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House Republicans push anti-abortion bills

Two bills have been introduced in the House but Senate Democrats vow to stop their progress if they clear the lower chamber.

10 Feb 2011

NCCN praises Aetna for evidence-based approach to treat cancer

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN) has praised Aetna for its evidence-based approach to drugs used to treat cancer. The NCCN also acknowledged Aetna's commitment to providing health benefits to members enrolled in clinical trials. Aetna is the first national health plan to be recognized by the group.

9 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 9, 2011

Today's headlines include news about GOP plans to defund the health law and stepped up Capitol Hill activity surrounding the abortion issue.

9 Feb 2011

GOP Govs seek flexibility in insurance exchanges

In a sharply worded letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the governors ask for six specific changes that would give states more control over the health law's exchange markets.

9 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Prof. Tribe on health law constitutionality; Repeal/replace rhetoric; Texas abortion law

The predictions of a partisan 5-4 split rest on a misunderstanding of the court and the Constitution. The constitutionality of the health care law is not one of those novel, one-off issues, like the outcome of the 2000 presidential election, that have at times created the impression of Supreme Court justices as political actors rather than legal analysts.

9 Feb 2011

Governors face painful budget choices

Health care programs are among those being slashed with many news organizations focusing on Florida Gov. Rick Scott's plans for Medicaid.

8 Feb 2011

Roundup: Fraying safety nets; Calif. mental health clinics; Texas obesity costs rising

Medicaid is one of the fastest growing parts of the state budget. To tackle rising health care costs, Gov. Deval Patrick's administration plans to stop paying hospitals with high rates of re-admissions when low-income patients return within 30 days.

8 Feb 2011

Is the health overhaul's individual mandate the law's 'linchpin'?

NPR explores this question, which is increasingly central to discussions about the sweeping measure's future. Meanwhile, The Boston Globe reports on the number of waivers given out by Massachusetts to state residents who sought an exemption from that state's requirement to have health insurance.

8 Feb 2011

Kaiser examines latest data and trends in Medicaid long-term services and supports

The Kaiser Family Foundation’s Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured (KCMU) has released a package of resources that examine the latest data findings regarding Medicaid’s long-term services and supports for seniors and people with disabilities.

7 Feb 2011

State Roundup: Setting up health insurance exchanges; Community-based clinics cuts; Autism legislation; End-of-life care

The board of the Health Benefit Exchange is going to be small and mighty. ... This exchange will concentrate the health insurance buying power of millions of Californians, and will be the central force in implementing national health care reform in California (Gorn, 2/4).

7 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: (Still) Debating health law's constitutionality; Food labels; Lawmakers' abortion divide

For state governments, the bill presents huge new costs, as we are required to enroll 15 million to 20 million more people in our Medicaid systems. ... Perhaps worse, the law expects to conscript the states as its agents in its takeover of health care. It assumes that we will set up and operate its new insurance "exchanges" for it (Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, 2/7).

7 Feb 2011

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania announces name change to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania, based in Monroeville, has joined its Philadelphia-based sister company, AmeriChoice of Pennsylvania, under the name UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. The combined plans serve more than 280,000 health plan members in Pennsylvania.

7 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 7, 2011

Today's headlines focus on how states face major budget challenges -- with health policy at the heart of the issue.

7 Feb 2011

BAI releases 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report

The Black AIDS Institute ("BAI"), the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on the Black community in the US, today released its 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report, Deciding Moment. 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic in America and presents unique opportunities to curtail the HIV/AIDS pandemic, but key challenges remain to moving forward in the AIDS response in Black America.

7 Feb 2011

Humana fourth quarter diluted EPS decreases to $0.63

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended December 31, 2010 (4Q10) of $0.63, compared to $1.48 per share for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 (4Q09).

7 Feb 2011

Proactive chronic care management can reduce hospital admission, readmission rates

Two Healthways Center for Health Research studies recently published in Population Health Management demonstrate that hospital admissions and readmissions can be reduced through chronic care management and proactive interventions, such as telephonic outreach, resulting in considerable cost savings.

7 Feb 2011

Health reform law court decision sparks more political maneuvering

As some news outlets cover the fallout from the Florida court decision on the legality of the health law, others examined aspects of the law, including the provision about "mini-med" insurance plans.

6 Feb 2011

Article examines new challenges Federal Government will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014

A new article released in the February 2011 issue of Health Affairs, co-authored by Benjamin Sommers, MD, PhD, of the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard School of Public Health, and Sara Rosenbaum, JD, Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Hirsch Professor of Health Law and Policy at the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, examines new challenges that States and the Federal Government will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014, under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

5 Feb 2011

Northern Virginia Magazine releases names of physicians recognized as 'Top Doctors'

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States announced today that 70 Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group physicians were named among the region's "Top Doctors" in Northern Virginia Magazine's February 2011 edition.

5 Feb 2011

Unionized podiatrists offer free foot, ankle care to NFL players

Unionized podiatrists at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia are offering free foot and ankle care to any active NFL player in the event of a league lockout or strike. The podiatrists are members of the First National Guild for Healthcare Providers of the Lower Extremity, Guild 45 of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO.

5 Feb 2011

Health Insurance News and Research

House Republicans push anti-abortion bills

NCCN praises Aetna for evidence-based approach to treat cancer

First Edition: February 9, 2011

GOP Govs seek flexibility in insurance exchanges

Viewpoints: Prof. Tribe on health law constitutionality; Repeal/replace rhetoric; Texas abortion law

Governors face painful budget choices

Roundup: Fraying safety nets; Calif. mental health clinics; Texas obesity costs rising

Is the health overhaul's individual mandate the law's 'linchpin'?

Kaiser examines latest data and trends in Medicaid long-term services and supports

State Roundup: Setting up health insurance exchanges; Community-based clinics cuts; Autism legislation; End-of-life care

Viewpoints: (Still) Debating health law's constitutionality; Food labels; Lawmakers' abortion divide

Unison Health Plan of Pennsylvania announces name change to UnitedHealthcare Community Plan

First Edition: February 7, 2011

BAI releases 2011 State of AIDS in Black America report

Humana fourth quarter diluted EPS decreases to $0.63

Proactive chronic care management can reduce hospital admission, readmission rates

Health reform law court decision sparks more political maneuvering

Article examines new challenges Federal Government will face when Medicaid eligibility expands in 2014

Northern Virginia Magazine releases names of physicians recognized as 'Top Doctors'

Unionized podiatrists offer free foot, ankle care to NFL players

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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