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Viewpoints: GOP attacks on health law; challenging assumptions about Obamacare politics; is employer mandate worth it?

A crucial component of the Republican Party's assault on the Affordable Care Act always has been ignorance -- that is, the promotion of ignorance about the ACA's benefits among the general population. Now, from the consulting firm McKinsey & Co., comes hard evidence that the campaign worked, bigtime. In its latest national survey to determine how the healthcare reform act has been working, McKinsey found that the perceived cost of health insurance still was the No. 1 reason given by respondents for not enrolling (Michael Hiltzik, 5/14).

16 May 2014

Three large health plans join forces to advance health care price transparency

A partnership was announced Wednesday between insurers UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Humana and the Health Care Cost Institute to create a payment database that will be available at no cost to the public.

16 May 2014

Lung cancer screening guidelines could cost Medicare billions

A study of Medicare beneficiaries with a history of heavy smoking found that new lung cancer screening guidelines would likely double the proportion of lung cancers found at an early stage, but at a steep cost of more than $9 billion over five years.

16 May 2014

Confirmation path appears smooth for Obama pick to take the helm at HHS

Sylvia Mathews Burwell received a friendly reception from both sides of the aisle during her second confirmation hearing, during which she pledged to try to recoup any taxpayer funds that may have been misused on flawed state websites and defended the "unilateral" changes the Aministration has made to the health law.

16 May 2014

Medica, Mayo Clinic Health System partner to make care available at lower cost in northwestern Wisconsin

Medica and Mayo Clinic Health System announced today a new relationship that will make care available at a lower cost and provide a seamless consumer experience. It is available in northwestern Wisconsin through Medica's market-leading private health exchange, My Plan by Medica.

15 May 2014

Actavis reaches agreement to continue supplying authorized generic version of JPI's Concerta

Actavis plc today announced that it has reached an agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to continue supplying the authorized generic version of JPI's Concerta (methylphenidate hydrochloride extended-release tablets).

15 May 2014

In-office treatment using balloon sinus dilation is as effective as FESS for chronic sinusitis

New results from a randomized trial published in the American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy demonstrate the benefits of in-office balloon dilation for sufferers of chronic sinusitis.

15 May 2014

First Edition: May 15, 2014

Today's headlines include highlights from Wednesday's Senate confirmation hearing -- the second one -- for Sylvia Mathews Burwell, the White House pick to become the next Health and Human Services Secretary.

15 May 2014

State highlights: Budget surplus in Calif., but higher Medi-Cal costs; court-ordered mental health care in Calif.; nurses' authority in Minn.

A selection of health policy stories from California, Minnesota, Georgia, Washington state, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Illinois and Maryland.

15 May 2014

Medicare fraud strike force strikes again, arresting 90 people

A federal task force on Tuesday charged 90 people, including 16 doctors, with generating $260 million of false Medicare billings following raids in cities across the country.

15 May 2014

Eyeing presidential run, Rubio outlines Medicare plans

Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), considered a likely presidential candidate in 2016, on Tuesday called for structural changes to Social Security and Medicare as a way to control spending for both programs, which are growing steadily as the U.S. population ages.

15 May 2014

First Edition: May 14, 2014

Today's headlines include stories about consumer frustrations about cost and coverage issues that are emerging with the health law's implementation.

14 May 2014

Financially weak hospitals continue to struggle, say health researchers

The recent economic recession affected hospitals across the nation, regardless of financial status, but following the rebound, financially weak and safety-net hospitals continue to struggle, according to health researchers.

14 May 2014

Patient, technology groups push to expand digital care

Various groups see telemedicine as a potential boon for people with complex chronic diseases who have difficulty getting to the doctor. But there are hurdles from Medicare payment rules to state licensing restrictions.

14 May 2014

Insurers' state filings offer signals about the 2015 marketplace

The Wall Street Journal, using Molina Healthcare Inc. as an example because the company is proposing to lower customers' rates, notes that insurers that were conservative in their 2014 pricing may feel pressure in the year ahead.

14 May 2014

Mayo Clinic researchers find innovative approaches to reduce early hospital readmissions

A Mayo Clinic review of 47 studies found that 30-day readmissions can be reduced by almost 20 percent when specific efforts are taken to prevent them. Key among these are interventions to help patients deal with the work passed on to them at discharge.

14 May 2014

Medicare roundup: Alabama pain clinic spending 'hotspot'; quality improvement program scrutinized

Also, the controversy about paying for a hepatitis-C cure and reinstating physicians who lost their licenses.

13 May 2014

Treating older men with early-stage prostate cancer does not help live longer

Treating older men with early-stage prostate cancer who also have other serious underlying health problems with aggressive therapies such as surgery or radiation therapy does not help them live longer and, in fact, can be detrimental, according to a study by UCLA researchers.

13 May 2014

Health law adds to financial squeeze for rural hospitals

The Wall Street Journal reports on how a number of policies and market forces are combining to put added pressure on rural hospitals. Meanwhile, other news outlets report on the challenge of making the health system affordable and the health law's new options for pregnant women.

13 May 2014

Hospital patients now see improved quality of nutrition health care by CMS’ new rule

Hospital patients may now see improved quality and timeliness of nutrition health care and hospitals will save hundreds of millions of dollars annually because of a new rule issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

12 May 2014

Medicare News and Research

Viewpoints: GOP attacks on health law; challenging assumptions about Obamacare politics; is employer mandate worth it?

Three large health plans join forces to advance health care price transparency

Lung cancer screening guidelines could cost Medicare billions

Confirmation path appears smooth for Obama pick to take the helm at HHS

Medica, Mayo Clinic Health System partner to make care available at lower cost in northwestern Wisconsin

Actavis reaches agreement to continue supplying authorized generic version of JPI's Concerta

In-office treatment using balloon sinus dilation is as effective as FESS for chronic sinusitis

First Edition: May 15, 2014

State highlights: Budget surplus in Calif., but higher Medi-Cal costs; court-ordered mental health care in Calif.; nurses' authority in Minn.

Medicare fraud strike force strikes again, arresting 90 people

Eyeing presidential run, Rubio outlines Medicare plans

First Edition: May 14, 2014

Financially weak hospitals continue to struggle, say health researchers

Patient, technology groups push to expand digital care

Insurers' state filings offer signals about the 2015 marketplace

Mayo Clinic researchers find innovative approaches to reduce early hospital readmissions

Medicare roundup: Alabama pain clinic spending 'hotspot'; quality improvement program scrutinized

Treating older men with early-stage prostate cancer does not help live longer

Health law adds to financial squeeze for rural hospitals

Hospital patients now see improved quality of nutrition health care by CMS’ new rule

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