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Medicaid directors worried over expansion, Indiana's says federal government is not giving enough guidance

The new health law calls for dramatic increase in Medicaid programs, the joint federal-state health coverage for low-income residents. Some state Medicaid directors say they are worried about how that expansion will work and some are complaining that they are not getting enough guidance from federal officials.

17 Jul 2010

DOJ-HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force charges 94 people for $251 million in false claims

Ninety-four people have been charged for their alleged participation in schemes to collectively submit more than $251 million in false claims to the Medicare program in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Miami; Baton Rouge, La.; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Detroit and Houston, announced Attorney General Eric Holder, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, FBI Director Robert Mueller and Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of HHS.

17 Jul 2010

New Hampshire launches accountable care pilot ahead of schedule

Five separate groups of New Hampshire hospitals and other health care providers are forming "accountable care organizations" as part of a pilot program intended to keep patients healthy and costs down, Bloomberg Businessweek reports. The program "attempts to tackle what many consider to be a big problem in the current system: having accountability spread across hospitals, doctors' offices, insurance carriers and employers with no one group responsible for the overall management of care."

17 Jul 2010

InformedDNA named finalist for Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards

Informed Medical Decisions, Inc. (InformedDNA) has been selected as one of 30 finalists for the Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards. URAC, the nation's leading accreditation organization, will honor the finalists during their 11th Annual Quality Summit, October 5-7, 2010 in Chicago, IL.

17 Jul 2010

NCOA adds ILS as partner to sponsor Private Label version of online screening service for senior benefits

The National Council on Aging (NCOA) today announced the addition of Independent Living Systems (ILS) as the newest partner to sponsor a Private Label version of BenefitsCheckUp, NCOA's online screening service for senior benefits. The Private Label version of BenefitsCheckUp will allow ILS to enhance the care management services the company currently provides to its clients, many of whom are frail and underprivileged individuals who require chronic care or other special needs.

17 Jul 2010

Christiana Care ranked among top 50 of America's best hospitals in 2 specialties

In its annual Best Hospitals edition, US News & World Report places Christiana Care among the top 50 listings in 2 specialties – Gastroenterology and Urology.

17 Jul 2010

Study examines HIV-positive patients' death risk at CD4 counts above 350

"Having HIV appears to be associated with a greater risk of death, even when the immune system is relatively robust and patients have not started treatment," according to a study published Friday in the Lancet, MedPage Today reports (Smith, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Pain medication abuse soars

The Associated Press: "A new government study finds a 400 percent increase in the number of people admitted to treatment for abusing prescription pain medication. The increase in substance abuse among people ages 12 and older was recorded during the 10-year-period from 1998 to 2008. It spans every gender, race, ethnicity, education and employment level, and all regions of the country" (7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Cleveland Clinic to provide heart care in Chicago; Johns Hopkins increases primary care in D.C. area

Chicago Tribune: "In a move likely to shake up the market for heart care in the Chicago area, the Cleveland Clinic's cardiac surgery program has signed an affiliation agreement with Central DuPage Hospital in west suburban Winfield. The deal, announced Thursday, is designed to enhance the heart care provided at the 313-bed hospital and potentially bring Cleveland Clinic patient referrals at a time when fewer heart surgeries are needed than were a decade ago.

17 Jul 2010

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks first: U.S. News & World Report survey

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks as one of the top five American hospitals -- and the best hospital in the western United States for the 21st consecutive year -- according to a U.S. News & World Report survey that reviewed patient-outcomes data, reputation among physicians and other care-

17 Jul 2010

Hospitals fight for primary care docs as bad nurses allowed to continue work

Orlando Sentinel: For primary care specialties, residency programs fight to capture the attention of potential residents who are in high demand.

17 Jul 2010

CDC director gives health system failing grade on prevention

Memphis Commercial Appeal: "The American health care system gets an 'F' when it comes to acting on a handful of prevention methods that have the potential to save the most lives. That failing grade came from Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a Wednesday speech to members of the National Association of County and City Health Officials gathered here for their annual conference at Cook Convention Center."

17 Jul 2010

Meet the actuary who unwound Anthem's big rate increase request

The Los Angeles Times delivers the inside story of David Axene, a California actuary who, working from home and a hospital bed, unwound the mistaken math behind Anthem Blue Cross's request to raise rates by up to 39 percent earlier this year. "Axene Health Partners is off the beaten path, but it was well known to senior managers from the California Department of Insurance as a top-flight actuarial firm with a reputation for deft work.

17 Jul 2010

No abortion coverage in high risk pools, HHS says

"Elective abortion services will not be covered in state high-risk pools set up to provide coverage for sick people who can't get insurance, according to Obama administration officials," CQ HealthBeat reports.

17 Jul 2010

Grossman Burn Center moves to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills

On Saturday, July 17, 2010, the Grossman Burn Center will relocate to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills, CA.

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill hearing examines health, social consequences of child marriage

VOA News covered a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday, which addressed child marriage in the developing world and its impact on girls and communities (Presto, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Health law backers say most small businesses will get tax credits

More than 85 percent of Utah small businesses - those with less than 25 employees - will be eligible for federal tax credits to help pay for employee health coverage according to two lobbying groups that favored the health overhaul, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. "The two organizations said 37,800 companies will qualify for the credit, worth up to 35 percent of a small business's premium costs in 2010. The credit increases to 50 percent in January" (Beebe, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

President Obama's agenda, which includes a sweeping overhaul of the health care system, is coming under increased political scrutiny as lawmakers struggle with health budget challenges, and consider issues such as medical bankruptcy and improper Medicare payments.

17 Jul 2010

94 indicted in five-state crackdown on Medicare fraud

Law enforcement officers fanned out across five states Friday in what federal officials called the largest Medicare fraud bust ever conducted. Nearly 100 people were indicted in frauds that totaled $251 million.

17 Jul 2010

Opinions: Science communication for development; International disaster response

"Helping developing countries communicate and use science is essential to international aid and diplomacy. The biggest single factor limiting developing countries' potential for achieving sustainable economic growth - or even attaining the Millennium Development Goals - is their ability to access and apply the fruits of modern science and technology," David Dickson, the director of SciDev.Net, writes in an editorial on the website.

17 Jul 2010

Health Care News and Research

Medicaid directors worried over expansion, Indiana's says federal government is not giving enough guidance

DOJ-HHS Medicare Fraud Strike Force charges 94 people for $251 million in false claims

New Hampshire launches accountable care pilot ahead of schedule

InformedDNA named finalist for Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection Awards

NCOA adds ILS as partner to sponsor Private Label version of online screening service for senior benefits

Christiana Care ranked among top 50 of America's best hospitals in 2 specialties

Study examines HIV-positive patients' death risk at CD4 counts above 350

Pain medication abuse soars

Cleveland Clinic to provide heart care in Chicago; Johns Hopkins increases primary care in D.C. area

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks first: U.S. News & World Report survey

Hospitals fight for primary care docs as bad nurses allowed to continue work

CDC director gives health system failing grade on prevention

Meet the actuary who unwound Anthem's big rate increase request

No abortion coverage in high risk pools, HHS says

Grossman Burn Center moves to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills

Capitol Hill hearing examines health, social consequences of child marriage

Health law backers say most small businesses will get tax credits

Capitol Hill Watch: Obama agenda under scrutiny as lawmakers talk Medicare, budgets

94 indicted in five-state crackdown on Medicare fraud

Opinions: Science communication for development; International disaster response

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