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When private health care prices decrease, Medicare utilization increases

When private prices for health care services decrease, Medicare spending increases, according to a new study. The finding raises the possibility that physicians and hospitals may be shifting some services to Medicare when they stand to make more money by doing so -- though further research will be needed to clearly identify the cause, according to the study's authors.

2 Dec 2014

Prostate cancer patients with life expectancies of less than 10 years receive aggressive treatment

National guidelines recommend that men with low- and intermediate -risk prostate cancer and life expectancies of less than 10 years should not be treated with radiation or surgery, since they are unlikely to live long enough to benefit from treatment. Yet it is unknown whether such men are unnecessarily receiving these aggressive local treatments, putting them at risk for potentially debilitating side effects.

2 Dec 2014

National Association of ACOs praises new proposed rules for MSSP

The National Association of ACOs is pleased CMS has released the new proposed rules for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP).

2 Dec 2014

Fifth civil lawsuit filed against Illinois area doctor for sexual assault

The Law Offices of Michael J. Gravlin filed suit on behalf of another alleged victim of a sexual assault and battery committed by her physician in Rockford, Illinois.

29 Nov 2014

FDA takes immediate steps to help reduce risk of spreading unsuspected uterine cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is taking immediate steps to help reduce the risk of spreading unsuspected cancer in women being treated for uterine fibroids, which is in keeping with Kalorama Information's view that in the female health market there is much room for improvement both in the development of products and the treatment of diseases.

29 Nov 2014

Many older adults with memory problems and dementia go unscreened, untreated

Despite clear signs that their memory and thinking abilities have gone downhill, more than half of seniors with these symptoms haven't seen a doctor about them, a new study finds.

27 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

Advanced practice clinicians more likely to prescribe imaging exam for patients

Advanced practice clinicians, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are 34 percent more likely than primary care physicians to prescribe an imaging exam for patients, according to a Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

25 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

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

Humana, UNC Health Care and Alignment Healthcare to provide improved Medicare plan in Raleigh area

Humana Inc., one of the nation's leading health and well-being companies, has joined the partnership between Alignment Healthcare and UNC Health Care to provide a new, improved Medicare Advantage HMO plan in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, to keep seniors healthier and to lower healthcare costs.

19 Nov 2014

Nutrition treatment for older COPD patients shows better outcomes

People aged 65 and older, who were being treated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the hospital and received nutrition treatment (oral nutrition supplements) had reduced lengths of stay, hospital costs and chances of returning to the hospital within 30-days, according to a study published in CHEST.

18 Nov 2014

Study reveals association between high burden of AFib and lower cognitive function

iRhythm Technologies, Inc. announced today that study results presented during the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions showed an association between a high burden of atrial fibrillation (AFib) and lower cognitive function, specifically executive and verbal function.

18 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

Massachusetts Eye and Ear offers femtosecond laser technology to Boston-area patients

Patients choosing cataract surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear may now elect to have laser-assisted cataract surgery with the femtosecond LensSx® Laser. The hospital is one of the few in New England to offer the advanced technology, which enables surgeons to more precisely perform cataract surgery aided by a computer-controlled laser.

14 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

CMS to cover low-dose CT screening for lung cancer

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services today recognized the importance of lung cancer screening, announcing today that it will cover low-dose computed tomography (CT) screening, or "CAT" scans , for high-risk current and former smokers. The decision validates Mount Sinai's longstanding commitment to providing access to this essential screening tool.

12 Nov 2014

Hospice care lowers hospitalization, ICU admissions and invasive procedures for Medicare patients

Medicare patients with poor prognosis cancers who received hospice care had significantly lower rates of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions and invasive procedures at the end of life, along with significantly lower health care expenditures during the last year of life, according to a study in the November 12 issue of JAMA.

12 Nov 2014

Medicare News and Research

When private health care prices decrease, Medicare utilization increases

Prostate cancer patients with life expectancies of less than 10 years receive aggressive treatment

National Association of ACOs praises new proposed rules for MSSP

Fifth civil lawsuit filed against Illinois area doctor for sexual assault

FDA takes immediate steps to help reduce risk of spreading unsuspected uterine cancer

Many older adults with memory problems and dementia go unscreened, untreated

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

Advanced practice clinicians more likely to prescribe imaging exam for patients

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

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

Better behavioral health management can improve health, lower costs

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

Humana, UNC Health Care and Alignment Healthcare to provide improved Medicare plan in Raleigh area

Nutrition treatment for older COPD patients shows better outcomes

Study reveals association between high burden of AFib and lower cognitive function

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

Massachusetts Eye and Ear offers femtosecond laser technology to Boston-area patients

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

CMS to cover low-dose CT screening for lung cancer

Hospice care lowers hospitalization, ICU admissions and invasive procedures for Medicare patients

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