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Viewpoints: Where's Obama's 'Mission Accomplished' banner?; health law critics overlooking those denied affordable care in the past

Great news: The White House says that Healthcare.gov and the 36 federally run insurance exchanges are finally good to go. The only thing missing from Sunday's relentlessly upbeat progress report was President Obama in front of a "Mission Accomplished" banner. Sunday's eight-page report was intended to meet Mr. Obama's deadline for fixing the site after its October 1 debut was a calamity. But the more important goal was political -- namely, claiming enough progress to prevent Democrats on Capitol Hill from joining the GOP demand for delaying the individual mandate to buy insurance or even the entire program (12/1).

3 Dec 2013

Medicare looks to narrow discrepancy on what it spends in different parts of U.S.

Medicare wants to narrow the discrepancy on what it spends on some health services in different parts of the country. In the meantime, UnitedHealthcare is dropping hundreds of doctors from its Medicare Advantage plans and the Government Accountability Office says Medicare doesn't know how well its contractors' anti-fraud efforts are working.

3 Dec 2013

Study identifies high burden of pain in older adults

More than half of older adults in the United States - an estimated 18.7 million people - have experienced bothersome pain in the previous month, impairing their physical function and underscoring the need for public health action on pain. Many of those interviewed by investigators for a study published in the current issue of PAIN- reported pain in multiple areas.

3 Dec 2013

Insurers worry about back end repairs to HealthCare.gov

The system that is supposed to deliver consumers' information to insurers still needs to be repaired -- with only 30 days to go before coverage is supposed to begin for many people. Meanwhile, Bloomberg News reports that insurers will initially estimate what they are owed by the government rather than have the government calculate the bill due to another software problem.

3 Dec 2013

Administration officials give thumbs up to HealthCare.gov's technical fixes and capacity upgrades

The health law website reportedly now is operating 90 percent of the time, but more work still must be done, according to the Obama administration's Sunday progress report on their efforts to correct healthcare.gov's problems.

3 Dec 2013

First Edition: December 2, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports about healthcare.gov's status, the challenges that lie ahead and the concerns being expressed by consumers and insurers.

2 Dec 2013

Science Translational Medicine editorial urges researchers to support the Affordable Care Act

An editorial by Harry P. Selker, MD, MSPH, William H. Frist, MD, and Stuart Altman, PhD, published in the November 27 issue of Science Translational Medicine says the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is an example of the role of experimentation in improving health at the public policy level.

2 Dec 2013

Special issue of JACR focuses on the role of imaging-based screening in preventive medicine

To be published online Monday, Dec. 2, a special issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology addresses imaging-based screening and radiology's increasing role in preventive medicine. Topics covered include breast density legislation, digital breast tomosynthesis (or 3-D mammography), lung cancer screening and computed tomography colonography reimbursement.

2 Dec 2013

Osiris: CMS releases proposed ruling for reimbursement of skin substitutes in hospital outpatient setting

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc., the leading stem cell company focused on developing and marketing products in orthopedics, sports medicine and wound care, announced today that, on November 27, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released their proposed ruling for the reimbursement of skin substitutes in the hospital outpatient setting. CMS decided to package the reimbursement for products used in advanced wound care with the related surgical procedure into a two-tier system.

30 Nov 2013

State highlights: S.C. clinic a model for free care; Mont. doctor's push to treat mine workers sickened by asbestos; fast food consumption in Calif. kids

What began two decades ago on Hilton Head Island as a free clinic using retired physicians and volunteers to care for the working poor has become a model for dozens of similar clinics nationwide. At a time when the nation debates how to pay for care, there are now 96 Volunteers in Medicine Clinics in 29 states (Smith, 11/27).

28 Nov 2013

Viewpoints: SCOTUS should support contraception mandate; our brains 'not wired' for Obamacare; President's personality impairs law's success

More than a year after it upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the Supreme Court has set the stage for a showdown over the law's requirement that employer health plans cover birth control.

