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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

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

Medicare News and Research

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

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

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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