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Medicaid expansion rule focuses on enrollment process

The Obama administration released a rule Friday detailing the specifics of this coverage expansion and trying to simplify the enrollment process.

20 Mar 2012

HealthGrades identifies America's 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2012

HealthGrades America's 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2012 were identified in a report issued today by HealthGrades, the leading provider of information to help consumers make an informed decision about a physician or hospital.

20 Mar 2012

Key question for Supreme Court in health law arguments: How far does Congressional power reach?

Media outlets analyze the questions, personalities and precedent-setting issues that will be in play as the Supreme Court takes up the constitutionality of the health law.

20 Mar 2012

TriZetto QNXT Essentials solution to streamline administration of Ventura County's HMO

Ventura County, Calif., has selected The TriZetto Group, Inc., to help improve the administrative efficiency, care delivery, and provider and member service of the county's health plan. TriZetto's end-to-end solution will streamline the administration of Ventura County's HMO, which serves employees and their families, retirees, Medicare recipients, and county-affiliated organizations.

19 Mar 2012

Boston Scientific lauds private insurance reimbursement coverage for bronchial thermoplasty

Boston Scientific Corporation welcomes a milestone in private insurance reimbursement coverage for bronchial thermoplasty (BT) performed using the Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System. Minnesota-based HealthPartners and Michigan-based Priority Health recently issued the first public postings of positive insurance coverage policies providing their respective memberships with reimbursement for this novel procedure to treat severe asthma.

19 Mar 2012

New health care law helps 5.1M seniors and people with disabilities save $3.2B on prescription drugs

As the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act approaches, new data shows that more than 5.1 million seniors and people with disabilities on Medicare saved over $3.2 billion on prescription drugs because of the new health care law, Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced today while at the St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.

19 Mar 2012

Medicare plan will be central to Ryan GOP budget

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., is set to unveil a new budget plan on Tuesday. Both Democrats and Republicans are poised to revive the pitched debate over controversial proposals related to the Medicare programs.

19 Mar 2012

Abbott files suit against Watson over generic NIASPAN

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. – Florida, filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market Niacin Extended-release Tablets, 500 mg and 1000 mg. Watson's ANDA products are generic versions of Abbott Laboratories' NIASPAN.

19 Mar 2012

Study confirms value of Cambridge Heart's MTWA test for SCA

Cambridge Heart, Inc., a developer of non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, today announced that a new study published on-line in the Heart Rhythm Journal confirms the value of Microvolt T-Wave Alternans (MTWA) testing for identifying patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

19 Mar 2012

First Edition: March 19, 2012

Today's headlines reflect the anticipation and anxiety that surrounds the Supreme Court's upcoming health law oral arguments.

19 Mar 2012

AARP announces nationwide launch of You've Earned a Say

'Today, at a town hall meeting in Pocatello, AARP state and national leaders are set to announce the launch of You've Earned a Say, a national conversation about strengthening health and retirement security.

19 Mar 2012

GOP plans for Medicare, health reform repeal draw scrutiny

Political observers are noting challenges for Republican lawmakers in upcoming budget, health law and Medicare debates.

19 Mar 2012

Japan's MHLW provides reimbursement coverage for MTWA test

Cambridge Heart, Inc., a developer of non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, today announced that its Microvolt T-Wave Alternans (MTWA) test received reimbursement coverage from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW).

17 Mar 2012

Feds begin funding cuts to Texas Women's Health Program

Federal officials said they would begin to phase out their 90-percent portion of the Texas Women's Health Program as they had promised to do after Texas lawmakers banned Planned Parenthood from the program. CMS officials said the reductions would be gradual.

17 Mar 2012

Argus to participate in National Council for Prescription Drug Programs focus group

Argus Health Systems Inc., a leading transparent pharmacy benefits administrator, will participate in a National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) focus group on March 20, 2012, to better understand the growing biopharmaceuticals industry.

17 Mar 2012

House Republicans slow fight against birth control coverage rule

And, on the Senate side, a group of Republicans introduced a bill that would end traditional Medicare and allow seniors to join the insurance plans that are available to members of Congress.

17 Mar 2012

ApolloMed signs service agreement with Care1st

Apollo Medical Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of hospitalist, critical care and integrated medical management services in California, today announced that ApolloMed Hospitalists, one of its affiliated medical groups, signed a service agreement with Care1st Health Plan to provide inpatient care services to its members at 15 hospitals throughout Los Angeles County.

17 Mar 2012

Tom Hanks and the Hollywood touch draw attention to new Obama campaign video

The 17-minute documentary looks at the administration's record and helps set the tone for the reelection campaign.

17 Mar 2012

Only 21 states require public reporting of hospital data on surgical site infections

Only 21 states require public reporting of hospital data on surgical site infections and, even when disclosure is mandated, the information is often not easily accessible to patients who could use it to make decisions about their medical care, according to new Johns Hopkins research.

17 Mar 2012

MedPAC urges repeal of SGR, recommends Medicare payment cuts for hospitals, nursing homes, home health companies

The Medicare Payment Advisory Board on Thursday recommended cutting payments for hospitals and nursing homes while encouraging use of generic drugs. The panel's March report to Congress reiterates calls for reimbursing doctors' visits at the same rate whether they take place in a hospital or a physician's office. MedPAC says Medicare currently pays 80 percent more for the same routine visit if it takes place in a hospital setting, costing the program anywhere from $1 billion to $5 billion over five years

17 Mar 2012

Medicare News and Research

Medicaid expansion rule focuses on enrollment process

HealthGrades identifies America's 50 and 100 Best Hospitals for 2012

Key question for Supreme Court in health law arguments: How far does Congressional power reach?

TriZetto QNXT Essentials solution to streamline administration of Ventura County's HMO

Boston Scientific lauds private insurance reimbursement coverage for bronchial thermoplasty

New health care law helps 5.1M seniors and people with disabilities save $3.2B on prescription drugs

Medicare plan will be central to Ryan GOP budget

Abbott files suit against Watson over generic NIASPAN

Study confirms value of Cambridge Heart's MTWA test for SCA

First Edition: March 19, 2012

AARP announces nationwide launch of You've Earned a Say

GOP plans for Medicare, health reform repeal draw scrutiny

Japan's MHLW provides reimbursement coverage for MTWA test

Feds begin funding cuts to Texas Women's Health Program

Argus to participate in National Council for Prescription Drug Programs focus group

House Republicans slow fight against birth control coverage rule

ApolloMed signs service agreement with Care1st

Tom Hanks and the Hollywood touch draw attention to new Obama campaign video

Only 21 states require public reporting of hospital data on surgical site infections

MedPAC urges repeal of SGR, recommends Medicare payment cuts for hospitals, nursing homes, home health companies

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