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First Edition: May 12, 2014

Today's headlines include news about the inner-workings of some state-based health exchanges. Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with NPR, Richard Knox writes: "Previous drug treatments didn't clear the virus from Bianco's system. But it's almost certain that potent new drugs for hep-C could cure him.

12 May 2014

Research roundup: Unearthing factors in hospital readmissions; dissecting the enrollment surge

Using inpatient data from an urban teaching hospital, we examined how elements of individual characteristics and neighborhood socioeconomic status influenced the likelihood of readmission ... Patients living in high-poverty neighborhoods were 24 percent more likely than others to be readmitted, after demographic characteristics and clinical conditions were adjusted for. Married patients were at significantly reduced risk of readmission, which suggests that they had more social support than unmarried patients. These and previous findings that document socioeconomic disparities in readmission raise the question of whether CMS's readmission measures and associated financial penalties should be adjusted for the effects of factors beyond hospital influence at the individual or neighborhood level, such as poverty and lack of social support (Hu, Gonsahn and Nerenz, May 2014).

12 May 2014

Virtual doctors visits await regulation, grow in popularity

And recommendations on digital privacy protections for electronic health records could come as early as June.

12 May 2014

First Edition: May 9, 2014

Today's headlines include highlights from the first Senate confirmation hearing for Sylvia Mathews Burwell, President Barack Obama's pick for Health and Human Services Secretary.

9 May 2014

HMS Holdings revenue decreases 10.2% in Q1 2014

HMS Holdings Corp. today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

9 May 2014

N.C. Senate GOP nominee calls for Obamacare repeal

In Massachusetts, former CMS chief Dr. Don Berwick's campaign for governor calls for single-payer care, and Democratic candidates in Maryland's race for governor clash over the insurance exchange.

9 May 2014

Veracyte's revenue increases 71% to $7.5 million in Q1 2014

Veracyte, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014, and provided an update on recent business progress. For the first quarter of 2014, revenue was $7.5 million, an increase of 71%, compared to $4.4 million for the first quarter of 2013.

9 May 2014

Medicare advantage enrollment grows despite health law cuts

Don't look now, but the private sector is quietly strengthening its grip on the Medicare program, at least if enrollment in the Medicare Advantage plans is a good proxy.

9 May 2014

Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine names COPAXONE therapy as 2014 "Brand of The Year"

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., today announced that COPAXONE (glatiramer acetate injection), the #1 global therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis, has been named the 2014 "Brand of The Year" by Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine, a leading print and online publication for the biopharmaceutical industry.

9 May 2014

HHS finds hospitals getting safer

The administration credited the improvements at least partially to the Affordable Care Act.

9 May 2014

First Edition: May 8, 2014

Today's headlines include reports from a Capitol Hill hearing featuring health insurers' testimony about their experiences with new enrollment under the health law.

8 May 2014

MAXIMUS revenue increases 35% to $439.0 million in second quarter fiscal 2014

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended March 31, 2014.

8 May 2014

State highlights: SEIU, hospital strike deal in Calif.; N.Y. Medicaid audit; dental therapists

A selection of health policy stories from California, New York, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana and North Carolina.

8 May 2014

Humana's profit shrinks on higher expenses

The insurer said it expects to add more customers to its Medicare Advantage and individual plan businesses. Meanwhile, a few hospitals say they are doing simple surgeries for some uninsured patients for free to keep their problems from turning into emergencies that would be more expensive to treat, and those who developed meningitis as a result of tainted products seek compensation.

8 May 2014

House Democrats offer alternative mental health proposal

Many view the plan as controversial because it could hinder efforts toward bipartisan mental health reforms. Republicans offered their own measure about six months ago.

8 May 2014

Kindred's consolidated revenues increase 2% to $1.30 billion in Q1 2014

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced its operating results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

7 May 2014

Gentiva’s net revenues increase $487.5M to 17% in Q1 2014

Gentiva Health Services, Inc., one of the largest providers of home health, hospice and community care services in the United States, today reported first quarter 2014 results.

7 May 2014

OhioHealth selects DataMotion to provide Direct Secure Messaging services

After a thorough evaluation of technology vendors, OhioHealth, a nationally recognized, not-for-profit healthcare system serving a 40-county area, has selected DataMotion, an innovative health information service provider (HISP), as its provider of Direct Secure Messaging services for its community of 28,000 physicians and associates.

7 May 2014

Humana reports EPS of $2.35 in Q1 2014; confirms EPS guidance for FY14

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended March 31, 2014 (1Q14) of $2.35, compared to diluted earnings per common share (EPS) of $2.95 for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 (1Q13).

7 May 2014