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Ohio changes Medicaid drug program, N.C. weighs cuts in Medicaid personal care services

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports that Ohio's seven Medicaid managed care plans this month will make changes in the prescription drug plans that cover about 1.5 million people, although many of those beneficiaries will not face increased costs.

3 Feb 2010

Legislators set sights on temporary Medicare 'Doc fix,' again

Politico: "Doctors and seniors lobbying to stave off looming annual Medicare cuts have won a reprieve of sorts but are still pushing for a permanent fix. The Senate on Thursday passed so-called pay-go legislation that would require Congress to pay for much of its future spending without adding to the deficit, but it exempted $82 billion from the requirement to prevent reductions to doctors' Medicare reimbursement rates." The move could prevent five years of cuts, the longest such stretch lawmakers would have approved since 2002. "The cuts stem from a 1997 balanced budget bill" (Frates, 2/2).

2 Feb 2010

Persons with impaired hearing should be encouraged by family members to seek appropriate treatment

Recent data arising out of the Better Hearing Institute's "MarkeTrak" national study demonstrates that hearing loss is prevalent, serious, and often denied by the sufferer. The information revealed suggests that family members of the hearing impaired should actively encourage their loved ones to address their hearing problem, an effort which will greatly benefit both the hard of hearing and their kin.

2 Feb 2010

First Edition: February 2, 2010

Today's health policy headlines focus on highlights of President Obama's fiscal 2011 budget request and how it treats health-related programs. Meanwhile, in the background, health reform chatter continues.

2 Feb 2010

Some sectors of health care industry are booming

The Sacramento Bee: "The gleaming new tower at Mercy San Juan Medical Center bustles with patients, nurses and doctors. ... Opened a month ago, Mercy's tower was cited in a recent report ranking Sacramento as the nation's fastest growing market for health care jobs. The six-story project added 110 beds and nearly 200 new jobs to the hospital. ... Already, the health care sector accounts for a fifth of the region's payroll." That could be poised to grow: "Aging baby boomers, coupled with the region's population growth, virtually guarantee that the demand for health services won't diminish" (Caina Calvan, 2/1).

2 Feb 2010

Research roundup: Raising seniors' co-pays increases costs; The stimulus and safety net providers

New England Journal of Medicine: Increased Ambulatory Care Copayments And Hospitalizations Among The Elderly - This study examines the consequences of increasing copayments for outpatient care of Medicare enrollees in managed-care plans. "As compared with matched control plans in which copayments for ambulatory care were unchanged, Medicare plans that increased these copayments by an average of 95% for primary care and 74% for specialty care had a reduction in the number of outpatient visits but an increase in hospital admissions, in the number of days of hospital care, and in the proportion of enrollees who used hospital care," the authors write.

30 Jan 2010

ACP urges Congress to reach agreement on comprehensive health reform legislation

The American College of Physicians (ACP) today urged Congressional leaders to "reach agreement on a legislative pathway to provide affordable care to all Americans and ensure that they have access to primary care physicians and other specialties facing shortages."

29 Jan 2010

Obama appeals for health reform despite recent setbacks

The New York Times reports that "after spending 2009 emphasizing that a health care overhaul was his top domestic priority, Mr. Obama gave it much less prominence in his [State of the Union] address. He did not mention it until more than half an hour in — a sign of how imperiled the bill has become."

29 Jan 2010

Increased cost sharing may hurt seniors' health care

Cost sharing and increased co-pays, even if it's just a few dollars, can lead seniors to put off visits to the doctor and result in increased hospital admissions and longer hospital stays, according to a new study.

28 Jan 2010

Centering Healthcare Institute receives the Cares Award for its CenteringPregnancy Group Prenatal Care program

Centering Healthcare Institute has been honored by the Premier healthcare alliance with the 18th Annual Monroe E. Trout Premier Cares Award for its CenteringPregnancy Group Prenatal Care program, which provides an innovative prenatal group care model now present in more than 300 sites across America. Centering Healthcare Institute last night received the Cares Award and $70,000 for the work it has done to provide care to mothers and babies nationwide.

