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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

Acacia Pharma reports positive results from APD421 Phase 3 studies for management of PONV

Acacia Pharma announces positive Phase 3 results with APD421 for the management of post-operative nausea & vomiting (PONV). The data generated demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in the incidence of PONV with APD421 compared to placebo in adult surgical patients at moderate to high risk of suffering PONV (PONV is defined as any episode of emesis or use of antiemetic rescue medication in the first 24 hours after surgery).

7 Oct 2014

State highlights: Ohio Medicaid and senior annuities; Mich. extends Medicaid dental coverage for kids

A war is being waged in Ohio over whether elderly couples with one person in a nursing home can buy an annuity to keep the other from going broke -- and still apply for public assistance. Elder-law attorneys say the state isn't following federal laws regarding Medicaid-compliant annuities, and that's hurting middle-class seniors who worked hard and saved for a rainy day. Several courts seem to agree, with one judge recently putting the state on notice that it could lose millions of dollars in federal funding if it doesn't change its ways (Pyle, 10/6).

7 Oct 2014

New study finds geographic variation in use of laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer patients

Where patients live in the country may determine whether they receive minimally invasive colon cancer surgery.

7 Oct 2014

Medicare open enrollment brings lots of choices

For millions of older Americans, it is time to sift through the mind-boggling array of Medicare plans. There is an average of 29 drug plans to digest, and about 18 options for Medicare Advantage, the plans delivered through private insurers. Then there are the 10 supplemental plans that cover what traditional Medicare does not. The choices can be paralyzing for anyone, and they can be even more challenging as you age. ... Here are some ideas on how to approach the decision-making process (Bernard, 10/3).

7 Oct 2014

Many nursing homes still lack fire sprinklers

More than 50,000 people are living in nursing homes without adequate fire sprinkler systems, a year after the deadline set by the federal government, according to The Associated Press. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal looks at lawyers who specialize in suing for-profit nursing homes for abuse and neglect.

7 Oct 2014

Calif. won't challenge 2015 rate increases

The state's regulators didn't raise concerns about premium increases for the 10 plans in California's online marketplace. In addition, enrollment efforts make news in Missouri and Minnesota.

7 Oct 2014

Medicare fines 2,610 hospitals for excessive readmissions

Medicare is fining a record number of hospitals – 2,610 – for having too many patients return within a month for additional treatments, federal records released Wednesday show. Even though the nation's readmission rate is dropping, Medicare's average fines will be higher, with 39 hospitals receiving the largest penalty allowed, including the nation's oldest hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia (Rau, 10/2).

5 Oct 2014

Health exchange's one-year mark: Looking forward, looking back

As of Oct. 1, the health law's online marketplaces have been up and running for a year. News outlets offer status reports on what appears to have gone well, what problems remain as the second open enrollment period approaches and how these factors are playing politically.

3 Oct 2014

Early review: Open payments database not so open

The new federal website, which was created to provide information about financial links between physicians and the drug industry, is not user-friendly, notes The Associated Press. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal digs into the data to see what it shows about the ties between medical professionals and the drug industry.

3 Oct 2014

Medicare News and Research

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

Acacia Pharma reports positive results from APD421 Phase 3 studies for management of PONV

State highlights: Ohio Medicaid and senior annuities; Mich. extends Medicaid dental coverage for kids

New study finds geographic variation in use of laparoscopic colectomy for colon cancer patients

Medicare open enrollment brings lots of choices

Many nursing homes still lack fire sprinklers

Calif. won't challenge 2015 rate increases

Medicare fines 2,610 hospitals for excessive readmissions

Health exchange's one-year mark: Looking forward, looking back

Early review: Open payments database not so open

Open payments database debuts, detailing financial connections between physicians and drug makers

State highlights: Fla. toughens drug compounding laws; Conn. hospitals leave largest insurer

Doctors, hospitals went digital, but still can't share records

Agingcare.com introduces Prescription Drug Assistance Locator tool

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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