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Medicare moves to pay for Provenge

On Wednesday, Medicare officials signaled the federal insurance program will pay for this costly prostate cancer drug, a move that National Journal described as heading off "accusations that the [government] would be 'rationing' care."

1 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Controlling long-term-care spending; march madness and health reform; hospital physicians

Prepare to hear a lot about Medicaid, the government health-insurance program for the poor. ... The U.S. government can't put itself on a sustainable fiscal course without doing something to slow health spending. It can't slow health spending costs without treating Medicaid. And it can't treat Medicaid without confronting the fact that it has become the long-term-care insurer of last resort for an aging society.

1 Apr 2011

Roundup: Minn. and Fla. weigh changes in programs for disabled, poor; Iowa lawmakers consider new abortion restrictions

Due to a shockingly large deficit, Gov. Rick Scott is planning to invoke his emergency powers and make deep cuts to the rates charged by group homes and case workers who help the developmentally disabled. Scott could announce a 15 percent rate cut as early as Thursday to close the $170 million budget gap in the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, according to lawmakers who were briefed Wednesday.

1 Apr 2011

First Edition: March 31, 2011

In today's news, reports on continuing congressional efforts to reach a deal on the current-year budget and on a move by Medicare to cover Provenge, a prostate cancer drug.

31 Mar 2011

Aetna commends FDA's decision on hydroxyprogesterone caproate

The United States Food and Drug Administration today announced that specialty pharmacies can continue compounding 17P based on a valid prescription for an individually identified patient.

31 Mar 2011

New report examines MSIS feasibility to fulfill requirements outlined in CHIPRA

A new report, published in Perspectives in Health Information Management, by The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services Department of Health Policy, examines the feasibility of using the Medicaid Statistical Information System, an existing data source, to fulfill some of the requirements outlined in section 401 of the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009.

31 Mar 2011

Easier health and wellness for college students through social media channels

Many college students are currently considering health insurance options. As these students go through the decision-making process, Aetna has been making health and wellness easier to understand for college students through a wide range of social media channels. Now, all of the Aetna Student Health social networking elements are in one location - www.AetnaStudentHealth.com/connect.

31 Mar 2011

Experts discuss about need for national colorectal cancer screening program at Capitol Hill

On Capitol Hill today, colorectal cancer experts and advocates will gather to promote the establishment of a national colorectal cancer screening program in an effort to save lives.

From Evident Corporation - Life Sciences 31 Mar 2011

Health lobbyists, advocates brace for much-anticipated accountable care organization regulations

ACOs continue to hold attention, with the administration's rule expected this week. Meanwhile, other reform news includes reports about health exchanges and a medical device tax.

31 Mar 2011

Patients with CRS can benefit from balloon sinus dilation procedure

Results published in the January/February, 2011 issue of International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology demonstrate that patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who receive treatment with balloon sinus dilation can experience significant improvement in work productivity.

31 Mar 2011

California State Controller calls upon Abbott, BI, BMS & Genentech to reduce AIDS drug prices for ADAPs

Today AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) announced that California State Controller John Chiang has sent letters to the CEOs of Abbott, Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) and Genentech, asking the companies to reduce the price of their HIV/AIDS medications for California and its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).

31 Mar 2011

State roundup: Md. Blue Cross probed; Mass. nonprofit hospitals may be sold

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Maryland's largest insurer, confirmed to The Wall Street Journal that it received a civil investigative demand from the Justice Department but declined to comment further.

31 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Vouchers for Medicare; evaluating the many parts of the health law; a single-payer plan for Oregon

With a hard deadline looming, talks to prevent a government shutdown have been stymied for a week because Tea Party members of the House have demanded everything: not just some of their cuts but almost all of them, and not just a reduction in spending but a reduction only in the programs they don't like. Many are insisting Democrats also agree to nonbudgetary riders, like ending the financing of Planned Parenthood or health care reform.

31 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 30, 2011

Today's headlines are focused on recent developments related to the congressional budget impasse, which stem in part from partisan disagreement regarding controversial "policy" riders that impose restrictions on funding for the health law and Planned Parenthood.

30 Mar 2011

Health law policy details continue to grab attention, headlines

Health law costs, accountable care organizations, the individual mandate and even the latest in proceedings surrounding Virginia's health law challenge are all in today's news.

30 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: N.Y. malpractice 'solution'?; tap Texas rainy-day fund?; Ariz. transplant dilemma solution?

Almost every other product Americans encounter is subject to laws that guarantee that the producer suffers when its product is subpar. There's no reason medical guidelines should be any different. With the proper incentives, these private regulators could help President Obama carry out the health care reform he signed into law a year ago.

30 Mar 2011

Study: Increasing Medicare age would shift costs

A study released today concluded that employers and younger people would end up paying more for their health insurance if Medicare's eligibility age were raised. However, the age change would also result in billions of dollars in taxpayer savings.

30 Mar 2011

Roundup: Ariz. may restore transplant coverage; Fla. faces class action suit over disabled waiting list

Kentucky health officials are considering restrictions on the number of cancer-fighting drugs Medicaid patients may receive without prior approval, a move designed to contain costs in the health care program for the poor and disabled. The possibility of creating a non-preferred list of oral oncology drugs — pills that replace intravenous chemotherapy drugs — that Medicaid won't pay for without prior approval has raised questions from patient advocates and those who treat cancer patients.

30 Mar 2011

New rankings reveal DMC have four top 10 hospitals and 29 High-Performing Specialties

Detroit Medical Center has four top ten hospitals and 29 High-Performing Specialties listed in U.S. News & World Report's first-ever Best Hospitals Metro Area Rankings.

29 Mar 2011

Differing reports on how businesses, health law are interacting

Reuters reports that Health and Human Services data show the business community is a big winner as a result of the measure's early retiree program. But The Fiscal Times notes that some "corporate giants" are at odds with the overhaul.

28 Mar 2011

Health Insurance News and Research

Medicare moves to pay for Provenge

Viewpoints: Controlling long-term-care spending; march madness and health reform; hospital physicians

Roundup: Minn. and Fla. weigh changes in programs for disabled, poor; Iowa lawmakers consider new abortion restrictions

First Edition: March 31, 2011

Aetna commends FDA's decision on hydroxyprogesterone caproate

New report examines MSIS feasibility to fulfill requirements outlined in CHIPRA

Easier health and wellness for college students through social media channels

Experts discuss about need for national colorectal cancer screening program at Capitol Hill

Health lobbyists, advocates brace for much-anticipated accountable care organization regulations

Patients with CRS can benefit from balloon sinus dilation procedure

California State Controller calls upon Abbott, BI, BMS & Genentech to reduce AIDS drug prices for ADAPs

State roundup: Md. Blue Cross probed; Mass. nonprofit hospitals may be sold

Viewpoints: Vouchers for Medicare; evaluating the many parts of the health law; a single-payer plan for Oregon

First Edition: March 30, 2011

Health law policy details continue to grab attention, headlines

Viewpoints: N.Y. malpractice 'solution'?; tap Texas rainy-day fund?; Ariz. transplant dilemma solution?

Study: Increasing Medicare age would shift costs

Roundup: Ariz. may restore transplant coverage; Fla. faces class action suit over disabled waiting list

New rankings reveal DMC have four top 10 hospitals and 29 High-Performing Specialties

Differing reports on how businesses, health law are interacting

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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