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First Edition: July 18, 2012

Today's headlines include coverage of a new report that offers a gloomy fiscal forecast for states as they confront rising health care costs, underfunded pensions and a range of other economic challenges.

18 Jul 2012

Adding stroke severity in hospital mortality model may improve prediction of death risk

Adding stroke severity to a hospital 30-day mortality model based on claims data for Medicare beneficiaries with acute ischemic stroke was associated with improvement in predicting the risk of death at 30 days and changes in performance ranking regarding mortality for a considerable proportion of hospitals, according to a study in the July 18 issue of JAMA.

18 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Calif. could take a lesson from Wis. reforms; Republican advocates a 'Nixon to China' embrace of Medicare for all

The state's teachers union, Wisconsinites learned, had used its power to collectively bargain for healthcare benefits to demand that local school districts provide coverage through a nonprofit insurer affiliated with the union. Once the state ended bargaining on healthcare, school boards began competitively bidding out their health insurance. By the opening of the new school year in September, just two months after the budget bill went into effect, 23 districts had rebid their contracts, saving $16 million, or an average of $211 per student.

17 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 17, 2012

Today's headlines include a report that concludes that few Americans will pay more as a result of the health law.

17 Jul 2012

Repeal strategies take shape -- though none will likely be easy

Yes, if Mitt Romney wins the White House and his Republican allies retake the Senate, he could shred most of President Barack Obama's health care law without having to overpower a Democratic filibuster. But it won't be as easy as some Republicans portend, and it certainly won't be quick. Why? Because any realistic effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act -- as opposed to last week's quixotic vote in the GOP-controlled House -- is sure to get jumbled together with lots of other issues, including Medicare, taxes, food stamps and defense spending.

17 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: 'Tug of War' over Medicaid expansion; Bill Keller debunks 5 'Obamacare' myths

The new health care law's individual mandate - the provision pushing people to buy insurance, and upheld last month by the Supreme Court - has garnered huge attention. But about half the planned expansion of insurance coverage under the new law comes from another source entirely: growth of the Medicaid program. Yet Medicaid has never been especially popular, and when its expanded role becomes more widely understood, it is likely to become less popular still.

17 Jul 2012

Studies provide evidence of connections between MCI and negative health outcomes

Two studies presented today at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2012 (AAIC 2012) in Vancouver provide evidence of connections between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and negative health outcomes – increased isolation and death.

17 Jul 2012

ACLA announces full and strong support for TEST Act

The American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) today announced its "full and strong support" for H.R. 6118, the Taking Essential Steps for Testing Act or TEST Act introduced by Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) in the House of Representatives.

16 Jul 2012

UnitedHealthcare to host educational seminars at Jersey City Medical Center

UnitedHealthcare will host a series of educational seminars at the Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, N.J., to help baby boomers and other Medicare beneficiaries learn more about the Medicare program so they can make confident health care coverage choices.

16 Jul 2012

Health groups brace for sequester, ask Congress to undo scheduled cuts

Hospital groups are planning lobbying efforts to convince lawmakers to cancel a 2 percent Medicare cut that would kick in next January. Meanwhile, 3,000 groups signed a 64-page letter expressing concern about the impact of non-defense discretionary spending reductions.

14 Jul 2012

Research roundup: Medication adherence, performance at community health centers

For people diagnosed with depression, it's important that they adhere to their medication regimen so that they avoid recurrent episodes. But because of Medicare's Part D coverage gap, financially burdened seniors might not take their prescriptions as recommended. This study looked at Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with depression in 2007.

14 Jul 2012

FDA approves Watson's ANDA for Next Choice ONE DOSE emergency contraceptive

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its subsidiary Watson Laboratories, Inc., has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Next Choice ONE DOSE (Levonorgestrel Tablet, 1.5 mg), the generic equivalent to Teva Women's Health's Plan B One-Step. Watson plans to launch the product immediately.

