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Viewpoints: Debating the best ways to 'fix' Medicare; ACO rule; states 'punishing' women?

The truth is, there is no perfect plan — we all know that. We also know that the only way this works is through a bipartisan effort where everyone prods their own sacred cows into the cattle chute, and everyone gives up something they like to protect the country they love. ... Members of both parties and both houses must publicly support the work of the Gang of Six. This is the time for heroes.

4 Jun 2011

CARE in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill introduced in House of Representatives

Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that will set federal minimum education and certification standards in the Medicare program for the technical personnel providing, planning and delivering all medical imaging examinations and radiation therapy treatments.

4 Jun 2011

House Dems urge Obama not to yield to GOP pressure to cut Medicare

In the context of ongoing budget talks, House Democrats urged President Barack Obama to maintain the Medicare program and stand firm against Republican efforts to cut the program's spending.

4 Jun 2011

Research roundup: More spending can lead to better care; Calif. exchange lessons; high-volume hospitals

Medical Spending And The Health Of The Elderly -- Does more medical spending lead to better health care for people over age 64? To answer that question, "researchers from George Mason University and the Urban Institute used data of 17,438 elderly who entered the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey in the fall of each year from 1991 to 1999, and conducted multiple interviews over three years," according to one description of the study.

4 Jun 2011

Acos, medical loss ratio among health law elements drawing scrutiny

Hospitals and doctors are pushing back against an Obama administration initiative that urges them to create new organizations to coordinate the care of groups of Medicare patients.

4 Jun 2011

News highlights: Study finds reform didn't slow ER visits in Mass.; 2 ACOs take shape in Calif.; Md. hospitals report problems

Health care reform in Massachusetts only had a small impact on the number of trips residents took to the emergency room, according to a new study.

4 Jun 2011

Message is key in debate over Medicaid block grant plans

Some congressional Democrats are concerned that Medicaid will become even more of a target for funding cuts and, as a result, are rallying the troops.

3 Jun 2011

Highest percentage of readmissions occur in 45 to 64 age group

In 2008 nearly 12 percent of hospital stays were readmissions within 30 days of a previous stay, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

3 Jun 2011

Longer looks: Is American medicine destroying itself?

Ever since Republicans took control of half the country's statehouses this year, the anti-abortion movement has won one victory after another. At least 64 new anti-abortion laws have passed, with more than 30 of them in April alone. The campaign is the largest in history and also the most creative.

3 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 3, 2011

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, Marilyn Chase writes: "Memorial, a 278-bed hospital in this city 55 miles north of San Francisco, sued California to try to stop the payment reductions. Now it is part of a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could redefine states' responsibilities on Medicaid services and ultimately determine whether Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown can go forward with cuts he says are vital to closing the state's budget gap.

3 Jun 2011

IOM finds flaws in Medicare payments to hospitals, doctors

Medicare uses inaccurate, unreliable data to pay doctors and hospitals, the National Academy of Sciences said Wednesday. Although Medicare is a national program, it adjusts payments to health care providers to reflect regional differences in wages, rent and other costs.

3 Jun 2011

Medicaid no longer paying for hospital mistakes

Left a sponge inside the patient? Transfused the wrong blood type? Don't look for the federal government to pay for fixing the mistake. Medicaid will no longer pay hospitals or doctors for certain preventable illnesses and injuries, such as operating on the wrong body part, the Health and Human Services Department said Wednesday.

3 Jun 2011

UC review finds rate of rtPA treatment for ischemic stroke in the U.S. doubled since 2005

In a review of nationwide hospital databases, University of Cincinnati (UC) emergency medicine and neurology researchers have found that the rate of treatment with the standard therapy for acute ischemic stroke patients has doubled since 2005.

3 Jun 2011

$White House budget meeting leads to Medicare fracas$

White House budget meeting leads to Medicare fracas

The White House meeting on Wednesday was expected to focus on the debt limit fight, but instead got caught up in the dispute over Medicare. Following the session, Representative Paul D. Ryan, the Wisconsin Republican who is chairman of the Budget Committee, said he asked Mr. Obama to not engage in demagogy about the Republicans' Medicare plan, which was under fierce attack from Democrats as essentially being a voucher program for older Americans.

3 Jun 2011

HHS says Indiana cannot cut Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood

The Obama administration prohibited the State of Indiana on Wednesday from carrying out a new state law that cuts off money for Planned Parenthood clinics providing health care to low-income women on Medicaid. The state law penalized Planned Parenthood because some of its clinics also perform abortions.

3 Jun 2011

HHS Secretary joins St. Paul’s Regions Hospital to highlight Partnership for Patients

On Thursday, June 2, 2011, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will join hospital officials, doctors, patients, and other key health care advocates at Regions Hospital to highlight the Partnership for Patients.

3 Jun 2011

Teva completes patient enrollment in COPAXONE Phase III trial for treatment of multiple sclerosis

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced completion of patient enrollment for the GALA (Glatiramer Acetate Low-frequency Administration) trial.

3 Jun 2011

State roundup: Texas special session highlights health issues

States are slashing funding, and more cuts are expected. But in places like Reno, where police have teamed up with counselors to aid the mentally ill, the services don't seem expendable.

3 Jun 2011

Viewpoints raise questions: Can free market fix Medicare? Should military families pay more for health care?

If even a fraction of [the president's Medicare cuts] take place, a whopping 87 percent of doctors say they will stop seeing or will restrict the number of Medicare patients they see, further shrinking the pool of providers and further restricting access to care.

3 Jun 2011

PQA honors Kaiser Permanente for outstanding performance in medication safety

Kaiser Permanente Colorado is one of only three health plans in the nation to receive a top honor for excellence in medication safety. The award, issued by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance, recognizes Kaiser Permanente's outstanding performance on medication safety measures included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) new 5-star rating program.

3 Jun 2011

Medicare News and Research

Viewpoints: Debating the best ways to 'fix' Medicare; ACO rule; states 'punishing' women?

CARE in Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy bill introduced in House of Representatives

House Dems urge Obama not to yield to GOP pressure to cut Medicare

Research roundup: More spending can lead to better care; Calif. exchange lessons; high-volume hospitals

Acos, medical loss ratio among health law elements drawing scrutiny

News highlights: Study finds reform didn't slow ER visits in Mass.; 2 ACOs take shape in Calif.; Md. hospitals report problems

Message is key in debate over Medicaid block grant plans

Highest percentage of readmissions occur in 45 to 64 age group

Longer looks: Is American medicine destroying itself?

First Edition: June 3, 2011

IOM finds flaws in Medicare payments to hospitals, doctors

Medicaid no longer paying for hospital mistakes

UC review finds rate of rtPA treatment for ischemic stroke in the U.S. doubled since 2005

White House budget meeting leads to Medicare fracas

HHS says Indiana cannot cut Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood

HHS Secretary joins St. Paul’s Regions Hospital to highlight Partnership for Patients

Teva completes patient enrollment in COPAXONE Phase III trial for treatment of multiple sclerosis

State roundup: Texas special session highlights health issues

Viewpoints raise questions: Can free market fix Medicare? Should military families pay more for health care?

PQA honors Kaiser Permanente for outstanding performance in medication safety

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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