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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

GOP hammers "risk corridors" as bailout; Democrats worry about explaining law

Republicans are trying to tie a vote raising the debt ceiling to repealing the health law's "risk corridors," which help mitigate insurer risk. In the meantime, President Obama faces some pushback on the law's rocky rollout from his own party.

6 Feb 2014

New guideline presents recommendations for endoscopy units in prioritizing safety efforts

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has issued "Guidelines for safety in the gastrointestinal endoscopy unit." The purpose of this new guideline is to present recommendations for endoscopy units in implementing and prioritizing safety efforts and to provide an endoscopy-specific guideline by which to evaluate endoscopy units.

6 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 5, 2014

Today's headlines include stories detailing a new Congressional Budget Office report that found 2 million people who relied on a job for health insurance will quit working, reduce their hours or stop looking for a job because of new benefits from the health law.

5 Feb 2014

For people who faced enrollment issues with healthcare.gov, appeals hearings to begin soon

But news outlets report that the computer and phone systems designed to address those appeals have yet to be launched. So far, an estimated 22,000 requests for fixes have been submitted via the mail.

5 Feb 2014

Telemedicine used at nursing homes is a viable way to reduce avoidable hospitalizations

Telemedicine used at nursing homes during hours when doctors are not typically present is a viable way to reduce avoidable hospitalizations, according to research published in February's issue of Health Affairs.

5 Feb 2014

95% of adults die annually from vaccine preventable diseases

While adults make up 95 percent of those who die annually from vaccine preventable diseases, a new study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine shows their vaccination rates remain stubbornly low, representing a growing public health concern.

5 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: 'Bailout' isn't the right target for GOP; Republican senators' alternative 'looks inferior;' uninsured are not rushing to health market

Ever since the housing market collapse, nothing stokes the flames of public outrage quite like the phrase "government bailout." It's become the condemnation of choice for both parties when faced with a policy they don't like.

4 Feb 2014

State highlights: Cities, states spending nearly 32% of budgets on health care; Detroit reaches retiree health coverage agreement; NYC, Calif. back caregiver protection bills

A selection of health policy stories from Michigan, New York, California, Wisconsin, Maryland, Georgia, Colorado and Mississippi.

4 Feb 2014

GOP considers tying debt-limit deal to repeal of part of health law

House Republicans are considering linking their support for raising the national debt to a repeal of the health law's risk corridors, which helps mitigate risk for insurers. In other news, lawmakers continue to weigh proposals to change how Medicare pays doctors and the House health appropriations subcommittee gets many new Republican faces.

4 Feb 2014

New prospective payment system contributes to improved patient choice, quality of care and costs

AcademyHealth today awarded its Health Services Research (HSR) Impact Award to work that contributed to the development of a prospective payment system that contributed to improved patient choice and quality of care, and reduced costs in the treatment of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

4 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 3, 2014

Today's headlines include a range of stories about how the health law is working in different locations across the country.

3 Feb 2014

ACOs' efforts to coordinate patient care saved $380 million, Medicare officials report

In their first results of the heralded program -- which was set up in the health law -- federal officials say about half of the accountable care organizations slowed spending but few met the requirements to qualify for bonuses.

31 Jan 2014

Community leaders applaud CMS' efforts to target fraudulent activity within Medicare program

The Partnership for Quality Home Healthcare — a coalition of home health providers dedicated to developing innovative reforms to improve the program integrity, quality, and efficiency of home healthcare for our nation's seniors — today commended the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for extending safeguards designed to protect Medicare beneficiaries, prevent fraudulent behavior and save taxpayer dollars.

31 Jan 2014

Medicare News and Research

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

GOP hammers "risk corridors" as bailout; Democrats worry about explaining law

New guideline presents recommendations for endoscopy units in prioritizing safety efforts

First Edition: February 5, 2014

For people who faced enrollment issues with healthcare.gov, appeals hearings to begin soon

Telemedicine used at nursing homes is a viable way to reduce avoidable hospitalizations

95% of adults die annually from vaccine preventable diseases

Viewpoints: 'Bailout' isn't the right target for GOP; Republican senators' alternative 'looks inferior;' uninsured are not rushing to health market

State highlights: Cities, states spending nearly 32% of budgets on health care; Detroit reaches retiree health coverage agreement; NYC, Calif. back caregiver protection bills

GOP considers tying debt-limit deal to repeal of part of health law

New prospective payment system contributes to improved patient choice, quality of care and costs

First Edition: February 3, 2014

ACOs' efforts to coordinate patient care saved $380 million, Medicare officials report

Community leaders applaud CMS' efforts to target fraudulent activity within Medicare program

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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