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Roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud settlement; Texas abortion law upheld; Va. mental health tragedy details

A selection of health policy stories from Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan and Massachusetts.

29 Mar 2014

Beyond the health law enrollment numbers, state-by-state disparities, penalties draw headlines

The Wall Street Journal reports that federal officials have sent a "nudging" email to consumers who haven't picked a plan yet. And the New York Times examines how the push to expand health coverage has taken the shape of a number of very different and uneven individual efforts instead of "a sweeping federal overhaul." Meanwhile, NPR notes that the state specific figures may turn out to be more important than the national sign up total.

29 Mar 2014

White House: As deadline approaches, Obamacare sign ups top 6 million

Many questions remain about what this number means, though, including how many of those enrolling in new coverage had been uninsured before signing up and whether young and healthy people will be adequately represented.

29 Mar 2014

Hospitals find better care means more money under the health law

Elsewhere, gay couples find that insurance coverage depends on where you live, and hospitals prepare to offer their own insurance plans.

29 Mar 2014

House passes 12-month 'doc fix' by voice vote

The bill would avoid a 24 percent reduction in payment for doctors who treat Medicare patients, but the deal is still angering some Republican rank-and-file.

28 Mar 2014

State highlights: Parents of disabled kids blast Minnesota Gov.; N.Y. reins in tanning salon claims

A tearful mother, one of several who testified at a State Capitol press conference Wednesday to make an impassioned plea for a medical marijuana law, said that Gov. Mark Dayton had earlier suggested to her and others that they obtain the drug illegally.

28 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 28, 2014

The White House said on Thursday that more than six million people had signed up for medical insurance plans under President Obama's health care law, exceeding the administration's revised goal for enrollment by the Monday deadline.

28 Mar 2014

Surge of sign ups expected to hit HealthCare.gov before March 31

Consumers who at least begin the enrollment process before Monday's deadline can avoid the health law's tax penalty, according to this week's Obama administration decision. The change, which some are calling an extension, has triggered some worry from insurers and a round of new attacks from the overhaul's opponents.

28 Mar 2014

Study: Just 1 in 5 eligible for premium subsidies seek coverage

Sign-up rates varied greatly by state, with more than half of the $10 billion allotted so far going to consumers in California, Florida, North Carolina, Texas and New York, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation study. Meanwhile, the Treasury Department allows battered spouses filing separate income taxes to claim subsidies. Also, Merck and GlaxoSmithKline hold off on helping Obamacare enrollees with copays.

28 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Generic drug warnings; Medicare Advantage 'scam'

Late last year, the Food and Drug Administration proposed sensible regulations that would authorize the makers of generic drugs to update safety labels independently, without waiting for F.D.A. approval, to warn of newly discovered risks.

28 Mar 2014

CMS awards Medicare claims administration contract to First Coast

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded First Coast Service Options (First Coast) the A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor contract for Jurisdiction N (JN), formerly Jurisdiction 9, which includes Florida, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

27 Mar 2014

AMS' revenues decrease 4.6% to $3,937,000 in fourth quarter 2013

American Shared Hospital Services, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and 2013.

27 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 27, 2014

Today's headlines include more coverage of the emerging details of the Obama administration's decision to allow some consumers to enroll in health coverage after the March 31 deadline.

27 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Health law didn't simplify anything; possible 'blowback' in 2016; now is the time for a 'doc fix'

Nelson's health insurance covered 90 percent of the costs after a reasonable $500 deductible. I'm happy he has such good health coverage. He's my dog. And I'm jealous of him.

27 Mar 2014

Roundup: Calif. malpractice cap ballot measure; Colo. immunizations bill; Fla. cash-only clinic loophole

A selection of health policy stories from California, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts.

26 Mar 2014

Indiana Governor Mike Pence authorizes licensure for anesthesiologist assistants

Indiana Governor Mike Pence (R) signed into law Senate Bill 233 yesterday, which authorizes licensure for anesthesiologist assistants. The American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Indiana Society of Anesthesiologists applaud this action, which will make the services of anesthesiologist assistants available to Indiana patients.

26 Mar 2014

Viewpoints: Be careful what you pray for; health law 'freakouts;' concerns about imported drugs

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will consider a proposition that will strike many Americans as bizarre: that large, for-profit businesses can refuse on religious grounds to comply with a federal mandate that they include contraception in their employee health plans (3/25).

26 Mar 2014

Study examines enrollment, use, and satisfaction with fee-for-service multispecialty system

Many physicians are adopting patient portals in response to governmental incentives for meaningful use (MU), but the stage 2 requirements for portal use may be particularly challenging for newer electronic health record (EHR) users.

25 Mar 2014

Effort to fix SGR formula snagged over cost

Prospects are growing dim that Congress will permanently fix Medicare's outdated payment formula this year because lawmakers have been unable to agree on a way to pay for it.

25 Mar 2014

First Edition: March 24, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations examine the final week for health law enrollment, the Supreme Court case this week about the law's contraceptive mandate and the fourth anniversary of the enactment of the controversial overhaul.

24 Mar 2014

Medicare News and Research

Roundup: Texas Medicaid fraud settlement; Texas abortion law upheld; Va. mental health tragedy details

Beyond the health law enrollment numbers, state-by-state disparities, penalties draw headlines

White House: As deadline approaches, Obamacare sign ups top 6 million

Hospitals find better care means more money under the health law

House passes 12-month 'doc fix' by voice vote

State highlights: Parents of disabled kids blast Minnesota Gov.; N.Y. reins in tanning salon claims

First Edition: March 28, 2014

Surge of sign ups expected to hit HealthCare.gov before March 31

Study: Just 1 in 5 eligible for premium subsidies seek coverage

Viewpoints: Generic drug warnings; Medicare Advantage 'scam'

CMS awards Medicare claims administration contract to First Coast

AMS' revenues decrease 4.6% to $3,937,000 in fourth quarter 2013

First Edition: March 27, 2014

Viewpoints: Health law didn't simplify anything; possible 'blowback' in 2016; now is the time for a 'doc fix'

Roundup: Calif. malpractice cap ballot measure; Colo. immunizations bill; Fla. cash-only clinic loophole

Indiana Governor Mike Pence authorizes licensure for anesthesiologist assistants

Viewpoints: Be careful what you pray for; health law 'freakouts;' concerns about imported drugs

Study examines enrollment, use, and satisfaction with fee-for-service multispecialty system

Effort to fix SGR formula snagged over cost

First Edition: March 24, 2013

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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