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Study reports that less-invasive option for spinal stenosis poses 'trade-off' in outcomes

Interspinous spacer implantation-a less-invasive alternative surgical option for spinal stenosis-has a lower complication rate than spinal fusion, reports a study in the May 1 issue of Spine The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

8 May 2013

Harkin lifts hold on Tavenner nomination

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, said Tuesday that he would allow the nomination of Marilyn Tavenner to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to go forward.

8 May 2013

Medicare studies: Payment cuts don't mean insurers pay more

Medicare payment cuts to hospitals don't necessarily mean private insurers end up paying more, one study finds. Another reports that unifying Medicare's benefits into a single plan could save the program $180 billion over 10 years, while lowering seniors' out-of-pocket costs.

8 May 2013

For health law backers, part of challenge is managing expectations

Some Democrats worry they will face political repercussions if there are snags that can be exploited by Republicans.

8 May 2013

HHS launches probe into unusual billing patterns for inpatient hospice care

HHS' inspector general's office is launching an in-depth investigation into cases where Medicare hospice beneficiaries get inpatient care, following unusual billing patterns that surfaced during recent research on the $1.1 billion industry.

8 May 2013

State roundup: Medicaid contractor sues La. over canceled deal

A Maryland-based company whose nearly $200 million Medicaid contract was canceled amid an ongoing federal investigation sued Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration Monday for terminating the deal (5/6).

8 May 2013

National Transitions of Care Coalition cites patient education as key component of post hospital health management, disease prevention framework

The National Transitions of Care Coalition has cited patient education as a required component of post hospital health management and disease prevention framework. Today's technologies and digital delivery options allows health providers to target reductions in re-admissions, and emergency department visits, while improving patient compliance and patient safety within the hospital.

7 May 2013

Survey shows rising rates of treated disease prevalence increase health care costs in U.S

The increasing proportion of the population that received treatment for a specific medical condition - called "treated disease prevalence" -- along with higher spending per treated case accounted for most of the rise in health care spending in the U.S. between 1987 and 2009, according to a recent analysis.

7 May 2013

First Edition: May 7, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about two new studies exploring whether the slowdown in the nation's health spending growth rates is, in fact, due more to structural changes in the health ystem than to the economy.

7 May 2013

New report highlights factors that contribute to asthma

There is still no cure for asthma, so for 22 million people in the U.S., this chronic disease continues to be a daily burden no matter where they live. But it's not just air pollution they should be worried about. Factors such as pollen, secondhand smoke – even high rates of poverty, a large uninsured population or a high number of ER visits – can be critical signs that certain cities and states are worse for families with asthma. It is especially true for people with severe asthma.

7 May 2013

Do children's health concerns fall through the health law's cracks?

The final implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) could be bad news for re-authorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), a congressional staffer said. … Authorization for the program, which provides health coverage to families who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but too little to afford costly health insurance, expires at the end of September 2013.

7 May 2013

Viewpoints: Assessing the Oregon Medicaid experiment; health insurance hysteria; in Florida, 'toxic politics' beats out common sense

The people who got Medicaid used more health care, and seem to have done so smartly - they got preventive care, they got their diabetes diagnosed and began managing it.

7 May 2013

White House Medicare proposal draws ire from advocates, liberals

The Hill reports that President Barack Obama's plan to combine Medicare's doctor and hospital costs is unpopular among advocates for the elderly and some liberal Democrats.

7 May 2013

Despite outreach efforts, many eligible seniors are turning down health subsidy program

The Low Income Subsidy for Medicare Part D is a rare beast in economics research. The subsidy provides prescription drug coverage essentially free for low-income adults. That means it is what economists call a dominant option.

7 May 2013

ApolloMed net revenues climbed 52.2% to $7.8 million during fiscal 2013

Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc., an integrated physician-driven healthcare delivery company that puts 'Patients First,' today announced its fiscal year-end results for the three and twelve months ended January 31, 2013.

5 May 2013

Study estimates ER costs for hematuria patients at more than $237 million a year

A relatively common urinary tract disorder that can usually be managed in an outpatient setting is adding an estimated $238 million a year to the cost of emergency room visits in the U.S., according to two new studies from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

5 May 2013

Research roundup: Surgical care at critical access hospitals; Digging into the cost of emergency medicine; Getting what you want for end-of-life care

During the past 15 years, the number of critical access hospitals – those with fewer than 25 acute care beds that receive higher reimbursements and other considerations from Medicare to help sustain them – has increased substantially, representing a quarter of all U.S. acute care hospitals in 2011.

4 May 2013

Highlights: New health care oversight laws in Md.; Texas hospitals negotiate over uncompensated care payments; Colo. considers psychiatric hospital for homeless

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley signed three laws Thursday that will give more protection for patients. The measures provide more state oversight of cosmetic surgery centers, pharmacies that make sterile medications and staffing agencies that find temporary jobs for health care professionals (Sun, 5/2).

4 May 2013

Sen. Grassley pushes on in Medicare probe, reportedly seeks information about Sen. Hatch's aide

The Wall Street Journal writes that the Iowa Republican, who is looking into how investors got advance word of a Medicare financial policy decision, is also asking about comments by his Utah colleague's staffer.

4 May 2013

Obama plan for Medicare, Social Security draws ire from liberal groups

Liberal groups angered by President Barack Obama's proposed Social Security cuts say they'll take a page from conservatives' campaign playbook and work to oust Democratic lawmakers who go along with the plan.

4 May 2013

Medicare News and Research

Study reports that less-invasive option for spinal stenosis poses 'trade-off' in outcomes

Harkin lifts hold on Tavenner nomination

Medicare studies: Payment cuts don't mean insurers pay more

For health law backers, part of challenge is managing expectations

HHS launches probe into unusual billing patterns for inpatient hospice care

State roundup: Medicaid contractor sues La. over canceled deal

National Transitions of Care Coalition cites patient education as key component of post hospital health management, disease prevention framework

Survey shows rising rates of treated disease prevalence increase health care costs in U.S

First Edition: May 7, 2013

New report highlights factors that contribute to asthma

Do children's health concerns fall through the health law's cracks?

Viewpoints: Assessing the Oregon Medicaid experiment; health insurance hysteria; in Florida, 'toxic politics' beats out common sense

White House Medicare proposal draws ire from advocates, liberals

Despite outreach efforts, many eligible seniors are turning down health subsidy program

ApolloMed net revenues climbed 52.2% to $7.8 million during fiscal 2013

Study estimates ER costs for hematuria patients at more than $237 million a year

Research roundup: Surgical care at critical access hospitals; Digging into the cost of emergency medicine; Getting what you want for end-of-life care

Highlights: New health care oversight laws in Md.; Texas hospitals negotiate over uncompensated care payments; Colo. considers psychiatric hospital for homeless

Sen. Grassley pushes on in Medicare probe, reportedly seeks information about Sen. Hatch's aide

Obama plan for Medicare, Social Security draws ire from liberal groups

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