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Detailing the health law's implementation hurdles

Continued opposition to the overhaul is one of the administration's biggest challenges. In addition, many consumers eligible to buy insurance in new online marketplaces still don't understand their benefits and obligations under the law. Meanwhile, insurance companies are gearing up to sell policies.

20 Aug 2013

First Edition: August 19, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how public perceptions and political opposition continue to swirl around the health law's implementation.

19 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Medicare's lessons for the health law; Krauthammer says Obama shouldn't try to write his own laws

As a Sept. 30 budget deadline approaches, many in the Republican Party are pushing to repeal the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. The law's most radical opponents are even threatening to shut down the government by refusing to pass a continuing resolution, which would fund existing government programs at current or slightly adjusted levels.

17 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Latest Health law delay just a 'glitch;' feds' overhaul of health care gets many 'moving parts wrong'

Today brings news of another delay in the implementation of Obamacare -- the second significant glitch this summer. … If this sounds like a winner for Republicans in 2014 it probably isn't.

17 Aug 2013

Research roundup: The health of the U.S.; doctors aren't paid to talk; savings from high-deductible plans

Understanding the major health problems in the United States and how they are changing over time is critical for informing national health policy. ... From 1990 to 2010, the United States made substantial progress in improving health. Life expectancy at birth and [healthy life expectancy] increased, all-cause death rates at all ages decreased, and age-specific rates of years lived with disability remained stable.

17 Aug 2013

Planned Parenthood affiliates among groups tapped to receive federal health law grants

News outlets also highlight various other organizations that received funding to be 'navigators.'

17 Aug 2013

Professor receives Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award from GSA

The Gerontological Society of America (GSA) - the nation's largest interdisciplinary organization devoted to the field of aging - has chosen Eileen M. Sullivan-Marx, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean of the New York University College of Nursing, as the 2013 recipient of the Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award.

17 Aug 2013

Medicare changes appear to be driving reduced used of dialysis drugs

The Washington Post reports on a new study, which finds Food and Drug Administration warnings did not cause a sharp drop in the use of these drugs.

16 Aug 2013

Fla. hospitals reduce hospital readmissions by 15 percent

The initiative headed by the Florida Hospital Association also reduced readmission rates for surgical complications and bloodstream infections and saved millions at 160 hospitals, it says.

16 Aug 2013

As the health law reshapes the marketplace, concerns emerge

Many of the plans [offered on the new health marketplaces] will include relatively few choices of doctors and hospitals. In some cases, plans will layer on other limits, such as requirements that patients get referrals to see specialists, or obtain insurer authorization before pricey procedures.

16 Aug 2013

Critical-access hospitals would face funding trims under new plan

The proposal, advanced as part of a report from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, would curb enhanced payments to as many as two-thirds of these facilities.

16 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Gov. Jindal skeptical of navigators program; scare tactics against Obamacare growing

By August 15, the Obama administration is expected to spend $54 million of our tax dollars to hire community organizers to push this law on the American people. ...

14 Aug 2013

State highlights: Texas waits for feds' ok on higher Medicaid payments

California schools may give students insulin injections and other medications without having to call in licensed nurses, the state's highest court ruled Monday. … The unanimous decision was a defeat for the powerful California Nurses Assn., which had argued that only licensed health care workers could administer medicine under a state law that bars the unauthorized practice of nursing (Dolan, 8/12).

14 Aug 2013

Clinical trials shows CRT improves symptoms, reduces mortality in patients with heart failure

In a large population of Medicare beneficiaries with heart failure who underwent implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, patients who had the cardiac characteristics of left bundle-branch block and longer QRS duration had the lowest risks of death and all-cause, cardiovascular, and heart failure readmission, according to a study in the August 14 issue of JAMA

14 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: Obama overlooking legal constraints on employer mandate delay; Bush's 'unnecessary' heart procedure; discrimination against people with mental illnesses

In his Friday remarks, Mr. Obama also claimed that he had the "executive authority" for the mandate delay. But if he really believes that, then why did he say he would normally ask for a legislative "tweak." Either the fix requires legislation or it doesn't. His comments are certainly revealing about his attitudes on Presidential power and the constraints of the U.S. Constitution. Article II, Section 3 instructs him to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, not merely what he thinks is "the essence" of laws (8/10).

