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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

High-dose glucocorticoids double risk of bacterial infections in children with JIA

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis have higher rates of bacterial infection requiring hospitalization, and use of high-dose steroids significantly increases that risk, according to research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

2 May 2012

High-dose steroids increase infection risk in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have higher rates of hospitalized bacterial infection than children without JIA according to an observational study appearing in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

2 May 2012

Roundup: Mass. premium increases muted; Iowa cuts payment to charity after fraud probe; Ga. asks EMS providers to save scarce drugs

State regulators on Monday approved third-quarter health insurance rates that will raise premiums an average of just 1.2 percent in the market serving small businesses and individuals, continuing a trend of more modest increases seen over the past three quarters. And several carriers, including Tufts Health Plan of Watertown and Fallon Community Health Plan, based in Worcester, will reduce their rates -- a rarity in Massachusetts health care -- according to data from the state Division of Insurance.

2 May 2012

AmerisourceBergen acquires World Courier Group

AmerisourceBergen Corporation today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of World Courier Group, Inc., a privately held leading global specialty transportation and logistics provider for the biopharmaceutical industry.

2 May 2012

First Edition: May 1, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include reports from the presidential campaign trail and from states on issues ranging from Massachusetts' payment reform to Idaho's scope-of-practices issues.

2 May 2012

Hospitals seek to cut costs, compete smartly

In Colorado, New Hampshire, Florida and Kansas, hospitals are trying to be strategic to beat marketplace challenges.

30 Apr 2012

Viewpoints on health law: Concerns about 'Lake Wobegon-ization' of Medicare Advantage; Romney's efforts to raise fears

One of the significant reforms in the health-care law was to put private Medicare plans on a more equal footing with the traditional government program. ... But the immediate sting of the cuts was significantly lessened by the Obama administration's move to expand and speed up a program to pay bonuses to high-performing programs.

30 Apr 2012

Health information technology gains momentum, uses

One in 10 doctors who work outside hospitals in the United States began using electronic health records in 2011, helped along by the promise of $27 billion in incentives from the federal government.

30 Apr 2012

Ryan's Medicare plan moves him into the headlines

The New York Times reports on how the budget plan advanced Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has become the GOP's marching orders. In related news, the Medicare component of the Republican budget blueprint overhaul drew in-depth scrutiny during a House hearing last week.

30 Apr 2012

State roundup: Mass. may vote on assisted suicide; Colo. to try medical homes

Heather Clish has become a leading advocate for affording terminally ill patients in Massachusetts the same choice her father had. Clish and other supporters are pushing a ballot initiative to legalize the practice they call Death with Dignity, more commonly known as physician-assisted suicide.

30 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Entitlement 'train wrecks' approaching; Collecting for health bills at the hospital

The evidence has been clear for a long time now regarding the future of those twin financial train wrecks known as Social Security and Medicare. We have known for decades that without significant reform both are on a path toward insolvency.

30 Apr 2012

Feds approve Wisconsin Medicaid cuts

Meanwhile, Kansas applies for waiver to shift Medicaid beneficiaries into managed care plans and Medicaid costs in Kentucky weigh on one insurer.

30 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 30, 2012

In today's headlines, a variety of health policy headlines ranging from reports about state-level health law implementation progress to marketplace news.

30 Apr 2012

Teva, Mylan settle patent infringement litigation for Nuvigil

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., one of the world's largest producers of pharmaceuticals, announces that it has settled patent infringement litigation regarding U.S. Patent Number 7,132,570 (the "'570 patent") with respect to Mylan Inc.'s ANDA for Teva's wakefulness product NUVIGIL (armodafinil) tablets.

30 Apr 2012

Watson first quarter net income increases 87% to $208.8 million

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported net income for the first quarter 2012 increased 87 percent to $208.8 million or $1.64 per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis, compared to $111.9 million or $0.89 per diluted share in the first quarter 2011.

30 Apr 2012

Milner-Fenwick releases four new ‘Hospital Quality of Care’ videos

Hospitals are under fire. With heightened regulations and guidelines by the federal government and national health care organizations, the pressure to improve patient outcomes has never been greater. In response, the leading publisher of patient education videos, Milner-Fenwick, has released four new videos within its Hospital Quality of Care Series to help facilities comply with growing regulatory requirements. These videos address key hospital issues such as medication safety, infection control, fall prevention and discharge education.

30 Apr 2012

LifePoint Hospitals first quarter revenues increase 12.2% to $851.0 million

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

30 Apr 2012

Magellan reports net revenue of $773.2 million for first quarter 2012

Magellan Health Services Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter 2012, as summarized below. For the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the company reported net revenue of $773.2 million, segment profit of $55.4 million, and net income of $20.8 million or $0.75 per diluted common share.

30 Apr 2012

Research roundup: Practice guidelines may not stop defensive medicine; English language ability tied to hospital readmission rates

The Value of Clinical Practice Guidelines As Malpractice "Safe Harbors" -- Overspending on health care has frequently been attributed to doctors practicing defensive medicine -- ordering extra tests, for example -- so that they avoid malpractice lawsuits. The authors of this brief write that while some have said clinical guidelines "should give caregivers a liability 'safe harbor,' shielding them from any malpractice claim for failing to provide services not included in the guideline."

27 Apr 2012

McKesson to settle Medicaid billing lawsuit

The Justice Department says the prescription drug distributor overcharged Medicaid.

27 Apr 2012

Medicaid News and Research

High-dose glucocorticoids double risk of bacterial infections in children with JIA

High-dose steroids increase infection risk in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Roundup: Mass. premium increases muted; Iowa cuts payment to charity after fraud probe; Ga. asks EMS providers to save scarce drugs

AmerisourceBergen acquires World Courier Group

First Edition: May 1, 2012

Hospitals seek to cut costs, compete smartly

Viewpoints on health law: Concerns about 'Lake Wobegon-ization' of Medicare Advantage; Romney's efforts to raise fears

Health information technology gains momentum, uses

Ryan's Medicare plan moves him into the headlines

State roundup: Mass. may vote on assisted suicide; Colo. to try medical homes

Viewpoints: Entitlement 'train wrecks' approaching; Collecting for health bills at the hospital

Feds approve Wisconsin Medicaid cuts

First Edition: April 30, 2012

Teva, Mylan settle patent infringement litigation for Nuvigil

Watson first quarter net income increases 87% to $208.8 million

Milner-Fenwick releases four new ‘Hospital Quality of Care’ videos

LifePoint Hospitals first quarter revenues increase 12.2% to $851.0 million

Magellan reports net revenue of $773.2 million for first quarter 2012

Research roundup: Practice guidelines may not stop defensive medicine; English language ability tied to hospital readmission rates

McKesson to settle Medicaid billing lawsuit

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