Medicare News and Research

RSS

Details emerge about key fixers in 'tech surge' to address website issues

News outlets report that the administration's so-called "tech surge" has been somewhat mysterious, but it's becoming clear that the administration has enlisted engineers from a number of major companies.

4 Nov 2013

COMS OPAL Award program recognizes top performers on a national basis

COMS Interactive, also known as Clinical Outcomes Management Systems, has launched the Outcomes Performance Achievement Leader (OPAL) Award program. The program is an extension of the company's focus on improving health care and clinical outcomes in the long-term care marketplace by leveraging Daylight IQ™, the COMS' flagship Disease Management Product Suite.

31 Oct 2013

Cigna posts strong revenue growth in third quarter 2013

Cigna Corporation today reported strong third quarter 2013 results with each of the Company's business segments posting strong revenue and earnings contributions.

31 Oct 2013

First Edition: October 31, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the Obama administration's efforts to recover from health law implementation hiccups and challenges.

31 Oct 2013

MEDNAX reports revenue growth of 17.3% to $555M

MEDNAX, Inc., the national medical group specializing in neonatal, maternal-fetal, pediatric cardiology, other pediatric subspecialties and anesthesia physician services, today reported earnings of $1.52 per share for the three months ended September 30, 2013 resulting from strong revenue growth, primarily from recent acquisitions.

31 Oct 2013

Viewpoints: House Republicans help themselves, and the country, with smart, tough questions to Tavenner; Kentucky senators out of step with eager constituents; replace health law with single payer system

When House Republicans direct their opposition to Obamacare toward aggressive oversight rather than apocalyptic budget shenanigans, they can do themselves and the country a lot of good. That was obvious when the House Ways and Means Committee posed some smart, tough questions about HealthCare.gov to Marilyn Tavenner, who, as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is perhaps the person most directly responsible for the fiasco. Yes, there were a few "gotcha" questions meant to showcase individual representatives' hatred of the health-care law. But for the most part, the queries seemed designed to find a path toward more competent management of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (10/29).

31 Oct 2013

Policy cancellation letters lead to questions, put White House on the defensive

Even as the Obama administration struggles to recover from the troubled launch of healthcare.gov, a new issue has cropped up that is calling into question one of President Barack Obama's often-repeated health law promises -- that if a person has health insurance they like, they'll be able to keep it.

31 Oct 2013

Sebelius faces withering criticism on and off Capitol Hill

The Health and Human Services secretary is testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Committee today, as critics question her leadership of the department.

31 Oct 2013

Eliza's Star multi-modal programs address gaps in healthcare

Eliza Corporation ("Eliza"), the pioneer and recognized leader in Health Engagement Management, today announced "Star 2014", a proactive member communication solutions suite that addresses key areas of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Star programs.

30 Oct 2013

House panel grills CMS chief Tavenner about health law website, insurance cancellations

Tavenner, who oversees the agency responsible for developing Healthcare.gov, apologized for the many problems consumers are encountering as Republicans expand their concerns.

30 Oct 2013

MiMedx Group reports record revenue in third quarter 2013

MiMedx Group, Inc., an integrated developer, manufacturer and marketer of patent protected regenerative biomaterials and bioimplants processed from human amniotic membrane, announced today its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.

30 Oct 2013

CMS head Tavenner set to testify Tuesday about healthcare.gov on Capitol Hill

Republican lawmakers on Tuesday will question Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner over healthcare.gov's troubled rollout, taking the stage in a debate that could bolster their political fortunes on the health law.

30 Oct 2013

First Edition: October 31, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how health law complications are quickly moving beyond problems with the healthcare.gov website to include other issues.

30 Oct 2013

Viewpoints: Policy cancellations raising ire; One woman's story on more affordable insurance; Daschle: Democrats want deal on entitlements

The insurers have assumed that everyone would be required to have coverage by March 31. If the enrollment period is extended for a significant period, the sickest people are most likely to sign up early and the healthiest will likely hang back, driving up the costs ... there is no need for despair. In the long run, the technical problems can and will be fixed and most Americans will be better off.

30 Oct 2013

Top official apologizes for bumpy rollout of HealthCare.gov

Testifying before the House Ways and Means Committee, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner apologized for the website's difficulties and faced tough questioning from members of the panel.

30 Oct 2013

Identifying gaps in infection prevention practices may help improve patient safety, shows study

Identifying gaps in infection prevention practices may yield opportunities for improved patient safety, according to a survey published in the November issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, the official publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

30 Oct 2013

Medicare Part B premium costs will hold steady in 2014

For the upcoming year, premiums will be $104.90 a month. In 2013, beneficiaries experienced a $5-per-month increase.

30 Oct 2013

As mandate delay talk continues, examining what it means for insurers, larger health law

As talk continues over possibly putting off parts of the health law, news outlets look at what delaying the mandate that nearly all Americans have health insurance could do to insurers and just how smart the move really would be -- despite the seemingly good politics of a delay.

30 Oct 2013

First Edition: October 29, 2013

Today's headlines include previews of a Capitol Hill hearing that will feature Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Serivces Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

29 Oct 2013

Aetna’s operating earnings increase 7% to $561.8M in third-quarter 2013

Aetna announced third-quarter 2013 operating earnings of $561.8 million, an increase of 7 percent over the third quarter of 2012. Third-quarter operating earnings per share were $1.50 in 2013 and $1.55 in 2012.

29 Oct 2013