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Lower 3rd quarter earnings for Health Net, Humana - but optimism still reigns

Woodland Hills insurer Health Net Inc. said third-quarter net income plunged 71%, but its shares rose as the company resolved a dispute with California officials over reimbursement for government health programs. Health Net disappointed investors in August when it slashed its full-year profit outlook and reported higher-than-expected medical costs. On Monday, Chief Executive Jay Gellert ... cited a wide-ranging agreement with California healthcare officials as a major step forward.

7 Nov 2012

State roundup: Ga. considers Medicaid managed care 'light' touch; AMA files Fla. 'docs and glocks' court brief

Kansas has updated its roster of disabled residents who have requested state-funded, in-home medical care and is now better equipped to provide that care more quickly and efficiently, officials in the governor's office said Monday. The waiting list was cut by more than a third, from 3,423 to 2,197 people, after a company hired by the state spent the last few months trying to reach out to those on the lists, Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer and Aging and Disability Services Secretary Shawn Sullivan said.

7 Nov 2012

Medicare news: Young workers' benefits at center of fiscal debate; Feds seek to move seniors out of poorly rated plans

Although retirement may still be years away for these younger workers, key decisions could come in the looming debate on the nation's spending. Meanwhile, Medicare officials are sending letters to beneficiaries warning them that their plans are not meeting standards.

7 Nov 2012

Study highlights value of specialized care in heart failure treatment

When a cardiologist attends to heart failure patients, even when the severity of illness is higher, patients have reduced rates of hospital readmissions, compared with those patients who are treated by a hospitalist, according to a trial being presented today at the American Heart Association's scientific sessions in Los Angeles.

7 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Fight for the Senate will impact GOP effort to void health law; Figuring out insurance is tough even for health economist

For Republicans intent on unraveling President Obama's accomplishments, electing Mitt Romney has been only one part of the equation. Almost as important was installing a Republican majority in the United States Senate, where 50 votes (plus the vice president) would be necessary to repeal much of health care reform, roll back tax increases on the rich and gut social welfare programs. The party's hopes, however, have been severely damaged in recent weeks.

6 Nov 2012

Any hospice better than none at end of life

Nursing home residents with advanced dementia who receive any hospice care during the last 90 days of life receive fewer aggressive treatments and are less likely to die in hospital than their counterparts who do not receive such care, show US study results.

6 Nov 2012

State roundup: Examining health issues on state ballots

Sprinkled throughout ballots across the country are state initiatives that run the gamut from education to animal rights to marriage. And health care is well-represented, too. The National Conference of State Legislatures labels health a "key issue" in this cycle's roundup of state ballot questions.

6 Nov 2012

With Election Day hours away, polls show deadlocked race

The last round of polls shows the contest between President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney virtually tied. Meanwhile, news outlets report on how health issues are motivating some voters and what policies the winner might put in place.

6 Nov 2012

Health law implementation issues expected to loom large post-election

News outlets reported on insurance exchanges, Medicaid expansion and how the law's employer mandate may already be affecting workers' hours.

6 Nov 2012

Detailing Medicare's 2013 doc pay schedules: Home health flat, primary care up

Under Medicare's 2013 payment schedule, released late last week, home health agency payments will remain flat while primary care physicians can expect up to a 7 percent boost in payments.

6 Nov 2012

BioMimetic Therapeutics reports net loss of $4.6 million for third quarter 2012

BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. today reported its corporate highlights and financial results as of and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012. For the three months ended September 30, 2012, the Company reported a net loss of $4.6 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $7.1 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the same period in 2011.

6 Nov 2012

MU project to reduce avoidable re-hospitalizations among nursing home residents

The University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing today announced a nearly $15 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Led by Curators' Professor of Nursing Marilyn Rantz, MU researchers will use the funds, distributed over four years, to implement a project aimed at reducing avoidable re-hospitalizations among nursing home residents.

