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Viewpoints: Perry's Texas 'miracle' or 'sad fact'?; Reich on Medicare for all; Orszag on health IT boom

Twenty-six percent of Texans have no health insurance — the highest percentage of medically uninsured residents of any state. It leads the nation in the percentage of children who lack medical insurance. Texas has an inordinate number of employers who provide no insurance to their workers, partly because insurance rates are high, thanks to an absence of regulations.

18 Aug 2011

Roundup: Rx discounts for Medicaid programs are increasing; deadline extended for Mich. Medigap verifications

Governors have complained repeatedly in recent months that spiraling Medicaid costs are crushing their budgets. But there's good news on at least one line item in the $370 billion program — prescription drug discounts are getting more generous. According to a new report from the Inspector General of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, discounts under the federal-state Medicaid program have been growing since 2006, adding up to a 45 percent rebate for most brand name drugs by 2009.

18 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 17, 2011

In today's headlines, a report about how the timing of the Supreme Court's health law review is in play -- will it happen before or after the 2012 election?

17 Aug 2011

Nursing home, hospice pay trigger questions, concern, action

News outlets report on a range of issues related to Medicare payments, including losses that are expected to result from a new payment rule for nursing homes and the lobbying effort being undertaken by hospice facilities.

17 Aug 2011

'Super committee' outlook: What's to become of Medicare, Medicaid?

Although President Barack Obama continues to make clear that, in his view, reforming these entitlement programs is necessary to find budget savings, one policy expert says such cuts might have very little impact on deficit spending. Meanwhile, news outlets report on how lobbyists are taking position in an effort to best advance their clients interests to the deficit panel.

17 Aug 2011

When it comes to drug prices, Medicare shelling out more than Medicaid

Medicaid gets much deeper discounts on many prescription drugs than Medicare, in part because Medicaid discounts are set by law whereas Medicare prices are negotiated by private insurers and drug companies, federal investigators said Monday in a new report.

17 Aug 2011

State roundup: Health insurance ruling reverberates; Fla. to accept some health law funds; California's aging issues

The state has returned millions in health reform dollars for child and elder care programs, among other things. But on Monday, HHS awarded the Sunshine State $1.26 million in ACA money to bolster efforts to report and combat infectious diseases.

17 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 16, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about how the influence industry is jockeying for position with the 'super committee' as well as details of how Medicaid payments for prescription drugs stack up against those made by Medicare.

16 Aug 2011

Medigap policies could come under 'super committee's' budget knife

On July 1, a Washington health advocacy group issued a dire warning about a small but significant Medicare provision on the table in the debt talks.

16 Aug 2011

ACS, 20 other organizations publish sixth edition of Physicians as Assistants at Surgery

In light of continuing Medicare and other third party-payer physician reimbursement issues and changes, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and 20 other specialty surgical organizations have jointly published the sixth edition of Physicians as Assistants at Surgery, a guide that indicates whether an operation may call for the use of a physician as an assistant.

16 Aug 2011

IPAB draws sustained opposition from GOP, health industry lobbyists

The Independent Payment Advisory Board, which is one of the health law's central tools for cutting Medicare costs, continues to be a topic that draws significant opposition.

16 Aug 2011

Analysis: Medicare, liberals and the lesser of two evils

Writing for Kaiser Health News, Jonathan Cohn asks and answer the following question: Why does the debt ceiling deal give liberals so much heartburn? Many reasons, obviously. But a big one is the possibility that it will trigger automatic cuts to Medicare, the jewel of the Great Society and the program on which virtually every senior citizen depends for health insurance.

16 Aug 2011

Research roundup: Too many colonoscopies; N.C. health centers save money; Ankle injuries not necessarily emergencies

Overuse Of Screening Colonoscopy In The Medicare Population -- Medical experts traditionally recommend 10 years between normal colonoscopy screenings.

12 Aug 2011

GOP presidential candidates spar over health overhaul plans, individual mandate and more

Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney defended parts of the state's health overhaul he signed into law as the chief executive, while Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and former Minn. Gov. Tim Pawlenty also exchanged health policy barbs.

12 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Brownback's 'snub'; The 'risks' of Medicaid cuts; Congressional alums on debt talks

The governor's inability to stand up to pressure from his own party will slow progress. The rejected grant was also helping to fund information technology intended to make the state's Medicaid eligibility process more efficient and cost effective. Now that project also may be jeopardized (8/11).

12 Aug 2011

Sebelius talks health insurance exchanges

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius took questions from PBS Newshour viewers about these new health insurance marketplaces that were envisioned in the health law. Also in the news, analysis of the recess appointment of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Donald Berwick and more about what implementation activities are happening at the state level.

12 Aug 2011

With panelists now in place, possible dynamics of a deal emerge

The special committee that will have to find $1.5 trillion in budget savings has a few members who will understand exactly what's at stake for Medicare and Medicaid. But others will only have a general idea — and it may be completely shaped by their political interests. Some of them won't have much of a health care background at all, but will have to get up to speed quickly.

12 Aug 2011

Boston health organizations plan merger

Partners HealthCare and Neighborhood Health Plan sign letter of intent for merger. In other hospital issues, Parkland Hospital In Dallas is in danger of losing Medicare accreditation and Conn. regulators are criticized.

12 Aug 2011

Pelosi adds her picks to deficit reduction committee

With House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi's selections now made for the 'super committee,' the panel is complete. The next step: analyzing what positions they will bring to the negotiations and what the likelihood is that the group will strike a deal.

12 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 12, 2011

Kaiser Health News' Mary Agnes Carey and Politico Pro's David Nather talk to Jackie Judd about the now complete "super committee" and what it may mean for Medicare and Medicaid.

12 Aug 2011

Medicare News and Research

Viewpoints: Perry's Texas 'miracle' or 'sad fact'?; Reich on Medicare for all; Orszag on health IT boom

Roundup: Rx discounts for Medicaid programs are increasing; deadline extended for Mich. Medigap verifications

First Edition: August 17, 2011

Nursing home, hospice pay trigger questions, concern, action

'Super committee' outlook: What's to become of Medicare, Medicaid?

When it comes to drug prices, Medicare shelling out more than Medicaid

State roundup: Health insurance ruling reverberates; Fla. to accept some health law funds; California's aging issues

First Edition: August 16, 2011

Medigap policies could come under 'super committee's' budget knife

ACS, 20 other organizations publish sixth edition of Physicians as Assistants at Surgery

IPAB draws sustained opposition from GOP, health industry lobbyists

Analysis: Medicare, liberals and the lesser of two evils

Research roundup: Too many colonoscopies; N.C. health centers save money; Ankle injuries not necessarily emergencies

GOP presidential candidates spar over health overhaul plans, individual mandate and more

Viewpoints: Brownback's 'snub'; The 'risks' of Medicaid cuts; Congressional alums on debt talks

Sebelius talks health insurance exchanges

With panelists now in place, possible dynamics of a deal emerge

Boston health organizations plan merger

Pelosi adds her picks to deficit reduction committee

First Edition: August 12, 2011

Industry Focus eBook - Forensics & toxicology (2nd edition) eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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