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Viewpoints: Catholic group dismisses compromise on contraceptives; Funding entitlements

President Obama's support for his signature health care act took a fresh hit Friday. The Catholic Health Association, the nation's largest private health care provider, has rebuffed the latest White House moves to make its contraception coverage mandate more acceptable to Catholics and conservative evangelicals, according to Religion News Service.

19 Jun 2012

Key health law official leaving post for UnitedHealth VP job

Steve Larsen, director of the federal Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, is leaving his post to join UnitedHealth as an executive vice president, sparking speculation on the move.

18 Jun 2012

First Edition: June 18, 2012

Today's headlines include reports on the upcoming Supreme Court health law decision and the politics of health policy.

18 Jun 2012

New resource captures health insurance programs for low-income populations in developing countries

A new resource captures more than 100 health insurance programs designed for low-income populations in developing countries —an important milestone in developing a comprehensive database of this emerging industry.

18 Jun 2012

High court ruling's possible effect on state Medicaid programs

The expansion of Medicaid - if it is upheld by the Supreme Court - is among the most significant parts of the law, as it will provide coverage to people with the greatest financial needs. Many health care advocates support the expansion, saying it will allow poor people to receive needed care, while many state officials, especially Republicans, worry that it will bring budget-breaking new costs.

18 Jun 2012

In reversal, Catholic hospitals reject support for contraception compromise

In an unexpected blow to the Obama administration and a major boon for America's Catholic bishops, the influential Catholic Health Association on Friday rejected White House proposals aimed at easing faith-based objections to the contraception mandate. ... The mandate requires that all employee health insurance plans must provide no-cost birth control coverage to employees, and it grants what many consider an unacceptably narrow exemption for religious groups.

18 Jun 2012

Simple, inexpensive method for preventing type 2 diabetes

A simple, inexpensive method for preventing type 2 diabetes that relies on calling people and educating them on the sort of lifestyle changes they could make to avoid developing the disease has proven effective in a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the City of Berkeley Department of Public Health.

16 Jun 2012

Larsen leaving CCIIO, agency responsible for implementing major parts of health reform law

Steve Larsen, the government administrator directing enactment of U.S. insurance regulations created by the 2010 health-care overhaul, is leaving to return to the private sector, according to e-mails to staff.

16 Jun 2012

Insurers, providers announce partnerships in Wash., Pa. and Minn.

Group Health Cooperative and Tacoma-based Franciscan Health System have signed a five-year contract aimed at reducing costs and providing a more seamless experience for patients. Since 1996, Group Health has sent South Sound patients needing hospital care to Franciscan facilities, primarily St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma.

16 Jun 2012

Research roundup: Best health care for homeless, new business model for pharma

The cost and coordination of health care for homeless individuals can be a challenge for states. But as this brief describes, establishing supportive housing - which provides social services, usually on site - "can help improve health, increase survival rates, foster mental health recovery, and reduce alcohol and drug use."

16 Jun 2012

Senate Appropriations boosts HHS funding on party-line vote as GOP attacks health reform provisions

Partisan wrangling over the health law, as well as funding of HHS, is continuing on Capitol Hill.

16 Jun 2012

Roundup: Iowa redesign of mental health services raises concerns; Mich. lawmakers opposed to abortion restrictions are 'silenced'

State leaders hope their mental health redesign will bring better services to (rural areas of Iowa), but many front-line administrators doubt they'll see significant improvements soon. In fact, some worry that services could erode over the next year as money and some financial responsibilities are shifted from the counties to the state. Some long-term improvements are possible, they say, but cash likely will run short in the next few months.

15 Jun 2012

Press Ganey, AMGA introduce healthcare industry's first survey for ACOs

The American Medical Group Association (AMGA) and Press Ganey Associates, Inc. today launched the healthcare industry's first survey designed to help accountable care organizations (ACOs) and high-performing health systems identify opportunities for improving both efficiency and quality. The tool, called the AMGA-Press Ganey Coordinated Care Solution, assesses a patient's entire episode of care and enables better management of population health to create positive patient outcomes and maximize shared savings.

