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Senate backs bipartisan bill to overhaul vets' health care system

The Senate measure, which was approved Wednesday by a 93-3 vote and has gained the White House's nod, has elements in common with a version unanimously approved Tuesday by the House of Representatives.

13 Jun 2014

Questions arising over how Medicare evaluates hospital patients

A new study examines how Medicare categorizes hospital errors and the controversy over "observation care" continues.

13 Jun 2014

Co-ops struggle to enroll people

Elsewhere, Oregon officials are planning on limiting access to a new, pricey hepatitis C drug to state health plan members. Also, UnitedHealthcare is considering entering Georgia's health care exchange next year.

13 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 12, 2014

Today's headlines include stories examining how Eric Cantor's primary defeat will change the House GOP leadership and the Republican strategy to replace the health law.

12 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: Cantor was no RINO; battles over Medicaid in Va. and Ind.; reforms moving for VA

Ideas have consequences. Elections sure do, too. David Brat's victory over Eric Cantor is stunning, to state the glaringly obvious. ... Brat's victory also moves the Virginia GOP even further to the right. No one ever could have mistaken Cantor - who organized 50 votes to repeal Obamacare - for a RINO, let alone a limousine liberal. But for many GOP diehards, he was insufficiently confrontational (6/11).

12 Jun 2014

House Republicans take aim at health law subsidy overpayments

Lawmakers at a joint hearing of the Ways and Means health and oversight subcommittees heard testimony from conservative groups noting that the total of these overpayments to people newly enrolled in health plans could reach hundreds of billions of dollars and, even though those consumers could face a tax hit, the actual funds could be difficult to recoup.

12 Jun 2014

Survey: Health exchange shoppers have choices between large and small provider networks

The survey, done by consulting company McKinsey and Co., found the majority of online insurance marketplace customers have options that include both larger, more costly networks and smaller, more affordable ones. In addition, the latest on the SHOP program as well as a report about a new round of grants for navigators.

12 Jun 2014

8.5 million on Medicare get opioids

The number of senior citizens getting narcotic painkillers and anti-anxiety medications under Medicare's prescription drug program is climbing sharply, and those older patients are being put on the drugs for longer periods of time, a USA TODAY examination of federal data shows.

12 Jun 2014

Risk factors for hospital readmissions identified in stroke patients

Hospital readmission, an important measure of quality care, costs the United States an estimated $17 billion each year. And according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, about half of those readmissions could be avoided.

11 Jun 2014

Taking a closer look at Medicare Advantage money, lobbying

The Center for Public Integrity looks at Medicare Advantage plans -- the money surrounding them including for reimbursement and what they spend on lobbying Congress.

11 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 11, 2014

Today's headlines include a range of stories about the upset of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor -- a Virginia primary election shocker -- as well as continuing coverage of health law implementation issues and congressional responses to the VA's health care troubles.

11 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: 'Bureaucratic Ninja' for the VA; Soap Opera in Virginia; hospital readmissions

By pulling out of the running to be the next secretary of Veterans Affairs, Cleveland Clinic head Toby Cosgrove has given the administration a chance to think harder about what the VA needs most right now.

11 Jun 2014

Bayer HealthCare seeks EU marketing authorization of EYLEA for macular edema following BRVO

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare today announced that Bayer HealthCare has submitted an application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) seeking marketing authorization in the European Union (EU) for EYLEA (aflibercept) Injection for the treatment of macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

11 Jun 2014

Type 2 diabetes Patients who take metformin plus insulin at higher risk for heart disease, death

Patients with type 2 diabetes who take a combination of metformin plus insulin may be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and death compared with those who take a combination of metformin plus sulfonylurea, according to a new study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality that appears in the June 11 issue of JAMA.

11 Jun 2014

Virginia budget plan moving forward without Medicaid expansion

After the abrupt resignation of a Democrat switched the state Senate to Republican control, Democrats began negotiating on a spending plan that no longer includes the governor's priority of expanding health care coverage to low-income residents.

11 Jun 2014

Some doctors bill Medicare far more often for unusual procedures

Elsewhere, a former editor of a prominent medical journal says many or most doctors have had conflicts of interest that could harm patients. And, doctors look for new ways to thrive -- or survive -- economically.

11 Jun 2014

ApolloMed agrees to provide hospitalist services for Blue Shield of California PPO members

Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc., an integrated, physician-centric healthcare delivery company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to provide comprehensive hospitalist services for Blue Shield of California PPO members at hospitals at which ApolloMed is present.

10 Jun 2014

New white paper highlights coming retirement health care cost crisis

A new white paper from HealthView Services, the leading provider of retirement health care cost data, highlights a coming retirement health care cost crisis and gap in planning for retirement health care costs.

10 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 10, 2014

Today's headlines include details of an extensive, nationwide audit of the wait times for care at VA hospitals and clinics.

10 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: 'Triage' at the VA; GOP can't 'fix' health law; mental health problems in LA jail

Washington's attention span on the Veterans Affairs scandal seems to be expiring. Though 42 of the VA's 152 major campuses (27%) are still under investigation for falsifying wait-time records, the Senate is converging on a bipartisan deal that claims to solve the problem.

10 Jun 2014

Medicare News and Research

Senate backs bipartisan bill to overhaul vets' health care system

Questions arising over how Medicare evaluates hospital patients

Co-ops struggle to enroll people

First Edition: June 12, 2014

Viewpoints: Cantor was no RINO; battles over Medicaid in Va. and Ind.; reforms moving for VA

House Republicans take aim at health law subsidy overpayments

Survey: Health exchange shoppers have choices between large and small provider networks

8.5 million on Medicare get opioids

Risk factors for hospital readmissions identified in stroke patients

Taking a closer look at Medicare Advantage money, lobbying

First Edition: June 11, 2014

Viewpoints: 'Bureaucratic Ninja' for the VA; Soap Opera in Virginia; hospital readmissions

Bayer HealthCare seeks EU marketing authorization of EYLEA for macular edema following BRVO

Type 2 diabetes Patients who take metformin plus insulin at higher risk for heart disease, death

Virginia budget plan moving forward without Medicaid expansion

Some doctors bill Medicare far more often for unusual procedures

ApolloMed agrees to provide hospitalist services for Blue Shield of California PPO members

New white paper highlights coming retirement health care cost crisis

First Edition: June 10, 2014

Viewpoints: 'Triage' at the VA; GOP can't 'fix' health law; mental health problems in LA jail

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