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Medicaid news: Ariz. appeals court upholds cuts; federal spending increases

In the Arizona decision, a three-judge panel allows an enrollment freeze to continue. Meanwhile, a new analysis finds federal spending on Medicaid nationwide increased 344 percent between 1990 and 2007.

8 Dec 2011

Medicare enrollment deadline extended — for some

Kaiser Health News reports that federal officials are extending this Dec. 7 deadline for at least two days -- but only to those seniors who contact any of several sources of assistance.

8 Dec 2011

Health technology's 'enthusiasm gap'

The Washington Post reports that many of the predictions for health technology's future depend on how willing health care providers are to embrace new technology. Meanwhile, Kaiser Health News reports specifically on the important and evolving role of home care technology and iWatch News offers a status report of how the states are doing.

8 Dec 2011

State roundup: Aetna suing over Mich. BCBS hospital deals; ACLU threatens Ohio abortion suit

The latest challenge was a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Detroit's federal court by insurance giant Aetna, one of the nation's largest health plans, with 35 million members. The suit alleges a violation of federal antitrust laws, claiming the Blues raised rates for Michigan consumers over the last four years and used the money to reward hospitals with higher payments if they charged Blues' competitors the same or higher rates.

8 Dec 2011

Reid threatens session through Christmas to finish business, including payroll tax cut and doc fix

Many insiders expect a final package will emerge that wraps the payroll tax cut extension into a broader bill that also includes other measures, like the Medicare physician payment fix, with end-of-year expiration dates.

8 Dec 2011

Watson introduces Amethia Lo and ethinyl estradiol tablets

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that under a settlement with Teva Women's Health, Watson has launched Amethia Lo (levonorgestrel/ethinyl estradiol (0.1mg/0.02mg) and ethinyl estradiol (0.01mg)) tablets, the generic equivalent of Teva Women's Health, Inc.'s LoSEASONIQUE.

8 Dec 2011

First Edition: December 7, 2011

In the news today, a status check on the work -- including the Medicare doc fix -- that Congress still needs to attend to before leaving Washington for the holidays.

7 Dec 2011

A changing of the guard at CMS

CQ HealthBeat reports on the new head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, while other news outlets report on the outgoing administrator's thoughts on the job and the system.

7 Dec 2011

Study compares two radiation therapy techniques available to women with breast cancer

Accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) brachytherapy, the localized form of radiation therapy growing increasingly popular as a treatment choice for women with early-stage breast cancer, is associated with higher rate of later mastectomy, increased radiation-related toxicities and post-operative complications, compared to traditional whole breast irradiation (WBI), according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

7 Dec 2011

Medicare enrollment deadline is tomorrow

Seniors enrolled in Medicare have until Wednesday to select a medical and prescription-drug plan for 2012. Medicare moved up its enrollment deadline to Wednesday from the traditional Dec. 31 deadline. Consumers who have Medicare and have not selected a plan have until Wednesday to switch plans. Even those who decide to stick with existing plans are encouraged to review their options because plans can change from year to year.

7 Dec 2011

Still on the Capitol Hill to-do list: Payroll tax holiday extension, Medicare doc fix

Reuters terms the tasks as "issues affecting Americans' pocketbook." The outstanding questions include how to pay for the payroll tax break extension - could Medicare offer some ideas? Also, could the doc fix fight spill over into January? One area where there appears to finally be a truce, though, is the fight over Tricare, the health insurance plan for the military. Meanwhile, Politico looks ahead to health policy issues in 2012.

7 Dec 2011

Business of Health: Iowa companies merging, 'rapid' growth for Mass. for-profit chain

In Iowa, two nonprofit nursing services are joining, and in Mass., Steward Health Care System's growth is worrying community hospitals.

7 Dec 2011

Health Alliance, Bayer sign outcomes-based contract to support MS patients

Bayer HealthCare and Health Alliance Medical Plans have entered into an outcomes-based contract for people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) who are taking Betaseron (interferon beta-1b) to reduce the frequency of clinical exacerbations.