15 Jun 2012

Colorado and Alabama leaders offer different views on health law decision

Colorado's governor says the state will continue to build its insurance exchange and to advance other elements of the health law regardless of the Supreme Court's ruling. Meanwhile, Alabama's attorney general predicts the court will strike down the law.

15 Jun 2012

Calif. Dems balking on more Medicaid cuts; Big jump in Minnesota Medicaid rolls

Democratic legislative leaders announced Wednesday that they plan to move forward with their proposal to address California's $15.7 billion deficit even though Gov. Jerry Brown hasn't signed off on the plan. ... Democrats refused to cut an additional $1.2 billion on programs for the poor, particularly the welfare-to-work program CalWORKS; childcare; In-Home Supportive Services, which provides care for the sick and disabled in their homes; low-cost health insurance known as Healthy Families; and Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program.

15 Jun 2012

Mich. House approves abortion restrictions bill; AFL-CIO asks Mo. Gov. to veto abortion coverage bill

The Michigan bill would tighten regulation of abortion clinics and providers while making it a crime to coerce women into having an abortion. In Missouri, a union asks the governor to veto legislation that would allow employers to opt out of providing abortion or contraception health insurance coverage.

15 Jun 2012

New MAXIMUS podcast series focuses on government health and human services programs

MAXIMUS, a leading provider of government services worldwide, announced the launch of a new podcast series that focuses on government health and human services programs.

15 Jun 2012

Health law supporters worry about 'signal' from big insurers to Supreme Court

Analysts, lobbyists and journalists are still examining the announcement that three large health insurance companies would allow some of the health law's more popular consumer provisions to go forward no matter how the court decides.

15 Jun 2012

Roundup: Calpers rate hike approved; Painkiller databases slow abuse in Mass., Minn.; Health workers authorize strike in Philly

The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the third-largest purchaser of health benefits in the country, approved a 9.6 percent increase in health premiums next year for its nearly 1.3 million members.

15 Jun 2012

Under ACA 90% of Californians below age of 65 will be enrolled in health insurance programs

Nine out of 10 Californians under the age of 65 will be enrolled in health insurance programs as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), according to a joint study by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

15 Jun 2012

Health Insurance News and Research

Viewpoints: Catholic group dismisses compromise on contraceptives; Funding entitlements

Key health law official leaving post for UnitedHealth VP job

First Edition: June 18, 2012

New resource captures health insurance programs for low-income populations in developing countries

High court ruling's possible effect on state Medicaid programs

In reversal, Catholic hospitals reject support for contraception compromise

Simple, inexpensive method for preventing type 2 diabetes

Larsen leaving CCIIO, agency responsible for implementing major parts of health reform law

Insurers, providers announce partnerships in Wash., Pa. and Minn.

Research roundup: Best health care for homeless, new business model for pharma

Senate Appropriations boosts HHS funding on party-line vote as GOP attacks health reform provisions

Roundup: Iowa redesign of mental health services raises concerns; Mich. lawmakers opposed to abortion restrictions are 'silenced'

Press Ganey, AMGA introduce healthcare industry's first survey for ACOs

Colorado and Alabama leaders offer different views on health law decision

Calif. Dems balking on more Medicaid cuts; Big jump in Minnesota Medicaid rolls

Mich. House approves abortion restrictions bill; AFL-CIO asks Mo. Gov. to veto abortion coverage bill

New MAXIMUS podcast series focuses on government health and human services programs

Health law supporters worry about 'signal' from big insurers to Supreme Court

Roundup: Calpers rate hike approved; Painkiller databases slow abuse in Mass., Minn.; Health workers authorize strike in Philly

Under ACA 90% of Californians below age of 65 will be enrolled in health insurance programs

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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