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Medicare worries may tip balance to Democrat in NY congressional race

Republicans are growing increasingly pessimistic over their prospects in a race for a western New York congressional seat the party was once thought a lock to hold. With the contest entering its final weekend, party officials acknowledge what a Siena College poll released Saturday confirmed: Republican Jane Corwin narrowly trails Democrat Kathy Hochul. The Republican has so far failed to capture a portion of GOP votes that instead might be cast toward Jack Davis.

23 May 2011

Ryan defends Medicare, Medicaid plan; Gingrich explains attack on GOP budget

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan on Sunday called Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's characterization of his Medicare plan "right-wing social engineering" as "deeply inaccurate, a gross mischaracterization of the House Republican budget plan." Asked on NBC's "Meet the Press" if the former House Speaker undercut Republican efforts to pass the reforms, Ryan said, "Leaders are elected to lead. ... And we are leading in the House".

23 May 2011

Swimmer’s ear costs millions in healthcare each year: CDC report

Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa) is a common infection that accounts for almost $500 million in U.S. health-care costs each year, according to a new government report. The report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the agency's May 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, says this condition results in 2.4 million doctor visits annually in the United States, each visit costing an average of $200.

22 May 2011

From September insurers will need to justify annual premium increases of 10% plus

According to the new Obama administration rule taking effect in September, state regulators cannot reject rate increases deemed unreasonable, but it requires insurers to explain the reasons for such hikes to the public.

22 May 2011

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

The Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) legislation required a core set of recommended health care quality measures to be identified for voluntary use by State Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), which together cover almost 40 million American children and adolescents.

21 May 2011

Studies: Unintended pregnancies cost taxpayers $11B a year

Two studies have found that unplanned pregnancies cost taxpayers up to $11 billion per year. The figure is sure to generate discussion on Capitol Hill as lawmakers grapple with funding for Planned Parenthood.

21 May 2011

Roundup: Kan. exchange blueprint coming soon; 'Most favored nation' ban passes in Conn.; Anti-fraud repeal in Calif.

In a few months, the Kansas Insurance Department is expected to release a blueprint for how a health insurance exchange might work. "We still have a lot of work to do but, so far, the process has been going really, really well," said Linda Sheppard, head of the insurance department's accident and health accident and health division.

21 May 2011

Editorial boards, columnists have lots to say about Gingrich and Medicare

Newt Gingrich was right — the first time. The former House speaker and current presidential candidate has retreated under a barrage of criticism, but he had two things to say on NBC's "Meet The Press" that were correct even if politically ill-advised.

21 May 2011

Health reform implementation recommends ways to maintain access to affordable insurance: Report

Modifications to current policies could help ensure that health insurance coverage and subsidies provided under the Affordable Care Act remain stable even through major life changes, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report released today.

21 May 2011

Some cancer patients go without drugs because of high cost

New targeted pills can have dramatic effects on cancer, not only driving the disease into remission but also freeing patients from hours of uncomfortable and boring chemotherapy treatments. Up to 10 percent of patients, however, are not filling their prescriptions for the pills--and cost appears to be a factor, according to a new report.

21 May 2011

Coordinated efforts required to close gaps in preventive behavior: American Cancer Society

A new report from the American Cancer Society details cancer control efforts and outlines improvements as well as gaps in preventive behavior that contribute to cancer mortality.

21 May 2011

HHS rule says insurers must justify double-digit rate increases

Despite opposition from insurers, the Department of Health and Human Services finalized a rule stipulating that health insurance premium increases greater than 10 percent will trigger extra regulatory scrutiny.

20 May 2011

Survey finds consumers face higher health care costs; Employer costs also expected to rise in 2012

Meanwhile, an Associated Press poll finds that college graduates have been hit by the recession — and their health insurance coverage is one of the key indicators.

20 May 2011

OMB review could lock-in ACO rule; Long-term care providers say health law doesn't help with their problems

If there's a fight between CMS and the Office of Management and Budget over the final shape of the accountable care organization regulations, OMB may have an ace in its pocket.

20 May 2011

HHS issues finalized health insurance rate review regulation

The Health and Human Services Department finalized regulations Thursday that will require insurance companies to disclose and justify rate increases of 10 percent or more.

20 May 2011

Roundup: Private prison costs; GOP lawmakers in Wis. break with Governor on cuts to senior services

The conviction that private prisons save money helped drive more than 30 states to turn to them for housing inmates. But Arizona shows that popular wisdom might be wrong: Data there suggest that privately operated prisons can cost more to operate than state-run prisons — even though they often steer clear of the sickest, costliest inmates (Oppel, 5/18).

20 May 2011

Court documents offer details of administration's legal defense of individual mandate

The federal government offered an aggressive defense of the new health law in a reply brief filed Wednesday in the multi-state challenge to the overhaul.

20 May 2011

Viewpoints: Coburn on his dropout; Malpractice reform and states

For the past several months I have been meeting with a small group of senators from both parties, informally known as the Gang of Six, that was designed to force the idle — not gridlocked — Senate, and then the House and the president, to enact a long-term deficit-reduction package.

20 May 2011

First Edition: May 19, 2011

Today's headlines continue to analyze the impact of the departure of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., from the 'Gang of Six' on the efforts to address long-term budget issues such as Medicare spending.

19 May 2011

On Op-Ed pages, controversies abound: Romney, Gingrich, abortion, telemedicine, cancer funding cuts

Gingrich was taking basically the same position on Medicare he took 16 years ago, when, as speaker of the House, he was the commanding general of the Republican Revolution. ... Compared to today's Republican agenda, the Revolution of '94 now appears to be a halcyon period of moderation and good sense. Then, there was a hope that government-run Medicare would "wither on the vine" when recipients were offered alternatives.

19 May 2011

Health Insurance News and Research

Medicare worries may tip balance to Democrat in NY congressional race

Ryan defends Medicare, Medicaid plan; Gingrich explains attack on GOP budget

Swimmer’s ear costs millions in healthcare each year: CDC report

From September insurers will need to justify annual premium increases of 10% plus

CHIPRA quality measures will provide an excellent set of metrics to judge quality of children's health care

Studies: Unintended pregnancies cost taxpayers $11B a year

Roundup: Kan. exchange blueprint coming soon; 'Most favored nation' ban passes in Conn.; Anti-fraud repeal in Calif.

Editorial boards, columnists have lots to say about Gingrich and Medicare

Health reform implementation recommends ways to maintain access to affordable insurance: Report

Some cancer patients go without drugs because of high cost

Coordinated efforts required to close gaps in preventive behavior: American Cancer Society

HHS rule says insurers must justify double-digit rate increases

Survey finds consumers face higher health care costs; Employer costs also expected to rise in 2012

OMB review could lock-in ACO rule; Long-term care providers say health law doesn't help with their problems

HHS issues finalized health insurance rate review regulation

Roundup: Private prison costs; GOP lawmakers in Wis. break with Governor on cuts to senior services

Court documents offer details of administration's legal defense of individual mandate

Viewpoints: Coburn on his dropout; Malpractice reform and states

First Edition: May 19, 2011

On Op-Ed pages, controversies abound: Romney, Gingrich, abortion, telemedicine, cancer funding cuts

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