Health Reform News and Research

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Supporters, opponents plan new P.R. blitz

The health law is signed - though some changes are still pending - but the fight continues, The Washington Post reports. "Interest groups that spent the past year fighting over President Obama's health-care overhaul are quickly transforming themselves for battle in a new arena, working to sway the law to their benefit while helping the lawmakers who supported them during the bruising legislative debate. For instance, labor unions and industry lobbying groups will attempt to influence regulation writing. Progressives and unions will spend millions to sell the still-controversial plan to voters. Conservatives who opposed it are now retargeting their ire to vulnerable Democratic lawmakers who supported the legislation

25 Mar 2010

Senate starts debate clock on contentious health reform reconciliation bill

The Senate has begun debate, which Democrats hope to bring to a quick close, on a health care reform reconciliation bill that "fixes" parts of the law President Obama signed Tuesday.

25 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 25, 2010

Today's early morning highlights stories from major news organizations, including reports on the progress of the health reconciliation bill, threats against Democrats because of their votes on the new health overhaul law and questions about a highly touted reform.

25 Mar 2010

ScinoPharm announces record results for fiscal year 2009

ScinoPharm, an active pharmaceutical ingredient specialist, today announced audited record results for its fiscal year 2009. The company posted NT$3.791 billion in revenue, an increase of 20.54% over 2008.

25 Mar 2010

MIMA pays $12M to resolve Medicare fraud case

In a settlement concluded late yesterday, Melbourne International Medicine Associates (MIMA) of Brevard County, Florida, will pay $12 million to resolve a whistleblower lawsuit alleging hidden schemes to defraud Medicare and other federal programs in connection with radiation cancer treatment.

25 Mar 2010

Final health care package shaped by changing political landscape

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau writes: "In the year it took Congress to write and pass a health care overhaul, turbulent political shifts — including the Democrats' loss of Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat and the rise of the Tea Party movement — forced critical compromises on the scope of legislation"

25 Mar 2010

Alzheimer's Foundation of America applauds dementia-related provisions in health reform law

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is extremely pleased that the historic health reform signed into law by President Obama late this morning, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday and the U.S. Senate in December, includes a number of provisions that are especially significant for AFA's constituents—and bode well for improving quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their family caregivers. In particular, we are grateful that the final action addresses many of the practical and financial needs faced daily by this population, speaks to preventative issues and bolsters training of dementia care professionals.

25 Mar 2010

NHS needs to gear up in terms of productivity, say statisticians

In an alarming new revelation, the productivity of National Health Service NHS, has dropped steadily from 2001 by 0.4% each year and a total of 3%. 2008 has seen the largest fall, 0.7% according to the Office for National Statistics, ONS.

25 Mar 2010

Looking back: Moments that shifted health reform conversation

Kaiser Health News reports on the "critical compromises" and events that shaped the final version of the health care reform bill, including the Democratic loss of Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat and the rise of the Tea Party movement.

25 Mar 2010

Health reform debate often misrepresents changes to Medicare

Seniors, as well as doctors who treat Medicare patients, "have been shaken up by news that health care reform efforts are largely funded by about $455 billion worth of projected savings in the government health insurance program for the elderly.

25 Mar 2010

Medicaid cuts weaken Idaho’s health care safety net, says AARP

The 217,000 Idahoans, 15% of the state's population, who rely on Medicaid for basic health services, are bracing for bad news from state lawmakers -- more cuts to their health care safety net.

25 Mar 2010

Industry continues to give thumbs up to overhaul

On Tuesday, "[p]rovider groups hailed the president's historic signing of the Senate's healthcare reform bill, which seeks to overhaul the healthcare system through the establishment of a new insurance marketplace, expansions to Medicaid and various insurance reforms," Modern Healthcare reports.

25 Mar 2010

GOP plans post-health reform strategy

"Over the past six months, Republicans used the White House push for a health care overhaul as a way to build grass-roots energy and rebuild enthusiasm among activists demoralized by the Democratic sweep back in 2008. While the effort to kill the health care bill ended in defeat for the GOP, conservatives say the issue has lost none of its power to motivate the opposition to the White House in this midterm election year and beyond"

25 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 24, 2010

Today's headlines note the celebrations surrounding President Obama's signature of the Senate's health reform bill -- making it the law of the land -- and the strategies being developed by health overhaul opponents to block progress with an accompanying "fix it" bill.

24 Mar 2010

Med-Vision provides strategies to lower healthcare costs, improve quality

Med-Vision, a Tampa-based medical consulting company providing strategies to lower healthcare costs and improve quality of care, is providing free healthcare planning advice and solutions via the Web. A newly launched Insights on Healthcare Blog (http://medvision.wordpress.com/) created by Dan Ross, president of Med-Vision, offers timely healthcare commentary, insights to help healthcare consumers, and information to help self-funded employers understand complicated issues of employee benefits.

24 Mar 2010