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Deficit deal: Next steps and new developments

News outlets are reporting on how the next phase called for in the deficit plan will likely follow a rocky road, which could include broken promises on entitlements, danger for the health law and leave the health sector hoping for the lesser evil.

5 Aug 2011

Longer looks: Treating Down syndrome?; mentally ill, meds & trials

Politicians want to lower spending, or at least they say they do. But in all the to-and-fro over raising the debt ceiling, little sensible has been said about lowering spending in the long term. Nothing illuminates this more clearly than health care.

5 Aug 2011

State roundup: Windfall for Mass. hospitals

Hospitals in Massachusetts will reap an annual windfall of $275 million due to a loophole enshrined in the new health care law. Hospitals in most other states will get less money as a result.

5 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: 'Real' Medicare cuts?; HIV/AIDS prevention push; contraceptive coverage

Well, not really. A primer on the debt deal's health-care bookkeeping. All politicians—but these days especially Democrats—like to pretend they'll pay providers somewhat less in the future, despite knowing that is unlikely to happen in practice. Medicare's prospective payments are low enough that further reductions may jeopardize access to care and in many cases threaten the viability of hospitals and physician practices.

5 Aug 2011

New doc-fix plan links payment to quality

Republican staff on the Energy and Commerce Committee are considering a proposal to address the problem of looming cuts to Medicare physician payments by implementing a pay-for-performance system, according to lobbying sources.

5 Aug 2011

Health Care REIT second quarter normalized FFO up 13% to $0.90 per share

Health Care REIT, Inc. today announced operating results for the company's second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

4 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 4, 2011

In today's news, reports about how lawmakers, lobbyists are lining up for the next phase of the deficit deal.

4 Aug 2011

Health Net second quarter total revenues decrease 19.2% to $2.8 billion

Health Net, Inc. today announced 2011 second quarter GAAP net income of $58.3 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared with $45.1 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2010.

4 Aug 2011

CIGNA consolidated revenues increase 7% for second quarter 2011

CIGNA Corporation today reported second quarter 2011 results, that included strong revenue growth and earnings from each of our ongoing businesses, reflecting continued effective execution of the fundamentals supporting our long-term growth strategy.

4 Aug 2011

Capsules: Blogwatch: Challenges for the debt deal’s 'super committee'

Now on Capsules, KHN's news blog, the latest installment of Blogwatch - Andrew Villegas rounds up what bloggers are saying about what might be at stake for Medicare, Medicaid and the health law.

4 Aug 2011

With debt deal in place, focus shifts to role of 'super committee'

This panel will be tasked with searching out more than $1 trillion in spending reductions from the mandatory-spending side of the budget, which includes Medicare and Medicaid. If they fail, automatic across-the-board cuts will be triggered.

4 Aug 2011

Government's tab for 'big' health care programs keeps growing

The costs of the government's big health care programs are soaring again, expenses not tackled in the agreement President Obama signed into law Tuesday to raise the nation's debt limit and cut federal spending.

4 Aug 2011

Hospitals that readmit 'too soon' will face Medicare penalty

Medicare soon will start docking payments to hospitals if they have a higher-than-expected level of patient readmissions within 30 days of being discharged.

4 Aug 2011

Technology-enabled pharmacists to make house calls

The University of Rhode Island's College of Pharmacy is pairing home visits from pharmacists with the latest technology, providing instant access to a patient's medical history and medications, all in an effort to reduce hospital readmissions.

4 Aug 2011

Debt deal's potential Medicare cuts echo through health care industry

Medicare and Medicaid advocates prepare for their luck to run out as the debt deal will likely lead to pressure on providers and could lead to family physicians, hospitals and even elderly patients feeling the pinch.

4 Aug 2011

ASCO's statement identifies specific measures to help eliminate cancer care disparities

To help address serious racial and economic disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in the United States, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) today released a policy statement that outlines specific provisions of 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that have the potential to reduce these disparities.

4 Aug 2011

Nursing homes struggle to bounce back from Medicare cuts

Nursing-home companies Sun Healthcare Group Inc. and Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. said Tuesday they are aiming to cut expenses to help offset the impact of a severe Medicare reimbursement cut coming in two months.

4 Aug 2011

Insurance rate reviews pick up momentum

Regulators in 38 states last year reviewed all health insurance companies' planned increases in premiums before the rates took effect, according to a Government Accountability Office survey that also found the reviews ranged from detailed examinations to a cursory glance at rate justifications.

4 Aug 2011

Viewpoints: Geithner, Bowles, Simpson, Ryan, Vladeck, Wilensky on health spending and the deficit

The agreement sets up a powerful mechanism for agreement on tax reforms to strengthen growth, and entitlement reforms to strengthen programs such as Medicare. A congressional committee with fast-track authority will have a Nov. 23 deadline to recommend a balanced package of long-term reforms to produce $1.5 trillion in additional deficit reduction.

4 Aug 2011

RACGP urging the government to restore mental health rebates

In its submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs regarding the Commonwealth funding and administration of mental health services, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) strongly argued for the restoration of GP mental health services. The College is gravely concerned regarding the proposed cuts to the Better Access program and the subsequent impact on mental health delivery for every patient age group, demographic and geography throughout Australia.

3 Aug 2011