on very young, deaf children who have received cochlear implants.

11 Mar 2013

Insurers see opportunities in Medicaid expansion while states mull pros and cons

Business analysts view the expansion as "several hundreds of billions of dollars" worth of opportunity for Medicaid health plans. Meanwhile, news organizations track the continuing debate in Kentucky, Florida, New Hampshire and Texas about whether to participate in the expansion.

11 Mar 2013

Statehouses become next flashpoint for Medicaid expansion debates

Even as Republican governors like Rick Scott in Florida have chosen to back the health law's Medicaid expansion, they are facing push back from GOP-controlled legislatures.

8 Mar 2013

Study to produce hearing aids that can better distinguish speech and background noise

New research is aiming to produce hearing aids which can distinguish better between speech and background noise and benefit the lives of the six million people in the UK with hearing impairments.

8 Mar 2013

Roundup: N.J. seeks to recover $10M from adult day care centers after Medicaid bills; Ga. panel to implement provider fee picked; Pa.'s adultBasic in limbo after ruling

A state agency that serves as a watchdog over New Jersey government announced Wednesday that it has found improper billing of Medicaid by five adult day care centers and is asking the centers to pay settlements totaling more than $10 million. The state comptroller's office found that centers were charging the state for caring for patients when they did not receive care in some cases and for providing care that was not needed in others.

7 Mar 2013

Cochlear implants improve speech perception in early bilateral SNHL

Cochlear implant surgery in children with an early diagnosis of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss results in significant progressive improvements in speech perception and intelligibility, suggest study findings.

7 Mar 2013

Researchers identify role of Merlin in regulating integrity of axons

One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system.

7 Mar 2013

Feds to kick off campaign to reach uninsured in July

Politico reports that the Obama administration will begin a pitch to enroll the uninsured beginning in July.

7 Mar 2013

Roundup: States form panels to fight federal powers, health law; Review shows 3,000 dropped from Medicaid in Pa. were eligible

One bill would make it a felony to enforce the new federal health care law, punishable by up to five years in prison. Another prohibits a physician from asking a patient about firearms.

7 Mar 2013

New image-guided programming method can improve hearing in cochlear implant users

Imagine suddenly being able to hear the words and tone of the person across the table from you in a crowded restaurant when once you only heard overwhelming noise. Or speaking on the telephone with confidence because what you hear is now crisp and clear. Longtime cochlear implant users are reporting such dramatic improvements in their hearing, thanks to new image-guided programming methods developed by Vanderbilt University researchers.

7 Mar 2013

Activists, lawmakers wrestle with Medicaid expansion

This aspect of the health law is a hot topic in Texas, Florida, California and Missouri -- among other places.

6 Mar 2013

Commission urges big changes in Medicare doctor pay, including the elimination of fee-for-service approach

The panel, the National Commission on Physician Payment Reform, released a dozen recommendations to ultimately change how physicians are paid.

5 Mar 2013

GOP bills would kill health law's employer mandate

The legislation, which has little chance of passage, would undo requirements that large employers offer workers insurance or pay a fine. Meanwhile, two Senate committees examine changes to Medicare.

3 Mar 2013

Medicaid expansion in the states: Who's in? Who's out?

The tally continues to change regarding the governors who have said they will pursue the health law's Medicaid expansion. Most recently, Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said he is opposed to it, while Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett appears to be on the verge of reversing his position against the expansion. And, in Ohio, Gov. John Kasich is looking for allies to convince Republicans in the state legislature to follow his lead.

3 Mar 2013

Report: Drug companies spent $84M marketing pharmaceuticals in the District of Columbia in 2011

Drug companies spent nearly $84 million marketing pharmaceuticals in the District of Columbia in 2011, including an outlay of nearly $19 million for gifts given to physicians, hospitals and other health care providers, according to a report by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services.

2 Mar 2013

Roundup: Candy, soda tax weighed in Mass.; N.H. health group rallies against higher smoker premiums; Ga. considers novel malpractice reform

Are candy and soda food? In Massachusetts, candy and soda are considered food and are exempt from the state's 6.25 percent sales tax. But Gov. Deval Patrick wants to change that. He's proposing that the legislature tax every bag of M&M's and bottle of Pepsi bought in the state.

2 Mar 2013

Does sequestration offer a budgetary bright side?

News outlets set the scene for the impact on the health care sector and the Medicare program by the sequester's scheduled cuts, which kick in March 1.

1 Mar 2013

State roundup: Medicaid costs slow states' recovery

Like a bad hangover that won't go away, some states are still suffering from the effects of the recession that technically ended three and half years ago. … Some states, including Iowa, Indiana and Tennessee, started the new session with surpluses, but none are planning to embark on new spending.

1 Mar 2013

First Edition: March 1, 2013

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey reports: "David P. Blom is one of thousands of hospital executives across the country who are bracing for a reduction in Medicare payments as part of a series of federal spending cuts that begin Friday. Blom, 58, is president and chief executive officer of OhioHealth, a Columbus, Ohio, based not-for-profit health care system that includes 18 hospitals, 23 health and surgery centers, home-health providers and other facilities."

1 Mar 2013

Health law, Medicare benefit design draw congressional attention

House GOP doctors released a "health care state of the union" video that included health law criticisms, but no talk of repeal. Meanwhile, issues like Medicare copays and quality were discussed during a Ways and Means hearing earlier this week.

1 Mar 2013

Hearing News and Research

Study reveals role of maternal sensitivity in language growth for deaf children

Insurers see opportunities in Medicaid expansion while states mull pros and cons

Statehouses become next flashpoint for Medicaid expansion debates

Study to produce hearing aids that can better distinguish speech and background noise

Roundup: N.J. seeks to recover $10M from adult day care centers after Medicaid bills; Ga. panel to implement provider fee picked; Pa.'s adultBasic in limbo after ruling

Cochlear implants improve speech perception in early bilateral SNHL

Researchers identify role of Merlin in regulating integrity of axons

Feds to kick off campaign to reach uninsured in July

Roundup: States form panels to fight federal powers, health law; Review shows 3,000 dropped from Medicaid in Pa. were eligible

New image-guided programming method can improve hearing in cochlear implant users

Activists, lawmakers wrestle with Medicaid expansion

Commission urges big changes in Medicare doctor pay, including the elimination of fee-for-service approach

GOP bills would kill health law's employer mandate

Medicaid expansion in the states: Who's in? Who's out?

Report: Drug companies spent $84M marketing pharmaceuticals in the District of Columbia in 2011

Roundup: Candy, soda tax weighed in Mass.; N.H. health group rallies against higher smoker premiums; Ga. considers novel malpractice reform

Does sequestration offer a budgetary bright side?

State roundup: Medicaid costs slow states' recovery

First Edition: March 1, 2013

Health law, Medicare benefit design draw congressional attention

Improving healthcare sustainability through carbon data

Managing vibration in IVF laboratories

A New Approach to Preventing Bladder Cancer Recurrence

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