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Viewpoints: Administration 'finally' comes around on Plan B; 'Legal loophole' creates another compounded drug scare

Reluctantly yielding to a federal-court decision, the Obama administration announced on Monday that it will take steps to allow a version of the so-called morning-after pill, known as Plan B One-Step, to be sold over the counter to girls and women of all ages. They will not need a prescription, nor will they be required to show any identification to obtain the emergency contraceptive. There will be no restrictions on where the drug can be sold; it will be up to the manufacturer to propose appropriate venues (6/11).

13 Jun 2013

Crunch time for states still on fence about Medicaid expansion

As states' legislative sessions draw to a close, some lawmakers are pressing for action. Meanwhile, media outlets track updates in Michigan, New Hampshire, Mississippi, Colorado, Ohio and Alabama.

12 Jun 2013

HealthSparq signs agreement with MDLIVE to offer telehealth services to health plans, employers

HealthSparq, a leading provider of healthcare transparency solutions for health insurers, announced it has signed an agreement with MDLIVE to offer telehealth services through its transparency platform to health plans and employers across the nation.

12 Jun 2013

Background mortality rates can be used to communicate vaccine safety risks

In a study using the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), investigators analyzed four years of data and determined that background mortality rates (rates of death irrespective of cause) are crucial in interpreting the numbers of deaths following vaccination.

12 Jun 2013

GiveForward partners with Lung Cancer Alliance to support families affected by lung cancer

GiveForward, a crowdfunding leader helping families and friends raise money for a loved one's medical bills, is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Lung Cancer Alliance, a non-profit organization dedicated solely to helping individuals living with and at risk for lung cancer.

12 Jun 2013

New report shows U.S. retail health clinics expected to double in the next three years

The number of U.S. retail health clinics is projected to double in the next three years due to the increasing demand of newly insured patients under healthcare reform, according to a new report released today by Accenture at the annual America's Health Insurance Plans Institute 2013 in Las Vegas.

12 Jun 2013

MedeAnalytics launches new tool to improve operational efficiency for health plans and hospitals

Today MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, introduced its new Provider Engagement solution, a dynamic tool that helps improve operational efficiency for health plans and hospitals, and positions health plans to successfully participate in the Affordable Care Act's permanent risk adjustment program for qualified health plans' individual and small group members, both inside and outside health insurance exchanges.

12 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Medicaid expansion 'makes sense'; Budget cuts hurt Alzheimer's research; Lack of transparency in generic Rx prices

The numbers in the Rand study ... should not be a surprise to people who have been paying attention. Numerous studies now, including in Missouri, have pointed to the simple reality of the policy implications of the ACA to argue for Medicaid expansion.

12 Jun 2013

States consider rates, legislation on health insurance marketplaces

Rates for coverage offered through the online marketplaces make news in Minnesota and the District of Columbia, while bills in California could hold up the exchange's rollout.

12 Jun 2013

Insider probe over Medicare rate decision hits Congress

News outlets report on developments in the story of alleged insider trading after a Medicare rate decision.

12 Jun 2013

Counting down to online insurance marketplaces

The Wall Street Journal reports that consumers should start investigating the health law's insurance exchange options.

11 Jun 2013

The enrollment push is on

During a Friday speech in California, President Barack Obama touted the health law's benefits -- highlighting the Golden State's progress so far -- in his effort to encourage young people and Latinos to sign up for coverage that will be available through new online insurance exchanges.

11 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 11, 2013

Today's headlines include coverage of the Obama administration's decision to drop the fight to keep age restrictions in place for Plan B emergency contraceptive pill sales.

11 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Selling Obamacare in Arizona; 'Hassle-free' marketplace; Seeking the 'grand bargain'

You may not admit it, but you are a fan of Obamacare and Gov. Jan Brewer knows it. The Republicans who run the Arizona legislature don't like Obamacare. And the Republicans who control the U.S. House of Representatives don't like it. But you do. You may deny it. You may not even know it. But you do. And that will help the governor get her Medicaid expansion plan through the legislature (EJ Montini, 6/6).

11 Jun 2013

The 'parallel challenge:' Coordinating care for mental and physical health issues

While the Los Angeles Times reports on the challenges of helping patients who struggle with physical and mental illnesses, the Boston Globe reports on a creative approach to reduce hospital readmissions.

11 Jun 2013

Tech experts brace for Glitches when health exchange websites come online

As planners race to finish building the online marketplaces that consumers can begin using Oct. 1 to shop for health insurance, experts expect some difficulties, according to The Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, CQ HealthBeat examines whether the deductibles and out-of-pocket caps applied in these marketplaces will be too high.

10 Jun 2013

First Edition: June 10, 2013

Today's headlines include reports about President Barack Obama's efforts last week to urge uninsured people to sign up for the coverage that will soon become unavailable as a result of the health law.

10 Jun 2013

Viewpoints: Will 'rate shock' grow?; Krugman says GOP spite is driving opposition to Medicaid expansion; Determining who owns genes

Any plausible health care reform, the various conservative alternatives to Obamacare included, would necessarily have losers as well as winners, and as far as potential losers go single young men with above-average incomes are not precisely the country's most disadvantaged demographic. If you think the current system is flawless, then I suppose any rate increase anywhere is a strike against health care reform.

10 Jun 2013

Obama to tout California as health law model

President Barack Obama is slated to speak in San Jose, Calif., about the implementation of the health law and point to the coordination among public and private groups there as a model for the rest of the country. Latinos -- in California and across the nation -- will be one of his target audiences.

10 Jun 2013

Research roundup: Health spending on kids with special needs

Between 2008 and 2010, the rate of growth for health care spending declined. The recession, many researchers believe, was a key contributor to this decline. In this study, researchers explored whether the recession also had an impact on health care spending for children, especially those with special health care needs.

10 Jun 2013

Health Insurance News and Research

Viewpoints: Administration 'finally' comes around on Plan B; 'Legal loophole' creates another compounded drug scare

Crunch time for states still on fence about Medicaid expansion

HealthSparq signs agreement with MDLIVE to offer telehealth services to health plans, employers

Background mortality rates can be used to communicate vaccine safety risks

GiveForward partners with Lung Cancer Alliance to support families affected by lung cancer

New report shows U.S. retail health clinics expected to double in the next three years

MedeAnalytics launches new tool to improve operational efficiency for health plans and hospitals

Viewpoints: Medicaid expansion 'makes sense'; Budget cuts hurt Alzheimer's research; Lack of transparency in generic Rx prices

States consider rates, legislation on health insurance marketplaces

Insider probe over Medicare rate decision hits Congress

Counting down to online insurance marketplaces

The enrollment push is on

First Edition: June 11, 2013

Viewpoints: Selling Obamacare in Arizona; 'Hassle-free' marketplace; Seeking the 'grand bargain'

The 'parallel challenge:' Coordinating care for mental and physical health issues

Tech experts brace for Glitches when health exchange websites come online

First Edition: June 10, 2013

Viewpoints: Will 'rate shock' grow?; Krugman says GOP spite is driving opposition to Medicaid expansion; Determining who owns genes

Obama to tout California as health law model

Research roundup: Health spending on kids with special needs

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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