6 Nov 2012

In fight for control of the House and the Senate, status quo appears to be winning

News reports suggest that Republicans are likely to hold onto the majority in the House, despite Democrats' hopes around the impact of the Medicare issue, and that Democrats are likely to retain the Senate majority.

6 Nov 2012

UnitedHealthcare, MARS Advertising to design and open 30 MedicareStore sites across the U.S.

MARS Advertising, Inc., a leading retail marketing agency has partnered with UnitedHealthcare to design and open more than 30 MedicareStore sites across the United States in support of the company's inaugural National Medicare Education Week, which will seek to encourage beneficiaries and caregivers to learn more prior to the Medicare Open Enrollment Period.

6 Nov 2012

Tengion receives U.S. patent allowance titled ‘Isolated Renal Cells and Uses Thereof’

Tengion, Inc., a leader in regenerative medicine, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for U.S. Patent Application No. 12/617,721, titled "Isolated Renal Cells and Uses Thereof."

5 Nov 2012

Viewpoints: Romney, Obama offer details of their plans; The 'passionate supply-sider' who taught Paul Ryan; Medicare plan has not 'doomed GOP'

All presidential elections matter. This one matters a great deal. It matters to the senior who needs medical care but, thanks to ObamaCare, can't find a doctor who is taking new Medicare patients. ... This election is about them. It is about all of us. ... It is about the education of our children, the value of our homes, the take-home pay from our jobs, the price of the gasoline we buy, the choices we have in our health care.

5 Nov 2012

Humana to acquire Metropolitan Health Networks

Humana Inc. and Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Humana will acquire Metropolitan in a transaction valued at approximately $850 million plus transaction costs.

5 Nov 2012

First Edition: November 5, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about the final round of polls, forecasts regarding which party will control the House and Senate and analysis of how campaign-trail messages have been playing during the election season's final hours.

5 Nov 2012

House Republicans appear to have thwarted Democratic attack on Medicare

Attacking Paul Ryan's Medicare plan - once seen as the most potent weapon in House Democrats' campaign arsenal - is turning out to be a dud. Democratic leaders have hit Medicare harder than any other issue for more than a year, even calling Ryan's plan a "majority-maker."

4 Nov 2012

State highlights: N.H. hospital in Hepatitis outbreak must allow access to patient records

A New Hampshire judge says a hospital tied to a hepatitis C outbreak must grant public health officials broad access to patient records. Exeter Hospital had argued it would be violating state and federal law if it provided unfettered access to its records system. But a Merrimack County Superior Court judge on Thursday sided with the state.

3 Nov 2012

Medicare News and Research

Lower 3rd quarter earnings for Health Net, Humana - but optimism still reigns

State roundup: Ga. considers Medicaid managed care 'light' touch; AMA files Fla. 'docs and glocks' court brief

Medicare news: Young workers' benefits at center of fiscal debate; Feds seek to move seniors out of poorly rated plans

Study highlights value of specialized care in heart failure treatment

Viewpoints: Fight for the Senate will impact GOP effort to void health law; Figuring out insurance is tough even for health economist

Any hospice better than none at end of life

State roundup: Examining health issues on state ballots

With Election Day hours away, polls show deadlocked race

Health law implementation issues expected to loom large post-election

Detailing Medicare's 2013 doc pay schedules: Home health flat, primary care up

BioMimetic Therapeutics reports net loss of $4.6 million for third quarter 2012

MU project to reduce avoidable re-hospitalizations among nursing home residents

In fight for control of the House and the Senate, status quo appears to be winning

UnitedHealthcare, MARS Advertising to design and open 30 MedicareStore sites across the U.S.

Tengion receives U.S. patent allowance titled ‘Isolated Renal Cells and Uses Thereof’

Viewpoints: Romney, Obama offer details of their plans; The 'passionate supply-sider' who taught Paul Ryan; Medicare plan has not 'doomed GOP'

Humana to acquire Metropolitan Health Networks

First Edition: November 5, 2012

House Republicans appear to have thwarted Democratic attack on Medicare

State highlights: N.H. hospital in Hepatitis outbreak must allow access to patient records

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