13 Aug 2013

Perrigo Company and Teva Pharmaceutical launch generic equivalent to temozolomide

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Perrigo Company today announced the launch of the generic equivalent to Temodar (temozolomide).

13 Aug 2013

Viewpoints: The case for gov't shutdown over Obamacare; Tea Partiers Vs. GOP 'establishment types'

So the fight to stop ObamaCare now is an urgent matter. Elected leaders in both parties should summon the courage to put their political futures on the line, because the future of America is truly on the line. Politicians who oppose ObamaCare should not vote to fund it. ... a failure of Republicans to show the courage of their convictions on such a fundamental issue will inspire no one and will further alienate the American people from their government.

12 Aug 2013

State highlights: Accusations of fraud or abuse in disabled, rehabilitation clinics in N.Y., Mich. and Calif.

Two and a half years ago, The New York Times published an article about abusive employees who worked for the state, detailing how few employees were fired, even after the state recommended that they lose their jobs, because of weaknesses in the arbitration process, the permissive attitude of state officials and the aggressive stance of public sector labor unions -- particularly the Civil Service Employees Association. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo promised to change all this.

12 Aug 2013

Prime Therapeutics selected as finalist for URAC's Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection Awards

Prime Therapeutics (Prime), a leading pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), was selected as a finalist for URAC's 2013 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection Awards. Prime was selected for its Controlled Substance Drug Utilization Review (DUR) program, which is part of the GuidedHealth® platform.

12 Aug 2013

Research roundup: Use of high-deductible plans limits some E.R. visits; older folks not as sick as they used to be

One-third of US workers now have high-deductible health plans, and those numbers are expected to grow in 2014 as implementation of the Affordable Care Act continues. There is concern that high-deductible health plans might cause enrollees of low socioeconomic status to forgo emergency care as a result of burdensome out-of-pocket costs.

12 Aug 2013

Medicare News and Research

Detailing the health law's implementation hurdles

First Edition: August 19, 2013

Viewpoints: Medicare's lessons for the health law; Krauthammer says Obama shouldn't try to write his own laws

Viewpoints: Latest Health law delay just a 'glitch;' feds' overhaul of health care gets many 'moving parts wrong'

Research roundup: The health of the U.S.; doctors aren't paid to talk; savings from high-deductible plans

Planned Parenthood affiliates among groups tapped to receive federal health law grants

Professor receives Doris Schwartz Gerontological Nursing Research Award from GSA

Medicare changes appear to be driving reduced used of dialysis drugs

Fla. hospitals reduce hospital readmissions by 15 percent

As the health law reshapes the marketplace, concerns emerge

Critical-access hospitals would face funding trims under new plan

Viewpoints: Gov. Jindal skeptical of navigators program; scare tactics against Obamacare growing

State highlights: Texas waits for feds' ok on higher Medicaid payments

Clinical trials shows CRT improves symptoms, reduces mortality in patients with heart failure

Viewpoints: Obama overlooking legal constraints on employer mandate delay; Bush's 'unnecessary' heart procedure; discrimination against people with mental illnesses

Perrigo Company and Teva Pharmaceutical launch generic equivalent to temozolomide

Viewpoints: The case for gov't shutdown over Obamacare; Tea Partiers Vs. GOP 'establishment types'

State highlights: Accusations of fraud or abuse in disabled, rehabilitation clinics in N.Y., Mich. and Calif.

Prime Therapeutics selected as finalist for URAC's Health Care Consumer Engagement and Protection Awards

Research roundup: Use of high-deductible plans limits some E.R. visits; older folks not as sick as they used to be

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