Medicare News and Research

RSS

Health law enrollment hits approximately 3 million in January

Though this number is shy of earlier projections, it is getting closer to hitting monthly expectations. The administration, though, did not provided data about payment.

25 Jan 2014

Bristol-Myers Squibb fourth quarter 2013 revenues increase 6% to $4.4 billion

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2013. The fourth quarter was highlighted by the company's announcement to sell its diabetes business as part of the continued evolution of its successful BioPharma strategy to a specialty care model. The company achieved important regulatory milestones in the quarter for Eliquis in the U.S., daclatasvir/asunaprevir in Japan, daclatasvir in Europe and Farxiga in the U.S. In addition, the company provided financial guidance for 2014.

24 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 24, 2014

Today's headlines include reports that a federal district court judge in Missouri has blocked state officials from restricting groups efforts to help people sign up for coverage as part of the federal health law.

24 Jan 2014

Big jump in Medicaid signups reported

More than 6.3 million people were found eligible for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program since October, but it is unclear how many are newly insured since recipients must re-enroll each year. Meanwhile, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urges mayors to push their states to expand the program. News outlets also look at developments in Virginia and Florida.

24 Jan 2014

Researchers examine effects of ACA on cancer survivors

In 2010, the total cost of cancer care in the United States reached $125 billion. Globally, the economic toll from cancer is nearly 20 percent higher than the leading cause of death, heart disease. Cancer patients are also living longer today, which is further increasing the cost of their continued care.

24 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: Target has the right idea for part-timers; health law 'beyond rescue;' fighting back to secure the right to abortion

The big noise on the health insurance front today was sounded by Target, which announced via a corporate blog that it's ending health insurance for its part-time workers. Instead of signing up for a company plan, they're encouraged to use the health care exchanges set up through the Affordable Care Act. ...

24 Jan 2014

Longer looks: Leaving antidepressants; the lack of tech-savvy doctors

Whenever I feel like taking a trip back in time, I save myself the trouble of building a time machine and instead just head over to a doctor's office. For a Millennial, or really anyone who lives a modern lifestyle, getting medical care is a rare departure from an otherwise technology-fueled existence. …

24 Jan 2014

In Calif., Anthem leads in enrollment; Md. Glitches blamed on IBM software

At the halfway mark, industry giant Anthem Blue Cross is holding on to a slim lead among health insurance providers with a 31% share of California's exchange market. The Covered California exchange released enrollment figures Tuesday for its 11 health plans from Oct. 1 to the end of December.

24 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 23, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about a new survey indicating that the nation's uninsured rate dropped modestly this month.

23 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: High court weighs home health care workers' union rights; abortion protections becoming 'all but meaningless'

On Tuesday, the justices were presented with a golden opportunity to further increase inequality. The court heard arguments in Harris v. Quinn, a case testing whether home-care providers who work under a union contract with the state of Illinois can avoid paying dues that support the union's collective-bargaining work.

23 Jan 2014

State highlights: N.Y. hospitals wait for Medicaid waiver

A selection of health policy stories from New York, California, Washington and Georgia.

23 Jan 2014

Adverse events for patients treated for heart attack and heart failure have declined, study finds

Adverse events for patients being treated for heart attack and heart failure have declined, according to a new study published in the January 23 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. However, the analysis funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that there has not been a significant decrease in adverse events for patients being treated for pneumonia and those who are recovering from surgery.

22 Jan 2014

First Edition: January 22, 2014

Today's headlines include a report that Target announced its plans to stop offering health coverage to part-time workers.

22 Jan 2014

Virginia Mason receives Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence

Virginia Mason announced today it has received the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ for the fourth consecutive year from Healthgrades, an online resource for comprehensive information about U.S. physicians and hospitals.

22 Jan 2014

Viewpoints: High Court's scrutiny of home health workers law; patient 'dumping' on LA's skid row; hospital fund raising

On Tuesday the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Harris v. Quinn, ... It was brought by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation (NRTW), whose mission is to use "strategic litigation" to "eliminate coercive union power and compulsory unionism abuses," in this case on behalf of several personal assistants who provide in-home services to persons with disabilities under Illinois's Medicaid program.

22 Jan 2014

Views on health law: 'Good start' on enrollment; is reinsurance a 'bail-out' or transfer of industry funds?

Enrollments in health insurance plans through state and federal exchanges are rising rapidly, especially among young adults, making it likely that the Affordable Care Act will achieve a large and stabilizing mix of enrollees by the end of the open enrollment period on March 31 (1/17).

22 Jan 2014