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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

50% of Missourians enroll in 2015 health insurance Marketplace plans

In just four weeks since the Missouri Health Insurance Marketplace opened, 102,087 Missourians enrolled in 2015 health plans according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). Half – 50 percent – are new enrollees.

31 Dec 2014

Research: Reducing emergency surgery for common procedures could cut health care costs

New research indicates that reducing emergency surgery for three common procedures by 10 percent could cut $1 billion in health care costs over 10 years.

22 Dec 2014

Columbia University researchers analyze results of Oregon Health Experiment

Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health analyzed the results of the Oregon Health Experiment, where eligible uninsured individuals were randomly assigned Medicaid or to stay with their current care. Considered controversial because the experiment found no measurable gains for physical health it did reveal benefits for mental health, financial wellbeing, and preventive screening.

18 Dec 2014

U-M researchers to evaluate Medicaid expansion in Michigan

Since its launch in April, 481,863 Michiganders have signed up for a new Medicaid health insurance option offered by the state, called the Healthy Michigan Plan. Now, University of Michigan researchers will study how well the new plan works, and advise the state government on how well it's living up to what lawmakers intended.

12 Dec 2014

U.S. taxpayers bear 60% of the cost of smoking-related diseases, study finds

Cigarette smoking generates as much as $170 billion in annual health care spending in the United States, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at Georgia State University's School of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and RTI International.

11 Dec 2014

New study compares characteristics of hospice patients in nursing homes and community settings

As hospice for nursing home patients grows dramatically, a new study from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University Center for Aging Research compares the characteristics of hospice patients in nursing homes with hospice patients living in the community. The study also provides details on how hospice patients move in and out of these two settings.

10 Dec 2014

CareCore, MedSolutions complete merger agreement

CareCore National, LLC and MedSolutions, Inc., two leading providers of Specialty Benefits Management (SBM) services to managed care organizations and risk-bearing provider organizations, today announced the completion of a merger that will help advance the companies' collective commitment to containing healthcare costs and achieving quality medical outcomes.

4 Dec 2014

FSMB receives NCQA certification for second time

The Federation of State Medical Boards announced that it has recently been certified for a second time by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The FSMB, which received its initial NCQA Certification in 2012, is certified under NCQA's Credentials Verification Organization Certification Program for the following credentials elements: Education and Training, Ongoing Monitoring of Sanctions, Medicare/Medicaid Sanctions, and Medical Board Sanctions.

3 Dec 2014

TDF wins William J. Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement

Tufts Dental Facilities Serving Individuals with Disabilities, a network of clinics that provides comprehensive oral health care to adults and children with intellectual, developmental, or acquired disabilities, has been announced as the winner of the William J. Gies Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Academic Dental Institution, part of the William J. Gies Awards for Vision, Innovation and Achievement.

3 Dec 2014

Study examines rate of psychotropic medication prescribed to children in Kentucky

Researchers with the Child and Adolescent Health Research Design and Support Unit (CAHRDS Unit) at the University of Louisville have begun a study to examine one of Kentucky's most vexing children's health issues: the higher-than-average rate of psychotropic medication being prescribed to children in the Bluegrass State.

2 Dec 2014

Kentucky governor, Lt. governor unveil multidisciplinary health care home for children

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen today (Dec. 1) announced an innovative public/private partnership between Community Dental, a nonprofit of Kentucky, and University of Louisville Pediatrics to provide a multidisciplinary health care home for Kentucky children enrolled in the Medicaid program.

2 Dec 2014

IRS to issue fines for those who do not register for Obamacare

The Affordable Care Act or Obamacare requires most Americans to obtain some kind of health insurance coverage starting in 2014.

29 Nov 2014

UT Arlington researcher receives grant to educate Hispanic patients about depression, treatment options

A University of Texas at Arlington researcher hopes to dispel myths about depression and its treatment, as well as reduce the stigma associated with receiving mental health care among Hispanics.

27 Nov 2014

Higher Medicaid reimbursements for routine office visits linked to more cancer screening tests

Medicaid reimbursements for office visits to the doctor and for cancer screening tests vary substantially from state to state. New research in the journal Cancer finds that Medicaid recipients are more likely to receive cancer screening tests when their doctors receive higher reimbursements for routine office visits. In contrast, increased reimbursement rates for screening tests do not have a uniform effect on whether Medicaid beneficiaries get screened.

23 Nov 2014

Women with symptoms of serious psychological distress less likely to receive routine cancer screenings

Women with symptoms of serious mental illness are significantly less likely to receive three routine cancer screenings - Pap tests, mammograms and clinical breast exams - than women in the general population, despite being at elevated risk for medical comorbidities and early death, a new study indicates.

21 Nov 2014

Cyberonics' worldwide net sales increase 5% to $73.4M in Q2 of fiscal 2015

Cyberonics, Inc. today announced results for the quarter ended October 24, 2014.

20 Nov 2014

Better behavioral health management can improve health, lower costs

More than a third of hospitalization costs in 13 low-income New Jersey communities are associated with behavioral health conditions, including mental health disorders and substance use, accounting for $880 million in annual inpatient costs, according to a new Rutgers study.

20 Nov 2014

More breast cancer patients choosing to undergo mastectomy, finds Vanderbilt study

Far more breast cancer patients are choosing to undergo mastectomy, including removal of both breasts, instead of choosing breast conservation surgery even when they have early stage disease that is confined to one breast, a Vanderbilt study shows. In the past decade, there have also been marked trends toward higher proportions of women opting for breast reconstruction.

19 Nov 2014

Three Johns Hopkins hospitals recognized as Top Performer on Key Quality Measures

Three Johns Hopkins Medicine hospitals are recipients of The Joint Commission’s 2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures award. The Top Performer program recognizes hospitals for improving performance on evidence-based interventions that increase the chances of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma, stroke, venous thromboembolism (VTE) and perinatal care, as well as for inpatient psychiatric services and immunizations.

17 Nov 2014

Montefiore Medical Center receives $3.5M grant to advance treatment for hepatitis C

Montefiore Medical Center received a $3.5 million grant as part of the $10 million Health Care Innovation Award from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services to identify, diagnose and treat people with hepatitis C (HCV).

13 Nov 2014