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New report analyzes full range of care, coordinated services for children and teens under EPSDT

A new analysis by researchers at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services examines the relationship between health information laws and health system improvements for children and adolescents under Medicaid's Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment benefit.

6 Sep 2013

GOP's united front on Obamacare softens

The GOP's once rock-solid stance on Obamacare has softened as some Republicans look to move on from waging all-out war on the three-year-old law. Tea Party activists, however, are urging conservative lawmakers to try to stop it. In the meantime, lawmakers from both sides look more united than ever in trying to reform how Medicare pays doctors.

6 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 5, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about former President Bill Clinton -- dubbed the "explainer in chief" -- drumming up support for the health law and scolding Republicans for their efforts to repeal it.

5 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Economic theory shows health law's taxes will affect jobs; no indication that part-time jobs are increasing; doctors 'ditching' Medicare?

The Affordable Care Act was intended to expand the fraction of the United States population covered by health insurance. The law includes taxes on employers and various implicit taxes on employees that go into effect over the next two years.

5 Sep 2013

State highlights: At least 58 U.S. abortion clinics close after new, tighter laws; Minn. to end high-risk pool; Texas minors forbidden from tanning salons

At least 58 U.S. abortion clinics -- almost 1 in 10 -- have shut or stopped providing the procedure since 2011 as access vanishes faster than ever amid a Republican-led push to legislate the industry out of existence. A wave of regulations that makes it too expensive or logistically impossible for facilities to remain in business drove at least a third of the closings (Deprez, 9/3).

5 Sep 2013

Putting seniors in the hospital under 'observation' may cost them thousands

Many seniors think Medicare made a mistake when they find out they were never officially admitted to the hospital despite a several-day stay.

5 Sep 2013

Michigan gives final green light to Medicaid expansion

The Republican-led Michigan House gave final approval on Tuesday to a bill that would expand the Medicaid health program for the poor under Democratic President Barack Obama's healthcare reform law. Representatives voted 75-32 to concur with modifications of a bill that they had approved in June and agreed to send it to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican who has backed the expansion of the Medicaid program (Bailey, 9/3).

5 Sep 2013

First Edition: September 4, 2013

Todays headlines include reports about how the Balitmore Ravens will be part of the effort to raise public awareness about Maryland's health exchange.

4 Sep 2013

Medicare news: When nursing home benefits run out; reforming doc pay fix more costly than repeal

News outlets examine what options nursing home patients have when their Medicare benefits run out and the latest challenge to reforming how doctors are paid by the program -- the price tag.

4 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Shortages of drugs persist; number of Medicare doctors is growing; Obamacare undermines health savings accounts

As was the case during the last debt-ceiling debacle, in 2011, playing politics with the nation's creditworthiness is irresponsible and unnecessary. Leave aside the ObamaCare obsession, because Republicans have zero chance of persuading the president to kill one of his defining achievements.

4 Sep 2013

N.C. transitional care program shows promise in reducing hospital readmissions

A statewide transitional care program in North Carolina may hold hope for reducing hospital readmissions in the U.S., a new study finds. In the meantime, readmissions' financial stakes become clear for one Minnesota hospital.

4 Sep 2013

Viewpoints: Tying 'social safeguards' to work may not be best policy; GOP missing an opportunity by not offering alternative to health law; food makers' health claims 'hard to swallow'

In May, the head of [Trader Joe's] ... sent a confidential memo to employees notifying them of changes to their health coverage, retirement program and wages. ... He pledged to reduce workers' healthcare costs 10% for the remainder of the year while the company determines its response to changes under the Affordable Care Act. ...

31 Aug 2013

State highlights: Texas bans youth from tanning salons; Texas, Fla., have most uninsured; Medicare change threatens rural hospital funding in S.D.

Soon, Texas will join a number of states that bar minors from tanning indoors, which experts say greatly increases the risk of melanoma in those under 18. Senate Bill 329, written by State Senators Joan Huffman, Republican of Southside Place, and Sylvia R. Garcia, Democrat of Houston, automatically became law in June without the governor's signature and will take effect on Sunday (Serrano, 8/29).

