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State roundup: Minn. defends Medicaid billing; Cigna, N.H. Group form joint venture; Health coupons in Mass.

Top Minnesota health officials pushed back Tuesday against a congressional committee probing allegations that the state overbilled federal taxpayers for Medicaid services to cover losses from in other state-run public health programs. In a letter to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson defended reforms implemented under DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, saying "our focus has been on changing course rather than investigating the past."

31 May 2012

Insurers make patients pay hundreds more for cancer, arthritis drugs

Thousands of patients taking costly drugs for ailments such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis are being asked to shoulder a greater share of the expense. In other news, consumers are demanding access to their medical device data. Others are harnessing the internet to jumpstart medical research and share important experiences, including serious illnesses, with family and friends.

30 May 2012

Seniors increasingly cared for in multi-generational homes

NPR examines how families are living under the same roof to care for senior relatives -- and also, to get by.

30 May 2012

House GOP plans new votes repealing parts of health law ahead of Supreme Court ruling

The two bills would repeal a tax on medical devices and ease restrictions on health savings accounts, both parts of the Democrats' health care reform law.

30 May 2012

State roundup: The effects of proposed Calif. budget cuts; Fewer free vaccinations in Texas

Low-income children in rural California communities are in jeopardy of losing their doctors and health care plans under Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal, state lawmakers, doctors and health advocates say. The governor is proposing to transfer nearly 900,000 children enrolled in Healthy Families, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program, to Medi-Cal – a program aimed at serving the state's poorest families, seniors and disabled residents.

30 May 2012

Health law opinions: 'Improvised explosive' device tax; Iowa legislators force role for brokers on insurance exchanges

"Taxmageddon" isn't only about the half-trillion-dollar blow to the economy that arrives in 2013 on the end of the Bush-Obama tax rates. Several of the Affordable Care Act's worst tax increases kick in too, such as the new excise tax on medical devices. The 2.3 percent levy applies to the sale of everything from cardiac defibrillators to artificial joints to MRI scanners. The device tax is supposed to raise $28.5 billion from 2013 to 2022, and it is especially harmful because it applies to gross sales, not profits.

30 May 2012

Towers Watson acquires Extend Health

Towers Watson, a leading global professional services company, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Extend Health, Inc., which operates the largest private Medicare exchange in the United States.

30 May 2012

Cardinal Wuerl says bishops are united in fight with administration over contraception rule

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, on Sunday denied a split among Catholic bishops about the lawsuit challenging the Obama administration's rule mandating that employers and health insurance plans cover contraception. "I have yet to see among the bishops any split at all," Wuerl said on "Fox News Sunday." "The bishop who was quoted saying he was concerned issued a statement saying that was not his position."

28 May 2012

Study: 10 percent of veterans go without health insurance

Of the 1.3 million veterans who lack health coverage, the study says about 630,000 of them would likely qualify for Medicaid under the health law expansion, and as many as 520,000 could qualify for subsidized health coverage in insurance exchanges.

25 May 2012

Illinois legislature passes bill with deep Medicaid cuts

The $1.6 billion in budget cuts would also cut deeply into other Illinois health programs.

25 May 2012

Health law may allow some limited insurance coverage

Politico Pro points out that the overhaul might not guarantee minimum standards in some specific cases. Another analysis finds that drug companies could be hurt if the Supreme Court strikes down some or all of the law.

25 May 2012

Insurance refunds in Arizona; Mass. House passes dementia care standards

Arizona consumers and businesses can expect to collect more than $36 million in refunds this summer from health-insurance companies under new provisions of the nation's health care law, according to two reports.

25 May 2012

Aetna's IOE Transplant Network to add UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Hospital

Aetna announced today that UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside Hospital has been designated as a participating facility in Aetna's Institutes of Excellence Transplant Network.

25 May 2012

Study says most insurance sold to individuals doesn't meet health law standards

A new report in Health Affairs finds that more than half of individual policies could not be sold on state health exchanges because they fail to meet the law's criteria for coverage.

25 May 2012

State lawmakers wrestle with Planned Parenthood funding, contraception coverage

Legislation in Pennsylvania would bar the use of state and federal funding by Planned Parenthood. Also, some Georgia physicians fear their opposition to a state abortion bill has triggered retaliation.

25 May 2012

IUDs and implants effectively reduce risk of unintended pregnancy

A study to evaluate birth control methods has found dramatic differences in their effectiveness. Women who used birth control pills, the patch or vaginal ring were 20 times more likely to have an unintended pregnancy than those who used longer-acting forms such as an intrauterine device (IUD) or implant.

24 May 2012

CBO says recession possible if Congress fails to resolve budget impasse

The Congressional Budget Office reported Tuesday that the nation's economy could fall back into a recession if President Barack Obama and Congress fail to come to terms on tax and spending issues. However, Democratic and Republican leaders appeared unwavering in their positions.

24 May 2012

Strategies, views on the health law's future vary depending on politics

Congressional Republicans continue to appear divided over what their strategy should be if the Supreme Court strikes down all or part of the health law. More immediately, though, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is targeting the measure's device tax as part of the Senate's consideration of a bill that would reauthorize the Food and Drug Administration user fees.

24 May 2012

Political ads stake out presidential candidates' different philosophies on role of government

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama's campaign will air a new ad aimed at seniors who are on Medicare and will continue efforts to connect with the women's vote.

24 May 2012

Aerocrine’s NIOX MINO and the test kits receive Australian marketing approval

Aerocrine AB announces that its airway inflammation monitor, NIOX MINO, and the NIOX MINO Test Kit, have received marketing approval for the Australian market.

24 May 2012