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First Edition: April 3, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about how the latest round of payment rates for private Medicare plans led to stock market gains for insurers.

3 Apr 2013

Study finds high mortality rates in rural hospitals

In an analysis that included data on more than 10 million Medicare beneficiaries admitted to acute care hospitals with a heart attack, congestive heart failure, or pneumonia between 2002 and 2010, 30-day mortality rates for those admitted to critical access hospitals (designated hospitals that provide inpatient care to individuals living in rural communities) increased during this time period compared with patients admitted to other acute care hospitals, according to a study in the April 3 issue of JAMA.

3 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: Actuaries report validates critics' skepticism of law; Campaign to repeal medical devices tax is paying off

The non-partisan Society of Actuaries last week said that because of Obamacare, insurers could pay an average of 32% more for medical claims. Those costs will be passed onto those who buy insurance on the individual market in the form of dramatically higher premiums.

3 Apr 2013

Roundup: Feds cut N.Y. Medicaid payments $1.2B; 93,000 fewer kids enroll in CHIP in Pa.; W. Va. lawmakers promise miners benefits

Federal authorities have dramatically lowered the amount that New York state can claim from the federal government for certain medical services, costing the state an estimated $1.2 billion.

3 Apr 2013

Feds boost rather than cut payments to Medicare Advantage plans

The insurance industry won a major lobbying victory Monday after the Obama administration backtracked on an earlier plan to cut Medicare Advantage payments to insurers by 2.2 percent in 2014 and instead decided to give them a 3.3 percent increase.

3 Apr 2013

First Edition: April 2, 2013

Kaiser Health News consumer columnist Michelle Andrews answers readers' questions about the new marketplaces where consumers can buy 2014 health policies as part of the federal health law. (Andrews, 4/2).

2 Apr 2013

Study examines racial disparities in prostate cancer treatment delay

African American men on average wait a week longer than their Caucasian counterparts between the initial diagnosis of prostate cancer and treatment, according to University of North Carolina researchers.

2 Apr 2013

Federal officials look to mass marketing to sell health law

The administration faces a tough challenge to get the public to understand and accept the health law -- and, then, to sign up the millions without coverage.

2 Apr 2013

Concerns raised about effect of Medicare's readmission penalty on hospitals

The New York Times explores the new policy that penalizes hospitals if they have too many patients return within 30 days.

2 Apr 2013

Viewpoints: 'Big risks' of buying private insurance with Medicaid dollars; One month of sequestration

The Obama administration and Republican officials in several states are exploring ways to redirect federal money intended to expand Medicaid, the main public insurance program for the poor, and use it instead to buy private health insurance for Medicaid recipients.

2 Apr 2013

New study finds for-profit hospitals outscore other hospitals on performance measures

For-profit hospitals are out-performing other hospitals when treating stroke, heart attack and pneumonia patients in emergency departments and, thus, will be more likely to receive bonuses under Medicare's new payment rules, according to a new Northwestern Medicine- study.

2 Apr 2013

Potential pact on medicare changes could lead to budget deal

The New York Times reports that a possible agreement between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans on "broad systemic changes to Medicare" could help spur a budget deal. And The Wall Street Journal reports the White House is weighing inclusion of some entitlement changes in its 2014 budget proposal as a way to prod further talks.

30 Mar 2013

Viewpoints: Time to focus on health care prices; Entitlement programs and generational warfare; Cigarette tax hikes and smoking cessation

Traditionally, the theory driving discussions on the high cost of health care in the United States has been that there is enormous waste in the system, taking the form of excess utilization of care. From that theory it follows that methods of controlling the growth of health spending should focus on ways to reduce the use of unnecessary or only marginally beneficial health care.

30 Mar 2013

Weekend reading: Seniors smoking marijuana; Same-sex marriage and public health

For Cher Neufer, a 65-year-old retired teacher, socializing with friends (all in their 60s) means using marijuana. Once a week they get together to play Texas Hold 'Em poker "and pass around a doobie," Ms. Neufer said. … Statistics suggest that more members of the older generations, like Ms. Neufer, are using marijuana.

30 Mar 2013

Study highlights cost savings of generic drugs

Consumer Reports offers new analysis that finds not all patients realize they can save big by shopping around for drugs. Meanwhile, two outlets look at insurance coverage issues for couples.

30 Mar 2013

Senators urge HHS to step up efforts to curb Medicare overpayments

The lawmakers pointed to a report showing a $70 million loss caused by overpayments on medical equipment, The Hill reports.

30 Mar 2013

State roundup: NYC firms will be required to offer sick leave; Fla. government part-timers to get health coverage

New York is poised to mandate that companies with 15 or more employees provide paid time off for them when they are sick. A compromise agreement reached Thursday night resulted from a raw display of political muscle by a coalition of labor unions and liberal activists who overcame fierce objections from New York's business-minded mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, and his allies in the corporate world (Barbaro and Grynbaum, 3/28).

30 Mar 2013

Research roundup: Despite some cuts, hospitals will benefit from Medicaid expansion; Medicare's rising costs propel efforts to revamp the program

The authors write that, because of the health law's expansion of Medicaid coverage to adults making below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, "hospitals' public insurance revenue [will create] a larger Medicaid coverage pool.

30 Mar 2013

FDA approves Teva's Quartette tablets for prevention of pregnancy

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Quartette (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol and ethinyl estradiol) tablets for the prevention of pregnancy.

30 Mar 2013

Health industry faces shortage of IT professionals

In addition, a regulation permitting hospitals to donate medical records software to doctors is scheduled to expire.

30 Mar 2013

Medicare News and Research

First Edition: April 3, 2013

Study finds high mortality rates in rural hospitals

Viewpoints: Actuaries report validates critics' skepticism of law; Campaign to repeal medical devices tax is paying off

Roundup: Feds cut N.Y. Medicaid payments $1.2B; 93,000 fewer kids enroll in CHIP in Pa.; W. Va. lawmakers promise miners benefits

Feds boost rather than cut payments to Medicare Advantage plans

First Edition: April 2, 2013

Study examines racial disparities in prostate cancer treatment delay

Federal officials look to mass marketing to sell health law

Concerns raised about effect of Medicare's readmission penalty on hospitals

Viewpoints: 'Big risks' of buying private insurance with Medicaid dollars; One month of sequestration

New study finds for-profit hospitals outscore other hospitals on performance measures

Potential pact on medicare changes could lead to budget deal

Viewpoints: Time to focus on health care prices; Entitlement programs and generational warfare; Cigarette tax hikes and smoking cessation

Weekend reading: Seniors smoking marijuana; Same-sex marriage and public health

Study highlights cost savings of generic drugs

Senators urge HHS to step up efforts to curb Medicare overpayments

State roundup: NYC firms will be required to offer sick leave; Fla. government part-timers to get health coverage

Research roundup: Despite some cuts, hospitals will benefit from Medicaid expansion; Medicare's rising costs propel efforts to revamp the program

FDA approves Teva's Quartette tablets for prevention of pregnancy

Health industry faces shortage of IT professionals

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