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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

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

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics applauds USPSTF's recommendations on screening for diabetes

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics applauds the work of the United States Preventative Services Task Force for amending its recommendations on screening for diabetes based on its review of current best evidence.

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

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

30,000 Wal-Mart part-time workers to lose health benefits

The world's largest retailer and largest private employer announced Tuesday that it would terminate health insurance coverage for employees who work fewer than an average of 30 hours a week.

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

Medical debt crisis worsening in America despite advances in health care policy

NerdWallet Health, a consumer advocacy site committed to helping patients make smarter decisions and save money on their health care, today released a study finding the medical debt crisis in America is worsening despite advances in health care policy.

8 Oct 2014

Revolutionary Hypo-tec Needlestick Injury Prevention Product enters North American market

V3 Healthcare Strategies, a Wisconsin-based Accountable Care Strategies company, announced the North American launch of the revolutionary Hypo-tec Needlestick Injury Prevention Product amidst an environment of infectious catastrophic diseases such as Ebola, Hanta & Hemorrhagic Fevers, while simultaneously protecting against all other infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis and more.

8 Oct 2014

AARP survey shows that many Americans not planned enough for health expenses in retirement

Today, AARP released a new survey that says more than half of working Americans over age 50 (55%) don't think they'll have enough money for health care as they reach the age they expect to retire. While Medicare only covers about half of health costs, four in ten (38%) say they haven't saved anything at all for such expenses even though multiple studies show that these costs often reach more than $200,000 for a retired couple.

8 Oct 2014

Physical therapy before joint replacement surgery reduces need for postoperative care by nearly 30%

Physical therapy after total hip (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) surgery is standard care for all patients. A new study, appearing in the October 1 issue of the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery), also found that physical therapy before joint replacement surgery, or "prehabilitation," can diminish the need for postoperative care by nearly 30 percent, saving an average of $1,215 per patient in skilled nursing facility, home health agency or other postoperative care.

8 Oct 2014

Nursing home rating system gets a makeover

The Obama administration announced Monday that it will revise substantially the five-star rating program for nursing homes.

8 Oct 2014

N.Y. hospital's unusual outreach to patients saves money

Montefiore saved $24 million last year and are part of the accountable care organization pilot projects set up by the health law. Also, in Texas, federal officials are withholding funds while they probe a Medicaid financing plan.

8 Oct 2014

Medicare attack ads emerge in key Senate races

In recent weeks, Medicare has been an advertising topic in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa and Louisiana. Meanwhile, New Hampshire's Senate candidates discussed a range of health care topics during their first debate.

8 Oct 2014

Nurse-led intervention program fails to improve 30-day hospital readmission rates

Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that a nurse-led intervention program designed to reduce readmissions among ethnically and linguistically diverse older patients did not improve 30-day hospital readmission rates. Their findings suggest hospitals evaluate such programs before implementing or continuing.

8 Oct 2014

Connecture launches private health insurance exchange solution, On Ramp

Connecture, Inc. ("Connecture"), a leading provider of web-based information systems used to create health insurance marketplaces, today announced the immediate availability of On Ramp, a full service, private health insurance exchange solution and corresponding benefits portal that provides the functionality needed to dramatically enhance the delivery of employee benefits and empower consumers to make more informed health insurance decisions with ease.

7 Oct 2014

MedDATA now certified to supply Medical Coding & Billing Services to Federal Government

Medical Data Consultants, Inc. a leading Medical Coding & Billing firm, is pleased to announce that they have been awarded GSA Schedule 520 contract (GS-23F-057BA) and are now certified to supply Medical Coding & Billing Services to the Federal Government.

7 Oct 2014

Medicare News and Research

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

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

Candidates for Calif. congressional seat clash over health law

International Biophysics files patent protection for revolutionary AffloVest

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics applauds USPSTF's recommendations on screening for diabetes

Teaching hospitals make residency funding pitch on Capitol Hill

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

Columbia Nursing researcher suggests ways to prevent nursing home infections

30,000 Wal-Mart part-time workers to lose health benefits

U-M researchers propose new ways to fight sepsis

Medical debt crisis worsening in America despite advances in health care policy

Revolutionary Hypo-tec Needlestick Injury Prevention Product enters North American market

AARP survey shows that many Americans not planned enough for health expenses in retirement

Physical therapy before joint replacement surgery reduces need for postoperative care by nearly 30%

Nursing home rating system gets a makeover

N.Y. hospital's unusual outreach to patients saves money

Medicare attack ads emerge in key Senate races

Nurse-led intervention program fails to improve 30-day hospital readmission rates

Connecture launches private health insurance exchange solution, On Ramp

MedDATA now certified to supply Medical Coding & Billing Services to Federal Government

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