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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.

Fla.'s gubernatorial candidates at odds over Medicaid expansion

Charlie Crist, the Republican-turned-Democrat, says he will consider using an executive order to expand the program for low-income Floridians.

14 Oct 2014

MiMedx announces record revenue results for Q3 2014, issues updated guidance

MiMedx Group, Inc., the leading regenerative medicine company utilizing human amniotic tissue and patent-protected processes to develop and market advanced products and therapies for the Wound Care, Surgical, Orthopedic, Spinal, Sports Medicine, Ophthalmic and Dental sectors of healthcare, announced today record revenue results for the third quarter of 2014 and issued updated guidance.

13 Oct 2014

State highlights: Blue Cross Blue Shield dominant in Texas

A selection of health policy stories from Texas, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri and New Mexico.

13 Oct 2014

Viewpoints: Effects of health law; conquering Ebola

In case you don't follow me on Twitter, here it is: The Affordable Care Act has already helped slow the rate of growth in health-care costs across the board, putting more money in Americans' pockets and bringing down projected deficits even as millions more people sign up for health insurance and receive access to Medicaid.

13 Oct 2014

Iowa premium increases affect small number

Less than 2 percent of Iowans will be affected by the steep premium increases announced this week, according to the Des Moines Register. Meanwhile, the Cover Oregon Exchange Board may drop plans to make a recommendation to the legislature this fall about the future of the state's insurance exchange, and Indiana officials continue discussing alternatives to Medicaid expansion.

12 Oct 2014

Burwell 'manages expectations' for sign-up numbers during health law's next enrollment season

During a breakfast with reporters, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell also signaled that the federal government is unlikely to "step in" to address narrow network issues related to health plans offered on the exchanges.

12 Oct 2014

Viewpoints: Walmart and Obamacare; negative views continue of health law; Ebola preparedness

Walmart announced today that as of the beginning of next year it will be dropping health insurance for 30,000 employees who work less than 30 hours per week. Many liberals will react to the news by saying that it's just a profit-hungry corporation once again screwing over its employees. Conservatives are likely to say that this just shows what a mess Obamacare has created and why it should be repealed (Paul Waldman, 10/8).

10 Oct 2014

State highlights: Gubernatorial election outcomes will have big impact on health law's future

The deciding factor in the Senate races will be President Barack Obama's sagging approval numbers, he said, which are weighing down Democrats like Sen. Mary Landrieu in Louisiana and Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas. ... Mr. McAuliffe pushed Virginia legislators to expand the state's Medicaid program as part of the Affordable Care Act last summer, but Republicans wouldn't have it (Bauerlein, 10/8).

10 Oct 2014

Promises, predictions: In upcoming enrollment season, healthcare.gov will be faster, easier

According to Obama administration officials, the updated website includes a shorter insurance application form and is not expected to crash. Unlike last year, the site has been undergoing testing for more than five weeks.

10 Oct 2014

Coverage gaps still persist among some populations

The Star Tribune reports on how some American Indians -- even now that the health law is in place -- continue to struggle with costs and other challenges related to securing health insurance. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch examines how state decisions to expand Medicaid impact residents' options.

10 Oct 2014

Candidates for Calif. congressional seat clash over health law

A Wednesday debate between Democrat Ami Bera and Republican Doug Ose was marked by tense talk about health policy issues and the economy. Additionally, Cover Oregon assigns Sen. Jeff Merkley, D- Ore., who earns $174,000 a year in the U.S. Senate, to Oregon's Medicaid plan -- reserved only for the poor. Elsewhere, Hillary Clinton sidestepped a tricky issue when delivering a paid speech to a trade group.

10 Oct 2014

International Biophysics files patent protection for revolutionary AffloVest

International Biophysics Corporation of Austin, Texas announces its filing of U.S. patent protection for its revolutionary AffloVest. The company has also recently confirmed exclusive ownership rights concerning the manufacture, sale and distribution of the AffloVest in its markets.

9 Oct 2014

Bedside ultrasound machine in pediatric ER is cost-effective, reduces length of stay in the ER

Using a portable or bedside ultrasound machine in the pediatric emergency room has been proven to lessen the length of stay in the ER and to provide images equal in accuracy to x-ray or CT scan without exposing children to potentially harmful radiation.

9 Oct 2014

Teaching hospitals make residency funding pitch on Capitol Hill

Congress has capped federal funding for the training of new doctors, and hospital officials are hoping to get that limit lifted.

9 Oct 2014

Obama administration delays home-care worker minimum-wage, overtime protections

In a Tuesday announcement, the administration said it won't enforce this rule, which involves an estimated 2 million home-care workers, for the first six months after its Jan. 1, 2015, effective date.

9 Oct 2014

In Mississippi, Medicaid expansion advocates continue to press their cause

Backers of expanding the low-income health insurance program say elected officials are turning their back on hundreds of thousands of poor Mississippi residents by refusing the federal funds that come with the expansion. Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania, insurers appear to be adding a wrinkle to Gov. Corbett's expansion plan. Also, election outcomes will play a big role in where such plans proceed.

9 Oct 2014

CMS directs insurers to begin testing healthcare.gov but maintain confidentiality

Testers are required to "acknowledge the confidentiality of the process" in order to gain access to the testing environment, according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, The New York Times reports on two studies that examine the health law's drug plans as a means to answer questions about how the overhaul is working.

9 Oct 2014

Columbia Nursing researcher suggests ways to prevent nursing home infections

Nursing home infection rates are on the rise, a study from Columbia University School of Nursing found, suggesting that more must be done to protect residents of these facilities from preventable complications. The study, which examined infections in U.S. nursing homes over a five-year period, found increased infection rates for pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), viral hepatitis, septicemia, wound infections, and multiple drug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

8 Oct 2014

New Brident Dental & Orthodontics office opens in San Antonio, Texas

A new Brident Dental & Orthodontics office is opening, in San Antonio, Texas located at 7334 San Pedro Ave. The office will provide a full-range of dental and orthodontic services, including emergency treatment, specialized pediatric services and routine preventive care.

8 Oct 2014

U-M researchers propose new ways to fight sepsis

A decade ago, America's health care community took on heart attacks with gusto, harnessing the power of research and data to make sure that every patient got the best possible care.

8 Oct 2014