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'Super committee' leaders say progress is happening

The super committee might not have a staff director, rules in place, or a room to meet in, but leaders of the powerful budget-slashing panel insisted Wednesday that progress is being made. Co-chairs Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Jeb Hensarling said in a joint-statement that they're engaged in "serious discussions" on the details.

26 Aug 2011

Longer looks: Who is influencing health care?; Planned Parenthood's battle in the states; Oregon's new experiment

Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh once vowed to flee to Costa Rica if President Barack Obama's health care reforms took effect. Limbaugh might have overlooked a couple of critical details: Costa Rica's respected universal healthcare system is highly socialized. It's also on the verge of going broke. ... Costa Rica's broad coverage ranked better than most of the Americas, including the United States, in a 2000 World Health Organization index.

26 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Advice for the super committee and pundits; Calif. health insurance regulation; NEJM on episodic payment

As a member of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Debt Reduction Task Force, I supported gradually raising the Medicare eligibility age. I think it's a good idea now even though it wouldn't have been a couple of years ago. The bottom line is that raising the Medicare retirement age primarily affects higher income older people, who are more likely to be able to keep working and can afford the premiums even if they don't.

26 Aug 2011

Roundup: Federal appeals court says Ariz. Medicaid co-pays violate law; Mich. court rules against medicinal marijuana policies

A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that mandatory copayments charged to Arizona's poorest residents violate federal law. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said federal health officials failed to show how the copays, imposed in November after a seven-year court battle, served any purpose besides cutting the state's Medicaid budget.

26 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 25, 2011

In today's headlines, reports about a new Congressional Budget Office report and the usually unlikely assumptions it makes -- including the end of Medicare physician payment fixes.

25 Aug 2011

Medicare tests bundled payment structure in hopes of saving money

Ultimately, Medicare officials hope that bundling payments to hospitals, doctors and even post-hospital caregivers will lead to increases in cost-effective care.

25 Aug 2011

NNU Director named one of the '100 Most Influential People in Healthcare'

For the tenth straight year, National Nurses United Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro has won national recognition from a major healthcare industry publication as one of the "100 Most Influential People in Healthcare" which was announced this week.

25 Aug 2011

Insurer continues challenge to its exclusion from La. Medicaid program

A major insurance firm is continuing to protest its exclusion from the state's planned $2.2 billion privatization of coverage for more than 800,000 of the state 1.2 million Medicaid enrollees.

25 Aug 2011

Medicare may begin covering STD screenings for beneficiaries

Medicare may soon be paying for sexually transmitted disease screening for the elderly. Though the final decision won't be made until November, the federal health care agency that covers about 40 million seniors will announce a draft recommendation Wednesday.

25 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Perry's health record, Medicare spending slows, postal service's health plan controversy

And now for some good news: Medicare spending growth has been slowing noticeably. ... some evidence suggests it may be a shift toward value in the health-care sector. Various hospital executives have told me they have already begun to prepare for less generous reimbursement from Medicare as the new federal health-care-reform law takes effect.

25 Aug 2011

Constituents try to connect with deficit panel members over possible spending cuts

With the work of the 'super committee' picking up steam, news outlets report on how, while back in their districts for the August recess, some of the panelists are hearing concerns about Medicare and other entitlement programs. Meanwhile, former GOP Senator John Danforth recollects his first-hand experiences with the politics of deficit-cutting commissions.

24 Aug 2011

CVS Caremark board approves new share repurchase program

CVS Caremark Corporation today announced that its board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program for up to $4.0 billion of the company's outstanding common stock.

24 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 24, 2011

In today's headlines, Medicare tries bundled payments and HHS signals that it may give states a second chance to avoid a federally-run health insurance exchange.

24 Aug 2011

Rick Perry's views on Medicare, other health policy issues draw scrutiny

The GOP presidential hopeful's views on key issues have triggered examination by news outlets. Meanwhile, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., who proposed sweeping changes to the Medicare program, has opted not to join the presidential primary contest.

24 Aug 2011

Hospitals gain speed in heart attack care

According to a new study published in the journal Circulation, more heart attack patients are now getting care within the recommended time frame than were five years ago.

24 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Rational, not rationing, Medicare cuts; Paul Ryan's future; hospitals' clout

Congress needs to make sure that lobbying - and every dollar of campaign contributions to the super committee's members - is fully and immediately disclosed. ... The American Hospital Association has vowed a "full-court press" on the committee, as have defense industries and others.

24 Aug 2011

Faster angioplasty for most heart attack victims: Study

According to a new study more than 90% of patients who have a heart attack and need an emergency treatment like angioplasty now have it within the recommended 90 minutes after they get to the hospital.

23 Aug 2011

HealthAmerica expands social media platform through relationship with CaféWell

HealthAmerica announced today the expansion of its social networking community devoted solely to the health and well-being of its members through a relationship with CaféWell.

23 Aug 2011

Seton Healthcare Family receives $18,000 check from CMS for Stage 1 meaningful use

eClinicalWorks, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that providers associated with Austin, Texas, Seton Healthcare Family have each received an $18,000 check from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) after successfully attesting for meaningful use, the maximum amount allowed for 2011.

23 Aug 2011

CVS Caremark announces results of Consent Solicitation from registered holders

CVS Caremark Corporation announced today the results of its previously announced solicitation of consents from the registered holders as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time on August 8, 2011 of its 6.125% Senior Notes due August 15, 2016 to terminate the replacement capital covenant, which was entered into on May 25, 2007, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes in connection with the issuance of its 6.302% Enhanced Capital Advantaged Preferred Securities due 2062.

23 Aug 2011

Medicare News and Research

'Super committee' leaders say progress is happening

Longer looks: Who is influencing health care?; Planned Parenthood's battle in the states; Oregon's new experiment

Viewpoints: Advice for the super committee and pundits; Calif. health insurance regulation; NEJM on episodic payment

Roundup: Federal appeals court says Ariz. Medicaid co-pays violate law; Mich. court rules against medicinal marijuana policies

First Edition: August 25, 2011

Medicare tests bundled payment structure in hopes of saving money

NNU Director named one of the '100 Most Influential People in Healthcare'

Insurer continues challenge to its exclusion from La. Medicaid program

Medicare may begin covering STD screenings for beneficiaries

Viewpoints: Perry's health record, Medicare spending slows, postal service's health plan controversy

Constituents try to connect with deficit panel members over possible spending cuts

CVS Caremark board approves new share repurchase program

First Edition: August 24, 2011

Rick Perry's views on Medicare, other health policy issues draw scrutiny

Hospitals gain speed in heart attack care

Viewpoints: Rational, not rationing, Medicare cuts; Paul Ryan's future; hospitals' clout

Faster angioplasty for most heart attack victims: Study

HealthAmerica expands social media platform through relationship with CaféWell

Seton Healthcare Family receives $18,000 check from CMS for Stage 1 meaningful use

CVS Caremark announces results of Consent Solicitation from registered holders

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