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Medicaid is the United States health program for eligible individuals and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the states.

Viewpoints: Will Gang of Six compromise work?; endorsing birth control recommendations; Minn. budget deal

Not surprisingly, the plan has drawn complaints from the left about cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and from the right about defense cuts and tax increases. But the senators are right about the need to simplify and broaden the tax code and to put entitlements on a sustainable footing without slashing aid to the most vulnerable.

22 Jul 2011

Sound Physicians offers Value-Based Purchasing Performance Assessment Tool to hospitals at no cost

Sound Physicians, a leading hospitalist organization focused on measurably improving the quality, satisfaction, efficiency and financial performance of healthcare delivery, today announced the availability of its Value-Based Purchasing Performance Assessment Tool to all hospitals at no cost.

21 Jul 2011

First Edition: July 21, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about some of the specific cuts included in the "Gang of Six" deficit-reduction plan.

21 Jul 2011

Medco enters definitive merger agreement with Express Scripts

Express Scripts, Inc. and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement.

21 Jul 2011

Randox win Premier Healthcare Alliance contract for Quality Control

Randox Laboratories Ltd is proud to announce that in April 2011 we signed a multi-year agreement with the Premier Healthcare Alliance for the supply of Acusera Quality Control (QC) materials. The agreement will provide the 90,000 plus Premier members with access to our extensive range of quality control products and the benefits they offer clinical laboratories. When asked about the new agreement Laura Coyle Randox Business Manager for the USA revealed that ‘We look forward to strengthening our relationship with Premier and providing added value to their members’.

From Randox Laboratories Ltd. 21 Jul 2011

Study finds 37% of Michigan's seniors struggling to meet basic living expenses

Michigan's older adults are more likely to be poor and at greater risk of not being able to afford their basic living expenses than U.S. Census data indicate. According to a recent analysis by the Wayne State University Institute of Gerontology's Seniors Count! project, 37 percent of Michigan's seniors are living at or below a level of basic economic security.

21 Jul 2011

Obama backs 'Gang of Six' plan that includes Medicare cuts

The Senate's "Gang of Six" unveiled its 10-year, $3.7 trillion deficit reduction plan Tuesday and received a warm, bipartisan reception in the upper chamber. Meanwhile, in the House, GOP lawmakers, in a largely symbolic vote, passed their "cut, cap and balance" measure, which the White House has called "unacceptable."

21 Jul 2011

Proposed Medicaid cuts draw warnings, unexpected requests

As debt talks proceed, the request by California Governor Jerry Brown, a liberal Democrat, to cut Medicaid spending by 10 percent, is reportedly awkward for congressional Democrats and the White House. Meanwhile, some advocates warn that Latinos will be hit hard by proposals to cut the health insurance program for the poor.

21 Jul 2011

Though slim on specifics, 'Gang of Six' plan seeks savings from health plans

The plan's key health components include an overhaul of the Medicare physician payment system and a repeal of the health law's long-term care insurance program. Kaiser Health News provides the executive summary of the plan.

21 Jul 2011

Texas Tribune reviews new anti-abortion law; health debate

An amendment that conservative state lawmakers hoped would wipe out the only taxpayer-funded elective abortions in Texas ultimately might not do much at all. One of many tacked onto an omnibus health care bill during the Legislature's special session in June, the amendment by Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, aims to remove state funding from any hospital district — a health care system financed by city or county tax dollars - that provides elective abortions.

21 Jul 2011

State roundup: Fla. Medicaid waiver fight

Gov. Mark Dayton and lawmakers reached agreement on a new set of budget bills ... State spending for health and human services will be up from about $10.2 billion this biennium but well below the $12.3 billion projected under current law.

21 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Opinions abound on effect of 'Gang of Six' proposal on health spending

Without immediate action to raise the debt ceiling, the government will be forced to delay payments on federal obligations we owe. This means failing to pay our troops, delaying Social Security checks and issuing IOU's instead of Medicare payments to hospitals and doctors. ... Medicare has serious problems and it's essential to "bend the curve" of spending.

21 Jul 2011

Ensign acquires nine skilled nursing, assisted living facilities from Careage Management

The Ensign Group, Inc. announced today that Ensign operating subsidiaries have acquired nine skilled nursing and assisted living facilities from Sioux City, Iowa-based Careage Management, LLC.

20 Jul 2011

Kool Smiles inaugurates new Elkhart office to offer dental services

Kool Smiles, a leading dental health provider for children and adults, has opened a new office in Elkhart. Kool Smiles of Elkhart, which began seeing patients on July 11, puts quality dental care within reach of even more previously underserved area residents.

20 Jul 2011

New sting video targets Ohio Medicaid offices

Ohio officials are investigating allegations that some county Medicaid workers inappropriately advised men posing as Russian drug dealers on how to get government health care benefits.

20 Jul 2011

Feds tussle with Illinois over state Medicaid fraud bill

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has blocked a state law designed to eliminate potential fraud in Illinois' Medicaid system by requiring recipients to prove they live in the state and have low incomes.

20 Jul 2011

CMS releases proposed rule for health insurance co-ops

Even though considerable doubts surround the survival prospects of these co-ops, they are envisioned as a means to give consumers better value than existing insurance companies. Start-up loans will be available to co-ops that have good odds of becoming financially viable.

20 Jul 2011

Debt-ceiling activity moves on multiple tracks

The House GOP's "cut, cap and balance" plan, which will likely come up for a vote this week, could lead to deep cuts in Medicare and other federal safety net programs.

20 Jul 2011

Gang of Six plan to cut deficit by $3.7T includes doc fix, gets boost from Obama

President Barack Obama praised the bipartisan plan, which includes $500 billion in immediate deficit cuts as well as larger, longer-term entitlement reforms.

20 Jul 2011

Efforts underway to fix health law glitch

Two separate bills have been introduced to address this health law issue, which inadvertently would make 3 million middle-income early retirees eligible for Medicaid because Social Security benefits would not be factored into their income. The fix could save $13 billion. However, it's not clear if either measure will move forward.

20 Jul 2011