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Health insurance reimbursement may determine cancer screening rates

A study published today indicates that people living in American states that offer higher Medicaid payments for office visits are more likely to have been screened for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers than those in states giving lower levels of Medicaid support.

25 Aug 2014

Parsing the mixed messages regarding health plan costs

The Huffington Post breaks down the good and bad news surrounding what people may pay next year for coverage in the wake of the health law. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare takes a look at how the Obama administration decision to let people keep health coverage that didn't comply with the overhaul's standards is impacting premium rates.

23 Aug 2014

Sen. Pryor debuts campaign ad embracing health law provisions

The Arkansas Democrat, who is in a tough reelection fight, talked about his own struggle with cancer and how the health law provisions that prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to people with medical problems could have helped him.

22 Aug 2014

Texas deals with barriers to signing immigrants up for health coverage

Outreach is also proving a big barrier to signing Latinos up for health insurance in California, many say.

22 Aug 2014

Poll: Californians support stronger regulation of insurance rates

The ballot initiative, which will likely be the subject of a costly campaign battle, is championed by consumer groups but opposed by many in the medical and insurance industries.

22 Aug 2014

Lawsuit challenges employer wellness program

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission brought a lawsuit on behalf of a former employee of Orion Energy Systems, based in Manitowoc, Wis., saying she was punished and then fired for refusing to participate in a company wellness program. Another story looks at how companies are buying or subsidizing fitness-tracking devices to encourage employees to be more fit.

22 Aug 2014

Add dental check-up to back-to-school checklist, says dentist

As parents and kids gear up for a new school year, a trip to the dentist should be on everyone's back-to-school checklist, according to dentists from Kool Smiles, a children's dental provider expanding access to quality, affordable dental care in underserved communities nationwide.

22 Aug 2014

Memorial Hermann partners with MD Anderson to provide new level of specialized breast screening

Memorial Hermann Health System and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center today announced a new partnership to provide a new level of specialized breast screening at a network of community breast care centers in the greater Houston area.

22 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 21, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about a new "Obamacare" ad in the Arkansas Senate race and a California poll measuring how the state's voters feel about a ballot initiative that would expand the state's ability to regulate health insurance rates.

21 Aug 2014

Majority of states not measuring up on legislative solutions that fight cancer, shows report

A majority of states are not measuring up on legislative solutions that prevent and fight cancer, according to a new report released today by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).

21 Aug 2014

Md. officials vow to have marketplace working in November

The online insurance website was plagued with problems during last year's enrollment season, but state officials say they are confident the $40 million reconstruction of the site will work.

21 Aug 2014

Big support for insurance rate regulation measure in California

A proposal to randomly drug test doctors and increase the limit on medical malpractice lawsuit awards also has a strong show of support in the poll.

21 Aug 2014

Internet security is growing concern at health care sites

The recent hacker attack against Community Health Systems highlights concerns about patient privacy as hospitals, doctors and other providers move to use more electronic records.

21 Aug 2014

Advocates decry closing of mental health clinics in Chicago

But officials say the closings, which planned to shutter six of the city's 12 mental health clinics, actually expanded care for those with mental illnesses.

21 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 20, 2014

Today's headlines include a report from California that Anthem Blue Cross is being sued again regarding its narrow-network health plans as well as a prediction from Maryland officials regarding the state's online insurance marketplace.

20 Aug 2014

Women could benefit from Affordable Care Act's mandate for contraceptive coverage

Women could benefit greatly from the Affordable Care Act's mandate for contraceptive coverage, according to Penn State College of Medicine researchers.

20 Aug 2014

Amid tumult and turmoil, health care sector expected to show revenue growth

Seismic shifts in the technology and health-care sectors highlight why executives are divided or undecided about taking financial and strategic risks.

20 Aug 2014

Chinese cyberattack steals 4.5 million patients' data from hospital records

Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, which runs 206 hospitals in 29 states, says no medical information was exposed, however.

20 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 19, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including stories about a how a hospital system's data was hacked, involving as many as 4.5 million patients' records.

19 Aug 2014

Viewpoints: Va. GOP's 'Medicaid charade'; Paul Ryan's health Rx for poverty; giving the sick unapproved drugs

Virginia lawmakers will convene in a special session next month to address the question of expanding Medicaid and, more broadly, the fact that hundreds of thousands of poor and disabled people in the state have no health insurance coverage. Democrats and some moderate Republicans have advanced a variety of ideas to tackle that problem. Conservative Republicans, who control the legislature in Richmond, have rejected those solutions while proposing no alternative. Does the GOP intend for the special session to be anything more than a charade at taxpayers' expense? (8/15).

19 Aug 2014