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Medical practice evolves: Prescribing habits, doc-patient relationship, health law changes

A push to treat chronic pain and financial disincentives for treating addiction may pressure clinicians into prescribing opioids for patients who are already addicted, a researcher suggested.

26 Oct 2012

ACS BSCN accredits UCSD Bariatric Metabolic Institute as Level 1 facility

The Bariatric Metabolic Institute (BMI) at University of California, San Diego Health System has been accredited as a Level 1 facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This designation means that the institutional performance of UC San Diego BMI meets the rigorous requirements outlined by the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program.

26 Oct 2012

Roundup: New laws on breast screening irk some doctors; Improved school meals cut obesity; More Coloradans use ER

In a sign of the improving national economy, Medicaid spending growth this year slowed to 2 percent as enrollment in the state-federal health insurance program for the poor also slowed for the third consecutive year, according to a report released Thursday. In 2011, Medicaid spending soared by nearly 10 percent, which helped put the entitlement program in the crosshairs of politicians looking to lower the federal deficit and ease pressure on state budgets.

26 Oct 2012

Geographic variations in US diabetic foot expenditure identified

Researchers report that in the USA, Medicare spending on patients with diabetic foot disease varies significantly between different hospital referral regions.

25 Oct 2012

Obama administration to relax Medicare benefit rules

As part of a proposed settlement in a national class-action lawsuit, the federal government would expand benefits for skilled nursing and home health care to the chronically ill.

25 Oct 2012

Medicare, abortion grab attention in some House, Senate races

News outlets offer another round of coverage on the Wisconsin Senate race and a tight New York House race, while candidates' views on abortion are spotlighted in Indiana and Missouri.

25 Oct 2012

Obama, Romney bring health policy resumes to the presidential race

But swing state voters continue to be skeptical of the two candidates' positions and plans. The Los Angeles Times reports how Ohio voters are critical of President Barack Obama's healthcare law because they see their healthcare costs continuing to rise and also skeptical that a man as rich as Mitt Romney could understand their needs.

25 Oct 2012

Study: House Republican plan to block grant Medicaid would lead to $1.7 trillion spending cut

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the GOP-backed House Budget Committee plan, which would also repeal the health law, could leave between 31 million and 38 million fewer people with Medicaid coverage.

25 Oct 2012

Anxiety related to Medicare physician payment chills doctors' interest in experiments and demonstration programs

A survey by the Medical Group Management Association concluded that physicians' willingness to try new models of payment and delivery -- such as accountable care organizations and bundled payments -- is linked to congressional efforts to fix the Medicare doctor payment formula.

25 Oct 2012

Identifying risk factors in hospital readmissions could help improve patient care

Identifying risk factors in hospital readmissions could help improve patient care and hospital bottom lines, according to a study recently completed by Georgia State University's Experimental Economics Center and a team from the Emory University School of Medicine.

25 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Obama seeking 'to preserve' new spending; Medicare rule change for disabled is 'humane thing to do'

On Tuesday Mr. Obama finally tried to give the future more definition with a new plan, except it isn't new and barely qualifies as a plan. ... The pamphlet's sections on health care and entitlements show that his real budget priority is to preserve all of the government he expanded in the first term. He promises to protect the Affordable Care Act from repeal or Republican amendments.

25 Oct 2012

Roundup: States raise employee insurance contributions to save money; Minn. seeking $80M more for exchange; Selling insurance in malls

Financially strapped state and local governments are saving billions of dollars on health insurance by cutting back on free coverage for employees and raising worker contributions, a USA Today analysis finds. Government workers still enjoy more generous health benefits than privately employed workers but the advantage has narrowed from $1,523 in 2007 to $891 in 2012, adjusted for inflation, federal data show.

25 Oct 2012

Obese patients more likely to have complications after total knee replacement surgery

Obese patients have a greater risk of complications following total knee replacement surgery, including post-surgical infections, according to a new literature review recently published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS).

25 Oct 2012

Wis. Senate candidates wrestle with health policy issues

Medicare and the health law also are emerging as flashpoints in Pennsylvania's Senate contest and various House races.

24 Oct 2012

Rep. Issa subpoenas HHS records on Medicare Advantage program

Republicans have suggested that a demonstration project providing more funding to the program is helping to cover up the cuts from the health law. The administration provided 1,300 pages of documents to Issa last week.

24 Oct 2012

'Substantial' variation from state to state in hospital safety records

Arizona, California, Illinois and Ohio scored the best marks for hospital care in a new report ... The differences between states are "substantial,'' says Evan Marks, a lead author. "For instance, in Alabama you have a 42% higher risk of dying from a heart attack in a hospital than in Arizona."

24 Oct 2012

Developments regarding ways to connect elderly or disabled people with care

Kaiser Health News reports on how one program helps people on Medicaid move out of institutional settings and return to the community while The New York Times reports on an agreement that might make it easier for people with chronic conditions and disabilities to qualify for Medicare coverage of home health care, skilled nursing home-stays and outpatient therapy.

24 Oct 2012

In the campaign's home stretch, presidential candidates launch new ads on Medicare, women's health issues

President Barack Obama and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney continue to fight for women's votes, which are considered key to winning the election.

23 Oct 2012

Issa seeks documents on Medicare Advantage pilot project, Hatch asks questions about federal health exchanges

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., will subpoena internal documents from the Department of Health and Human Services related to Medicare Advantage pilot projects. Meanwhile, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, continues to question HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius about the federal operation of health exchanges.

23 Oct 2012

First Edition: October 23, 2012

Today's headlines include various reports from the campaign trail as well as the latest news about current meningitis outbreak.

23 Oct 2012

Medicare News and Research

Medical practice evolves: Prescribing habits, doc-patient relationship, health law changes

ACS BSCN accredits UCSD Bariatric Metabolic Institute as Level 1 facility

Roundup: New laws on breast screening irk some doctors; Improved school meals cut obesity; More Coloradans use ER

Geographic variations in US diabetic foot expenditure identified

Obama administration to relax Medicare benefit rules

Medicare, abortion grab attention in some House, Senate races

Obama, Romney bring health policy resumes to the presidential race

Study: House Republican plan to block grant Medicaid would lead to $1.7 trillion spending cut

Anxiety related to Medicare physician payment chills doctors' interest in experiments and demonstration programs

Identifying risk factors in hospital readmissions could help improve patient care

Viewpoints: Obama seeking 'to preserve' new spending; Medicare rule change for disabled is 'humane thing to do'

Roundup: States raise employee insurance contributions to save money; Minn. seeking $80M more for exchange; Selling insurance in malls

Obese patients more likely to have complications after total knee replacement surgery

Wis. Senate candidates wrestle with health policy issues

Rep. Issa subpoenas HHS records on Medicare Advantage program

'Substantial' variation from state to state in hospital safety records

Developments regarding ways to connect elderly or disabled people with care

In the campaign's home stretch, presidential candidates launch new ads on Medicare, women's health issues

Issa seeks documents on Medicare Advantage pilot project, Hatch asks questions about federal health exchanges

First Edition: October 23, 2012

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