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Extend Health announces availability of two free guides for seniors

Extend Health, operator of the nation's largest private Medicare exchange and a Towers Watson company, announced today the availability of two free guides designed to help seniors who are turning 65 - and becoming eligible for Medicare for the first time - navigate the complexity of their health care options to make informed choices about Medicare coverage.

28 Sep 2012

ACS, AGS issue new guidelines for pre-operative care of elderly patients

New comprehensive guidelines for the pre-operative care of the nation's elderly patients have been issued by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Geriatrics Society (AGS).

28 Sep 2012

3M launches new physician education modules to provide ICD-10 training

3M Health Information Systems is enriching its web-based ICD-10 Education Program with 18 new physician education modules that address the critical issue of physician readiness for ICD-10.

28 Sep 2012

Care Harbor to provide free medical, dental and vision services in L.A.

Today marked the start of the largest free healthcare clinic in the United States, organized by Care Harbor. In collaboration with L.A. Care Health Plan and Dignity Health, Care Harbor will provide free medical, dental and vision services to those in need beginning today through September 30.

28 Sep 2012

Inspector general: Medicare wrongly paid millions for refills on restricted prescriptions

Medicare routinely refilled pain pills and other restricted medications that are barred by federal law from renewal without a fresh prescription, government inspectors said in a report Thursday.

28 Sep 2012

Teva concludes Asset Transfer Agreement with NeuroSearch

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd announced today that it has concluded an Asset Transfer Agreement with NeuroSearch A/S of Denmark to purchase all rights, assets and obligations relating to Huntexil (pridopidine / ACR16), a drug candidate being developed for the symptomatic treatment of hand movement, balance and gait disturbances in Huntington disease (HD).

28 Sep 2012

Talk on the trail: Romney praises his own Mass. health reforms, denounces the 2010 health law

In what The Washington Post describes as "political flexibility," GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney touted the state health law he signed while Massachusetts governor as proof of compassion and empathy, while also sharply criticizing the federal health law, which is viewed as President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement.

28 Sep 2012

Roundup: Md. Blues chief pans hospital costs shift plan; Pharmacies struggle with new drug controls

Negotiations to avert a breakdown in Maryland's unique system of regulating hospital prices have deteriorated into a stalemate between the state's largest insurer and the Maryland Hospital Association. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield CEO Chet Burrell, speaking out for the first time about the talks, blames hospitals for their proposal to shift hundreds of millions in costs to CareFirst and other private insurers in an attempt to control rising Medicare spending.

28 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 27, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about how the health law and Medicare are buzz words in public opinion polls and on the campaign trail.

27 Sep 2012

Can rebate checks really change public perception about the health law?

National Journal reports that although the checks are one of the earliest, tangible benefits for people with insurance, they are unlikely to alter the public view -- in part because they have gone to only about 10 percent of households.

27 Sep 2012

Hospitals respond to feds' warning about electronic records, billing fraud

Hospital industry groups responded Tuesday to the warning issued by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder, saying that the federal government shares part of the blame, because it hasn't provided hospitals adequate guidance on billing for common services.

27 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: 'Redistribution' debate; Reducing delayed, missed and incorrect diagnoses

The Affordable Care Act, which levies new taxes on the wealthy to expand access to health care for the near poor, seems on track to become the biggest increase in government redistribution since the Johnson administration.

27 Sep 2012

Weekly campaign highlights: News from Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina

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

27 Sep 2012

Texas congressional candidates will face off in Spanish debate, health policies among key issues

Texas' first congressional candidate debate in Spanish could help decide one of the closest races in the country. Incumbent Republican Rep. Francisco "Quico" Canseco, 63, a tea party conservative, will face challenger Pete Gallego, 50, a Democratic state representative, Tuesday night in an hourlong debate aired by Spanish-language network Univision.

27 Sep 2012

Study finds increase in number of total knee replacements among U.S. Medicare population

Total knee replacement is a very common and safe surgery that's used to relieve severe pain and disability caused by knee osteoarthritis, and to improve patients' quality of life. However, it's also very expensive at approximately $15,000 per procedure. With an estimated 600,000 total knee replacements performed annually in the United States, the aggregate annual cost for total knee replacement (also known as total knee arthroplasty or TKA) is $9 billion.

27 Sep 2012

Prime Healthcare Services purchases Dallas Medical Center

Prime Healthcare Services announced today that it has purchased Dallas Medical Center, located in Dallas, Texas.

27 Sep 2012

First Health, Stratose announce partnership

Stratose, a leader in healthcare cost containment services for medical, dental and workers' compensation claims, is pleased to announce their partnership with First Health.

27 Sep 2012

Deficit continues to be test for Obama -- with debate about Medicare and Medicaid central to both campaigns

The New York Times reports that with the deficit over $1 trillion, President Barack Obama and GOP presidential pick Mitt Romney propose different prescriptions, especially regarding government health programs. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports on how health firms are preparing for possible election outcomes.

27 Sep 2012

Political cartoon: 'Fourth And Goal'

Kaiser Health News provides a fresh take on health policy developments with "Fourth And Goal" by Chris Weyant.

26 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 26, 2012

Today's headlines include a reports about a round of new polls sizing up the status of the presidential campaign as well as one from The Associated Press measuring public opinion about the implementation of the health law.

26 Sep 2012

Medicare News and Research

Extend Health announces availability of two free guides for seniors

ACS, AGS issue new guidelines for pre-operative care of elderly patients

3M launches new physician education modules to provide ICD-10 training

Care Harbor to provide free medical, dental and vision services in L.A.

Inspector general: Medicare wrongly paid millions for refills on restricted prescriptions

Teva concludes Asset Transfer Agreement with NeuroSearch

Talk on the trail: Romney praises his own Mass. health reforms, denounces the 2010 health law

Roundup: Md. Blues chief pans hospital costs shift plan; Pharmacies struggle with new drug controls

First Edition: September 27, 2012

Can rebate checks really change public perception about the health law?

Hospitals respond to feds' warning about electronic records, billing fraud

Viewpoints: 'Redistribution' debate; Reducing delayed, missed and incorrect diagnoses

Weekly campaign highlights: News from Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina

Texas congressional candidates will face off in Spanish debate, health policies among key issues

Study finds increase in number of total knee replacements among U.S. Medicare population

Prime Healthcare Services purchases Dallas Medical Center

First Health, Stratose announce partnership

Deficit continues to be test for Obama -- with debate about Medicare and Medicaid central to both campaigns

Political cartoon: 'Fourth And Goal'

First Edition: September 26, 2012

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