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CMS urged to limit definition of research for reporting under Physician Payment Sunshine Act

Expressing concerns that many physicians will be discouraged from conducting medical research because of cumbersome reporting requirements and potential mischaracterizations of their income, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adopt a limited definition of research for purposes of reporting under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act.

18 Feb 2012

PCMA launches That's What PBMs Do campaign in Maryland

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new ad campaign in Maryland that highlights the core value proposition of pharmacy benefit managers.

18 Feb 2012

AUA: SGR is a fatally flawed payment system and a tremendous burden to physicians

In response to today's vote by Congress to legislation that provides a 10-month delay to Medicare physician reimbursement cuts, freezing current rates and averting a 27.4 percent cut, the American Urological Association (AUA) issued the following statement.

18 Feb 2012

Viewpoints: The constitution and birth control; War on Wyden

Give him points for cleverness. President Obama's birth control "accommodation" was as politically successful as it was morally meaningless. It was nothing but an accounting trick that still forces Catholic (and other religious) institutions to provide medical insurance that guarantees free birth control, tubal ligation and morning-after abortifacients - all of which violate church doctrine on the sanctity of life.

18 Feb 2012

Certain segments of hospitals show increased capability to achieve Stage 1 of meaningful use

New HIMSS Analytics data, reported in the December 2011 Summary of Meaningful Use Readiness, indicates certain segments of hospitals show increased capability to achieve Stage 1 of meaningful use. These hospital segments include:

18 Feb 2012

RelayHealth, CommunityHealth IT collaborate to develop a HIE

After three years of preparing small practices and safety net hospitals in rural Florida to participate in a regional health information exchange (HIE), the not-for-profit CommunityHealth IT has partnered with RelayHealth to enable the transfer of health information among providers and to empower patients and businesses with patient engagement tools.

18 Feb 2012

GOP lawmakers defend proposed overhaul of Medicare

Sens. Richard Burr and Tom Coburn are proposing a plan to raise Medicare's eligibility age and premiums and require the program to compete with private insurers. Rep. Paul Ryan, in the meantime, is "excited" to defend his own plan.

18 Feb 2012

Administration touts health care tax credits for small businesses

White House officials on Thursday highlighted a budget proposal to spend $14 billion over a decade to expand a health care tax credit for small businesses, a move they say would benefit about 4 million workers this year.

18 Feb 2012

Ventas 2011 normalized FFO increases 71.1% to $777.0 million

Ventas, Inc. said today that normalized Funds From Operations for the year ended December 31, 2011 increased approximately 71.1 percent to $777.0 million, from $454.0 million for the comparable 2010 period.

18 Feb 2012

Votes expected today on 'doc fix' compromise bill

The legislation, which also extends a payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits, is a rare sign of bipartisanship within the 112th Congress, though not everyone is happy with the deal.

18 Feb 2012

Research roundup: Patient satisfaction, community health centers as medical homes, analyzing controversial Medicare coverage

Every week, KHN reporter Shefali S. Kulkarni compiles a selection of recently-released health policy studies and briefs.

18 Feb 2012

LifePoint Hospitals fourth quarter revenues increase 6.6% to $781.3M

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. today announced results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011.

18 Feb 2012

HMS fourth quarter revenue increases 14.3% to $99.7 million

HMS Holdings Corp. today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011.

17 Feb 2012

Another short-term 'patch' to Medicare physician payment crisis disappoints

Our organizations, representing nearly 400,000 physicians and medical student members, are deeply disappointed by the agreement in Congress to enact another short-term "patch" that neither solves, nor moves us closer to solving, the Medicare physician payment crisis.

17 Feb 2012

Congressional negotiators announce 'doc fix,' payroll tax cut deal

Some Democrats fretted over cuts to the health care law to help pay for the package; physician groups were disappointed it did not replace Medicare's sustainable growth rate formula.

17 Feb 2012

First Edition: February 17, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations include reports about the latest debate on the Obama administration's regulation to mandate free birth control for women.

17 Feb 2012

Amerigroup reports net income of $32.8M for fourth quarter 2011

Amerigroup Corporation today announced that net income for the fourth quarter of 2011 was $32.8 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, versus $48.1 million, or $0.96 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2011.

17 Feb 2012

Congress to vote on 10-month 'doc fix,' payroll tax deal

News outlets report that the legislation would include delaying the cut in Medicare payments to physicians.

17 Feb 2012

Two GOP Senators propose Medicare overhaul plan

Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Richard Burr of North Carolina call for a "grown-up" conversation about the changes needed to preserve Medicare for future generations.

17 Feb 2012

Longer looks: GOP contraceptive amendment could have wider effect; The love of caregiving

In their latest move in the battle over contraception coverage, top Republicans in Congress are going for broke: They're now pushing a bill that would allow employers and insurance companies to pick and choose which health benefits to provide based simply on executives' personal moral beliefs. ... Last week, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) offered a "conscience amendment," to the law, pitching it as a way to allay religious employers' qualms about providing birth control to their employees.

17 Feb 2012