Medicare News and Research

RSS

Viewpoints: Upton says GOP health ideas overlooked; tying insurance to jobs is a bad idea

In a troubling denial of reality, President Obama now claims that Republicans have no ideas when it comes to health care, saying "they don't have an agenda to provide health insurance to people at affordable rates." But Republicans do have answers – a lot of them (Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., 8/27).

29 Aug 2013

New models for care coordination and accountability cut costs, study finds

The study, published in Tuesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, examined how some approaches that lower spending and improve quality could spill over and benefit other patients.

29 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 28, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the vote by Michigan lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

28 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Sen. Cruz's strategy and a looming deadline; Michigan republicans face key test

Mr. Cruz also acknowledged that he does "not have the votes right now" to force a shutdown. At least 41 Senators need to play along, and, so far, only 13 have signaled their commitment to the cause. But the senator would only go so far in accepting reality.

28 Aug 2013

Use of radiologic examination of ducts during gallbladder surgery not linked with reduced risk of common duct injury

In an analysis of a procedure used to help prevent common duct injury during gallbladder removal surgery, use of intraoperative cholangiography (radiologic examination of the ducts during gallbladder surgery) was not associated with a reduced risk of common duct injury, according to a study in the August 28 issue of JAMA.

28 Aug 2013

State Highlights: N.H. pushes back at health care costs ahead of Obamacare

Health care spending has increased faster and reached higher levels in New Hampshire than in most other states, but hospitals, insurers and others have been trying to tackle the problem long before the Affordable Care Act. The New Hampshire Citizens Health Initiative, which promotes affordable, effective and accessible health care, has overseen several of the largest efforts, including a medical home pilot project in 2011 and an accountable care organization model (8/26).

28 Aug 2013

Health law in cross hairs as debt-limit deadline approaches

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Monday the nation will hit its debt limit in mid-October, setting up a potential clash between the White House and some House Republicans who say they will tie their votes on raising the debt ceiling to defunding the health law. Also in the news, a survey of business economists cites future deficits as the nation's most pressing problem, which will be exacerbated by aging baby boomers reliant on Social Security and Medicare.

28 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 27, 2013

Today's headlines include reports regarding the gathering storm as the White House and GOP lawmakers continue to hold firm in their positions regarding the looming debt limit. President Barack Obama says he won't negotiate while some Republicans are pushing for to defund, or at least delay, the health law's implementation.

27 Aug 2013

California residents to reap benefits of CHI and xG partnership

Residents of California's Central Coast will soon reap the benefits of a newly formed healthcare partnership that aims to advance quality while driving down costs thanks to an innovative healthcare delivery model known as the patient-centered medical home.

27 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: 'Mixed signals' on employee benefits; Michigan debates Medicaid expansion; malpractice awards drive safety

It is hard to know whether to rejoice or lament two striking if somewhat conflicting messages last week about the costs of employer-sponsored health insurance. An authoritative survey found that premiums for family and individual coverage at work - including both the company's and the worker's share - have gone up only moderately for the second year in a row.

27 Aug 2013

Medicare: Docs not leaving program; Sen. Baldwin pushes to protect rural hospital funds

In Medicare news, doctors may not be leaving the Medicare program in droves as some think. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is pushing back against Medicare cuts to rural hospital reimbursement, and some hospitals are making follow-up care changes to lower readmission rates.

27 Aug 2013

Lobbying efforts to alter Obamacare take on urgency

Reuters reports how businesses, unions and advocacy groups continue to seek changes in the law, but lobbyists face uphill battles. Kaiser Health News reports on how bare-bones health plans are expected to survive the law, albeit in modified form, and also looks at the government's efforts to inform seniors they shouldn't seek coverage from new online insurance marketplaces.

27 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 26, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the ongoing battles between those who support the implementation of the health law, and those who oppose it.

26 Aug 2013

State highlights: Colo. effort to reduce hospital readmissions pays off

A 2-year-old initiative between the Colorado Hospital Association and UnitedHealthcare to reduce costly unnecessary readmissions is reporting major gains on a lingering problem. The readmission rate for "same cause" patients -- those coming back for the same malady as their initial visit -- dropped to just over 5 percent from 9.8 percent the year before, at 19 Colorado hospitals, according to a release by the collaboration (Booth, 8/21).

26 Aug 2013

Local governments wrestle with employee hours and health coverage

Even though the requirement that employers -- including governments -- offer full-time employees health coverage does not kick in for 16 months, there are already changes, The Washington Post reports.

26 Aug 2013

80 House GOP members urge Boehner to defund Obamacare

House Speaker John Boehner floated the idea of a short-term spending bill to avoid a government shutdown in October. But conservatives in his caucus expressed opposition, insisting that funds be stripped from the health care law even if that forces a government shutdown.

26 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 23, 2013

Today's headlines include reports on what's becoming of the potential for a deficit deal, as well as the political posturing related to the House GOP efforts to block health law funding even if it means shutting down the government.

23 Aug 2013

UCLA-led study points to simple solution that could save Medicare dollars for patients

As everyone knows, medications are expensive, and even with insurance coverage, patients' out-of-pocket drug costs can be quite hefty. This holds true for individuals with Medicare Part D, also known as the prescription drug benefit, which subsidizes the cost of medications for about 28 million Medicare beneficiaries.

23 Aug 2013

Tufts Health Plan provides positive coverage decision and in-network provider status to bioTheranostics

bioTheranostics, a leading provider of molecular diagnostic solutions for cancer, has received a positive coverage decision and in-network provider status from Tufts Health Plan for its CancerTYPE ID molecular cancer classifier.

23 Aug 2013

State highlights: Health plan settles with D.C. over payments; Ga. judge won't stop contract despite UnitedHealthcare concerns; Calif. voters know little on Obamacare

A selection of health policy stories from the District of Columbia, Georgia, California, New York, Montana, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

23 Aug 2013

Medicare News and Research

Viewpoints: Upton says GOP health ideas overlooked; tying insurance to jobs is a bad idea

New models for care coordination and accountability cut costs, study finds

First Edition: August 28, 2013

Viewpoints: Sen. Cruz's strategy and a looming deadline; Michigan republicans face key test

Use of radiologic examination of ducts during gallbladder surgery not linked with reduced risk of common duct injury

State Highlights: N.H. pushes back at health care costs ahead of Obamacare

Health law in cross hairs as debt-limit deadline approaches

First Edition: August 27, 2013

California residents to reap benefits of CHI and xG partnership

Viewpoints: 'Mixed signals' on employee benefits; Michigan debates Medicaid expansion; malpractice awards drive safety

Medicare: Docs not leaving program; Sen. Baldwin pushes to protect rural hospital funds

Lobbying efforts to alter Obamacare take on urgency

First Edition: August 26, 2013

State highlights: Colo. effort to reduce hospital readmissions pays off

Local governments wrestle with employee hours and health coverage

80 House GOP members urge Boehner to defund Obamacare

First Edition: August 23, 2013

UCLA-led study points to simple solution that could save Medicare dollars for patients

Tufts Health Plan provides positive coverage decision and in-network provider status to bioTheranostics

State highlights: Health plan settles with D.C. over payments; Ga. judge won't stop contract despite UnitedHealthcare concerns; Calif. voters know little on Obamacare

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

The role of UV-Vis in biopharma QC

Latest News