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Viewpoints: Health law will leave some poor families 'in lurch'; Mich. Gov.'s effort to get health exchange

Confusing language in the health care reform law has raised the possibility that millions of Americans living on modest incomes may be unable to afford their employers' family policies and yet fail to qualify for government subsidies to buy their own insurance. This is a bizarre development that undercuts the basic goal of health care reform - to expand the number of insured people and make their coverage affordable.

28 Aug 2012

Roundup: Ga. AIDS Drug Assistance waiting list at zero; Mass. signs up for health law's disabled adults program

The state has eliminated a waiting list for a program that provides lifesaving medications to thousands of low-income, uninsured Georgians with HIV/AIDS more than two years after the list was first started. Established in July 2010, the wait list for Georgia's AIDS Drug Assistance Program rapidly ballooned to more than 1,600 -- at one time becoming the largest in the country. A spike in the need for the program was largely fueled by the economic downturn as people lost their jobs and health insurance.

28 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 27, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about this week's GOP convention, the politics of Medicare and abortion, and the latest health policy news from the states.

27 Aug 2012

Medicare, health policies stay in spotlight at top of the ticket

The Washington Post compares how Medicare fares under the health law versus under the Ryan plan, while NBC questions whether the GOP effort to hammer President Obama for reducing Medicare spending to pay for the health overhaul will work -- especially since GOP budget proposals make the same cuts.

27 Aug 2012

Mexican-Americans with ancestral links have higher insulin resistance levels

Mexican-Americans with an ancestral link to Amerindian tribes were found to have higher insulin resistance levels, which is an indication of several chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, according to research by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth).

26 Aug 2012

Dominican Republic establishes commission to examine implications of including ART in country health plan

"The Dominican Republic is one step closer to ensuring that all people living with HIV access treatment," UNAIDS reports in an article on its webpage, adding, "The country's National Social Security Council has established a commission to look into the technical, financial and operational implications of including antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Basic Health Plan."

26 Aug 2012

Viewpoints: Romney in WSJ column offers lessons from Bain; Ryan's ideological vote against curbing the deficit

My presidency would make it easier for entrepreneurs and small businesses to get the investment dollars they need to grow, by reducing and simplifying taxes; replacing Obamacare with real health-care reform that contains costs and improves care; and by stemming the flood of new regulations that are tying small businesses in knots.

26 Aug 2012

Roundup: Rate regulation on Calif.'s 2014 ballot; Ga. state workers facing health premium hike; Kan. Medicaid overhaul recruiting providers

An initiative that would bring health insurance rate regulation to California has qualified for the November 2014 ballot, setting the stage for a vigorous and costly battle between insurers and consumer groups. The measure, sponsored by Consumer Watchdog, would give the state insurance commissioner the power to deny certain premium increases if they are deemed excessive.

26 Aug 2012

Employee benefits, stable leadership improve nurse retention in homes

Nursing homes wanting to improve their rates of registered nurse retention should offer career-advancement opportunities and reward attendance, employee benefits such as health insurance, and develop long-tenured leaders, show the results of a US study.

24 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 24, 2012

Now on Kaiser Health News blog, KUHF's Carrie Feibel, working in partnership with KHN and NPR, reports: "When Ashley Beecher had her first daughter, nursing was a struggle, and she sometimes had to supplement her baby's diet with formula. But when she had her second daughter in January, it was a very different story. … Beecher was reluctant to throw away the milk – mothers and doctors call it 'liquid gold' because of its health benefits - so she was excited to find out about the donor milk bank at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston."

24 Aug 2012

Aetna sponsorship provides support for children's activities at the US Open

For the second year, Aetna is sponsoring children's activities at the US Open and is determined to deliver twice the fun as part of its three-year sponsorship agreement with the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

24 Aug 2012

ISSA questions IRS on health law insurance subsidies

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., has raised questions about the implementation of a key part of the health law -- the tax treatment of subsidies for low-income people to purchase health insurance.

24 Aug 2012

Kansas officials promise smooth transition for Medicaid overhaul

State officials and health insurance providers on Tuesday promised a smooth transition into KanCare, the proposed overhaul of Kansas' $2.9 billion Medicaid program. "There is nothing simple about Medicaid," said Joe Ewert, commissioner of survey and certification with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.

