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Research roundup: Health providers' growing clout; The surprising bargain in Part D costs

The Growing Power Of Some Providers To Win Steep Payment Increases From Insurers Suggests Policy Remedies May Be Needed -- Concerns have grown that the consolidation of hospitals and physician groups has increased their ability to raise prices, which increases costs for insurers and patients.

11 May 2012

GOP lawmakers doubt co-op loan program's ability to promote competition, lower health costs

They outlined their concerns in a letter sent this week to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Meanwhile, Marilyn Tavenner, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services acting administrator, provided details about the innovation center's staffing and funding to Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.

11 May 2012

With Medicare, other health issues in flux, lawmakers and lobbyists struggle to decide next steps

Six health care lobbyists told Politico Pro that much of their strategic planning depends on the Supreme Court's upcoming health law decision and the November elections. But some lawmakers are signalling hope that this is the year to address Medicare's "doc fix" problem.

11 May 2012

Steps toward a permanent Medicare 'doc fix'?

Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-Pa., and Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., introduced the latest bill Wednesday aimed at reforming how Medicare pays healthcare providers and to prevent a scheduled, Jan. 1, 2013 cut to physician reimbursement rates. The bipartisan measure would replace Medicare's current pay formula.

11 May 2012

HHS announces big pay boost for some Medicaid docs

HHS says the increase, required by the health law, would raise primary care doctors' payments for treating Medicare patients, on average, 34 percent.

11 May 2012

Viewpoints: Can Medicare taxes really fund student loans?; Daschle on diabetes and kids

In the case of the student loans, the Democrats' bill would require certain Americans -- high-income partners in small businesses that provide professional services, such as engineering or lobbying -- to pay payroll taxes on their share of the firm's profits. That's a long way of saying the bill would eliminate a tax-avoidance strategy that some small firms use to reduce their contributions to Social Security and Medicare.

11 May 2012

Government investigators pinpoint $5.6 billion in 'suspect' Medicare billings from pharmacies

This report from the Health and Human Services inspector general concluded that corner drugstores are vulnerable to fraud.

11 May 2012

Patients with mitral regurgitation live longer after surgery

Patients with mitral regurgitation, a type of valvular heart disease common in the elderly, are living longer after surgery, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

11 May 2012

ICD therapy significantly reduces mortality in patients with moderate heart failure

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced results of the SCD-HeFT (Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial) 10-Year Follow-up Study at Heart Rhythm 2012, the Heart Rhythm Society's 33rd Annual Scientific Sessions in Boston. The study demonstrated implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy significantly reduces mortality for at least 11 years in patients with moderate heart failure (HF).

11 May 2012

Longer looks: More 20-30 somethings are taking care of elderly, dissecting solutions to obesity problem

At 30, Suzette Armijo cares for her widowed 86-year-old grandmother, a retired National Park Service ranger in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease, while holding down a fulltime job, a part-time job and raising a 4-year-old son. "This was nothing that I had planned for," says Armijo, who moved her grandmother Elizabeth Armijo into a nearby six-bed assisted living home because veterans' benefits "wouldn't pay for her to live with me."

11 May 2012

$Onconova advances rigosertib into new Phase II study for refractory MDS$

Onconova advances rigosertib into new Phase II study for refractory MDS

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., announced today the advancement of the oral formulation of rigosertib, an anti-cancer agent with demonstrated activity in solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, into a new Phase II study. The intravenous (IV) formulation of rigosertib is currently in a pivotal Phase III trial for refractory myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in the U.S. and EU.

11 May 2012

Senate embroiled in partisan struggle over student loan rates

At issue is how to pay for an extension of the current interest rate. Democrats propose increasing the Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes on high-earning stockholders of some privately owned corporations. Republicans would like to take funds from the health law's prevention fund.

10 May 2012

How much will a retired couple spend on health care? $240,000

This estimate, released by Fidelity Investments, reflects a 4 percent increase over medical bill projections for a couple that retired a year earlier. The amount doesn't include long-term care costs or over-the-counter drug expenses, among other things.

10 May 2012

DOJ probes fraud allegations at Dallas' Parkland hospital; Texas group calls Medicaid 'indispensable'

In other Medicaid news, Florida officials are trying to change the "Medically Needy" program and the Connecticut House passes a budget that would cut $50 million from Medicaid programs.

10 May 2012

Shire, Cosmo and Giuliani International file suit against Watson over generic Lialda

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida, filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market Mesalamine Delayed-release Tablets, 1.2g. Watson's ANDA product is a generic version of Shire Development LLC's Lialda.

10 May 2012

Highlights of orthopaedic research studies in JBJS

Below are highlights of orthopaedic research studies appearing in the May 2, 2012 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), as well as the issue's full Table of Contents.

9 May 2012

Health budget focuses on dental and aged care

The states need to increase the number of public dental patients they treat or lose the reward payments offered by the federal government under its new $500 million dental package. A total of over $800 million of new money has come into the focal points of the health budget - dental and aged care.

9 May 2012

Polls: Though numbers are tight, voters give Obama edge over Romney on Medicare, health care policies

Voters had more confidence in how GOP challenger Mitt Romney would handle the economy. Meanwhile, Rick Santorum, who previously had been a candidate in the Republican presidential primary, offered a late-night e-mail endorsement to Romney.

9 May 2012

Viewpoints: Taking aim at 'superbugs'; Friending organ donations; Ariz. and Kansas abortion efforts hurt women

In the battle between humans and infectious bacteria, humans have had the advantage, at least since antibiotics were introduced into our arsenal 70 or so years ago. Now, however, our weapons appear to be turning against us as germs have found ways to outfox antibiotics…. A second challenge is to keep a steady stream of new antibiotics in the pipeline, and this is where the big pharmaceutical companies based in Europe and the U.S. come in….

9 May 2012

Teva first quarter net revenues increase 25% to $5.1 billion

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today reported results for the quarter ended March 31, 2012.

9 May 2012

Medicare News and Research

Research roundup: Health providers' growing clout; The surprising bargain in Part D costs

GOP lawmakers doubt co-op loan program's ability to promote competition, lower health costs

With Medicare, other health issues in flux, lawmakers and lobbyists struggle to decide next steps

Steps toward a permanent Medicare 'doc fix'?

HHS announces big pay boost for some Medicaid docs

Viewpoints: Can Medicare taxes really fund student loans?; Daschle on diabetes and kids

Government investigators pinpoint $5.6 billion in 'suspect' Medicare billings from pharmacies

Patients with mitral regurgitation live longer after surgery

ICD therapy significantly reduces mortality in patients with moderate heart failure

Longer looks: More 20-30 somethings are taking care of elderly, dissecting solutions to obesity problem

Onconova advances rigosertib into new Phase II study for refractory MDS

Senate embroiled in partisan struggle over student loan rates

How much will a retired couple spend on health care? $240,000

DOJ probes fraud allegations at Dallas' Parkland hospital; Texas group calls Medicaid 'indispensable'

Shire, Cosmo and Giuliani International file suit against Watson over generic Lialda

Highlights of orthopaedic research studies in JBJS

Health budget focuses on dental and aged care

Polls: Though numbers are tight, voters give Obama edge over Romney on Medicare, health care policies

Viewpoints: Taking aim at 'superbugs'; Friending organ donations; Ariz. and Kansas abortion efforts hurt women

Teva first quarter net revenues increase 25% to $5.1 billion

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