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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.

Viewpoints: GOP dragging heels on payroll tax, doc fix plan; Opinions still heated on contraception rule

Republicans in Congress seem to have forgotten the embarrassment they suffered late last year for trying to block a payroll tax cut for millions of wage-earners.

7 Feb 2012

NQF endorses two surgical outcomes-based measures from ACS NSQIP

Two outcomes-based measures from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) were recently endorsed by the National Quality Forum.

7 Feb 2012

BD first quarter revenues increase 2.5% to $1.888 billion

BD, a leading global medical technology company, today reported quarterly revenues of $1.888 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2011, representing an increase of 2.5 percent from the prior-year period, or 2.4 percent on a foreign currency-neutral basis.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 7 Feb 2012

State roundup: Legislatures, govs juggling costs and health programs

Medicaid spending is a matter of urgency almost everywhere in the country right now, but in few places is the urgency as palpable as it is here, where the governor refers to the federal-state health insurance program for the poor as "welfare," says it's necessary to eliminate coverage for 65,000 adults, and wants to stop paying room and board for some 2,000 elders who live in group homes. All these ideas are part of Republican Governor Paul LePage's plan to close a $220 million hole in the state's biennial Medicaid budget.

7 Feb 2012

GOP candidates: Santorum backs 'discredited' stroke claim, he and Gingrich continue attacks on 'Romneycare'

As the GOP presidential hopefuls continue sparring on the campaign trail, The Associated Press takes a look at the "influence game" and tracks how big donors pursue their policy desires. Meanwhile, House Democrats are betting that Medicare will be the issue that wins them control of their chamber.

7 Feb 2012

MedTech Media to launch online publication for small and medium sized physician group practices

MedTech Media, publisher of the award-winning brands Healthcare IT News and Healthcare Finance News, announced today that it will launch PhysBizTech, a multi-platform, online publication for small and medium sized physician group practices on February 6, 2012.

6 Feb 2012

HCA fourth quarter revenues increase 8.5% to $7.769 billion

HCA Holdings, Inc. today announced financial and operating results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. HCA also today announced that its Board of Directors approved a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share to be paid to shareholders of record as of February 16, 2012 with a payment date of February 29, 2012.

6 Feb 2012

Sharp rise in incidence of children hospitalizations due to physical abuse

In one year alone, over 4,500 children in the United States were hospitalized due to child abuse, and 300 of them died of their injuries, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a new study. The findings are published in the March 2012 issue of Pediatrics.

6 Feb 2012

State developments: Florida hospitals dodge budget bullet

Spending cuts to health programs will be less than half as much as forecast in the Senate budget, that chamber's health-spending chief announced today. Now, the Senate Subcommittee on Health and Human Services Appropriations will have to cut only $390 million from current spending levels, rather than the more-draconian $850 million that had originally been assigned, said Sen. Joe Negron, chair of the panel.

6 Feb 2012

Research roundup: Safety-net hospitals stack up well against others

This study compares ER performance at safety-net hospitals (those with a disproportionate share of Medicaid and uninsured patients) to non-safety net hospitals to see if proposed pay-for-performance measures could have a negative impact.

6 Feb 2012

Medicaid news: Kansas insurer says 'no' to Medicaid

The state of Kansas' largest insurance company has decided it doesn't want to participate in Gov. Sam Brownback's plan to move Medicaid patients into privatized managed-care programs. In a letter addressed "Dear provider," Angie Strecker, director of institutional relations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, said the insurer "has decided not to submit a proposal to the state to be a Medicaid contractor."

6 Feb 2012

States, localities seek ways to trim health care costs for employees, retirees

Officials in Providence, R.I., and Iowa propose changes in health benefits. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he'll use health care reserve fund dollars to make up a shortfall.

6 Feb 2012

Viewpoints: Komen takes a lashing; Is the safety net really intact?; Romney assails HHS' rule on contraception

With its roster of corporate sponsors and the pink ribbons that lend a halo to almost any kind of product you can think of, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation has a longstanding reputation as a staunch protector of women's health. That reputation suffered a grievous, perhaps mortal, wound this week from the news that Komen, the world's largest breast cancer organization, decided to betray that mission.

5 Feb 2012

Health policy positions offered by Romney, Santorum and Paul draw attention

In the midst of the GOP presidential primaries, Mitt Romney's comments about the safety net trigger strong reactions, while Rick Santorum delivers a speech in Colorado on health policy themes, and The Washington Post fact checks Ron Paul's comments about life before Medicare and Medicaid.

3 Feb 2012

QR-code real-time care experience feedback technology wins 2012 REACH Developer Challenge

"Real-Time Care Experience Feedback Using QR Codes," a Penn State project that allows hospital patients to inform hospital personnel of their experiences -- good or bad -- in real time, is the winner of the 2012 REACH Developer Challenge, sponsored by AcademyHealth and part of the Health 2.0 Developer Challenge.

3 Feb 2012

The health law implementation challenges states face

States' ability to implement the major changes that take effect in 2014 are tied to the decisions they face now. Meanwhile, governors' "state of the state" speeches reflect an overall cautious mood.

3 Feb 2012

Medicaid managed care takes hold in Louisiana; Florida report notes problems in longer waits for long-term care help

The first-stage of Gov. Jindal's Medicaid restructing begins today. In Florida, the legislative report casts doubt on some efforts there to revamp the system. Meanwhile, Illinois' governor is urging changes to Medicaid to help fix the state's budget.

3 Feb 2012

Uproar follows Komen-Planned Parenthood rift

Anti-abortion activists applaud the move, but many other women's health advocates are angered the well-known breast cancer advocacy group has opted against helping another prominent women's health organization.

3 Feb 2012

CBO: Federal health spending to double over the next decade

In its budget and economic outlook, the Congressional Budget Office projects an 8 percent annual increase in health spending between 2012 and 2022, mainly because of an aging U.S. population and rising treatment costs. The analysis includes a bigger pricetag for a permanent fix to the Medicare physician payment formula.

2 Feb 2012

Nursing homes, hospitals warn against reimbursement cuts

As the House and Senate conferees continue to hold meetings to reach an agreement to extend the payroll tax break and the Medicare "doc fix," health care interests are offering input into the process and making pleas to ward off what they say would be deep and damaging spending reductions.

2 Feb 2012