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Viewpoints: Hospitals helped by Medicaid expansion; why GOP candidates back OTC contraceptives

Now the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a report showing that ... thanks to the Affordable Care Act, hospitals across the country will save $5.7 billion in uncompensated care costs in 2014.

29 Sep 2014

Viewpoints: 'Feud' over health care compact; humane end-of-life care

Never has an issue of The Best Times, Johnson County's monthly magazine for seniors, been so eagerly awaited. I know I've been on the edge of my seat. At first the draw was to read the article that had gotten some Kansas legislators so worked up that 11 of them stormed en masse into a meeting to berate the volunteer members of the Johnson County Commission on Aging for writing it.

27 Sep 2014

Medicaid expansion concept gains momentum in some initially reluctant states

Reuters reports that this development has to do with financial pragmatism -- especially in GOP-led states that were at the forefront of opposition to the health law. The Associated Press provides a status check on Indiana's expansion request.

27 Sep 2014

Caring Brands International acquires Australia-based Just Better Care

Caring Brands International, which includes Interim HealthCare Inc., a national network of home care, hospice and health staffing franchises founded in 1966 and known for its continuum of care in the United States, today expands its global operations with the acquisition of Australia-based Just Better Care.

25 Sep 2014

West Virginia home health community takes part in Save Home Health rally

Representatives of the West Virginia home health community – including Parkersburg area clinicians, family members and advocates as well as national leaders – today took part in a Save Home Health rally to commend special guest Congressman David McKinley (WV-1) and speak out against unprecedented Medicare cuts of 14 percent to home health services that went into effect on January 1 as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

24 Sep 2014

New report shows lifestyle changes, new technology make people stay healthy in old age

If we embrace lifestyle changes and new technology, we improve our prospects of staying healthy in old age, getting good care and reducing our dependence on others. This is the message of a new report summarising the conclusions from the Uppsala Health Summit in June.

24 Sep 2014

Research roundup: Home health nurses' workloads; readmissions at the VA; SHOP choices

In anticipation of next year's premium announcements and given some information already made public, concerns have surfaced about the potential for double-digit percent increases in nongroup and small-group health insurance premiums. This analysis shows that, although average annual increases in small-group premiums over the past 13 years averaged roughly 5.5 percent, double-digit average premium increases are common for states and large metropolitan areas.

22 Sep 2014

Wis. says it needs $760M for Medicaid over next two years

The state was already projected to have a budget gap of $1.8 billion. Elsewhere, North Carolina plans a Medicaid reorganization.

18 Sep 2014

Home health care nursing lowers hospitalizations and transfers to nursing homes

In the largest study of its kind, a University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing investigation shows that home health agencies providing organizational support to their nurses get better outcomes.

17 Sep 2014

State highlights: States want home care worker wage changes delayed; Ga. delays nursing home rate hike

State officials that argued against providing overtime and minimum wage protections to the nation's 2 million home care workers are asking the Department of Labor to push back a Jan. 1 start date for the policy to take effect. State Medicaid officials concerned that their costs will rise are asking for a delay and tweaks to the policy, even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the rule a year ago.

15 Sep 2014

Non-invasive delivery of drugs for effective pain relief

Individuals who are squeamish about injections or are looking for a way to let collagen penetrate deeper into the skin may soon have a solution that is faster, more effective and painless.

8 Sep 2014

Loyola University Medical Center redesignated as Level III Perinatal Center

Loyola University Medical Center has been redesignated as a Level III Perinatal Center by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

28 Aug 2014

Minn. home health care workers vote to unionize

The Service Employees International Union will represent about 27,000 home health care workers -- many of whom care for relatives -- who are paid through Medicaid.

28 Aug 2014

First Edition: August 27, 2014

Today's headlines include reports about Kevin Counihan, the person who take on the challenge of running healthcare.gov.

27 Aug 2014

All Heart Homecare offers professional help to patients with diabetes

All Heart Homecare, a trusted Brooklyn home health care agency, is spotlighting the agency's diabetic coaching services for patients struggling with the daily monitoring and management of diabetes. Poor monitoring and maintenance of diabetes can be a fatal mistake and All Heart Homecare's staff urges all patients to learn the basics and ask for professional help when needed.

26 Aug 2014

Americana announces strategic partnership with COMS Interactive

Americana Corporation is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with COMS Interactive, LLC (Clinical Outcomes Management Systems or COMS). The partnership supports an interface between Americana Corporation's AmeraCare products/services and the COMS Daylight IQ™ disease management software.

26 Aug 2014

CARE Oklahoma partners with COMS Interactive

The Coalition of Advocates for Responsible Eldercare (CARE Oklahoma) has announced their newest CARE Partnership with COMS Interactive, LLC (also known as Clinical Outcomes Management Systems or COMS).

22 Aug 2014

State highlights: Audit says $93M in Medi-Cal payments could be fraudulent; Mass. insurers press on Medicaid pay

A selection of health policy stories from the District of Columbia, California, Massachusetts and Minnesota. The audit released Tuesday reviewed billing data from July 2008 to December 2013 for Medi-Cal's Drug Treatment program, which reimburses rehabilitation clinics.

21 Aug 2014

State highlights: Fed. judge in Ore. rules health plan wrongly denied autism coverage; new rules could disrupt care for disabled Kansans

In a potentially far-reaching opinion, a federal judge in Portland has ruled that Providence Health Plan wrongfully denied insurance coverage for groundbreaking autism therapy for two Portland boys.

14 Aug 2014

Almost Family records net service revenues of $125 million for Q2 2014

Almost Family, Inc., a leading regional provider of home health nursing and personal care services, announced today its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.

6 Aug 2014