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CBO sets price tag for delaying scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts: $271 billion

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has released updated figures on the cost of repealing -- or continuing to override -- the cuts doctors are scheduled to receive under Medicare's Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) reimbursement formula.

3 Aug 2012

Endoscopic vein grafts just as lifesaving as open-vein grafts

Endoscopic vein-graft harvesting is not associated with higher mortality than open vein-graft harvesting, contrary to previous reports, researchers claim.

2 Aug 2012

Researchers report one-third cut in the rate of lethal SSIs after colorectal operations

A patient safety team including researchers in the Johns Hopkins Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality reported a one-third cut in the rate of costly and potentially lethal surgical site infections (SSIs) following colorectal operations after requiring use of a simple safety checklist and urging caregivers to speak up if they see potentially unsafe practices.

2 Aug 2012

In rare compromise, Hill leaders agree on temporary spending deal to keep government running through next March

The tentative deal would prevent a government shutdown before Election Day. Modern Healthcare reports, though, that the agreement does not include any changes or fixes to the physician payment formula - which will require a 27% cut in payments to Medicare physicians next year.

2 Aug 2012

Report provides two distinct views of behavioral healthcare delivery

Behavioral healthcare systems are playing a major role in responding to the needs of the millions of Americans of all ages who experience psychiatric and substance use conditions each year, according to the latest annual survey from the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) released today.

2 Aug 2012

$Cataract surgery reduces rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss$

Cataract surgery reduces rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss

A major study of Medicare beneficiaries shows that the risk of hip fractures was significantly reduced in patients who had had cataract surgery, compared to patients who did not undergo the procedure. Published in the August edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) the researchers believe their study is the first to demonstrate that cataract surgery reduces the rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss.

2 Aug 2012

CAP publishes revised version of molecular pathology checklist with dedicated section on NGS

The College of American Pathologists (CAP) published a revised version of its molecular pathology checklist with a dedicated section on next generation sequencing (NGS) as part of the new edition of the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program checklists released July 31, 2012.

2 Aug 2012

Viewpoints: Romney praises Israeli health care system -- which has an individual mandate; Sebelius and Pelosi hail launch of women's preventive care provisions

At a breakfast fundraiser in Jerusalem on Monday, (Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney) had nothing but nice things to say about our ally. But in flattering Israel, he raised more doubts about his political abilities. ... he also praised Israel's health care system. "Do you realize what health care spending is as a percentage of the GDP in Israel?" he asked.

2 Aug 2012

Endoscopic vein-graft harvesting technique safe for CABG surgery

Although there have been questions regarding the safety and durability of endoscopic vein graft harvest for coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, an analysis of data of more than 200,000 patients who underwent CABG surgery found no evidence of a long-term increased risk of death with endoscopic vein graft harvesting compared to open vein-graft harvesting, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA.

1 Aug 2012

In response to increasing Medicare costs Humana reduces 2012 forecast

Humana Inc., the second-biggest provider of Medicare benefits, cut its 2012 profit forecast as enrollees in the U.S. health insurance program visited the doctor in higher numbers than the company expected.

1 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 1, 2012

WBUR's Martha Bebinger, working in partnership with Kaiser Health News and NPR, reports: "The Massachusetts Legislature Tuesday passed the next phase of its ongoing attempt to reform the health care system: sweeping cost control legislation. Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat, hailed the lawmakers' work saying, 'This is more than a good bill, a great bill.'"

1 Aug 2012

How the Republicans might reshape Medicaid if they win the White House and Congress

The Los Angeles Times reports on how the GOP is readying a push to scale back the health insurance program for the poor if it takes control of the White House and Congress next year. Meanwhile, the insurance industry is paying $1.1 billion in rebates to consumers under the health care law, and eying congressional efforts to overhaul the tax code next year as its best chance to roll back a new health insurance tax.

1 Aug 2012

Intraluminal protection device outperforms two negative-pressure IV connectors in MECH research

An IV connector known as an intraluminal protection device (IPD) significantly outperformed two widely used negative-pressure IV connectors in research performed at Methodist Extended Care Hospital (MECH).

1 Aug 2012

$Older Medicare patients have reduced risk of hip fracture following cataract surgery$

Older Medicare patients have reduced risk of hip fracture following cataract surgery

Medicare patients 65 years and older who underwent cataract surgery had a lower odds of hip fracture 1 year after the procedure when compared with patients with cataract who did not have cataract surgery, according to a study in the August 1 issue of JAMA.

1 Aug 2012

Minimally invasive approach during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is safe and effective

New research shows that a minimally invasive approach used during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery is safe and effective, despite previous studies that linked endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) to a higher mortality rate.

1 Aug 2012

Ventas prices public offering of $275 million of 3.25% Senior Notes due 2022

Ventas, Inc. announced today that it has priced a public offering of $275 million aggregate principal amount of 3.25% Senior Notes due 2022 at 99.027% of principal amount.

31 Jul 2012

Aetna reports net income of $457.6 million for second-quarter 2012

Aetna today announced second-quarter 2012 operating earnings of $452.0 million, or $1.31 per share, compared to the $1.35 per share reported in the second quarter of 2011.

31 Jul 2012

Planned Medicare payment reductions trigger hospital action

Hospitals are sharpening their efforts to stop a scheduled 2 percent across-the-board cut in payments to Medicare providers. Meanwhile, GOP lawmakers may be stepping back from efforts to block the health law's birth control coverage mandate.

31 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Health law no threat to innovation; Failure to expand Medicaid would 'doom' thousands; Don't stigmatize mentally ill

For better or worse, the Democrats incorporated a good deal of mainstream Republican thinking about health care reform from the past decade, including mandated coverage and health insurance exchanges, into the Affordable Care Act. This leaves the GOP, embarrassingly, with little to say about what is wrong with the act.

31 Jul 2012

Strategies to reduce readmission are lacking in US hospitals

A review of US hospitals indicates a lack of implementation of important practices to reduce readmission rates among patients with heart failure and acute myocardial infarction, report researchers.

30 Jul 2012

Medicare News and Research

CBO sets price tag for delaying scheduled Medicare physician payment cuts: $271 billion

Endoscopic vein grafts just as lifesaving as open-vein grafts

Researchers report one-third cut in the rate of lethal SSIs after colorectal operations

In rare compromise, Hill leaders agree on temporary spending deal to keep government running through next March

Report provides two distinct views of behavioral healthcare delivery

Cataract surgery reduces rate of fractures in older patients with vision loss

CAP publishes revised version of molecular pathology checklist with dedicated section on NGS

Viewpoints: Romney praises Israeli health care system -- which has an individual mandate; Sebelius and Pelosi hail launch of women's preventive care provisions

Endoscopic vein-graft harvesting technique safe for CABG surgery

In response to increasing Medicare costs Humana reduces 2012 forecast

First Edition: August 1, 2012

How the Republicans might reshape Medicaid if they win the White House and Congress

Intraluminal protection device outperforms two negative-pressure IV connectors in MECH research

Older Medicare patients have reduced risk of hip fracture following cataract surgery

Minimally invasive approach during coronary artery bypass grafting surgery is safe and effective

Ventas prices public offering of $275 million of 3.25% Senior Notes due 2022

Aetna reports net income of $457.6 million for second-quarter 2012

Planned Medicare payment reductions trigger hospital action

Viewpoints: Health law no threat to innovation; Failure to expand Medicaid would 'doom' thousands; Don't stigmatize mentally ill

Strategies to reduce readmission are lacking in US hospitals

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