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First Edition: October 8, 2012

Today's headlines include reports and analysis from the campaign trail regarding both the presidential contest as well as House and Senate races.

8 Oct 2012

Great expectations for Biden, Ryan debate

News outlets are noting that Medicare is likely to be a hot topic in Thursday's debate between Vice President Joe Biden and vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan in Kentucky.

8 Oct 2012

Romney's debate health care claims facing continued challenges

News outlets continue to examine statements made in the presidential debate as they look ahead to Thursday nights vice-presidential debate.

8 Oct 2012

Navitus successfully implements PBM program for TACHP

Navitus Health Solutions, LLC, a national, full pass-through pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), announces the successful implementation of a PBM program for the Texas Association of Community Based Health Plans (TACHP), a group of managed Medicaid and CHIP plans in Texas.

6 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Romney's shifts back to moderate?; His misleading comments on pre-existing conditions; Debate's half-truths

Far from being a pitchfork-wielding populist who wants to raze Washington, Romney said he would work with the people he finds there. ... He bragged that in his old job as governor, he met with Democrats every week. He boasted about his bipartisan health care bill. ... he gave us a hint of a strong center-right pragmatic approach.

6 Oct 2012

State highlights: Controversial Pa. Health Secretary quits; Kansas court decision on malpractice cap expected today

Pennsylvania Health Secretary Eli N. Avila, who became known in the Capitol for a dispute over an egg sandwich and other episodes, has quit his $146,500-a-year post in Gov. Corbett's cabinet. The governor announced the departure Thursday in a news release that said Avila, 52, was leaving to pursue "other interests" and was looking forward to spending more time with his family in New York.

6 Oct 2012

AMGA defines high-performing health systems

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) today released its definition of high-performing health systems to educate legislators and the public about the need to foster meaningful change that promotes the unique attributes of these systems and to aid provider organizations in their efforts to improve patient care.

6 Oct 2012

Research roundup: Limited savings found from ACOs; Examining men's health racial disparities

A Simulation Shows Limited Savings From Meeting Quality Targets Under The Medicare Shared Savings Program -- The health law rewards accountable care organizations (ACOs), groups of health care providers working together to save money and increase quality. Those providers then share in the savings.

6 Oct 2012

States, federal officials confront health law public education challenges, exchange implementation

States are dealing with the ramifications of the health law's federally or state-run health insurance exchanges and the essential health benefits. Also, officials confront the challenge of educating the public on the health law's provisions.

6 Oct 2012

Medicare, health law emerge as advertising issues in congressional races across the U.S.

While Connecticut GOP candidates appear to be distancing themselves from the Medicare plans being advanced by their presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has expanded its advertising targeting Democrats who voted in favor of the health law.

6 Oct 2012

Debate coverage, cont.: Questions emerge about many health care facts

News outlets offer more analysis of Wednesday night's debate, including examinations of plans and proposals about Medicare and pre-existing conditions.

6 Oct 2012

91 charged with $430 million Medicare billing fraud

The nationwide sweep involved arrests of doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals.

6 Oct 2012

First Edition: October 5, 2012

Now on the blog, Phil Galewitz reports on what one expert describes as the "challenges" related to explaining the health law: "More than two and a half years after he signed the most far reaching health care legislation into law, President Barack Obama showed in his Wednesday debate with Mitt Romney that explaining the law is still no easy job."

5 Oct 2012

AMGA’s IQL conference examines successful accountable care models

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) is convening more than 600 participants, representing the leaders of the nation's preeminent healthcare provider organizations, at the IQL 2012 Annual Conference, October 3 - 5 at the Gaylord National Harbor Resort & Conference Center in National Harbor, MD.

5 Oct 2012

Have attitudes on health law shifted in N.H.?

Despite a beating two years ago for Democrats aligned with the health law, former President Bill Clinton and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate in New Hampshire rallied around the overhaul at a campaign appearance. Meanwhile, a conservative seniors group emerges to offer a competing view with that of AARP.

5 Oct 2012

Survey finds seniors satisfied with Medicare Part D

The national survey of 2,363 seniors, which was conducted by Medicare Today, found 90 percent are satisfied with their Medicare prescription drug coverage.

5 Oct 2012

Senate races: McCaskill surges; Rehberg, Tester spar in Montana

Two new polls Wednesday showed Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill leading Republican U.S. Rep. Todd Akin by six points as Akin faced a new round of questions about four-year-old comments about abortion providers.

5 Oct 2012

Candidates clash over health law, Medicare and Medicaid proposals

Although only a portion of Wednesday night's debate was supposed to focus on health issues, the presidential candidates sparred on Medicare, Medicaid and specific provisions of the health law throughout the entire 90-minute event.

5 Oct 2012

A flood of post-debate fact checking follows points and counterpoints

News outlets examined a range of issues brought up during last night's presidential face-off, ranging from discussions of the $716 billion Medicare cut to talk of death panels and whether the health law promise of lower health insurance costs came true.

5 Oct 2012

Romney embraces his Massachusetts health plan as bipartisan success

After months of distancing himself from the state health reforms he oversaw while governor of Massachusetts, GOP presidential pick Mitt Romney said that overhaul illustrates his ability to work with Democrats. President Barack Obama, however, countered that the Massachusetts' plan was one of the models for the 2010 health law that has been a target of conservatives.

5 Oct 2012