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Debate primer: 'A mere 15 minutes' set aside to cover lots of differences on health policies

News outlets set the scene for some of the tough health policy questions the two presidential candidates might face during tomorrow night's debate. And new ads about the health law and women's health issues have been unleashed.

3 Oct 2012

UCSF to create first implantable device for patients with kidney failure

A $750,000 gift from the John and Marcia Goldman Foundation is spurring a UCSF-led effort to create the first implantable artificial kidney for patients with kidney failure.

3 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: David Brooks' 'brutal truth;' What to ask the candidates at their first debate; Putting Medicare on a budget

The third big problem is Medicare and rising health care costs, which are bankrupting this country. Let me tell you the brutal truth. Nobody knows how to reduce health care inflation. There are two basic approaches, and we probably have to try both simultaneously. The first, included in Obamacare, is to have an Independent Payment Advisory Board find efficiencies and impose price controls.

3 Oct 2012

Viewpoints: A need for sacrifice on health care; Health law's conservative heritage; HSAs foster competition

Private insurance companies should be leading the way in the struggle to control health care costs. They know about every contact a patient has with the health care system and can see how much is wasteful or redundant. By altering the way they pay doctors and hospitals, they can potentially push providers to reduce costs, improve quality and even transform the whole culture of American medicine.

2 Oct 2012

Dramatic rise in total knee arthroplasty, associated infection rates over past 20 years

Study findings document a steep rise in total knee arthroplasty procedures over the past 20 years, being driven by both an increase in the number of patients enrolled in Medicare and greater per capita utilization.

1 Oct 2012

Regional, seasonal variation in US antibiotic use highlights persisting issue

US study results reveal “substantial” quarterly and regional variation in outpatient antibiotic use among older adults, indicating the possible need for targeted programs to reduce unnecessary prescriptions.

1 Oct 2012

Romney 'recalibrating' health care message, Biden attacks GOP on Medicare

News outlets reported that as Mitt Romney prepares for Wednesday's debate, which will include health care, Vice President Biden campaigned in Florida, appealing to seniors by criticizing the Romney/Ryan plan for Medicare.

1 Oct 2012

Health policies bubble up in House and Senate races

The Associated Press reports on how the top of the ticket could affect some down-ballot races, and other news outlets report on how Medicare is playing in Virginia, Nevada and Wisconsin races.

29 Sep 2012

Obama, Romney spar over Medicare, health reform policies

News outlets offer a variety of coverage on these issues - including how Medicare is playing in the polls and what motivates senior voters. And a new Families USA study offers a critical assessment of Mitt Romney's health policies.

29 Sep 2012

Issa threatens to subpoena HHS documents related to Medicare Advantage bonuses

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, alleges that the Department of Health and Human Services is using an $8 billion Medicare bonus payment demonstration project to mask the health law's cuts to Medicare Advantage plans in advance of the election.

29 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: Obamacare a 'big plus'?; What happened to GOP anger over health law?

How did that happen? Partly it's because this has become such an ideological election - much more so than 2008. … And let me add a speculation: I suspect that in the end Obamacare is turning out to be a big plus, even though it has always had ambivalent polling.

29 Sep 2012

Wage disparities could limit success of health-care reform

A national study has found that earnings over the course of the careers of primary-care physicians averaged as much as $2.8 million less than the earnings of their specialist colleagues, potentially making primary care a less attractive choice for medical school graduates and exacerbating the already significant shortage of medical generalists.

29 Sep 2012

Priority Health announces 2012 recipients of Senior Impact Awards

Priority Health is recognizing four regional winners with Senior Impact Awards. The awards program recognizes volunteers 63 years and older who devote their time and energy toward improving their communities. As part of this recognition, Priority Health awards a $1,000 donation to each winner's volunteer organization.

29 Sep 2012

Research roundup: Saving money with hospital observation units, total knee replacement rates skyrocketing, Medicare patients and antibiotic overuse

The authors write: Using observation units in hospitals to provide care to certain patients can be more efficient than admitting them to the hospital and can result in shorter lengths-of-stay and lower costs. However, such units are present in only about one-third of US hospitals.

29 Sep 2012

Political cartoon: 'The Introduction'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "The Introduction" by Dave Coverly.

28 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 28, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about political and policy-oriented health care developments.

28 Sep 2012

MD Hearing Aid line offers reasonable low-cost solution for persons with hearing loss

A study presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. shows that the MD Hearing Aid line offers a reasonable low-cost solution to those who are not using hearing aids or other amplification devices because of cost concerns.

28 Sep 2012

Polls: Obama scores higher in trust on Medicare

A new Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll found that 52 percent of the public trusts President Barack Obama over GOP presidential pick Mitt Romney to do a better job with Medicare's future, although young people were more receptive than seniors to GOP Medicare proposals. Meanwhile, a survey by AP-GfK found substantial belief in the widely challenged idea that the law includes "death panels."

28 Sep 2012

Politico: GOP budget plan in the red without Ryan cuts

Call it Paul Ryan's 0.5 percent solution. In a little-noticed but vital change last spring, the House Budget Committee chairman cut half a point from the annual growth rate he had allowed for Medicare spending.

28 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: Obama, Romney pitch health care plans in NEJM

Because of you, America is blessed with the world's most talented health care professionals, who do a heroic job serving and saving our citizens. But for years you have faced a health care system that was increasingly fractured. ... But after a century of trying, a broad coalition of doctors, nurses, hospitals, businesses, AARP, and patients helped me sign into law the Affordable Care Act.

28 Sep 2012

Medicare News and Research

Debate primer: 'A mere 15 minutes' set aside to cover lots of differences on health policies

UCSF to create first implantable device for patients with kidney failure

Viewpoints: David Brooks' 'brutal truth;' What to ask the candidates at their first debate; Putting Medicare on a budget

Viewpoints: A need for sacrifice on health care; Health law's conservative heritage; HSAs foster competition

Dramatic rise in total knee arthroplasty, associated infection rates over past 20 years

Regional, seasonal variation in US antibiotic use highlights persisting issue

Romney 'recalibrating' health care message, Biden attacks GOP on Medicare

Health policies bubble up in House and Senate races

Obama, Romney spar over Medicare, health reform policies

Issa threatens to subpoena HHS documents related to Medicare Advantage bonuses

Viewpoints: Obamacare a 'big plus'?; What happened to GOP anger over health law?

Wage disparities could limit success of health-care reform

Priority Health announces 2012 recipients of Senior Impact Awards

Research roundup: Saving money with hospital observation units, total knee replacement rates skyrocketing, Medicare patients and antibiotic overuse

Political cartoon: 'The Introduction'

First Edition: September 28, 2012

MD Hearing Aid line offers reasonable low-cost solution for persons with hearing loss

Polls: Obama scores higher in trust on Medicare

Politico: GOP budget plan in the red without Ryan cuts

Viewpoints: Obama, Romney pitch health care plans in NEJM

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