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Majority of middle-income Americans are extremely satisfied with Medicare

A vast majority (82 percent) of our nation's middle-income Americans on Medicare say that they are extremely or very satisfied with Medicare's access and quality of healthcare, according to a new study conducted by the Bankers Life and Casualty Company Center for a Secure Retirement.

10 Jan 2012

EHR adoption may efficiently improve nursing care, patient safety

With the prodding of new federal legislation, electronic health records (EHRs) are rapidly becoming part of the daily practice of hospital nurses - the frontline providers of care. In the first large study of its kind, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing determined that nurses working with EHRs consistently reported more improvements to nursing care and better health outcomes for patients than nurses working in hospitals without this technology.

10 Jan 2012

CMS increases NLA for T-SPOT.TB test's CPT code 86481

Oxford Immunotec, Inc. announces that, following a reconsideration request made by the company, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has increased the national limitation amount (NLA) for the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 86481 which is used for the T-SPOT.TB test.

10 Jan 2012

Calif. discloses hospital infection rates; Kansas City health center gets facelift

The California Department of Public Health has issued an annual report which for the first time allows residents to compare patient infection rates at hospitals across the state. The state released the infection data for 2009 and 2010 on Friday. Hospitals had sued the state to limit surgical infection reporting but the court ruled against the hospitals and required disclosures for 29 different surgical procedures.

10 Jan 2012

Health law implementation: What's ahead in 2012?

Fox Business reports on what it sees as the five major health law elements in the pipeline this year. Meanwhile, other coverage focuses on the final round of health plan waivers issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, more about accountable care organizations, explanations of why private exchanges might catch on and details of the health law's contraception policies.

10 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Santorum's record on health care; Forcing care on the mentally ill

In Iowa, the Republican presidential contenders tried to outdo one another in attacking reproductive rights as they sought the support of caucusgoers from the religious right. In New Hampshire, where voters are less socially conservative, the candidates have focused more on economic issues.

10 Jan 2012

JHM, Healthways partner for innovative weight-loss program

Building on the success of recent Hopkins research showing obese participants were able to lose significant weight and keep it off for two years using telephone coaching and a specially designed website, Johns Hopkins Medicine is collaborating with Healthways to help bring the innovative weight-loss program to many more who could benefit from it.

9 Jan 2012

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