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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.

Health reform means ER use jumps in Colo.; Calif. insurance premiums rise; Ore. waits to see who wants in on coordinated care

Even people who just got health insurance use the emergency departments to access their care, according to a new study by University of Colorado School of Medicine researchers. It's not just people who lost insurance or people living long without it, the researchers note -- any change in health insurance status, whether positive or negative, tends to send people to the ER because they don't know where else to go.

3 Apr 2012

Texas hospitals ask for Medicaid money diversion; Wash. pauses plan to not pay for some ER visits; Adult day care transition starts in Calif.

Texas' public hospitals want some Medicaid money shifted to pay for the uninsured while a proposal in Washington state to stop paying for some Medicaid ER visits deemed unnecessary is paused. Ohio is also trying to save money on its Medicare and Medicaid dual-eligible population by restructuring the program.

3 Apr 2012

Perspectives on the health law: Santorum offers his plan for health freedom; Cardinal Dolan's meeting with Obama; Dems' and GOP's 'misconception'

As the Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, we Americans need to remember that we have the freedom to make choices for ourselves. We, not our government, choose the food to eat, the clothes to wear, the ideas to believe. "ObamaCare" is the opposite of freedom. Under ObamaCare, the government, not the individual, has freedom. We can do better.

3 Apr 2012

Ventas acquires Cogdell

Ventas, Inc. announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Cogdell Spencer Inc.

3 Apr 2012

Medicaid long-term care restrictions tighten

The Wall Street Journal offers tips on how to preserve some assets while attempting to qualify for Medicaid assistance.

2 Apr 2012

Teva reports successful outcome of three debut financings

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited announced today that it successfully priced its debut EUR 1 billion and CHF 450 million debt offerings, and that it entered into a JPY 100 billion senior unsecured fixed-rate syndicated term loan facility.

2 Apr 2012

First Edition: April 2, 2012

Today's headlines offer more analysis of what could become of the Supreme Courts consideration of the health law.

2 Apr 2012

Teva launches generic Avalide and Avapro Tablets

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that it has commenced commercial launch of both Irbesartan and Irbesartan-Hydrochlorothiazide Tablets, the Company's generic versions of Sanofi Aventis' high blood pressure treatments, Avapro and Avalide Tablets.

2 Apr 2012

Viewpoints: Ryan's budget called 'cruel' or 'sophisticated'

In February, after embarrassing himself by saying he was "not concerned about the very poor," Mitt Romney explained that the government's safety net would take care of them, and he promised to repair any holes in the net. That promise didn't last very long. On Thursday, House Republicans approved, on a party-line vote, a disastrous new budget that would leave millions of struggling families desperate for food, shelter and health care - and Mr. Romney has embraced it.

31 Mar 2012

Course of state implementation efforts unchanged by high court's review

Politico reports that state plans appear unchanged by this week's events. Those that were moving ahead at full speed will likely continue to do so. Those who were taking a go-slow approach have no need to change strategies now.

31 Mar 2012

House OKs Ryan budget -- with Medicare changes; Entitlement program cuts

The budget blueprint, advanced by Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is unlikely to gain passage in the Senate but will be a key marker in the upcoming election season.

31 Mar 2012

Perspectives: All this fuss about the word 'tax'; Civic lessons from the Supreme Court

It is now clear that the law will impose heavy burdens on state and family budgets and increasingly possible that its mandate that all Americans purchase health insurance or face penalties will be ruled unconstitutional. ... We and our Republican colleagues voted against the law two years ago and will continue to work toward a smarter, step-by-step solution that will make health care available to more Americans at a lower cost to the federal government, the states, and individuals seeking care.

31 Mar 2012

Vanguard closes private placement of $375 million 7.750% Senior Notes

Vanguard Health Systems, Inc. announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Vanguard Health Holding Company II, LLC and Vanguard Holding Company II, Inc. (together with VHS Holdco II, the "Issuers"), closed their private placement of an aggregate principal amount of $375.0 million of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2019.

31 Mar 2012

Ariz. hospitals drop Medicaid cuts lawsuit; Fla. Gov. signs controversial Medicaid bill

The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association has dropped a lawsuit challenging payment cuts from the state's Medicaid program. The hospital group in November sued the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System to reverse a 5 percent cut in hospital payment rates.

31 Mar 2012

HHS Secretary announces six winners in HHSinnovates program

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced six winners in the HHSinnovates program today in a ceremony at HHS headquarters, saying all the entries "show a vibrant culture of innovation" within the department.

31 Mar 2012

Teva introduces generic Provigil

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announces the launch of the authorized generic of Provigil (modafinil).

31 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 30, 2012

Today's health policy headlines include reports that the House yesterday approved the $3.5 trillion budget plan proposed by Paul Ryan -- which includes deep cuts in entitlements and will likely trigger the election-year fiscal debate.

30 Mar 2012

Paying doctors and hospitals for better outcomes may not pay off

Medicare's largest effort to pay bonuses to hospitals that hit key performance measures -- or dock them if they miss -- did not lead to fewer deaths for heart attacks and heart bypass surgery, a new study finds. The analysis could lead to a reexamination of the idea of paying providers based on quality metrics, rather than on volume, which is key to the health law.

30 Mar 2012

High court and severability: What parts of the law could fall?

On Wednesday, the nine justices pondered what parts -- if any -- of the health law could go forward if the individual mandate is overturned. The discussion involved fundamental consitutional questions.

30 Mar 2012

Medicaid questions complete the court's health law review

At some points during the Supreme Court's consideration of the health law's Medicaid expansion, conservative justices not only questioned this provision of the law, but the program itself.

30 Mar 2012