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Health issues play a part in House immigration talks, budget cuts

Politico reports that issues related to the health benefits made available to undocumented immigrants as they seek citizenship could muddy House negotiations. In addition, House Republicans have pressed forward with budget cuts that would impact Indian health care and a number of other domestic programs.

23 May 2013

First Edition: May 22, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how the Medicaid expansion is shaking out in Virginia and Texas, as well as a report about the role health care is playing as the House attempts to negotiate an immigration reform measure.

22 May 2013

Viewpoints: Slowing health costs; What causes genetic testing to be so expensive; Iowa governor offers Medicaid supports a 'glimmer of hope'

We have done it. We have decreased the increase in the cost of healthcare. ... Is this decline the desperately needed bend in the healthcare cost curve or just the impact of the depressed economy? ... A slower growth of healthcare cost would mean less burden on the individual family, freeing that family to invest in and live a higher quality of life.

22 May 2013

Research suggests that IMRT may not be more effective in patients who had prostatectomy

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy has become the most commonly used type of radiation in prostate cancer, but research from the University of North Carolina suggests that the therapy may not be more effective than older, less expensive forms of radiation therapy in patients who have had a prostatectomy.

22 May 2013

New analysis finds more seniors living in poverty

The estimate, which takes health spending and other factors into account, concluded that 1 in 7 seniors lives in poverty. Projections indicate that number could go up if certain Medicare reforms took effect.

22 May 2013

First Edition: May 21, 2013

Today's headlines include stories examining how the approaching implementation of some health law provisions is highlighting key policy questions.

21 May 2013

No significant benefit differences between IMRT and CRT therapies after prostatectomy

Use of the newer, more expensive intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and use of the older conformal radiotherapy (CRT) after surgical removal of all or part of the prostate gland were associated with similar morbidity and cancer control outcomes, according to a study published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

21 May 2013

Health law's insurance exchanges are not mirror image of Mass. version

Some of the state's features that advocates say helped consumers make their insurance-purchasing decisions were not included in the the federal health law.

21 May 2013

CBO: Obama's budget would reduce Medicare spending by $364B

The Congressional Budget Office estimated Friday that President Obama's budget would reduce Medicare spending by $364 billion over the next decade and would reduce future budget deficits. The White House and Congress will likely soon need to work on a long-term budget solution as the nation again approaches its debt limit.

21 May 2013

Employers eye limited plans to avoid health law penalties

The Wall Street Journal reports that "bare-bones" health plans may help some employers avoid the law's fines. Meanwhile, the Journal Sentinel explores how investors are assessing winning or losing stocks as a result of the law's implementation.

21 May 2013

Republicans ask GAO to probe Sebelius' fundraising

GOP lawmakers seek an investigation of the Health and Human Services secretary's efforts to secure more funding for a private group that will help with the implementation of the health law. At the same time, an HHS spokesman offered more detail regarding whom she contacted.

18 May 2013

Some hospitals under the microscope for steep pricing

The New York Times and Los Angeles Times report on specific hospitals that have been shown to be among the most expensive in the nation. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports on interest from some senators in overhauling Medicare's hospital payment system.

18 May 2013

CMS examines interaction between Medicaid and health insurance exchanges

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has put out most of the rules to implement coverage changes under the health care law, but a top official said Thursday that the public should expect more guidance on such issues as outreach and the enrollment of lawmakers and their staffs into the new marketplaces that will start accepting people in October.

17 May 2013

Many Texas women who find abnormality on routine mammogram end up in surgical breast biopsy

Many women in Texas who are found to have an abnormality on routine mammogram or discover a lump in one of their breasts end up having an old-fashioned surgical biopsy to find out whether the breast abnormality is malignant.

17 May 2013

GfK to deliver major presentation on personalized medicine at PBIRG Annual General Meeting

GfK will deliver a major presentation about patient perspectives' on personalized medicine at the Pharmaceutical Business and Intelligence Research Group Annual General Meeting, taking place May 19 to 22 in Naples, Florida.

17 May 2013

First Edition: May 17, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about the GOP vote to repeal the health law -- for the 37th time -- as well as how the current IRS scandal is being connected to the health law's implementation.

17 May 2013

Weekend reading: Volunteers in the battle with heart disease; Psychiatry without medication; Owning your genes

Psychiatrists who take time with their patients are not the norm. It's not because others don't care. Rather the system rewards efficiency, not empathy.

17 May 2013

Acting CMS chief Marilyn Tavenner becomes agency's first confirmed head in 7 years

In a 91-to-7 vote, the Senate approved President Barack Obama's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Tavenner, who has been the agency's acting administrator, was endorsed by Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va.

17 May 2013

HHS to pay $1 billion for ideas to drive down health costs

The availability of a second round of grants -- funded by the health law -- was announced to support approaches to reduce costs and improve care. The initial round, announced last year, funded 107 organizations.

17 May 2013

People diagnosed with cancer are more likely to declare bankruptcy

People diagnosed with cancer are more than two-and-a-half times more likely to declare bankruptcy than those without cancer, according to a new study from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Researchers also found that younger cancer patients had two- to five-fold higher bankruptcy rates compared to older patients, and that overall bankruptcy filings increased as time passed following diagnosis.

17 May 2013

Medicare News and Research

Health issues play a part in House immigration talks, budget cuts

First Edition: May 22, 2013

Viewpoints: Slowing health costs; What causes genetic testing to be so expensive; Iowa governor offers Medicaid supports a 'glimmer of hope'

Research suggests that IMRT may not be more effective in patients who had prostatectomy

New analysis finds more seniors living in poverty

First Edition: May 21, 2013

No significant benefit differences between IMRT and CRT therapies after prostatectomy

Health law's insurance exchanges are not mirror image of Mass. version

CBO: Obama's budget would reduce Medicare spending by $364B

Employers eye limited plans to avoid health law penalties

Republicans ask GAO to probe Sebelius' fundraising

Some hospitals under the microscope for steep pricing

CMS examines interaction between Medicaid and health insurance exchanges

Many Texas women who find abnormality on routine mammogram end up in surgical breast biopsy

GfK to deliver major presentation on personalized medicine at PBIRG Annual General Meeting

First Edition: May 17, 2013

Weekend reading: Volunteers in the battle with heart disease; Psychiatry without medication; Owning your genes

Acting CMS chief Marilyn Tavenner becomes agency's first confirmed head in 7 years

HHS to pay $1 billion for ideas to drive down health costs

People diagnosed with cancer are more likely to declare bankruptcy

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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