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Experts examine Medicare billing data limits

The recent release of Medicare billing records for doctors across the United States brought hope that consumers would get what they need to comparison-shop for health care. Although that did not turn out to be true, you do have other places to look.

29 Apr 2014

Loyola offers new type of implantable defibrillator that prevents sudden cardiac death

Loyola University Medical Center has begun offering patients a new type of implantable defibrillator that prevents sudden cardiac death with an electric shock to the heart.

29 Apr 2014

Actavis' subsidiary files lawsuit against FDA over Celebrex decision

Actavis plc today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., has filed suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration challenging the Agency's decision regarding its entitlement to shared 180-day marketing exclusivity for its generic version of Celebrex (celecoxib) 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg and 400 mg capsules.

29 Apr 2014

Truven Health Analytics announces acquisition of Fortel Analytics' healthcare fraud technology

Truven Health Analytics, a leading provider of healthcare analytics and data solutions and services, today announced the acquisition of Fortel Analytics' healthcare fraud technology. The acquisition gives Truven Health exclusive access to a breakthrough suite of predictive solutions, analysis methods and analytic technology designed to quickly identify suspicious patterns in healthcare insurance claims data before claims are ever paid.

28 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 28, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of stories examining the impact of the health law in various states.

28 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: 'Pinocchios' for the Koch brothers; Obamacare 'miracle'; the law's effect on hiring

The health care ads being run by Americans for Prosperity - one of the many frantically waving arms of the Koch brothers - are a gift to fact checkers everywhere. Because they deliberately twist the truth to persuade people to "stop supporting Obamacare," they have become a machine for producing "Pinocchios," the mendacity rating system used by Glenn Kessler at The Washington Post (David Firestone, 4/24).

26 Apr 2014

Cover Oregon poised to join federal exchange

With encouragement from the Obama administration, an Oregon panel recommended Thursday that the state pull the plug on its glitch-ridden website and switch to the federal insurance marketplace. The final decision is expected to be made Friday by its exchange board. Oregon built what is widely regarded as the worst-functioning state exchange in the nation.

26 Apr 2014

Drug companies that are high Medicare earners spend big on lobbying activities

The 10 drug companies that make the most money from doctors using their products on Medicare patients spent more than $236 million to lobby Congress and the executive branch between 2009 and 2013, according to lobbying records compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics and new federal data.

26 Apr 2014

HHS calls health care providers to expand use of medications to treat opioid addiction, reduce overdose deaths

A national response to the epidemic of prescription opioid overdose deaths was outlined yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine by leaders of agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

26 Apr 2014

Research roundup: Structural concerns in ACOs; public's view of mandated contraception coverage

The Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) programs reward participating health care provider groups that achieve slower spending growth and high quality of care.

26 Apr 2014

Consumers in high-risk pools can sign up for plans until June 30

The federal program that provided coverage for people with chronic health problems, which often prevented them from being able to buy private insurance, is shutting at the end of the month, but participants can buy coverage through the exchanges until the end of June.

26 Apr 2014

Aetna wary about exchange expansion as earnings climb

The insurer, which is participating in health insurance exchanges in 16 states and the District of Columbia, reported strong growth in the first quarter tied to its acquisition of Coventry Health Care Inc. The company said it expected to seek premium increases for next year's exchange plans ranging from "low single digits to over double digits."

26 Apr 2014

Highlights: New abortion restrictions in Mississippi; political ad calls Maryland exchange a 'failure'

Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill on Wednesday to ban abortion starting at the midpoint of a full-term pregnancy. Supporters say the measure will protect women's health; opponents say it is unconstitutional (4/24).

25 Apr 2014

First Edition: April 25, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about a recommendation that Oregon switch its troubled health exchange from a state-run marketplace to healthcare.gov.

25 Apr 2014

LifePoint Hospitals' first quarter 2014 revenues up 8.2%

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014.

25 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Blum's departure is a serious loss; GOP fighting Medicaid expansion with new tactic

The official who matters most when it comes to controlling U.S. health-care spending has just resigned, leaving behind a program with serious fiscal problems that badly needs further reform.

25 Apr 2014

CBO lowers spending forecast for states that expand Medicaid coverage

The Congressional Budget Office updated its February forecast, which pegged the cost at $70 billion over the next 10 years. The new figure puts the cost at $46 billion. In other Medicaid expansion news, Virginia's charged debate on this question appears to be spilling over to other issues before the General Assembly, Louisiana rejects expansion again and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer continues to confront opposition.

25 Apr 2014

Amedisys to pay $150 million to settle Medicare fraud case

Amedisys Inc., one of the nation's largest home health providers, will pay $150 million to settle claims that it exaggerated Medicare billings and had improper financial relations with referring physicians, the Department of Justice revealed. Meanwhile McClatchy is reporting that, based on an analysis of Medicare's list of banned providers, Miami is at the top for Medicare fraud.

25 Apr 2014

Poll finds dislike of health law, but lack of support for its repeal

In the run up to the midterm congressional elections, this and other polls find hope for Democratic incumbents while also probing the difficulties that continue to make the health law unpopular among many Americans. Also in the headlines, new ads from Americans for Prosperity take on the overhaul.

25 Apr 2014

Viewpoints: Health spending ready to start climbing again; Cruz's 'nightmare' comes true

Standing before a roomful of economists, policy makers and health care experts earlier this month, Amitabh Chandra, director of Health Policy Research at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, closed a presentation about the slowdown in health care spending over the last decade by citing an article in The New York Times.

25 Apr 2014

Medicare News and Research

Experts examine Medicare billing data limits

Loyola offers new type of implantable defibrillator that prevents sudden cardiac death

Actavis' subsidiary files lawsuit against FDA over Celebrex decision

Truven Health Analytics announces acquisition of Fortel Analytics' healthcare fraud technology

First Edition: April 28, 2014

Viewpoints: 'Pinocchios' for the Koch brothers; Obamacare 'miracle'; the law's effect on hiring

Cover Oregon poised to join federal exchange

Drug companies that are high Medicare earners spend big on lobbying activities

HHS calls health care providers to expand use of medications to treat opioid addiction, reduce overdose deaths

Research roundup: Structural concerns in ACOs; public's view of mandated contraception coverage

Consumers in high-risk pools can sign up for plans until June 30

Aetna wary about exchange expansion as earnings climb

Highlights: New abortion restrictions in Mississippi; political ad calls Maryland exchange a 'failure'

First Edition: April 25, 2014

LifePoint Hospitals' first quarter 2014 revenues up 8.2%

Viewpoints: Blum's departure is a serious loss; GOP fighting Medicaid expansion with new tactic

CBO lowers spending forecast for states that expand Medicaid coverage

Amedisys to pay $150 million to settle Medicare fraud case

Poll finds dislike of health law, but lack of support for its repeal

Viewpoints: Health spending ready to start climbing again; Cruz's 'nightmare' comes true

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