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NextGen EDR version 4.3 now certified as ONC HIT Complete EHR

NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Quality Systems, Inc. and a leading provider of healthcare information systems and connectivity solutions, announced today that its NextGen Electronic Dental Record version 4.3 is compliant with the ONC 2014 Edition criteria and was certified as a Complete EHR by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, an ONC-ACB, in accordance with the applicable Eligible certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

5 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Calif., Oregon exchanges curb premiums with limited networks; Why the U.S. pays so much for health care

A closer examination of these health plans (to be offered on the California and Oregon exchanges) reveals a less rosy picture. Although the premiums are lower than some anticipated, this has been achieved by designing the plans around much more limited provider networks and including greater cost-sharing than the typical commercial health-insurance plan. The premiums for the policies that will be offered on the states' exchanges are much higher than analogous plans being sold today (Daniel P. Kessler, 6/3).

5 Jun 2013

State highlights: Ore. mental health could see expansion, Calif. lawmakers take up health law 'loophole'; N.Y. abortion proposal hits obstacles

When Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward walked into a committee meeting, she didn't plan to reveal to the world that she has suffered from major depression for 15 years. "If I go two days without taking my medication, I can't walk in the door of this building," Steiner Hayward, D-Beaverton, told colleagues. "I can't get up in the morning. I can't take a shower. I can't function as a normal human being." Steiner Hayward is coming forward as a public voice for mental health at a time when Oregon lawmakers are considering Senate Bill 823, which would significantly expand mental health care in Oregon (Zheng, 6/3).

5 Jun 2013

HHS unveils Medicare claims data detailing hospital price information for outpatient treatment

The average charges for 30 hospital outpatient procedures show big hospital-to-hospital variation in terms of how much the facilities bill patients for the same service.

5 Jun 2013

End-of-life care: A challenge in terms of costs and quality

t first glance, America is making great strides toward a medical and cultural shift in its approach to end-of-life care: More and more providers are recognizing the benefits of hospice, more people are dying at home, and many health care organizations are institutionalizing the discussions between providers and patients that would help patients formalize their wishes for end-of-life care through an advance directive. But pull up the curtain on these statistics, and the drama that unfolds tells a very different story. End-of-life care continues to be characterized by aggressive medical intervention and runaway costs (Adamopoulos, 6/3).

5 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 4, 2013

Today's headlines include a report about what the Democrats' health law strategy might be as the 2014 mid-term elections approach.

4 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Current insurance was made cheaper by turning away the sick; Even in Obama's Illinois, implementing changes is tough

Some people will find the new rules make insurance more expensive. That's in part because their health insurance was made cheap by turning away sick people. The new rules also won't allow for as much discrimination based on age or gender. The flip side of that, of course, is that many will suddenly find their health insurance is much cheaper, or they will find that, for the first time, they're not turned away when they try to buy health insurance (Ezra Klein, 6/1).

4 Jun 2013

Chances for deficit deal diminish as Medicare's outlook improves

Last week's report on Medicare projected that the program's hospital trust fund would be solvent until 2026 -- two years longer than the last prediction. That slowing of health care costs, combined with shrinking near-term federal deficits and partisan gridlock are making a congressional deficit deal unlikely, at least until after the 2014 elections.

4 Jun 2013

Physicians call for tax hike on tobacco, alcoholic beverages; new tax on sugary drinks, fatty foods

Go ye and sin no more -- or pay for it, when it comes to junk food, smoking and consuming alcohol. That's the message from two Mayo Clinic physicians who say raising "sin" taxes on tobacco and alcoholic beverages and imposing them on sugary drinks and fatty foods would lead many people to cut back, improving public health.

4 Jun 2013

Federal judge lifts ban on Medicare releasing individual doctor data

A federal judge has lifted the ban on Medicare releasing data on individual doctors to the public. The end on the 33-year ban -- after the publishers of The Wall Street Journal sued to end it -- could mean closer scrutiny of doctor practices in the program.

