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MIND program may enable older people with dementia to stay safely in their homes

An 18-month pilot program that brought resources and counselors to elderly Baltimore residents with dementia and other memory disorders significantly increased the length of time they lived successfully at home, according to Johns Hopkins researchers.

11 Feb 2014

On Capitol Hill, some debt limit solutions include 'doc fix'

In other congressional news, health insurers are upping their efforts to fight Medicare Advantage cuts. A handful of bargaining ideas have emerged, with a proposal to restore recently cut military benefits in exchange for a one-year extension as a leading option. Other ideas, such as tying a debt-limit extension to the "doc fix," which would alter the way doctors are reimbursed for Medicare treatments, are in the mix.

11 Feb 2014

Leaving behind Medicaid expansion leaves coverage gaps, hospitals short on payments

The Wall Street Journal examines the gap created by some states deciding not to expand their Medicaid programs and what that decision means for hospitals' bottom lines. Also, Republican lawmakers consider "bailouts" for hospitals after they decided not to expand Medicaid. In the meantime, Arkansas' lawmakers get ready to debate the state's Medicaid experiment.

10 Feb 2014

Obamacare tweaks continue amid complaints

The government will allow consumers who experience life changes, such as a marriage or the birth of a child, to update their plan choices, the administration said. It is also looking at requiring insurers to accept third-party payments, such as those made under the Ryan White CARE Act, to help people with HIV/AIDS pay for expensive drugs. Meanwhile, The Washington Post examines the history of Accenture, the contractor hired to fix healthcare.gov, and finds troubled projects and allegations of ethical lapses.

10 Feb 2014

Acentia announces acquisition of Business Computer Applications

Acentia, a premier provider of technology and management solutions, today announced it has acquired Atlanta-based Business Computer Applications, Inc., a provider of information technology (IT) services and solutions to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies.

10 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 10, 2014

Today's headlines include stories about the health law's coverage gap.

10 Feb 2014

GOP considers asking for 'doc fix,' other proposals, in return for debt-ceiling raise

House Republicans are considering their options on tying proposals they want to see to passing an increase in the debt ceiling, among them fixing the way Medicare pays doctors.

10 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Value-based insurance; telemedicine in nursing homes; advance care planning

Each week, KHN compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

10 Feb 2014

New bill would expand health law subsidies for those in high-cost areas

The bill would tie subsidy levels to cost of living around the nation instead of to the national federal poverty level. In the meantime, a lawmaker from Colorado introduces a bill to speed construction of VA hospitals.

9 Feb 2014

Despite jump in enrollment, Aetna says it faces losses from health law marketplaces

Aetna Inc. said it expects to lose money on its business in the health-law marketplaces this year, with the demographics of enrollees skewing slightly more than expected toward people likely to rack up higher costs. The insurer, which is participating in public consumer exchanges in 16 states and the District of Columbia, the most of any carrier, said it has signed up about 135,000 paid members through the end of January (Mathews, 2/6).

9 Feb 2014

Hill committee leaders reach deal on replacing Medicare doctor pay formula

The agreement would get rid of the troubled system that has often left doctors uncertain about their reimbursements, but the bipartisan leaders have not yet found a way to pay for such a change.

9 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 7, 2014

Today's headlines include reports from Capitol Hill about the continuing efforts to overhaul Medicare's payment system for doctors.

9 Feb 2014

Humana posts loss but says new members are younger than expected

Insurer Humana said it lost money in the fourth quarter of last year over increased expenses and a drop in membership. At the same time, it says its health law enrollees are younger than expected.

7 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 6, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about how the day-after debate about the Congressional Budget Office's updated health law projections played out on Capitol Hill.

6 Feb 2014

Highlights for first quarter of fiscal 2014 from MAXIMUS

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, today reported financial results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2013.

6 Feb 2014

State highlights: Colo. County may sue over no change to insurance ratings; Oregon Medicaid patients visit ER less; Iowa Universities face subsidies lawsuit

Enraged that Colorado officials are refusing to change health insurance rating systems for this year or next, Garfield County's attorney and commissioners are considering suing the state.

6 Feb 2014

Invacare reports net loss per share of $0.19 in fourth quarter 2013

Invacare Corporation today announced its financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2013.

6 Feb 2014

CBO projections find health law's increased access to health care could lead many to quit work or reduce hours

The Congressional Budget Office report, released Tuesday, which updated estimates regarding how many people will be able to gain health insurance without necessarily having a job, became an immediate political flashpoint and reignited the political debate surrounding the health law.

6 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: CBO report on health law: Damaging the labor market or freeing workers from 'insurance trap'?

There are 7.8 million Americans working part-time who want full-time work, including a fry cook whose restaurant cut his hours to avoid Affordable Care Act mandates and confronted President Obama in an online Google Q&A last week: "We can't survive. It's not a living." Mr. Obama changed the subject to raising the minimum wage. But he can't dodge reality forever as the evidence piles up that ObamaCare is harming the labor market.

6 Feb 2014

Quality leaders outline action plan for national oversight, collaboration and patient-centered approaches

How best to implement key recommendations recently identified by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for the delivery of high-quality cancer care is the focus of two peer-reviewed articles from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

6 Feb 2014

Medicare News and Research

MIND program may enable older people with dementia to stay safely in their homes

On Capitol Hill, some debt limit solutions include 'doc fix'

Leaving behind Medicaid expansion leaves coverage gaps, hospitals short on payments

Obamacare tweaks continue amid complaints

Acentia announces acquisition of Business Computer Applications

First Edition: February 10, 2014

GOP considers asking for 'doc fix,' other proposals, in return for debt-ceiling raise

Research roundup: Value-based insurance; telemedicine in nursing homes; advance care planning

New bill would expand health law subsidies for those in high-cost areas

Despite jump in enrollment, Aetna says it faces losses from health law marketplaces

Hill committee leaders reach deal on replacing Medicare doctor pay formula

First Edition: February 7, 2014

Humana posts loss but says new members are younger than expected

First Edition: February 6, 2014

Highlights for first quarter of fiscal 2014 from MAXIMUS

State highlights: Colo. County may sue over no change to insurance ratings; Oregon Medicaid patients visit ER less; Iowa Universities face subsidies lawsuit

Invacare reports net loss per share of $0.19 in fourth quarter 2013

CBO projections find health law's increased access to health care could lead many to quit work or reduce hours

Viewpoints: CBO report on health law: Damaging the labor market or freeing workers from 'insurance trap'?

Quality leaders outline action plan for national oversight, collaboration and patient-centered approaches

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