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Study finds that online ratings don't help patients to distinguish between hospitals

Despite having access to online ratings, patients can't distinguish the quality or performance of one hospital from another, finds a new study in Health Services Research.

19 Mar 2014

Sign-up surge brings health law's enrollment tally to 5 million

In the past two weeks, an estimated 800,000 people have used the health law's online marketplaces to select health insurance. But doubts persist as to whether the number of enrollees will come close to the Obama administration's latest target, and questions continue about how many of these shoppers have actually paid their premiums.

19 Mar 2014

Mass. cutting ties with insurance exchange website vendor after problems

The contractor, CGI Group, is also the lead contractor on the federal marketplace website.

18 Mar 2014

State highlights: States urge some retailers to end tobacco sales; abortion in N.D., Ark.; Conn. assisted suicide

A selection of health policy stories from North Dakota, Arkansas, Connecticut, New York, California, Missouri, Arizona and Minnesota.

18 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: The lesson from Florida's special election; hospital deaths; costs of treating hep C

But in recent months, the political landscape has grown bleaker [for Democrats] .... The question, of course, is why so many Republicans turned out [in the Florida special election last week] and why so few Democrats did. The answer among strategists on both sides was: Obamacare. But not in the sense that the healthcare law is so unpopular that Democrats are doomed; in fact, as more people sign up for health coverage, polls suggest that Obamacare is a little less toxic now than it was last fall. Instead, the problem is that a high-decibel debate over Obamacare has the effect of prompting conservatives to come out and vote, but not liberals (Doyle McManus, 3/16).

18 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 18, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the Obama administration announcement that more than 5 million people have enrolled in coverage under the health law -- an increase of about 800,000 in the last two weeks.

18 Mar 2014

House ties 'doc fix' to a delay in the individual mandate

The Senate is expected to refuse to accept the Republican plan to fix the way Medicare pays doctors and that could fray a bipartisan effort to find a long-term solution to the problem.

18 Mar 2014

Colon cancer rates plunge after screenings increase, study reports

As use of colonoscopy has increased, the number of colon cancer diagnoses dropped 30 percent in the past decade in Americans over the age of 50.

18 Mar 2014

Improving coordination of care for elderly patients trims costs and complications

Improving the coordination of care for elderly patients with chronic diseases trims costs, reduces use of health services and cuts complications, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

18 Mar 2014

Incidence of colon cancer in the US is decreasing with increased use of colonoscopy

Colorectal cancer, commonly called colon cancer, is the third most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Research, published today, by the American Cancer Society shows that the incidence of colorectal cancer among adults aged 50 years or more has fallen by 30% in the US over the last 10 years. This is thought to be primarily due to the widespread uptake of colonoscopy screening, which has almost tripled among adults aged 50 to 75 years (19% in 2000; 55% in 2010).

17 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Cancer's deadly toll in minority communities; GOP candidates need to go on offense against health law

Since the early 1970s, studies have shown that black Americans have a higher death rate from cancer than any other racial or ethnic group.

17 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 17, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about new health coverage rules and guidances announced by the Obama administration.

17 Mar 2014

Research roundup: Medicaid eligibility; tracking discontinued randomized trials; decline in work-based insurance

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), changes in income and family circumstances are likely to produce frequent transitions in eligibility for Medicaid and health insurance Marketplace coverage for low- and middle-income adults.

17 Mar 2014

Top medical organizations urge CMS to provide full Medicare coverage for LDCT screening

In a joint response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage and Analysis Group, the Lung Cancer Alliance, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Radiology (ACR) and 38 other medical organizations called on CMS to quickly provide national Medicare coverage of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for patients at high risk for lung cancer.

17 Mar 2014

Accommodations sought for chronically ill, victims of domestic violence

Advocates press for help for thousands of consumers with pre-existing illnesses who face a March 31 closure of high-risk insurance pools and also for married victims of domestic abuse to allow them to qualify for subsidized coverage.

17 Mar 2014

GOP triumph in Florida sets anti-Obamacare strategy

Congressional Republicans plan to build on their victory in the Florida special election this week by extending their campaign against Obamacare to races across the nation. Democrats, meanwhile, embark on a large-scale public opinion survey to try to blunt that strategy.

17 Mar 2014

Medicare News and Research

Study finds that online ratings don't help patients to distinguish between hospitals

Sign-up surge brings health law's enrollment tally to 5 million

Mass. cutting ties with insurance exchange website vendor after problems

State highlights: States urge some retailers to end tobacco sales; abortion in N.D., Ark.; Conn. assisted suicide

Viewpoints: The lesson from Florida's special election; hospital deaths; costs of treating hep C

First Edition: March 18, 2014

House ties 'doc fix' to a delay in the individual mandate

Colon cancer rates plunge after screenings increase, study reports

Improving coordination of care for elderly patients trims costs and complications

Incidence of colon cancer in the US is decreasing with increased use of colonoscopy

Viewpoints: Cancer's deadly toll in minority communities; GOP candidates need to go on offense against health law

First Edition: March 17, 2014

Research roundup: Medicaid eligibility; tracking discontinued randomized trials; decline in work-based insurance

Top medical organizations urge CMS to provide full Medicare coverage for LDCT screening

Accommodations sought for chronically ill, victims of domestic violence

GOP triumph in Florida sets anti-Obamacare strategy

Incidence of colon cancer have dropped sharply in older adults

GOP, former Mass. Sen. Brown eye New Hampshire seat

Almost Family agrees to acquire Caldwell Medical Center's Medicare-certified home health agency

First Edition: March 14, 2014

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