7 Dec 2011

USA Today: Health law provision triggered $1.5 billion in prescription drug savings for beneficiaries

USA Today notes that the government is expected to announce today that the health law's Medicare doughnut hole provision triggered this savings. In other Medicare news, the federal government announced Monday that Medicare will allow its claims database to be used by employers, insurance companies and consumer groups.

7 Dec 2011

Roundup: Ariz. examines complaints of prisoners' medical health care; Calif. settles suit on kids' mental health services

To stave off a lawsuit, Arizona's Department of Corrections has agreed to investigate scores of complaints by inmates that they are routinely denied medical care for weeks or months even for severe, life-threatening conditions. Inmates who have lost sight, had body parts amputated or been severely disfigured, among other gruesome examples, say proper medical care could have prevented needless suffering.

6 Dec 2011

First Edition: December 6, 2011

In today's headlines, a story detailing how the health law is helping Medicare beneficiaries save money on their prescription drug costs.

6 Dec 2011

Medicare tightening payments for 'big ticket' cardiology and orthopedic procedures in 11 states

In an effort to rein in costs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will in 2012 perform an audit before paying for certain cardiology and orthopedic procedures in key states, including Florida.

6 Dec 2011

Roundup: Calif. to drop hospital report cards; Getting a doctor in N.Y. may depend on your neighborhood

The project was considered a pioneering effort when it started in 2004, but Jan Emerson-Shea, a spokesperson for the California Hospital Association, says the report cards have outlived their usefulness. "Today there are numerous places consumers can get information on the quality of care delivered by hospitals," Emerson-Shea says.

6 Dec 2011

Viewpoints: Premium support disadvantages; GOP candidates & the individual mandate; Stop fight over high court recusals?

Republican politicians are touting the virtues of market competition and calling for a "premium support" plan that would give beneficiaries a set amount of money to shop among private plans for their own insurance. What they do not say is that private plans have long been more costly than traditional Medicare and have shown far less ability to slow spending.

5 Dec 2011

Premier healthcare alliance awards new agreement for specialty distribution-research

The Premier healthcare alliance today announced a new agreement for specialty distribution-research has been awarded to VWR International, LLC, a global laboratory supply and distribution company with worldwide sales in excess of $3.6 billion in 2010.

5 Dec 2011

Medicare News and Research

Medicaid news: Ariz. appeals court upholds cuts; federal spending increases

Medicare enrollment deadline extended — for some

Health technology's 'enthusiasm gap'

State roundup: Aetna suing over Mich. BCBS hospital deals; ACLU threatens Ohio abortion suit

Reid threatens session through Christmas to finish business, including payroll tax cut and doc fix

Watson introduces Amethia Lo and ethinyl estradiol tablets

First Edition: December 7, 2011

A changing of the guard at CMS

Study compares two radiation therapy techniques available to women with breast cancer

Medicare enrollment deadline is tomorrow

Still on the Capitol Hill to-do list: Payroll tax holiday extension, Medicare doc fix

Business of Health: Iowa companies merging, 'rapid' growth for Mass. for-profit chain

Health Alliance, Bayer sign outcomes-based contract to support MS patients

USA Today: Health law provision triggered $1.5 billion in prescription drug savings for beneficiaries

Roundup: Ariz. examines complaints of prisoners' medical health care; Calif. settles suit on kids' mental health services

First Edition: December 6, 2011

Medicare tightening payments for 'big ticket' cardiology and orthopedic procedures in 11 states

Roundup: Calif. to drop hospital report cards; Getting a doctor in N.Y. may depend on your neighborhood

Viewpoints: Premium support disadvantages; GOP candidates & the individual mandate; Stop fight over high court recusals?

Premier healthcare alliance awards new agreement for specialty distribution-research

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Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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