28 Nov 2013

Anthem Blue Cross exposes 24,500 doctors' social security, tax numbers

In a departure from most medical privacy cases, Anthem Blue Cross said it accidentally posted online Social Security or tax identification numbers for about 24,500 California doctors. .

27 Nov 2013

AARP releases list of tips & questions on caring for aging parents

The turkey is defrosting and family is starting to gather at the house for Thanksgiving. For many families across New York, this is the once-a-year time that they travel from across the nation and, often times, globe to be with loved ones. In addition to enjoying time with family and friends, AARP says it's also prime time to check on older family members and relatives.

27 Nov 2013

Miami-area seniors get 'white-glove' treatment from private plans

The Miami Herald reports that seniors in southern Florida have benefited from the highly lucrative and super competitive world of privately managed Medicare Advantage plans

27 Nov 2013

Health law coverage bringing changes to an array of consumers

News outlets explore some of these issues, including new costs for people with "Cadillac" coverage, "narrow networks" of doctors and other health providers, new options for part-time workers and unexpected effects on smokers.

27 Nov 2013

Medical advances, teaching hospital procedures inflate health care costs

Hospitals are examining "post-intensive-care syndrome" and other elements of their procedures to measure the impact on their bottom lines.

27 Nov 2013

Chances for small-bore budget deal said to improve

Despite a polarized Congress, The Associated Press reports that the prospects for a modest, end-of-year budget deal are looking up. Neither party would achieve its biggest priority with such an agreement, however.

27 Nov 2013

Administration: HealthCare.gov on target to work for most by Nov. 30

Administration officials and consumer advocates say that the enrollment website serving residents of 36 states is becoming easier for people to use, but insurers warn that flaws continue to hinder health plans. Officials acknowledge that some users will continue to experience outages and error messages. Meanwhile, Bloomberg looks at the president's efforts to monitor the situation.

26 Nov 2013

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

About a year ago the Senate fell five votes short of ratifying an international treaty that would improve protections for the disabled. It was an ignoble spectacle as the opponents rebuffed Bob Dole, a former colleague and disabled veteran, who came to the Senate floor to lobby for it.

26 Nov 2013

Health law commentaries: 'A reader's guide' to possible 'traumas to come;' California shows the way to success

Commentators look at the rollout of the health law and the implications for the nation and individual states.

26 Nov 2013

Medicare News and Research

Viewpoints: Where's Obama's 'Mission Accomplished' banner?; health law critics overlooking those denied affordable care in the past

Medicare looks to narrow discrepancy on what it spends in different parts of U.S.

Study identifies high burden of pain in older adults

Insurers worry about back end repairs to HealthCare.gov

Administration officials give thumbs up to HealthCare.gov's technical fixes and capacity upgrades

First Edition: December 2, 2013

Science Translational Medicine editorial urges researchers to support the Affordable Care Act

Special issue of JACR focuses on the role of imaging-based screening in preventive medicine

Osiris: CMS releases proposed ruling for reimbursement of skin substitutes in hospital outpatient setting

State highlights: S.C. clinic a model for free care; Mont. doctor's push to treat mine workers sickened by asbestos; fast food consumption in Calif. kids

Viewpoints: SCOTUS should support contraception mandate; our brains 'not wired' for Obamacare; President's personality impairs law's success

Anthem Blue Cross exposes 24,500 doctors' social security, tax numbers

AARP releases list of tips & questions on caring for aging parents

Miami-area seniors get 'white-glove' treatment from private plans

Health law coverage bringing changes to an array of consumers

Medical advances, teaching hospital procedures inflate health care costs

Chances for small-bore budget deal said to improve

Administration: HealthCare.gov on target to work for most by Nov. 30

Viewpoints: Senate should reconsider treaty on protections for people with disabilities; HHS treading wrong way on payments for bone marrow donors

Health law commentaries: 'A reader's guide' to possible 'traumas to come;' California shows the way to success

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