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Aetna partners with Fresenius Medical Care to improve lives of people with end stage renal disease

Fresenius Medical Care announced today a collaborative care model designed to improve the quality of care for Aetna's Medicare Advantage members who have end stage renal disease, while lowering health care costs.

10 Jun 2014

Under health law, states serve as testing grounds for innovation

Media outlets report on a range of issues related to the measure's implementation, including how some states are finding opportunities in the overhaul to pursue their own health system changes.

10 Jun 2014

MD Anderson study shows that needle biopsy underused in breast cancer patients

Needle biopsy, the standard of care radiological procedure for diagnosing breast cancer, is underused with too many patients undergoing the more invasive, excisional biopsy to detect their disease, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

10 Jun 2014

State highlights: Improving chronic care in Las Vegas; standoff over Medicaid in N.C.

Now, Las Vegas is emerging as a test of how much a community can improve chronically poor health by expanding insurance coverage and using models of medical care pioneered in healthier places. "We are a prime example of what people see as problematic about the American healthcare system," said Larry Matheis, the former longtime head of the Nevada State Medical Assn. "That makes a lot of the ideas in health reform very attractive. … The challenge is going to be figuring out how to make it all work" (Levey, 6/7).

10 Jun 2014

Hospital shifting away from billing for individual services

Bundled payments may be the "wave of the future," the Wall Street Journal suggests. Meanwhile, health care providers are working to get patients more involved in decisions about their care.

9 Jun 2014

HHS identifies overpayments to Medicare advantage plans but doesn't recover funds

Medicare auditors found the government overpaid the plans hundreds of millions of dollars but in 2013 opted to scrap such reviews, the Center for Public Integrity writes. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare looks at Medicare's difficult job in dealing with safety failures.

9 Jun 2014

Centene enters into transaction with Community Health Solutions of America

Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) ("Centene") announced today that it has entered into a transaction whereby Community Health Solutions of America, Inc. ("CHS") will assign its contract with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals ("DHH") under the Bayou Health Shared Savings Program to Centene's wholly owned subsidiary, Louisiana Healthcare Connections, Inc. ("LHCC").

9 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 9, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about efforts on the state level and within the health care system to address health care costs and advance other system reforms.

9 Jun 2014

CAHF renews Preferred Provider deal with COMS Interactive

The California Association of Health Facilities (CAHF) has renewed its Preferred Provider relationship with COMS Interactive (COMS or Clinical Outcomes Management Solutions).

9 Jun 2014

Viewpoints: Tea party missing the lesson; health care not an ordinary market; Va.'s Medicaid battle

But the Tea Party does have something to show for its five years of annoyance: Ted Cruz, senator from Texas. Cruz is probably best known for reading "Green Eggs and Ham" on the floor of the Senate during a 21-hour talkathon designed to ensure his place as the most hated man in that august chamber.

9 Jun 2014

Senate OKs Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be next HHS secretary

The Senate confirmed Burwell's nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services 78 to 17, with only Republicans casting votes against her.

9 Jun 2014

Reporters reflect on health law battles

Huffington Post gathers five reporters who followed the passage and implementation of the health law to share their insights.

9 Jun 2014

Healthcare.gov to get makeover

The Wall Street Journal reports that the federal health insurance website is slated for an overhaul that will likely result in the scrapping of major parts of it that caused problems during last fall's launch. Its tight timeline is among the issues raising new concern.

6 Jun 2014

First Edition: June 6, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Senate confirmation of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be the next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

6 Jun 2014

United Spinal Association, NSCIA to convene at ROCH to address disability issues

United Spinal Association and advocates from its membership division, National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA), will gather in Washington, D.C. on June 22-25 for Roll on Capitol Hill to shape policies that impact the health, independence and quality of life of people living with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D).

6 Jun 2014

State highlights: NYC soda fight back in court; doc training slots in N.Y.; Texas inmate dialysis costs

New York City's battle over sugary drinks is entering its endgame. But much more than soda is at stake. A plan to limit the sale of large, high-calorie beverages, championed by former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg as a novel way to fight obesity, went before the State Court of Appeals here on Wednesday, the city's final recourse after a lower court judge struck down the proposal last year (Grynbaum, 6/4).

6 Jun 2014

Longer looks: When an ER doctor becomes an ER patient; visualizing end-of-life treatments; Google Glass inside operating rooms

If you are shot or stabbed in or around Oakland, you are likely to be sent [to Highland Hospital). Oakland has the highest violent crime rate in the nation, so I have indeed seen my fair share of victims over my long career here.

6 Jun 2014

UnitedHealth Group raises dividend by 34 percent

Despite its lackluster performance in the first quarter, attributed to government cuts to Medicare Advantage programs and new taxes, the insurer's stock has climbed 28 percent since June 4, 2013, the day before its last dividend increase.

6 Jun 2014

NCOA brings innovative online support program to help people manage type 2 diabetes

Under a unique collaboration, the National Council on Aging with support from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and WellPoint are—for the first time—bringing a proven and affordable face-to-face and online support program to help people manage their Type 2 diabetes.

6 Jun 2014

Senate to vote on confirmation of Burwell as HHS chief

The Senate is scheduled to proceed with consideration of the Obama administration pick to take over the Department of Health and Human Services.

6 Jun 2014

Medicare News and Research

Aetna partners with Fresenius Medical Care to improve lives of people with end stage renal disease

Under health law, states serve as testing grounds for innovation

MD Anderson study shows that needle biopsy underused in breast cancer patients

State highlights: Improving chronic care in Las Vegas; standoff over Medicaid in N.C.

Hospital shifting away from billing for individual services

HHS identifies overpayments to Medicare advantage plans but doesn't recover funds

Centene enters into transaction with Community Health Solutions of America

First Edition: June 9, 2014

CAHF renews Preferred Provider deal with COMS Interactive

Viewpoints: Tea party missing the lesson; health care not an ordinary market; Va.'s Medicaid battle

Senate OKs Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be next HHS secretary

Reporters reflect on health law battles

Healthcare.gov to get makeover

First Edition: June 6, 2014

United Spinal Association, NSCIA to convene at ROCH to address disability issues

State highlights: NYC soda fight back in court; doc training slots in N.Y.; Texas inmate dialysis costs

Longer looks: When an ER doctor becomes an ER patient; visualizing end-of-life treatments; Google Glass inside operating rooms

UnitedHealth Group raises dividend by 34 percent

NCOA brings innovative online support program to help people manage type 2 diabetes

Senate to vote on confirmation of Burwell as HHS chief

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