13 Jul 2012

Viewpoints: Rick Perry says Obama is selling a 'broken' Medicaid system; House GOP assailed for 'foolish' repeat of repeal vote

Not so meaningless, however, are recent decisions of several states to resist what ought to be some of the less controversial aspects of ObamaCare. They're refusing to set up easy-to-use exchanges that would help residents make insurance choices. And they're turning down a Medicaid expansion, which will deny insurance to millions who can't afford coverage and shift the cost of their care to people who have it (7/11).

13 Jul 2012

Republican-led House votes (again) to repeal health law

The repeal effort is a means for Republican leaders to rev up voters before November's elections. Five Democrats also voted with the majority. As with previous efforts, however, the measure is expected to languish in the Democrat-controlled Senate.

13 Jul 2012

Medicaid news: Federal officials question drop in Pa.'s rolls

In Pennsylvania, the federal government is checking into why 130,000 people were removed from the Medicaid program.

13 Jul 2012

GAO questions legality of Medicare Advantage bonuses

In a 10-page letter sent Wednesday to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the Government Accountability Office's general counsel raised questions about the $8.3 billion demonstration program, which Republicans had criticized as a ruse to mask some of the health law's cuts in seniors' benefits.

13 Jul 2012

First Edition: July 12, 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz, working in collaboration with The Philadelphia Inquirer, reports: Penn is one of a small, but growing number of hospitals taking their advertising campaigns to Facebook, Google and other websites. Fewer than 150 of the nation's 6,000 hospitals use Google and Facebook to market services, estimates Rob Grant, executive vice president of eVariant, a Simsbury, Ct.-based hospital consulting firm.

12 Jul 2012

HHS inspector general: Many Medicare anti-fraud contractors have ties to companies they investigate

The Associated Press reports that as many as two-thirds of these contractors had financial connections to claims processors.

12 Jul 2012

Feds will waive insurance mandate for low-income people in states that opt against Medicaid expansion

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius urged states to participate in the expansion, but said the administration would waive penalties against poor residents for not carrying insurance in states that opt out. Experts, meanwhile, urge the administration to "be flexible" with states regarding the Medicaid expansion. And Wall Street continues to view Medicaid as a growth opportunity.

12 Jul 2012

U.K. High Court rules in favor of Teva in COPAXONE patent litigation

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced that the United Kingdom High Court of Justice issued a decision in favor of Teva in a patent litigation proceeding against Generics (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Mylan Laboratories Inc., on July 11, 2012.

12 Jul 2012

Medicare News and Research

First Edition: July 18, 2012

Adding stroke severity in hospital mortality model may improve prediction of death risk

Viewpoints: Calif. could take a lesson from Wis. reforms; Republican advocates a 'Nixon to China' embrace of Medicare for all

First Edition: July 17, 2012

Repeal strategies take shape -- though none will likely be easy

Viewpoints: 'Tug of War' over Medicaid expansion; Bill Keller debunks 5 'Obamacare' myths

Studies provide evidence of connections between MCI and negative health outcomes

ACLA announces full and strong support for TEST Act

UnitedHealthcare to host educational seminars at Jersey City Medical Center

Health groups brace for sequester, ask Congress to undo scheduled cuts

Research roundup: Medication adherence, performance at community health centers

FDA approves Watson's ANDA for Next Choice ONE DOSE emergency contraceptive

Viewpoints: Rick Perry says Obama is selling a 'broken' Medicaid system; House GOP assailed for 'foolish' repeat of repeal vote

Republican-led House votes (again) to repeal health law

Medicaid news: Federal officials question drop in Pa.'s rolls

GAO questions legality of Medicare Advantage bonuses

First Edition: July 12, 2012

HHS inspector general: Many Medicare anti-fraud contractors have ties to companies they investigate

Feds will waive insurance mandate for low-income people in states that opt against Medicaid expansion

U.K. High Court rules in favor of Teva in COPAXONE patent litigation

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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