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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

First Edition: January 6, 2012

In today's news, reports from the campaign trail and details about how nine states have asked the federal government for more funding to make sure their high-risk pools don't run out of cash before 2014.

6 Jan 2012

Candidates jockey for position, messages in post-Iowa landscape

News outlets report on how GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is being targeted by Republican rivals and the Obama campaign. Meanwhile, Michele Bachmann exits the primary race, and Rick Santorum, fresh from his Iowa caucus finish, draws headlines.

6 Jan 2012

IEHP announces expansion of Health Navigator program to High Desert

Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), the first health plan in the nation to have a full-time in-house team dedicated to helping members navigate the healthcare system, will expand its Health Navigator program to the Inland Empire High Desert in January.

6 Jan 2012

Major health insurers prosper with expanding roles in Medicare, Medicaid

Meanwhile, a California study shows health care costs in that state are rising, while benefits are shrinking. Another study finds that coverage gaps can be disruptive to preventive care.

6 Jan 2012

The 'doc fix' is high on Congressional to-do list

As Congress returns to work, it will face a full plate of difficult items -- including efforts to address the Medicare physician payment formula. Meanwhile, some observers are worried President Obama's recess appointment of Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will lead to trouble for the confirmation of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.

6 Jan 2012

Viewpoints: Protecting home health workers; Minn. plans cuts in health safety net

President Obama is proposing an adjustment to laws governing working conditions for approximately 2 million workers whose job is helping elderly and disabled people with such basic tasks as eating, caring for their wounds and doing physical therapy. Under the Obama proposal, these workers would have to be paid at least a minimum wage and overtime, bringing them under the aegis of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Some Republicans are opposed to the measure, complaining that it will be expensive and may hurt the people it is intended to help.

6 Jan 2012

Lawsuit alleges hospice co. improperly pushed patients through nursing homes; N.Y. prosecutor investigates hospital practices

Kaiser Health News reports that a lawsuit unsealed this week alleges that a national hospice company committed Medicare fraud by improperly cycling patients through nursing homes. In the meantime, a N.Y. prosecutor is investigating a hospital's management practices.

6 Jan 2012

First Edition: January 5, 2012

Today's headlines include a report that health law opponents want to add plaintiffs to their lawsuit as well as dispatches from the GOP primary election compaign trail.

5 Jan 2012

Healthfirst to implement MedAssurant's Star Advantage solution

MedAssurant, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, today announced that Healthfirst, Inc., will implement Star Advantage, MedAssurant's quality outcomes improvement solution that enables health plans to both better understand and meaningfully impact their CMS Five-Star Quality Ratings.

5 Jan 2012

CMS acknowledges clinical improvement linked with use of Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System

Boston Scientific Corporation announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the agency that administers the Medicare program, has acknowledged the substantial clinical improvement associated with the use of the Alair Bronchial Thermoplasty System to perform bronchial thermoplasty for the management of severe asthma.

5 Jan 2012

Romney wins GOP Iowa caucus by eight votes

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney edged out rival Rick Santorum by a margin so slim it is viewed by many as a tie. News outlets review the political dynamics behind the vote tally, and highlight how the outcome reflects the ongoing GOP ideological divide as well as what might happen next.

5 Jan 2012

Congress returns to 'same old health fights' in 2012

Congress starts 2012 facing the same old health policy fights, including the GOP push to pay for a more permanent Medicare "doc fix" with cuts to health law programs or Medicare. Meanwhile, Politico Pro reports on how House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp, R-Mich., has been pivotal in Republican efforts to undermine the health overhaul law.

5 Jan 2012

Hospital stocks fall after analyst prediction of tough times

A new report from Citigroup Global Markets forecasts difficult times ahead for hospitals and other related businesses that rely on government spending.

5 Jan 2012