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Kodak withdraws plan to end health benefits for Medicare-eligible retirees

In the midst of bankruptcy proceedings, Kodak withdrew a motion to end these health benefits and will instead create a reitrees commitee to examine issues of medical and survivor benefits. Meanwhile, AT&T contract negotiations continue -- with health care premiums and copayments among the issues in play.

9 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 9, 2012

In today's headlines, reports about how both Democrats and Republicans are working to woo Seniors -- Medicare politices are central to this effort.

9 Apr 2012

The Medicare NewsGroup introduces new website for journalists

The Medicare NewsGroup has launched a new website that will equip journalists with the information and tools they need to cover Medicare effectively and thoroughly.

9 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: An 'easy' SCOTUS case?; Is painkiller addiction really an epidemic?

Nothing in the Supreme Court arguments in the health care case last week, or in the subsequent commentary, has changed my opinion that this is an easy case. It's the court that made it look hard (Linda Greenhouse, 4/4).

7 Apr 2012

RepTrak Pulse ranks CVS Caremark among Most Reputable Companies in America

CVS Caremark has been named as one of the Most Reputable Companies in America by Reputation Institute, in partnership with Forbes Media. The survey rankings are based on Reputation Institute's 2012 U.S. RepTrak™ Pulse, a study that measures the 150 largest U.S. public companies.

7 Apr 2012

Advisory panel urges new fee on Medigap plans, cap on out-of-pocket costs

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission made recommendations to Congress for changes to the program. It's not clear if Congress will accept the proposals.

7 Apr 2012

Premier healthcare alliance awards new agreements for construction services

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced new agreements for construction services have been awarded to Heery International of Atlanta; Jones Lang LaSalle of Chicago; Rodgers Builders Inc., a woman owned business, of Charlotte, N.C.; Stantec Consulting Services Inc. of Alberta, Canada; Tyler 2 Construction Inc., a woman owned business, of Charlotte, N.C.; and Zak Companies Inc. of St. Louis, Mo.

7 Apr 2012

Ringler Medical Solutions, Ametros Financial partner to offer Professional Administration services

Ametros Financial Corporation and Ringler Medicare Solutions, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a partnership to offer Professional Administration services to expand the Medicare Set Aside, Medical Cost Projection, and Life Care Planning services currently offered by Ringler Medicare Solutions.

7 Apr 2012

World Health Care Congress to be held in Washington D.C.

The 9th Annual World Health Care Congress will be held April 16-18, 2012 in Washington D.C.. The event is a cross-industry event convening of health care leaders from business, government and academia.

7 Apr 2012

Premier, healthcare providers to create performance improvement collaboratives

The Premier healthcare alliance is working with hospitals, health systems and manufacturers to create performance improvement collaboratives that evaluate which clinical practices result in better outcomes while lowering costs.

7 Apr 2012

Obama and Romney campaigns assail the other's budget plans

Each casts the other's plans for entitlement programs, such as Medicare, as dangerous.

7 Apr 2012

Free public grouper of medical condition episodes-of-care from CCGroup

CCGroup is pleased to announce the release today of a free download version of the Cave Grouper software known as CaveGrouper-Lite. This is the first public grouper of medical condition episodes-of-care.

7 Apr 2012

Study explores risk of re-hospitalization among stroke patients

Stroke patients receiving in-patient rehabilitation are more likely to land back in the hospital within three months if they are functioning poorly, show signs of depression and lack social support according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston. Hospital readmission for older adults within 30 days of discharge costs Medicare roughly $18 billion annually.

7 Apr 2012

Teva's ANDA for Provigil entitled to 180-day exclusivity

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announces that the FDA has decided that its wholly owned subsidiary, Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, is sole first-to-file for both Orange Book patents listed for Provigil (modafinil) and therefore Teva's ANDA alone is entitled to 180-day exclusivity.

6 Apr 2012

Medicaid news: Oregon competitors working together; Calif. 'duals' project launches

A new push to reshape health care in greater Portland is reminiscent, its biggest booster says, of the race to land a man on the moon. Erstwhile health care competitors hope to set aside their differences to care for the region's 200,000 Oregon Health Plan members, says Legacy Health CEO George Brown. The task is happening in a timeline -- Brown snaps his fingers -- "that's like that long. It's a moon shot for sure. What we're trying to do, to my knowledge, has not been attempted any place in the country."

6 Apr 2012

Presidential campaign focus turns to budget, Medicare issues

President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are using their differences on Medicare issues and entitlement spending -- in the context of the nation's fiscal challenges -- as key campaign themes.

6 Apr 2012

Longer looks: Berwick calls for leaders to rise above 'political catechism'; Convincing the healthy to feel sick

Between July 2010 and December 2011, Dr. Donald Berwick was head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency that runs the government's health insurance programs. In a sane world, he would be still. But Senate Republicans refused even to let his confirmation come up for a vote ... A pediatrician by training and a widely respected expert in health care policy, Berwick should have been a lock for the CMS job. But he was a backer of Obamacare; a believer in data and science; a proponent of universal health care.

6 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Support for drug benefit merger; Health reform comes too slowly for some patients; Pinpointing Romney's views on mandate

It seems counterintuitive, but the Federal Trade Commission has just decided that a $29 billion merger of two of the three largest companies that manage pharmaceutical benefits for employers and health plans - Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions - would not substantially lessen competition. That judgment deserves credence because of the thoroughness of the F.T.C.'s eight-month inquiry and the willingness of the agency to oppose other mergers when the evidence warrants.

6 Apr 2012

State roundup: Advocates in Va. back shifting disability care from state institutions; New Vt. law overhauls mental health system; Aetna mistakenly tells thousands in Calif. their doctors were dropped

A state agency that looks out for the rights of people with disabilities is advocating for a proposed settlement that would shift the care of Virginians with intellectual disabilities from state-run institutions.

6 Apr 2012