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President's budget to include billions for training new doctors

President Barack Obama's budget will be released next week.

3 Mar 2014

States: N.C.'s Medicaid managed care proposal; narrow provider networks; Planned Parenthood's big plan

Gov. Pat McCrory's health agency is backing away from initial proposals to fix Medicaid costs by hiring a handful of big managed care organizations to run North Carolina's $13 billion health care system. The state Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday presented its framework for revamping Medicaid to an advisory group set up by McCrory (Dalesio, 2/26).

28 Feb 2014

HMS Holdings' fourth quarter revenue decreases 8.6% to $121.6 million

HMS Holdings Corp. today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2013.

28 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 28, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about the latest developments for those states that are running their own health insurance exchanges and facing difficulties.

28 Feb 2014

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics celebrates contributions of registered dietitian nutritionists

March is National Nutrition Month®, when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reminds everyone to return to the basics of healthful eating. It is also the time of year when the Academy celebrates the contributions and expertise of registered dietitian nutritionists as the food and nutrition experts.

28 Feb 2014

Will GOP candidates profit from laser-like focus on health law?

Some Republicans worry the focus, which includes nearly every advertising dollar, is too heavy a bet. Meanwhile a Senate race in Colorado is shaping up to be one where health care issues play big.

28 Feb 2014

Medicare Part D cost-saving plan draws opposition on several fronts

Among other things, the proposal would limit the types of antidepressants -- and other kinds of drugs -- that are available to Medicare beneficiaries. Drug industry and insurer groups are lining up against the change.

27 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 27, 2014

Today's headlines include a number of stories about Obama past and present administration officials -- notably, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden -- who are stepping up to "sell" people on enrolling in new health law insurance coverage.

27 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: Health law's forgotten taxes; 'lame documentation' by critics; hospital closing crisis

The Affordable Care Act contains at least two economically distinct taxes on labor market activity. Even the experts on the law have failed to recognize all of them (Casey B. Mulligan, 2/26).

27 Feb 2014

Weighing Medicare claims and health law 'job killer' accusations

We have delved into this issue before and find the certainty with which both sides hold their positions to be dismaying. Each side can point to data to make their case, even though the law has only begun to be implemented (Kessler, 2/26).

27 Feb 2014

Record $4.3 billion in health care fraud recovered

Federal efforts to combat health care fraud recovered a record $4.3 billion in fiscal 2013 and have recouped more than $8 for every $1 spent on enforcement over the past three years, according to an annual report released Wednesday.

27 Feb 2014

Medicare official defends proposed changes to prescription drug program

In written testimony, Jonathan Blum, deputy administrator of the Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services, says the changes are needed to head off cost increases, but an industry-sponsored study argues some of the changes could cost taxpayers more.

27 Feb 2014

Health exchanges create cybersecurity challenges, hacker opportunities

The Associated Press reports that a number of state health exchanges that were supposed to link to the federal computer system were initially rated as "high risk."

27 Feb 2014

Obamacare enrollment reaches 4 million

About 700,000 people have selected a health plan so far in February, but officials couldn't say how many of those people have paid their first month's premium. For enrollment to reach the revised goal of 6 million, more than double the number of people will have to sign up in March.

27 Feb 2014

Georgia docs finally see Medicaid pay raise

In the meantime, Minnesota's hospitals saw their uncompensated care costs increase at the slowest rate in five years.

27 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 26, 2014

Today's headlines include reports that, according to the Obama administration, insurance sign-ups under the health law have hit 4 million.

26 Feb 2014

Regeneron receives FDA acceptance for EYLEA injection for treatment of macular edema

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for standard review the Company's supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for EYLEA® (aflibercept) Injection for the treatment of Macular Edema following Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO).

26 Feb 2014

Robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy shows better outcomes in cancer removal

An observational study from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer comparing robotic-assisted prostate surgery to open surgery for prostate cancer found that patients who had robotic surgery had fewer instances of cancer cells at the edge of the surgical specimen, or fewer positive margins, and less need of additional cancer treatments, such as hormone therapy or radiation, than patients who had open surgery.

26 Feb 2014

States: Calif. malpractice bill; Conn. braces for mental health cuts; Fla. advance practice nurses bill

A selection of health policy stories from California, Connecticut, Florida and Arizona.

26 Feb 2014

CMS report: 11 million small business workers could see higher premiums under health law

Nearly two-thirds of small businesses will see their health insurance premiums increase under the ACA, according to a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services report. Democrats counter that the report ignores subsidies for premiums.

26 Feb 2014