4 Jun 2013

Black patients in most segregated areas more likely to receive surgery at low-quality hospitals

Black patients are more likely to have surgery performed at low-quality hospitals even though they frequently live closer to better facilities than white patients.

4 Jun 2013

HHS limits Obamacare options for small businesses

A final rule released Friday confirms that a provision of the health law aimed at helping small businesses provide insurance to their employees will be limited until 2015.

4 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 3, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from major news organizations, including a number of stories detail health law implementation developments.

3 Jun 2013

Elderly patients more open to talk about driving retirement, new study finds

Clinicians often wait too long before talking to elderly patients about giving up driving even though many may be open to those discussions earlier, according to a new study from the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the CU College of Nursing.

3 Jun 2013

Medicare forecast: Solvent until 2026, though baby boomer costs loom

The government said Friday that Medicare's giant hospital trust will not be exhausted until 2026, two years later than projected last year, ... The reasons given for the improved financial outlook for Medicare were an overall slowdown in health care spending, particularly on skilled nursing care, as well as lower projected costs for popular insurance plans available within the Medicare program.

1 Jun 2013

Research roundup: Questioning money-saving value of kids' preventive dentistry, weight loss

Although early preventive dental visits are widely recommended for children, it is unclear whether they reduce future dental visits or costs.

1 Jun 2013

ACP provides recommendations for Medicare physician reimbursement, FFS systems

The American College of Physicians today provided 19 specific recommendations, supporting evidence and implementation details on how to improve the Medicare physician fee schedule and the fee-for-service system overall in response to a request by the Senate Finance Committee on May 10.

1 Jun 2013

Analysts predict continued Medicare cost growth slowdown

As Medicare and Social Security's trustees prepare to release their annual report Friday, USA Today reports that the rate of increase in overall Medicare spending could continue to slow because of the 2010 health law. The Associated Press reports that a slowed upward curve only delays a day of reckoning for the popular programs, however.

1 Jun 2013

Next battles over Obamacare predicted to be ugliest yet

CNN reports that the White House and Republicans are preparing for an "epic battle" over the selling of Obamacare tied to the opening of online insurance marketplaces Oct. 1. Other news outlets describe how GOP lawmakers are increasingly calling for an independent probe of HHS Secretary Sebelius.

1 Jun 2013

Medicaid expansion: Maine looks at another plan; Advocates lobby N.H., Missouri lawmakers

States wrestle with the issue of expanding their Medicaid programs under the federal health law.

1 Jun 2013

Medicare News and Research

NextGen EDR version 4.3 now certified as ONC HIT Complete EHR

Viewpoints: Calif., Oregon exchanges curb premiums with limited networks; Why the U.S. pays so much for health care

State highlights: Ore. mental health could see expansion, Calif. lawmakers take up health law 'loophole'; N.Y. abortion proposal hits obstacles

HHS unveils Medicare claims data detailing hospital price information for outpatient treatment

End-of-life care: A challenge in terms of costs and quality

First Edition: June 4, 2013

Viewpoints: Current insurance was made cheaper by turning away the sick; Even in Obama's Illinois, implementing changes is tough

Chances for deficit deal diminish as Medicare's outlook improves

Physicians call for tax hike on tobacco, alcoholic beverages; new tax on sugary drinks, fatty foods

Federal judge lifts ban on Medicare releasing individual doctor data

Black patients in most segregated areas more likely to receive surgery at low-quality hospitals

HHS limits Obamacare options for small businesses

First Edition: June 3, 2013

Elderly patients more open to talk about driving retirement, new study finds

Medicare forecast: Solvent until 2026, though baby boomer costs loom

Research roundup: Questioning money-saving value of kids' preventive dentistry, weight loss

ACP provides recommendations for Medicare physician reimbursement, FFS systems

Analysts predict continued Medicare cost growth slowdown

Next battles over Obamacare predicted to be ugliest yet

Medicaid expansion: Maine looks at another plan; Advocates lobby N.H., Missouri lawmakers

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