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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.

Federal officials review Indiana's Planned Parenthood law

Federal officials said Monday they're taking a hard look at a new Indiana law that withholds some public funding for Planned Parenthood of Indiana, a development that could cost the state some of its Medicaid funding.

25 May 2011

GOP leaders ask governors for ideas on Medicaid savings, improvements

A top House and Senate Republican wrote to the nation's governors Monday to ask for suggestions on how to find savings in and improve Medicaid. The letter from House Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton of Michigan and Senate Finance ranking member Orrin G. Hatch of Utah said the quality of medical care provided by Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor, is not as good as that provided to Medicare or privately insured patients.

25 May 2011

Debt limit talks move to topic of finding savings in Medicare, Medicaid

In related news, projections released last week by Medicare's chief actuary concluded that spending on physician and hospital services will be significantly higher than expected if Congress reverses scheduled reductions in Medicare payments.

25 May 2011

MIT, ADI partner to research and develop technologies for next-generation patient monitoring devices

Analog Devices, Inc., a global leader in high-performance semiconductors for signal-processing applications and long-time supplier to the medical equipment industry, today announced a collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to research and develop technologies for next-generation patient monitoring devices.

25 May 2011

State Roundup: Texas overhauls hospital payments

Advocates today asked a single justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to declare the state's exclusion of thousands of legal immigrants from subsidized health coverage unconstitutional.

25 May 2011

First Edition: May 24, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about the Senate's upcoming vote on the House-passed GOP budget, the run-up to today's special congressional election in New York and details on the Medicare positions being taken by Republican presidential hopefuls.

24 May 2011

Majority of opinion leaders strongly support creation of federal health insurance exchange

More than eight of 10 leaders in health and health care policy believe states should be allowed to implement key provisions of the Affordable Care Act early with full federal support, ahead of the timeline outlined in the law.

24 May 2011

Skagit Valley Hospital joins Premier healthcare alliance and saves more than $1M annually

Skagit Valley Hospital of Mount Vernon, Wash., saved more than $1 million by joining the Premier healthcare alliance.

24 May 2011

Is ACO the healthcare Holy Grail?

Providing a seamless, integrated system of care across a range of healthcare settings, accountable care organizations (ACOs) are increasingly being touted as the cure for a failing health system. But challenges remain.

23 May 2011

Without medical liability reform, health care costs will continue to rise

Nearly half (44 percent) of almost 1,800 emergency physicians responding to a poll report that the biggest challenge to cutting costs in the emergency department is the fear of lawsuits. Even more respondents (53 percent) said the main reason they conduct the number of tests they do is the fear of being sued.

23 May 2011

State Roundup: States' economic success often beyond their control

State leaders love to make promises about healing a sick economy. Often, though, economic success depends on factors far beyond their influence. ... When It comes to Medicaid, the restrictions largely emanate from the federal budget.

23 May 2011

First Edition: May 23, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about a new poll that shows Americans don't believe Medicare has to be cut in order to balance the budget.

23 May 2011

Huntsman's stance on Utah health mandate questioned

During a campaign stop Friday, former Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. presented Utah's health reform as a model for what other states could do. And, Huntsman pointed out, Utah did not mandate that people buy health insurance, unlike the Massachusetts model now a thorn for Mitt Romney. His assertion, however, was called into question by a story in the Huffington Post, under the headline "Huntsman vs. Huntsman," which quoted Utah health policy players who said Huntsman had wanted a mandate but didn't get it.

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

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

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

N.J. seeks waiver to trim Medicaid rolls; Texas trims Medicaid budget

New Jersey is trying to deal with bulging Medicaid costs by trimming new eligibility for the government health-care program to the bare bones. The Christie administration wants to cut the state's relatively generous program way back as part of a "waiver" it is seeking from the Obama administration.

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