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New book explains how Americans can gain universal access to comprehensive health care

Confusion and controversy have plagued the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Obamacare) since its enactment in March 2010. Republicans have generally opposed the legislation, and attempted to obstruct it in parts, or repeal it altogether.

6 Feb 2015

Global CT market expected to reach $5.1 billion in 2018

The global CT market is expected to grow 5.5 percent to $5.1 billion in 2018, according to a new Kalorama Information report. The combination of product enhancements and the need to cut radiation dose levels is fueling the market. A new federal standard passed into law last year, NEMA Standard XR-29, defining low dose standards and punishing providers not in compliance will help growth, according to the market research publisher.

6 Feb 2015

HealthFusion launches new Chronic Care Management module

HealthFusion, maker of MediTouch EHR, the leading cloud computing software for physicians, hospitals, and medical billing services, launched a new Chronic Care Management (CCM) module that allows for practices to track and bill patients with two or more chronic conditions.

5 Feb 2015

Most hospital readmissions after surgery are not due to poor care coordination, finds new study

A study from Northwestern Medicine and the American College of Surgeons published today in JAMA suggests that penalizing hospitals for patient readmissions following surgery may be ineffective, and even counterproductive, for improving the quality of hospital care in America.

5 Feb 2015

Three top-performing health systems honored with national awards for improving care, lowering cost

The Advisory Board Company's Consulting and Management division announced on Tuesday that it has recognized three top-performing health systems with national awards for innovative initiatives that improved care quality and patient experience while lowering cost.

4 Feb 2015

Study evaluates association of participation in ACS NSQIP with surgical outcomes, costs

Nicholas H. Osborne, M.D., M.S., of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues evaluated the association of participation in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program with surgical outcomes and payments among Medicare patients.

4 Feb 2015

Home health leaders raise concerns over proposed budget cuts and copayments on Medicare beneficiaries

Leaders in the home health community raised concerns today in response to President Obama's Fiscal Year 2016 budget that calls for the re-imposition of a copayment on Medicare home health beneficiaries.

4 Feb 2015

Community-focused efforts needed to reduce hospital readmissions

Recent research indicates that most of the variation in hospital readmission rates in the United States is related to geography and other factors over which hospitals have little or no control. Access and quality of care outside of the hospital setting seem to be especially important.

4 Feb 2015

HealthSouth agrees to acquire Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital from Kentucky Easter Seal Society

HealthSouth Corporation today announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, from the Kentucky Easter Seal Society, Inc.

3 Feb 2015

New Jersey Hospital Association, Applied Medical Software receive 'Innovation Award' from ACHE-NJ

The New Jersey Hospital Association and Applied Medical Software have received the "Innovation Award" from the American College of Healthcare Executives New Jersey for their pioneering initiative to improve healthcare value and reduce costs by promoting better coordination and collaboration among New Jersey hospitals and physicians.

3 Feb 2015

Study finds decline in re-hospitalization rates after AVR surgery

Fewer patients undergoing aortic valve replacement (AVR) are being re-hospitalized in the year following surgery, indicating the surgery is safer and the recovery has become easier, according to an article in the February 2015 issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

2 Feb 2015

Blue Shield of California signs new, two-year contract with Sutter Health

Blue Shield of California today announced the signing of a new, two-year contract with Sutter Health. Blue Shield is pleased to offer members access to Sutter Health providers and facilities as participating providers effective February 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016. Blue Shield apologizes that the contract negotiation took longer than expected and that customers and members experienced uncertainty or disruption.

31 Jan 2015

NCCN commemorates 20 years of advancing high-quality, high-value cancer care

On January 31, 2015, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network celebrates its 20th anniversary. Originally announced as an alliance of 13 leading cancer centers in 1995, NCCN has grown to a network of 25 academic cancer centers; the NCCN mission as an alliance of leading academic cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives.

31 Jan 2015

Stark Pediatrics' Asif Younus recognized with Physician Summit Award

Buckeye Health Plan recognized Asif Younus, M. D., of Stark Pediatrics, Inc., in Canton with a Physician Summit Award, the company's highest designation for a health care provider. Summit Awards are given each year to primary care physicians and obstetricians for providing clinical excellence.

30 Jan 2015

New report highlights patient-centered medical home's impact on quality, costs

Today at a briefing on Capitol Hill, the Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative released a new publication highlighting the significant impact the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) has on improving quality and reducing costs of primary care delivery.

30 Jan 2015

OSTAR introduces Cellular TeleHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System in North America

OSTAR Healthcare Technology, a Washington State Based TeleHealth Solutions company, announced the North American launch of yet another first in their Cellular TeleHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System.

30 Jan 2015

HHS sets goals to shift Medicare payments to reward quality of care rather than volume

New plans announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mean that hospitals will need to accelerate changes to patient care if they are to avoid receiving lower payments.

28 Jan 2015

Kaleo, CHMI partner to reduce prescription drug-related deaths

Kaleo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, today announced a national strategic partnership with the Clinton Health Matters Initiative, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, that will help support its goal of cutting prescription drug-related deaths in half, saving approximately 10,000 lives over five years.

27 Jan 2015

UVA's new program uses EpicCare electronic medical record to improve patients' access to specialists

The University of Virginia Health System is piloting a new program that uses its EpicCare electronic medical record to speed patients' access to specialists.

23 Jan 2015

St. Mary's wins Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for second consecutive year

Dignity Health St. Mary's Medical Center has received the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ from Healthgrades, the leading online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals. This is the second consecutive year St. Mary's has received this award, which recognizes St. Mary's as among the top five percent of more than 4,500 hospitals nationwide for clinical performance.

21 Jan 2015

Medicare News and Research

New book explains how Americans can gain universal access to comprehensive health care

Global CT market expected to reach $5.1 billion in 2018

HealthFusion launches new Chronic Care Management module

Most hospital readmissions after surgery are not due to poor care coordination, finds new study

Three top-performing health systems honored with national awards for improving care, lowering cost

Study evaluates association of participation in ACS NSQIP with surgical outcomes, costs

Home health leaders raise concerns over proposed budget cuts and copayments on Medicare beneficiaries

Community-focused efforts needed to reduce hospital readmissions

HealthSouth agrees to acquire Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital from Kentucky Easter Seal Society

New Jersey Hospital Association, Applied Medical Software receive 'Innovation Award' from ACHE-NJ

Study finds decline in re-hospitalization rates after AVR surgery

Blue Shield of California signs new, two-year contract with Sutter Health

NCCN commemorates 20 years of advancing high-quality, high-value cancer care

Stark Pediatrics' Asif Younus recognized with Physician Summit Award

New report highlights patient-centered medical home's impact on quality, costs

OSTAR introduces Cellular TeleHealth Blood Pressure Monitoring System in North America

HHS sets goals to shift Medicare payments to reward quality of care rather than volume

Kaleo, CHMI partner to reduce prescription drug-related deaths

UVA's new program uses EpicCare electronic medical record to improve patients' access to specialists

St. Mary's wins Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence for second consecutive year

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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