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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

First Edition: May 31, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including reports from the administration about the number of insurers that will be offering policies on the new online marketplaces.

31 May 2013

Viewpoints: Obamacare is already working; George W. Bush on 'personal responsibility'; Medicaid expansion and the mentally ill

The Affordable Care Act has been under siege since before it even had a name. Some on the right saw it as government overreach. Some on the left considered it better for insurance companies than for consumers. As many of the law's provisions take effect over the next year, we're hearing from both sides all over again. This time the theme is that the law is too complex. ... Read the discussion (5/29).

31 May 2013

Immigrants help Medicare stay solvent, study finds

Immigrants to the U.S. contributed $115.2 billion more to Medicare's Hospital Trust Fund during the past decade than they withdrew, casting doubt on criticism they overburden the health plan for the elderly and disabled, according to a study by researchers from Harvard and the City University of New York.

31 May 2013

FDA accepts Teva Pharmaceutical's sNDA for COPAXONE

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review the company's supplemental new drug application for COPAXONE (glatiramer acetate injection) 40mg/ 1mL, a higher concentration dose of COPAXONE that offers a less frequent three times a week dosing regimen administered subcutaneously for patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

31 May 2013

Catamaran achieves five-star medication safety ratings

Catamaran Corp., a leading provider of pharmacy benefit management services and technology, today announced it has received a 2013 PQA Quality Award recognizing its five-star rating on all PQA measures in the Part D Star Ratings program.

30 May 2013

First Edition: May 30, 2013

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations include stories about a new study on immigrants' financial impact on the Medicare program and a new federal regulation on wellness programs.

30 May 2013

Viewpoints: Medical professionals and near misses; Two tea partiers diverge on Medicaid expansion; Obamacare's 'death by a thousand cuts'

A near miss, like any error, is an opportunity to examine how mistakes are made and what changes might prevent them. Yet we have no idea how many near misses there are. Many experts feel that near-miss errors dwarf the number of known errors, a number that is already too high for comfort. (According to a 2006 report, medication errors alone injure an estimated 1.5 million patients a year.) But the instinct for most medical professionals is to keep these shameful mistakes to ourselves (Danielle Ofri, 5/28).

30 May 2013