Medicaid News and Research

RSS

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.

Sugary snacks and lax dental hygiene put kids at risk for tooth decay

While the most prevalent focus of February is on Valentine's sweethearts, parents are well advised to also focus on the proverbial sweet tooth - particularly when it comes to their children. That's because February is National Children's Dental Health Month, an ideal time - according to Health Net, Inc. - for moms and dads to make sure that sugary snacks, as well as lax dental hygiene - aren't putting their kids at risk for tooth decay.

7 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

NQF annual conference to focus on population health

The passage of sweeping healthcare legislation and the recent election of the 112th Congress make these exciting but uncertain times for American healthcare. The National Quality Forum's annual conference, "Achieving Health of Individuals and Populations Within Their Communities," will focus on population health and bring together policymakers and key public- and private-sector stakeholders, each representing their own perspectives for improving health and healthcare throughout the country.

5 Feb 2011

Hospice Foundation of America develops free online webinar to analyze impact of advanced cancer

The Hospice Foundation of America has developed "Coping with Cancer at the End of Life," a free online webinar that examines the impact of advanced cancer, and how family, professionals and volunteers can manage the demands of caring for someone with end-stage cancer.

5 Feb 2011

Henry Schein, supplier partners, ADA to sponsor 'Give Kids A Smile Day' event

Henry Schein, the largest distributor of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and veterinary practitioners, and its supplier partners have joined with the American Dental Association, Colgate-Palmolive and DEXIS to sponsor the ninth annual ADA "Give Kids A Smile Day."

5 Feb 2011

Mental health, substance abuse spending grew more slowly than all other health spending: Study

Spending on psychiatric drugs grew by 5.6 percent from 2004 to 2005, down from the 27.3 percent growth from 1999 to 2000 according to a study published today in the February issue of Health Affairs.

5 Feb 2011

BCBSIL, IHA partner to reduce Illinois hospital readmissions through PREP initiative

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and the Illinois Hospital Association are joining forces to reduce Illinois hospital readmissions through a new quality initiative—Preventing Readmissions through Effective Partnerships.

5 Feb 2011

Viewpoints: Judge Vinson's decision and Sarah Palin, Voting Rights Act; States' Medicaid 'burden;' Global fund controversy

With news coverage focused on Federal District Judge Roger Vinson's decision Monday to declare the health care reform law unconstitutional, it might be easy to miss this week's news from another federal courthouse: opponents of the Voting Rights Act have renewed their efforts to have that law declared unconstitutional, too.

5 Feb 2011

Roundup: Fla. turns down another $1m grant; Colo. provider fees; Conn. bulk Rx purchases

Using as ammunition a Florida judge's ruling this week that the federal healthcare law is unconstitutional, state officials are wasting no time stepping away from the controversial overhaul. Their latest move: rejecting a $1 million federal grant awarded to the Agency for Health Care Administration to plan a system required by the law where consumers can comparison shop for health plans.

5 Feb 2011

Tenet signs multi-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare

Tenet Healthcare Corporation today announced it signed a multi-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania that covers Hahnemann University Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, PA. The agreement also covers physicians employed by subsidiaries of the two hospitals. Financial terms of the agreement were not released.

5 Feb 2011

AmerisourceBergen first quarter revenues increase 3% to record $19.9 billion

AmerisourceBergen Corporation today reported that in its fiscal year 2011 first quarter, ended December 31, 2010, diluted earnings per share were $0.57, a 10 percent increase. Revenue in the quarter was a record $19.9 billion, up 3 percent.

4 Feb 2011

Research roundup: Comparing profit and nonprofit hospice care; Hospital mortality and spending; High-deductible insurance plans

Association Of Hospice Agency Profit Status With Patient Diagnosis, Location of Care, and Length of Stay - "The current Medicare Hospice Benefit reimburses hospices at a fixed per diem rate that does not consider the patient's diagnosis, location of care, or hospice LOS [length-of-stay]," and as such, "profit can be maximized by caring for patients with certain diagnoses that require fewer skilled services, patients residing in nursing homes, or patients with longer hospice stays."

4 Feb 2011

Governors get advice from Obama administration on how to handle Medicaid

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius provided information Thursday to state officials explaining ways in which current law allows them to change the federal-state program — to gain savings without slashing eligibility.

4 Feb 2011

First Edition: February 4, 2011

Today's headlines include reports that Virginia's attorney general is asking the Supreme Court to expedite its review of the state's challenge to the health law. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is doling out advice to governors about how to handle Medicaid.

4 Feb 2011

MEDfx announces Direct Project pilot to demonstrate health information exchange among providers

MEDfx Corporation today announced a Direct Project pilot that demonstrates health information exchange among providers using a combination of the standards and protocols supported by the Direct Project and the FHA CONNECT Gateway. MEDfx is participating in, and is a contributor to, the nationally-sponsored Direct Project under the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT.

4 Feb 2011

Medica Research Institute announces three initial projects in collaboration with University of Minnesota

The Medica Research Institute today announced its first three research projects. The projects will be conducted in collaboration with senior investigators from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

4 Feb 2011

TTC's Standard of Care helps clinical study sites control costs

“Clinical grants constitutes a large portion of clinical development spending, and companies must find better ways to use their clinical grant dollars”

4 Feb 2011

Over 2 million children gain Medicaid or CHIP coverage during 2010

Two years after President Obama signed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced that more than two million more children were served by Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at some point over the past year.

4 Feb 2011

HHS encourages lower-cost drug usage to help reduce Medicaid spending

With Medicaid spending growth almost doubling over the past year, a new document released today by Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to all 50 governors encourages the use of lower-cost drugs - including generics - to help reduce Medicaid spending.

4 Feb 2011

Preventive dental care could lead to lower overall dental expenses for older Americans

Older Americans could likely have lower overall dental expenses with preventive dental care and more routine dental visits, as indicated by a new study of public records of Medicare beneficiaries, says John Moeller, PhD, MA, research professor at the University of Maryland Dental School.

4 Feb 2011

Medicaid News and Research

Sugary snacks and lax dental hygiene put kids at risk for tooth decay

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

NQF annual conference to focus on population health

Hospice Foundation of America develops free online webinar to analyze impact of advanced cancer

Henry Schein, supplier partners, ADA to sponsor 'Give Kids A Smile Day' event

Mental health, substance abuse spending grew more slowly than all other health spending: Study

BCBSIL, IHA partner to reduce Illinois hospital readmissions through PREP initiative

Viewpoints: Judge Vinson's decision and Sarah Palin, Voting Rights Act; States' Medicaid 'burden;' Global fund controversy

Roundup: Fla. turns down another $1m grant; Colo. provider fees; Conn. bulk Rx purchases

Tenet signs multi-year agreement with UnitedHealthcare

AmerisourceBergen first quarter revenues increase 3% to record $19.9 billion

Research roundup: Comparing profit and nonprofit hospice care; Hospital mortality and spending; High-deductible insurance plans

Governors get advice from Obama administration on how to handle Medicaid

First Edition: February 4, 2011

MEDfx announces Direct Project pilot to demonstrate health information exchange among providers

Medica Research Institute announces three initial projects in collaboration with University of Minnesota

TTC's Standard of Care helps clinical study sites control costs

Over 2 million children gain Medicaid or CHIP coverage during 2010

HHS encourages lower-cost drug usage to help reduce Medicaid spending

Preventive dental care could lead to lower overall dental expenses for older Americans

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

Latest News