28 Jan 2010

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center opens Geriatric ED to treat senior patients

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, Paterson, NJ, recently opened the region's first dedicated Geriatric Emergency Department (Geriatric ED). Treating patients age 65 and older, the department is designed to meet the complex needs of older patients in a senior-friendly environment.

27 Jan 2010

Regular exercise associated with greater longevity and reduced risk of age-related conditions

Physical activity appears to be associated with a reduced risk or slower progression of several age-related conditions as well as improvements in overall health in older age, according to a commentary and four articles published in the January 25 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

27 Jan 2010

State news: New York Governor wants regulation on Rx gifts to doctors and other state news

The Associated Press/CNBC reports that New York Gov. David Paterson is "proposing new, tougher prohibitions on pharmaceutical companies, restricting them from dispensing gifts and misleading production information to doctors while promoting the use of specific drugs."

27 Jan 2010

White House mulling limits on scope of proposed health overhaul

The Wall Street Journal: "The White House, with its health-care initiative in doubt, on Sunday zeroed in on several elements it hoped would survive, including measures to extend the life of Medicare, lower prescription drug costs for seniors and cap consumers' out-of-pocket medical expenses."

27 Jan 2010

Florida, California, Kansas eyeing cuts in Medicaid funding

The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that as the recession continues to increase the number of people without jobs, many more are seeking health care through the state's Medicaid program, "driving up costs and playing a major role in a potential $3 billion state budget shortfall next year.

27 Jan 2010

Democratic leaders still pondering reconciliation pros and cons for health bill

Congressional Democrats are facing a critical decision about whether to use the procedural maneuver known as budget reconciliation to pass a health care reform bill, The New York Times reports.

27 Jan 2010

BioOhio launches Annual Scholarship program to promote bioscience career pursuits among students

The connection between higher education and pursuing a bioscience career is without question. The availability of funds for a student to pursue a bioscience education, however, is sometimes less certain.

27 Jan 2010

Bayh urges Dems to move to the center; Nelson says he cannot support national exchange

The Wall Street Journal: "Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, the very embodiment of calm understatement, seems an unlikely character to play the role of scold. But in recent weeks—particularly after last week's Massachusetts mauling—he has been scolding his Democratic Party, and sternly.

27 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 25, 2010

Today's news begins to set the scene for the President's upcoming State of the Union address, and provides continuing coverage of Democrats' efforts to regroup on health reform.

25 Jan 2010

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

A new Kaiser Family Foundation poll finds that Americans are divided over congressional health reform proposals, but also that large shares of people, including skeptics, become more supportive after being told about many of the major provisions in the bills.

23 Jan 2010

Seniors News and Research

Ohio changes Medicaid drug program, N.C. weighs cuts in Medicaid personal care services

Legislators set sights on temporary Medicare 'Doc fix,' again

Persons with impaired hearing should be encouraged by family members to seek appropriate treatment

First Edition: February 2, 2010

Some sectors of health care industry are booming

Research roundup: Raising seniors' co-pays increases costs; The stimulus and safety net providers

ACP urges Congress to reach agreement on comprehensive health reform legislation

Obama appeals for health reform despite recent setbacks

Increased cost sharing may hurt seniors' health care

Centering Healthcare Institute receives the Cares Award for its CenteringPregnancy Group Prenatal Care program

St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center opens Geriatric ED to treat senior patients

Regular exercise associated with greater longevity and reduced risk of age-related conditions

State news: New York Governor wants regulation on Rx gifts to doctors and other state news

White House mulling limits on scope of proposed health overhaul

Florida, California, Kansas eyeing cuts in Medicaid funding

Democratic leaders still pondering reconciliation pros and cons for health bill

BioOhio launches Annual Scholarship program to promote bioscience career pursuits among students

Bayh urges Dems to move to the center; Nelson says he cannot support national exchange

First Edition: January 25, 2010

Americans are divided about health reform proposals overall, but the public, including critics, becomes more supportive when told about key provisions

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