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$25 million grant announced to improve states' care for frail elderly; Calif. seeks changes for those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid

Stateline reports on a new HHS grant to help low-income adults with mental and physical disabilities remain in their communities. Meanwhile, California submits a plan to federal officials for the transition of dual eligibles to managed care.

5 Jun 2012

Research roundup: Changing unhealthy diets with mobile tech; ACOs for Medicaid

Multiple Behavior Changes In Diet And Activity -- Mobile technologies have been touted for their potential benefits to health and wellness. Researchers in this study gave 204 individuals a dieting and exercise regimen. They also gave each person a handheld device to record adherence and receive remote coaching.

2 Jun 2012

State roundup: Federal judge rejects Calif. request to end oversight of prison health care; States push prescription drug databases; Medicare drug benefit at issue in Utah Senate race

A federal judge rejected a request by California prison officials Wednesday to regain control of inmate health care, which has been under court-supervised receivership for six years, and said the state must first show it can provide adequate medical treatment. ... The current receiver, Clark Kelso, has reported improvements in the prisons' medical staff and facilities, and said a "turnaround plan" he proposed for the system in 2008 is about 80 percent complete.

1 Jun 2012

State roundup: Minn. defends Medicaid billing; Cigna, N.H. Group form joint venture; Health coupons in Mass.

Top Minnesota health officials pushed back Tuesday against a congressional committee probing allegations that the state overbilled federal taxpayers for Medicaid services to cover losses from in other state-run public health programs. In a letter to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Minnesota Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson defended reforms implemented under DFL Gov. Mark Dayton, saying "our focus has been on changing course rather than investigating the past."

31 May 2012

Specialty doctor groups ask feds to delay managed care move for dual eligibles

Several organizations have asked the federal government to slow down implementation of a health law provision that would move people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid into managed care.

30 May 2012

State roundup: The effects of proposed Calif. budget cuts; Fewer free vaccinations in Texas

Low-income children in rural California communities are in jeopardy of losing their doctors and health care plans under Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal, state lawmakers, doctors and health advocates say. The governor is proposing to transfer nearly 900,000 children enrolled in Healthy Families, the state's Children's Health Insurance Program, to Medi-Cal – a program aimed at serving the state's poorest families, seniors and disabled residents.

30 May 2012

Halo Healthcare acquires assets of NeoMatrix

Halo Healthcare, Inc. announces it has acquired the assets of NeoMatrix, LLC and has restructured the Company, including engaging a new CEO and management team, appointing a new Board of Directors, and relaunching the HALO diagnostic device for breast cancer risk assessment.

24 May 2012

Congress weighs change in survey for Medicaid payments; Expansion of Colo. program slower than expected

Also in state Medicaid news is a report on a proposal to cut Illinois' costs and the controversy over funding in Minnesota's program.

23 May 2012

State budgets aim at health programs, Medicaid to bridge shortfalls

Medicaid and other health program cuts are on the minds of state lawmakers around the nation. In Maine, the governor signed Medicaid cuts into law Wednesday, and California and Kansas are weighing similar cuts as they struggle to balance their budgets.

18 May 2012

Calif. Gov. Brown's revised budget includes substantial Medi-Cal cuts

The ballooning budget deficit in California might mean hospitals and nursing homes will get less state money.

16 May 2012

Reducing off-label antipsychotic use may generate savings with little impact on patient care

Reducing the non-FDA-approved use of antipsychotic drugs may be a way to save money while having little effect on patient care, according to a Penn State College of Medicine study.

16 May 2012

Governors seek allies for Medicaid, health program budget cuts, changes

In response to struggling state budgets, governors in California, Illinois, Kansas and Louisiana are looking for allies to support cuts and changes to their Medicaid and other health care programs.

15 May 2012

Cigna to increase supplemental health insurance offerings with acquisition

Cigna plans to acquire a supplemental health insurance unit from American Financial Group for $295 million to increase its Medicare and other supplemental insurance offerings.

11 May 2012

HHS announces big pay boost for some Medicaid docs

HHS says the increase, required by the health law, would raise primary care doctors' payments for treating Medicare patients, on average, 34 percent.

11 May 2012

Iowa legislature approves revamping state mental health system; Texas officials spotlight gaps

The Iowa plan had been held up by funding concerns. In other news on mental health issues, North Carolina is also weighing major changes in its system.

11 May 2012

DOJ probes fraud allegations at Dallas' Parkland hospital; Texas group calls Medicaid 'indispensable'

In other Medicaid news, Florida officials are trying to change the "Medically Needy" program and the Connecticut House passes a budget that would cut $50 million from Medicaid programs.

10 May 2012

BioScrip first quarter revenue increases 19.0% to $24.8M

BioScrip, Inc. today announced 2012 first quarter financial results. First quarter revenue was $155.6 million and net loss was $2.7 million, or $0.05 per share. Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $8.4 million.

9 May 2012

State governments wrestle with Medicaid expenses, lawsuits

Officials reckon with health care costs in the context of budget dilemmas in Illinois, Kentucky, Connecticut, Alabama and Wisconsin.

4 May 2012

State roundup: Pittsburgh insurer, hospital extend contract despite ongoing fight

A restaurant workers' group and a Los Angeles community clinic have launched a unique cooperative to provide health coverage to a group of people excluded from federal health care reform -- illegal immigrants. The pilot program, believed to be the first of its kind in the nation, offers preventive and primary care to low-wage, uninsured workers in the restaurant industry. Legal immigrants and other restaurant workers who don't meet the criteria or cannot afford coverage under the health care law are also eligible.

4 May 2012

First Edition: May 3, 2012

Today's headlines include a report exploring how the Medicare payment system could suffer unintended consequences if the Supreme Court overturns the health law.

3 May 2012

Managed Care News and Research

$25 million grant announced to improve states' care for frail elderly; Calif. seeks changes for those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid

Research roundup: Changing unhealthy diets with mobile tech; ACOs for Medicaid

State roundup: Federal judge rejects Calif. request to end oversight of prison health care; States push prescription drug databases; Medicare drug benefit at issue in Utah Senate race

State roundup: Minn. defends Medicaid billing; Cigna, N.H. Group form joint venture; Health coupons in Mass.

Specialty doctor groups ask feds to delay managed care move for dual eligibles

State roundup: The effects of proposed Calif. budget cuts; Fewer free vaccinations in Texas

Halo Healthcare acquires assets of NeoMatrix

Congress weighs change in survey for Medicaid payments; Expansion of Colo. program slower than expected

State budgets aim at health programs, Medicaid to bridge shortfalls

Calif. Gov. Brown's revised budget includes substantial Medi-Cal cuts

Reducing off-label antipsychotic use may generate savings with little impact on patient care

Governors seek allies for Medicaid, health program budget cuts, changes

Cigna to increase supplemental health insurance offerings with acquisition

HHS announces big pay boost for some Medicaid docs

Iowa legislature approves revamping state mental health system; Texas officials spotlight gaps

DOJ probes fraud allegations at Dallas' Parkland hospital; Texas group calls Medicaid 'indispensable'

BioScrip first quarter revenue increases 19.0% to $24.8M

State governments wrestle with Medicaid expenses, lawsuits

State roundup: Pittsburgh insurer, hospital extend contract despite ongoing fight

First Edition: May 3, 2012

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