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GOP presidential debates touch on various health care issues

News outlets offer analysis and fact-checking after the weekend's two GOP debates. Some coverage looks ahead to South Carolina, and even further into the future.

9 Jan 2012

State governments trying new ways to cope with Medicaid costs

Despite the improving budget news, states still have tough choices to make as they continue struggling to keep up with increased demand for services - particularly for Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program for the poor.

9 Jan 2012

CCPR completes new specialty behavioral health provider network

Comprehensive Care Corporation, which provides behavioral health, substance abuse and at-risk psychotropic pharmacy management services for managed care companies throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, is pleased to announce that CompCare de Puerto Rico (CCPR) has completed its build out of a fully contracted and credentialed specialty behavioral health provider network to better serve its clients and insured Medicare and dual-eligible members across the Island of Puerto Rico.

9 Jan 2012

Romney testy about contraception hypothetical at GOP debate

News outlets covered tonight's debate at St. Anselm College, three days before the New Hampshire primary. In the first of 2 debates over 12 hours, the health law, Medicare or Medicaid were not discussed.

9 Jan 2012

Allsup and PRIUM partner to address pharmacy regimens and costs for MSAs

PRIUM and Allsup Medicare Secondary Payer Compliance Services have joined forces to address pharmacy regimens and costs before submitting Medicare Set-Asides to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

7 Jan 2012

HHS' new rules on electronic payments could benefit doctors, hospitals

NPR reports on how efforts to set uniform standards for electronic claims for health care services could pay off.

7 Jan 2012

RetireSafe calls upon Express Scripts PBM to come to an agreement with Walgreens

RetireSafe, a 400,000-supporter strong grassroots organization that advocates and educates on behalf of America's seniors on issues regarding Social Security, Medicare, health and financial well-being, today urged Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) to return to the negotiating table, and come to an agreement with Walgreens.

7 Jan 2012

Hospital employees report few medical errors, finds HHS study

A new study released today by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that hospital employees are only reporting fourteen percent of all medical errors and usually don't change their practices to prevent future harm to patients.

7 Jan 2012

Novel approach reveals underlying neuroscience of patient decision-making

Mind Field Solutions kicked off the 2012 AHRQ lecture series with what's been described as a "Stunning Innovation in Healthcare" by one of the nation's leading academic clinical centers.

7 Jan 2012

UDW responds to Gov. Brown's budget proposal for In Home Supportive Services

"Gov. Brown, just like his predecessor, continues to try to use the IHSS program as a 'piggy bank' for budget cuts. IHSS cuts were wrong in 2008; they are just as wrong in 2012. His proposal to eliminate domestic and related services for all IHSS consumers who live with someone else (even if those they are living with are NOT their providers) is especially egregious.

7 Jan 2012

CMS allows doctors to drop Medicare participation agreement until Feb. 14

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the unprecedented step of allowing doctors until Feb. 14 to drop their Medicare participation agreement and become a "non-participating" physician. Usually, doctors have to make that change before the end of a calendar year.

7 Jan 2012

CMS selects UofL geriatrician for Innovation Advisors Program

Christian Davis Furman, M.D., M.S.P.H., vice chair for geriatric medicine in the Department of Family and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Louisville, has been selected for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) Innovation Advisors Program. She is the only Kentuckian among the 73 individuals from 27 states and the District of Columbia selected to participate.

7 Jan 2012

Hospice company accused of Medicare fraud

A national for-profit hospice care company that is partially owned by a San Francisco private equity firm has allegedly bilked Medicare of millions of dollars, according to a legal complaint filed this week by the U.S. Department of Justice.

7 Jan 2012

Dems hit GOP lawmakers on efforts to repeal health law, 'privatize' Medicare

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has gone on the offensive, criticizing Republicans for focusing on health issues instead of job creation. In related action, House Democrats signaled they would support using Medicare and Medicaid savings only as an offset for other health care provisions in a bill to extend expiring tax breaks and jobless benefits.

7 Jan 2012

Prospective surveillance model can reduce treatment costs for breast cancer-related lymphedema

Early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer-related lymphedema by a physical therapist can significantly reduce costs and the need for intensive rehabilitation, according to an article published in the January issue of Physical Therapy (PTJ), the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association.

7 Jan 2012

Report: Hospital employees don't recognize, report most errors

Hospital employees recognize and report only one out of seven errors, accidents and other events that harm Medicare patients while they are hospitalized, federal investigators say in a new report.

7 Jan 2012

Physicians Practice announces results of 2011 Fee Schedule Survey

UBM Medica's Physicians Practice today announced the results of the 2011 Fee Schedule Survey. Topline results of the survey show a continuing decline in payment to doctors from insurance companies and Medicare that has been underway for at least a decade.

7 Jan 2012

Analysis and examination: Detailing the records, evolution of GOP presidential primary candidates

Media outlets report on what Rick Santorum did after he left the Senate and what he would have on his to-do list if elected, the continuing "risks" Mitt Romney faces from the left and the right, and on an ethics group that is directing a challenge at Newt Gingrich.

7 Jan 2012

CMS assigns permanent J-code for Savient's KRYSTEXXA to treat RCG

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that a product-specific billing code, or permanent J-code, for KRYSTEXXA (pegloticase) became available on January 1, 2012.

7 Jan 2012

Roundup: Miami police unions thwart health premiums increase; Washington's mandatory-abortion-coverage bill

Despite blunt warnings from Mayor Carlos Gimenez that their decision would force layoffs of hundreds of police and corrections officers, Miami-Dade commissioners Thursday narrowly refused to force two employee unions to contribute an additional 5 percent of their pay toward health insurance. ... The panel also refused to impose the controversial 5-percent giveback on its professionals and supervisor.

6 Jan 2012