31 Aug 2013

Research roundup: Assessing new hospital observation rule; doctors' view of DNR orders for kids

Hospitalized patients in the United States are increasingly placed on "observation status." The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) state that observation should rarely exceed 48 hours.

31 Aug 2013

California releases ads for insurance marketplace; Aetna pulls out of N.Y. exchange

Many of the California advertisements will be in Spanish to persuade consumers unfamiliar with the law to sign up, the Los Angeles Times reports. Meanwhile, Aetna did not give many details about its decision to not compete in New York's exchange.

31 Aug 2013

Those in gay marriages set to receive new federal benefits

The federal government on Thursday issued rules on the federal benefits that gay Americans and their same-sex spouses can expect to receive. HHS said Medicare will allow all beneficiaries access to care in a nursing home where their spouse lives.

31 Aug 2013

White House, GOP Senators throw in the towel on budget talks

Over past weeks, the Republicans had moved away from the kind of "grand bargain" sought by the president, which would have combined higher tax revenues with cuts to programs like Medicare. Republicans said the talks had yielded "no common ground."

31 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 30, 2013

Today's headlines include the latest news on congressional efforts to avert a financial crisis as well as coverage of the news from the Internal Revenue Service, Treasury Department and Department of Health and Human Services about how same-sex marriage will be recognized.

30 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Rove says job losses growing under health law; GOP strategists say health overhaul is aiding their path to white house; Mich. Senators who opposed Medicaid expansion gave themselves lifetime medical benefits

Thousands of American higher-education administrators will spend part of Labor Day weekend trying to plumb the meaning of the ideas President Obama dropped on them last week to "reform" the American college and university system.

30 Aug 2013

State highlights: Calif. dems propose alternative prison care plan; N.Y. extends managed care to cut Medicaid costs; Ga. Medicaid rolls at new high

Democratic leaders of the state Senate on Wednesday proposed an extra $200 million annually for rehabilitation, drug and mental health treatment as an alternative to Gov. Jerry Brown's plan for reducing prison crowding (McGreevy, 8/28).

30 Aug 2013

Medicare News and Research

New report analyzes full range of care, coordinated services for children and teens under EPSDT

GOP's united front on Obamacare softens

First Edition: September 5, 2013

Viewpoints: Economic theory shows health law's taxes will affect jobs; no indication that part-time jobs are increasing; doctors 'ditching' Medicare?

State highlights: At least 58 U.S. abortion clinics close after new, tighter laws; Minn. to end high-risk pool; Texas minors forbidden from tanning salons

Putting seniors in the hospital under 'observation' may cost them thousands

Michigan gives final green light to Medicaid expansion

First Edition: September 4, 2013

Medicare news: When nursing home benefits run out; reforming doc pay fix more costly than repeal

Viewpoints: Shortages of drugs persist; number of Medicare doctors is growing; Obamacare undermines health savings accounts

N.C. transitional care program shows promise in reducing hospital readmissions

Viewpoints: Tying 'social safeguards' to work may not be best policy; GOP missing an opportunity by not offering alternative to health law; food makers' health claims 'hard to swallow'

State highlights: Texas bans youth from tanning salons; Texas, Fla., have most uninsured; Medicare change threatens rural hospital funding in S.D.

Research roundup: Assessing new hospital observation rule; doctors' view of DNR orders for kids

California releases ads for insurance marketplace; Aetna pulls out of N.Y. exchange

Those in gay marriages set to receive new federal benefits

White House, GOP Senators throw in the towel on budget talks

First Edition: August 30, 2013

Viewpoints: Rove says job losses growing under health law; GOP strategists say health overhaul is aiding their path to white house; Mich. Senators who opposed Medicaid expansion gave themselves lifetime medical benefits

State highlights: Calif. dems propose alternative prison care plan; N.Y. extends managed care to cut Medicaid costs; Ga. Medicaid rolls at new high

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