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What's new on pre-existing condition health plans, the Medicaid expansion

CQ HealthBeat offers a progress check on the health law's pre-existing condition insurance plan while the St. Louis Beacon explores the Medicaid expansion debate.

5 Oct 2012

First presidential debate marked by policy disagreements over taxes, Medicare and health issues

Many news outlets are reporting that President Barack Obama often found himself on the defensive as GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney launched attacks against his record.

5 Oct 2012

Truven Health Analytics names Banner Heart among 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals

Banner Heart Hospital has been named one of the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals by Truven Health Analytics, formerly the health care business of Thomson Reuters.

5 Oct 2012

UPMC Health Plan recognized for call center excellence

UPMC Health Plan has once again been recognized for call center excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Call Center Certification Program.

5 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Romney's surprisingly strong defense of Mass. health plan; Challenger's 'pretend' proposal for the nation

The first debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney, so long anticipated, quickly sunk into an unenlightening recitation of tired talking points and mendacity. With few sparks and little clarity on the immense gulf that truly separates the two men and their policies, Wednesday's encounter provided little guidance for voters still trying to understand the choice in next month's election.

5 Oct 2012

Palliative focus needed in skilled nursing facilities

US data suggest that use of Medicare benefit for skilled nursing facilities is high during the last 6 months of life, highlighting a need to incorporate quality palliative care services in nursing homes, suggest researchers.

4 Oct 2012

First Edition: October 4, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz, working in collaboration with the PBS Newshour, reports: "The future of Medicaid -- the state-federal workhorse of the nation's health system that provides health coverage to the poorest and sickest Americans -- hangs in the balance on Election Day. President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney have vastly different approaches to the program."

4 Oct 2012

An expanded role for some nurses?

A federal agency is weighing whether to reimburse a specialized type of nurse for giving chronic-pain treatments, a move opposed by some doctors and one that critics say could complicate the battle against prescription painkiller abuse.

4 Oct 2012

Premier, ArjoHuntleigh announce three-year contract for vascular compression therapy systems

ArjoHuntleigh announced today that it has been awarded a three-year contract with Premier Purchasing Partners, L.P., the group purchasing unit of the Premier healthcare alliance, for its vascular compression therapy systems.

4 Oct 2012

Health policies will play role in debate's political theater

As new polls show a narrow margin separating them, President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will face questions on their plans for Medicare, Medicaid and overhauling the health system during tonight's debate. The focus will be on domestic policy, and at least 15 minutes will be dedicated to health care.

4 Oct 2012

Parsing health and Medicare plans amid campaign promises

News outlets analyze the presidential candidates' proposals for tackling Medicare and Medicaid costs, as well as how these differing ideas are playing among voters.

4 Oct 2012

CMS revises readmissions penalties up; How hospital networks play into readmissions equation

Kaiser Health News examines readmissions at hospitals, including how CMS has revised up penalities on hospitals who readmit patients too soon and how hospital networks play into the readmissions equation.

4 Oct 2012

Certificate of Need appears to do neither for heart bypass surgery

Certificate of Need, a form of state government regulation designed to keep mortality rates and health care costs down, appears to do neither for heart bypass surgery, according to a health economics researcher at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM).

4 Oct 2012

Obama spending more cash than Romney on TV advertising, with new ad highlighting Medicaid

Meanwhile, GOP vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, who is also seeking reelection to his congressional seat, unveils a new health care ad in his district.

4 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: Key issues for Romney, Obama to address in the debate; Peter G. Peterson's mission to cut entitlements

With the U.S. population aging, Social Security and Medicare are projected to account for a growing share of the federal budget and the economy. To accommodate that change, should federal spending (and revenue) amount to a larger share of the economy than it has historically? If not, how does Washington make ends meet?

4 Oct 2012

Swing state campaign highlights: The scoop on early voting; The latest on political ads, campaign appearances and polls

As election day approaches, KHN's Sarah Barr samples news coverage each week from swing states around the country – how health policy developments are playing in this year's vote.

4 Oct 2012

First Edition: October 3, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau reports: "Medicare's new readmission penalties for hospitals just got a bit tougher. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has discovered errors in its initial calculations in August. As a result, 1,422 hospitals with comparatively high readmission rates will lose slightly more money than they were expecting, according to a Kaiser Health News analysis of the revised penalties. Fifty-five hospitals will lose less than were previously told."

3 Oct 2012

Medicare News and Research

What's new on pre-existing condition health plans, the Medicaid expansion

First presidential debate marked by policy disagreements over taxes, Medicare and health issues

Truven Health Analytics names Banner Heart among 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals

UPMC Health Plan recognized for call center excellence

Viewpoints: Romney's surprisingly strong defense of Mass. health plan; Challenger's 'pretend' proposal for the nation

Palliative focus needed in skilled nursing facilities

First Edition: October 4, 2012

An expanded role for some nurses?

Premier, ArjoHuntleigh announce three-year contract for vascular compression therapy systems

Health policies will play role in debate's political theater

Parsing health and Medicare plans amid campaign promises

CMS revises readmissions penalties up; How hospital networks play into readmissions equation

Certificate of Need appears to do neither for heart bypass surgery

Obama spending more cash than Romney on TV advertising, with new ad highlighting Medicaid

Viewpoints: Key issues for Romney, Obama to address in the debate; Peter G. Peterson's mission to cut entitlements

Swing state campaign highlights: The scoop on early voting; The latest on political ads, campaign appearances and polls

First Edition: October 3, 2012

Direct link between pressure ulcers, patient mortality and increased hospitalization

Senate leaders working on post-election plan to avoid 'fiscal cliff'

Study finds Medicare may favor skilled-nursing facilities over hospice

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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