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Viewpoints: The evolution of Medicare; generic drugs and patient safety; new food labels

About half a century ago, organized medicine and the hospital industry in this country struck a deal with Congress that in retrospect seems as audacious as it seems incredible: Congress was asked to surrender to these industries the keys to the United States Treasury. In return, the industries would allow Congress to pass a 1965 amendment to the Social Security Act .... We have come to know it as Medicare.

3 Mar 2014

State highlights: N.C. Medicaid reform plan unveiled; cutting back Medicaid estate recoveries

A selection of health policy stories from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Florida, New York, and North Carolina.

3 Mar 2014

States: N.C.'s Medicaid managed care proposal; narrow provider networks; Planned Parenthood's big plan

Gov. Pat McCrory's health agency is backing away from initial proposals to fix Medicaid costs by hiring a handful of big managed care organizations to run North Carolina's $13 billion health care system. The state Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday presented its framework for revamping Medicaid to an advisory group set up by McCrory (Dalesio, 2/26).

28 Feb 2014

Viewpoints: Health law's forgotten taxes; 'lame documentation' by critics; hospital closing crisis

The Affordable Care Act contains at least two economically distinct taxes on labor market activity. Even the experts on the law have failed to recognize all of them (Casey B. Mulligan, 2/26).

27 Feb 2014

Georgia docs finally see Medicaid pay raise

In the meantime, Minnesota's hospitals saw their uncompensated care costs increase at the slowest rate in five years.

27 Feb 2014

Feds propose Medicare advantage payment cuts, could have election impact

Medicare Advantage is the managed care program, run by private insurance companies, for seniors and disabled people.

24 Feb 2014

In Maryland, support is solid for health overhaul, state's exchange

A new poll finds 55 percent of state residents back the federal health law, even as Maryland plans to spend $2 million to address a problem with the online insurance marketplace. In related news, the deadline is approaching for states to spend federal grants they received to set up exchanges.

20 Feb 2014

Kindred Healthcare consolidated revenues decline 1% to $1.22 billion in Q4 2013

Kindred Healthcare, Inc. today announced its operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013. The Company continues to benefit from its repositioning strategy through the planned exit from a nursing center and a transitional care hospital and the closure of another nursing center during the fourth quarter of 2013.

20 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 20, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about Medicaid expansion challenges in Virginia and Arkansas.

20 Feb 2014

Research roundup: Examining readmissions; easing doctor burnout

Despite massive early IT problems, exchange enrollment is accelerating rapidly. While enrollment may not reach 7 million by the end of March, we expect at least 5 million to have enrolled by the close of the initial open-enrollment period. If enrollment falls far short, HHS could extend open enrollment for a fixed period to reach its 7 million target. ... We project that 5 million new beneficiaries will be covered by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program by the end of 2014. Medicaid managed-care enrollment of non-dual beneficiaries will increase by 20 percent from 2013 to 2014 and by 38 percent from 2013 to 2016. We expect that 75 percent of non-dual Medicaid beneficiaries will be covered by Managed Care Organizations starting in 2015, up from 63 percent in 2012 (Feb. 2014).

14 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 13, 2014

Today's headlines include news coverage of yesterday's update from the Obama administration regarding the number of people who have enrolled in private health insurance through the health law's online marketplaces.

13 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 11, 2014

Today's headlines include detailed coverage of the Obama administration's announcement that it will delay a health law requirement that mid-sized employers provide health insurance to workers while also allowing larger employers more flexibility.

11 Feb 2014

Triple-S announces consolidated revenues of $587.7 and net loss of $1.7 million for Q4 2013

Triple-S Management Corporation (NYSE: GTS), the leading managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $587.7 million and a consolidated net loss of $1.7 million for the three months ended December 31, 2013.

11 Feb 2014

Leaving behind Medicaid expansion leaves coverage gaps, hospitals short on payments

The Wall Street Journal examines the gap created by some states deciding not to expand their Medicaid programs and what that decision means for hospitals' bottom lines. Also, Republican lawmakers consider "bailouts" for hospitals after they decided not to expand Medicaid. In the meantime, Arkansas' lawmakers get ready to debate the state's Medicaid experiment.

10 Feb 2014

First Edition: February 10, 2014

Today's headlines include stories about the health law's coverage gap.

10 Feb 2014

Family Health Network grows by nearly 15% in 2013

The Family Health Network, a nonprofit health plan serving Medicaid recipients, has seen its network of providers double over the last three years, from 2,078 primary-care physicians, specialists, hospitals and clinics in 2010 to 4,299 at the close of 2013.

9 Feb 2014

State highlights: Washington state commitment appeals bill divides officials, families; Va. lawmakers disagree on emergency mental health custody; new Wis. mental health board

A selection of health policy stories from Washington state, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Florida. The proposal, numbered 2725 in the House and 6513 in the Senate, would create a new appeal process for when county officials decline to order an involuntary commitment. In those situations, immediate family members could ask a Superior Court judge about the case (Rosenthal, 2/3).

5 Feb 2014

Telemedicine used at nursing homes is a viable way to reduce avoidable hospitalizations

Telemedicine used at nursing homes during hours when doctors are not typically present is a viable way to reduce avoidable hospitalizations, according to research published in February's issue of Health Affairs.

5 Feb 2014

State highlights: Cities, states spending nearly 32% of budgets on health care; Detroit reaches retiree health coverage agreement; NYC, Calif. back caregiver protection bills

A selection of health policy stories from Michigan, New York, California, Wisconsin, Maryland, Georgia, Colorado and Mississippi.

4 Feb 2014

Hols conveys product’s safety and cost effectiveness to managed care groups

Health Outcomes Liaisons (HOLs) play a critical role in conveying a therapy's safety and cost effectiveness to managed care groups. With billions in sales riding on effectively communicating with these organizations regarding products' cost effectiveness and safety, the biopharmaceutical industry has turned to HOLs to fill this critical communication role.

27 Jan 2014

Managed Care News and Research

Viewpoints: The evolution of Medicare; generic drugs and patient safety; new food labels

State highlights: N.C. Medicaid reform plan unveiled; cutting back Medicaid estate recoveries

States: N.C.'s Medicaid managed care proposal; narrow provider networks; Planned Parenthood's big plan

Viewpoints: Health law's forgotten taxes; 'lame documentation' by critics; hospital closing crisis

Georgia docs finally see Medicaid pay raise

Feds propose Medicare advantage payment cuts, could have election impact

In Maryland, support is solid for health overhaul, state's exchange

Kindred Healthcare consolidated revenues decline 1% to $1.22 billion in Q4 2013

First Edition: February 20, 2014

Research roundup: Examining readmissions; easing doctor burnout

First Edition: February 13, 2014

First Edition: February 11, 2014

Triple-S announces consolidated revenues of $587.7 and net loss of $1.7 million for Q4 2013

Leaving behind Medicaid expansion leaves coverage gaps, hospitals short on payments

First Edition: February 10, 2014

Family Health Network grows by nearly 15% in 2013

State highlights: Washington state commitment appeals bill divides officials, families; Va. lawmakers disagree on emergency mental health custody; new Wis. mental health board

Telemedicine used at nursing homes is a viable way to reduce avoidable hospitalizations

State highlights: Cities, states spending nearly 32% of budgets on health care; Detroit reaches retiree health coverage agreement; NYC, Calif. back caregiver protection bills

Hols conveys product’s safety and cost effectiveness to managed care groups

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

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