24 Aug 2012

Longer looks: 15 minutes with your doctor; Ransoming health records

Built more like a former professional basketball player than an elementary schoolteacher nearing retirement, the patient dropped a bagful of prescription medications on the table in the examining room and fell back into a chair.

24 Aug 2012

Roundup: Ore. lawmakers examine 'disclosure' as way to limit malpractice claims; $2.8M in fraudulent public assistance given in Mass.; Md. exchange announcement Thursday

Lawmakers are expected to take up tort reform when the Oregon Legislature convenes next February. To get those discussions moving, a Patient Safety and Defensive Medicine Workgroup is developing draft legislation that includes issues such as confidentiality, mediation, dispute resolution, litigation, discovery and patient safety. Disclosure -- informing patients when a serious medical event has occurred in a hospital setting -- is also on the table.

24 Aug 2012

State roundup: Restraining order issued in Mo. health exchange fight

A judge issued a temporary restraining order Tuesday against Missouri's secretary of state, Robin Carnahan, to prevent her from finalizing the language of a ballot question on health insurance exchanges. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, a Republican, sought the restraining order while a state court considers whether the language of the ballot question is biased, a claim leveled by Kinder and the state's top Republicans.

23 Aug 2012

Poll: Majority of voters say Medicare needs only minor changes or none at all

A new round of polls finds that although voters have a slightly favorable view of GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's pick for vice president, running mate Paul Ryan's Medicare plans are viewed with a greater degree of skepticism.

23 Aug 2012

Viewpoints: Medicare as a 401(K) plan; Health doublespeak

Older adults are understandably anxious about the political sniping over the future financing of Medicare. That is precisely the intention of the presidential campaigns. Yet the cross-fire over who will cut Medicare by how much sidesteps a critical issue about the future of our medical care: If we must ration our care to hold down costs in the future, how can we do it in a fair, efficient and transparent way?

23 Aug 2012

Romney vow to restore Medicare funding raises tough fiscal issues; GOP platform adds revamping of Medicare

In the short term, the Republican presidential candidate's promise to restore the Medicare cuts included in the health law would increase beneficiaries' costs. Meanwhile, the GOP draft platform embraces the Medicare changes advanced as part of Paul Ryan's House budget plan.

23 Aug 2012

Views on Akin and women's health: 'A debate the GOP had hoped to avoid;' Views harkening back to colonial times

Commentators examine the repercussions of the Missouri Senate candidate's comments about rape and abortion.

23 Aug 2012

Health Insurance News and Research

Viewpoints: Health law will leave some poor families 'in lurch'; Mich. Gov.'s effort to get health exchange

Roundup: Ga. AIDS Drug Assistance waiting list at zero; Mass. signs up for health law's disabled adults program

First Edition: August 27, 2012

Medicare, health policies stay in spotlight at top of the ticket

Mexican-Americans with ancestral links have higher insulin resistance levels

Dominican Republic establishes commission to examine implications of including ART in country health plan

Viewpoints: Romney in WSJ column offers lessons from Bain; Ryan's ideological vote against curbing the deficit

Roundup: Rate regulation on Calif.'s 2014 ballot; Ga. state workers facing health premium hike; Kan. Medicaid overhaul recruiting providers

Employee benefits, stable leadership improve nurse retention in homes

First Edition: August 24, 2012

Aetna sponsorship provides support for children's activities at the US Open

ISSA questions IRS on health law insurance subsidies

Kansas officials promise smooth transition for Medicaid overhaul

Longer looks: 15 minutes with your doctor; Ransoming health records

Roundup: Ore. lawmakers examine 'disclosure' as way to limit malpractice claims; $2.8M in fraudulent public assistance given in Mass.; Md. exchange announcement Thursday

State roundup: Restraining order issued in Mo. health exchange fight

Poll: Majority of voters say Medicare needs only minor changes or none at all

Viewpoints: Medicare as a 401(K) plan; Health doublespeak

Romney vow to restore Medicare funding raises tough fiscal issues; GOP platform adds revamping of Medicare

Views on Akin and women's health: 'A debate the GOP had hoped to avoid;' Views harkening back to colonial times

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