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MetCare wins South Florida Business Journal Excellence in Health Care Award

Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc., a leading provider of health care services in Florida, today announced that the company was the recipient of the South Florida Business Journal Excellence in Health Care Award presented on October 6th.

10 Oct 2011

Endocrine Society strongly opposes MedPAC's recommendation on SGR

The Endocrine Society, representing more than 14,000 physicians and scientists in the field of endocrinology, strongly opposes the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) recommendation to reduce payments for specialists by 17.7 percent to partially fund the elimination of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

10 Oct 2011

CMS, FDA launch 'parallel review' pilot program for medical devices

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today launched a "parallel review" pilot program for concurrent review of medical devices for FDA approval and Medicare coverage.

10 Oct 2011

MedPAC approves draft proposal to junk Medicare's physician pay formula

The MedPAC plan, which relies on cuts to provider reimbursements to offset its proposal, has drawn opposition from physician groups and other provider organizations, which argue the approach would impact patients' access to care.

7 Oct 2011

Many cancer screenings may be unnecessary

Forty Percent Of Medicare Spending On Common Cancer Screenings Unnecessary, Probe Suggest Cancer screening tests are vastly overused in the United States, with about 40 percent of Medicare spending on common preventive screenings regarded as medically unnecessary, an iWatch News investigation reveals.

7 Oct 2011

Public perceives health law parts better than whole; Obama increasingly critical to measure's future

Some of the law's specific provisions draw stronger support than the entire package, but the real key to the measure's future is increasingly linked to President Barack Obama's polling numbers.

7 Oct 2011

Viewpoints: Defining 'essential benefits;' 'Super committee' special pleadings; Limiting consumer choice in prescriptions

The IOM report acknowledges that "the determination of the (essential health benefits) is a politically and socially charged endeavor."

7 Oct 2011

Research roundup: Health disparities; Prescription drug abuse in Medicare Part D; Medicaid's role for HIV patients

Achieving Equity In Health -- This policy brief examines the outlining factors that cause disparities in the health care system and focuses on the October issue of the journal, which is devoted to research on the subject.

7 Oct 2011

Health interests make cases to super committee

For instance, hospital groups are urging the panel not to reduce bad-debt payments, saying such a step would take a toll on the hospital safety net. Others are asking that entitlements in general and Medicare specifically be protected.

7 Oct 2011

MedPAC plan to revamp Medicare physician pay draws intense opposition

A proposal by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission to revamp the Medicare physician reimbursement system is drawing intense opposition from providers who say commissioners are demanding too much in health industry cuts to pay for the overhaul. Sternly worded letters from the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA), along with physician specialty groups, will be in MedPAC's mailbox when the commission meets Thursday.

7 Oct 2011

HHS inspector to step up anti-fraud and abuse efforts in 2012

One new item on the to-do list will be to review hospitals deemed to be at high risk of submitting improper bills to Medicare. Also, The Fiscal Times details how lab test costs could be squeezing Medicare and Medicaid.

7 Oct 2011

CLASS implementation oversight listed in HHS work plan

But GOP lawmakers are seeking an actuarial report from the Department of Health and Human Services that may offer insights into this controversial long-term care insurance program's fiscal viability.

7 Oct 2011

House lawmaker looks into drug shortages, price markups

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md., the ranking member on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has begun an investigation into 'gray market' drug distributors and how they may be driving up costs and adding to the nation's current shortage of cancer and critical-care products.

7 Oct 2011

On campaign stump, Obama embraces 'Obamacare'

Also on the trail, a conservative group has launched ads aimed at derailing Mitt Romney's run for the GOP presidential nomination. One of their reasons: his record on health reform while governor of Massachusetts. Meanwhile, at a fundraiser, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius charges Republicans with turning back the clock on women's health.

7 Oct 2011

Hints of progress emerge from 'super committee' deliberations

A top GOP House lawmaker hopes the deficit-cutting panel will focus entirely on health care costs to reach the $1.2 trillion savings target. Meanwhile, in the background, the Wall Street Journal reports that nearly half of all U.S. households receive government benefits, with about 34% getting means-tested assistance such as Medicaid.

7 Oct 2011

'Bad' hospitals may treat larger proportion of poor patients, study finds

The nation's worst hospitals treat twice the proportion of elderly black patients and poor patients than the best hospitals, and their patients are more likely to die of heart attacks and pneumonia, new research shows. Now, these hospitals, mostly in the South, may be at higher risk of financial failure, too. That's because the nation's new health care law punishes bad care by withholding some money, says the lead author of the study published Wednesday in the journal Health Affairs.

7 Oct 2011

Roundup: Health alliances formed in Calif., Wash.; Mass. group seeks repeal of mandate there

One of Southern California's largest hospital systems is teaming up with hundreds of doctors in a new alliance designed to better manage patient care, improve medical outcomes and reduce costs. Under the partnership with Providence Health & Services of Southern California, doctors will share and analyze data about diabetes, congestive heart failure and other conditions to identify effective practices and eliminate inefficiencies that drive up expenses.

7 Oct 2011

Viewpoints: Jobs and 'Obamacare;' jurisdictional barriers to health law challenges; reforming provider payment

By most of the usual measures, President Obama has no business being reelected. Here's why he might be anyway. On Wednesday morning, as Senate Democratic leaders were scrambling to find a way to enact part of Obama's jobs bill, a dozen Republican lawmakers assembled outside the Capitol to complain about ... health-care reform.

7 Oct 2011

Blue Shield of California refuses to pay for breast cancer drug Avastin

In a new development, health insurer Blue Shield of California has decided not to pay for Roche Holding's drug Avastin to treat breast cancer after health advisers said it was not safe or clinically beneficial. Blue Shield of California with around 3.3 million members, said in a notice posted on its web site that the drug would no longer be covered as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer beginning October 17. It said exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

4 Oct 2011

Person's insurance status determines nursing home hospitalizations

The decision by nursing homes whether or not to treat an ill resident on-site or send them to a hospital are often linked to that person's insurance status. A new study out this month shows that on average individuals enrolled in Medicaid are 27 percent more likely to be sent to the hospital than individuals with private insurance - decisions that often result in higher costs of care and poor health outcomes.

4 Oct 2011