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New poll show Americans oppose cuts to Medicare, Medicaid

Though concerns continue to mount regarding the nation's fiscal problems, a new poll finds most Americans would prefer to keep Medicare just as it is.

21 Apr 2011

HHS will award quality bonuses to some Medicare advantage plans

In a policy shift critics see as political, the Health and Human Services department has decided to award quality bonuses to hundreds of Medicare Advantage plans rated merely average.

21 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Would Ryan plan save or 'assault' Medicare?; Controversial Kansas abortion law

Congressional Budget Office chief Doug Elmendorf dropped a bombshell on his Director's Blog this morning: federal spending on all health care programs will exceed $1 trillion this year. But when he turned to spelling out options for trimming that figure in the years ahead, he offered a limited and not very satisfying menu of choices, all of which involved doing less or charging people more.

21 Apr 2011

CMS unveils 2012 hospital Medicare payment proposal

The American Hospital Association responded by saying it was "deeply disappointed" by the proposal, which would cut acute-care hospital payments in the coming year.

21 Apr 2011

Enrollment begins in ‘National Health and Aging Trends’ study

The National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, will begin enrolling study participants to examine how current and future aging populations can lead fuller, healthier lives. The study, which begins data collection on May 1, 2011, is supported by the National Institute on Aging and is designed to help researchers understand changes in health and functioning among seniors, as well as the social and economic consequences of health and aging for individuals, families and society.

20 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 20, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about new poll results showing that Americans oppose cuts to Medicare as a means to deal with the debt problem.

20 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: On debt, Medicaid, Medicare and the budget; planned parenthood; one couple's insurance rates

Sen. Marco Rubio said he wouldn't vote for an increase unless it included "a plan for fundamental tax reform, an overhaul of our regulatory structure, a cut to discretionary spending, a balanced-budget amendment, and reforms to save Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid" — everything on the conservative agenda, basically.

20 Apr 2011

Report: Impact of Ryan's 'Roadmap' on health law unclear

A report by the Congressional Research Service found that neither the House-passed budget resolution nor the "Roadmap to Prosperity" document provide enough detail to make a determination.

20 Apr 2011

State roundup: Michigan tries new strategy on high risk pools

Michigan today announced a new effort to sign up the chronically uninsured onto health plans after the state's first attempt did not attract enough customers.

20 Apr 2011

Poll: Fight deficit by raising taxes for rich, steer clear of Medicare, Medicaid

A new McClatchy-Marist poll found that Americans overwhelming oppose Medicare and Medicaid cuts as a means to address the nation's deficit. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is pushing seniors to oppose the GOP's proposed Medicare changes.

20 Apr 2011

TCI forecasts cancer vaccine market to approach $3 billion in 2015

Technology Catalysts International (TCI), leading global consultants to the pharmaceutical industry, announced that research on cancer trends and development has identified cancer vaccines as a viable treatment option for a variety of cancers that currently have ineffective treatments. The potential of the cancer vaccine market is forecast to approach $3 billion in 2015.

20 Apr 2011

New guidelines allow definition of pre-Alzheimer's

The emphasis on the need to diagnose Alzeheimer's during its earliest stages is also evident in Congress, where legislation introduced this month would create new, specific Medicare cost codes for early-disease diagnosis to address these steps, including the discussions between the physician and caregivers.

19 Apr 2011

First Edition: April 19, 2011

Today's headlines include a report about new guidelines that will allow an earlier definition of Alzeheimer's and associated legislation that would make key, related changes in Medicare cost codes.

19 Apr 2011

SXC receives Health Alliance's three-year HCIT service contract

SXC Health Solutions Corp., a leading provider of technology and pharmacy benefit management services, announces that it has been awarded a three-year Health Care Information Technology service contract from Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, a health plan with an annual health spend of approximately $250 million. Health Alliance Plan markets health plan products in the commercial and Medicare Part D market segments.

19 Apr 2011

Ryan, Obama deficit plans continue to generate OpEd heat on Medicare, Medicaid provisions

Mr. Ryan called the vote "our generation's defining moment," and indeed, nothing could more clearly define the choice that will face voters next year. His bill would end the guarantee provided by Medicare and Medicaid to the elderly and the poor, which has been provided by the federal government with society's clear assent since 1965.

19 Apr 2011

Axolotl, HealthInsight partner to create Nevada HIE suite

HealthInsight, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving Nevada's health care system, announced today that it has selected Axolotl Corp. to build the community-based Health Information Exchange infrastructure to help Nevada providers improve the timeliness, quality, and coordination of care for their patients.

19 Apr 2011

Molina Healthcare reports net income of $17.4 million for first quarter 2011

Molina Healthcare, Inc. today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

19 Apr 2011

Obama to rally support for his deficit-reduction plan

President Barack Obama will take his message on the road with a "series of campaign-style stops" in an effort to block a Republican deficit-reduction blueprint that would dramatically change Medicare and other social programs.

18 Apr 2011

Pharma Tech expands agreement for Shasta Genstrip

InstaCare Corp. a leading provider of prescription diagnostics, home testing products for the chronically ill, a leading fulfillment provider of direct to patient diabetes programs, and a leading developer of revolutionary cell phone centric e-health products and technologies, today announced that its operating subsidiary, Pharma Tech Solutions, Inc., has significantly expanded its agreement to control, manage and distribute the novel at-home diagnostic product, the Shasta Genstrip.

18 Apr 2011