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First Edition: April 4, 2011

Today's health policy news coverage includes reports about Republican lawmakers' plans to make dramatic changes to Medicare and Medicaid as they seek to cut $4 trillion from the budget over the next 10 years.

4 Apr 2011

Optimer study highlights economic burden of acute and recurrent CDI in hospital patients

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the presentation of information from insurance claims and survey databases highlighting the unmet need for targeted therapies to treat subpopulations at high risk of recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection.

4 Apr 2011

Catheter Connections presents DualCap device clinical data against CRBSI at SHEA meeting

In the ongoing fight against costly and potentially fatal catheter related bloodstream infections, landmark clinical data presented at the 21st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America demonstrates that both the exposed end of IV administration sets and catheter luer access valves are colonized by the microbes that cause CRBSI.

4 Apr 2011

Study finds high utilization of CTC and Medicare coverage in recent years

Medicare coverage and nationwide utilization of computed tomographic colonography, commonly referred to as virtual colonoscopy, has tripled in recent years, according to a study in the April issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.

4 Apr 2011

Ryan: Major changes for Medicare, Medicaid in GOP's 2012 budget

Even as Congress faces a showdown this week on 2011 federal spending, both parties are gearing for the 2012 budget battle.

4 Apr 2011

GOP budget would aim to cut up to $4 trillion

As Republicans gear up to present their 2012 budget proposal, it has been revealed that the new budget would cut more than $4 trillion from federal spending projected over the next decade and transform the Medicare health program for the elderly.

3 Apr 2011

KCP commends CMS for eliminating 'transition adjustment' imposed on new ESRD PPS

Kidney Care Partners, a broad-based coalition of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers and manufacturers, commends the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for eliminating the so-called "transition adjustment" imposed on dialysis facilities as part of the new Medicare end-stage renal disease prospective payment system.

2 Apr 2011

NAHC: CMS decision to enforce rules has dire consequences for homebound patients

This is a sad day for millions of homebound and chronically ill older Americans and their loved ones. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services decision to enforce regulations that require physicians to have face-to-face encounters with homebound patients to receive Medicare benefits is a mistake. These regulations were originally delayed due to serious concerns about physicians' readiness to comply with them and the drastic impact that it will have on seriously ill patients.

2 Apr 2011

Reimbursement for surgical services has declined in recent years

In recent years reimbursement for surgical services has declined, failing to keep up with inflation and economic growth. Financial incentives aimed at re-distributing reimbursement from procedural specialties to primary care specialties have been ineffective thus far, and the financial returns of being a physician continue to decrease, according to new research published in the April 2011 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

2 Apr 2011

The push is on for deficit reduction

Addressing government entitlement programs, including Medicare, are key to that effort. Meanwhile, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich offers his own plans for wringing savings from health care costs.

2 Apr 2011

Long-awaited federal rule for accountable care organizations outlines 'gains and risks' for doctors, hospitals

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Donald Berwick announced the release of the proposed rule Thursday, offering insights into how the administration hopes to encourage doctors and hospitals to collaborate more closely to improve patient care.

2 Apr 2011

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey to launch Accountable Care Forum

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey is launching Accountable Care Forum - From Volume to Value, a blog dedicated to analysis of the emerging accountable care organization landscape. The launch coincides with regulations issued today by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

2 Apr 2011

Premier employees donate 2,400 hours of community service in Charlotte region

More than 600 employees from the Premier healthcare alliance donated over 2,400 hours of community service on March 31 at 18 locations across the Charlotte region.

1 Apr 2011

Ther-Rx Corporation announces important initiative to reduce cost of Makena

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure that high-risk women have access to FDA-approved Makena instead of unapproved, unregulated compounded drugs, Ther-Rx Corporation, a subsidiary of K-V Pharmaceutical Company, announced today important initiatives to reduce the cost of Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection) and encourage stakeholders to provide timely access to this important FDA-approved medication.

1 Apr 2011

Thomson Reuters introduces CLEAR for Healthcare Fraud

CLEAR, the powerful public and proprietary records service and investigative suite from Thomson Reuters, is well-regarded among law enforcement and government investigative professionals for helping nab criminals and recover missing children. Today, the business is introducing a new version of the service to aid in the recovery of the $60 billion that the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association estimates is lost each year to fraud.

1 Apr 2011

HLS receives state permission to build new rehabilitation hospital in Ocala, Florida

HealthSouth Corporation today announced that it has received permission from the state to proceed with building a comprehensive physical rehabilitation hospital in Ocala, Fla.

1 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: The dangers of targeting the AARP; health reform in rural areas; prisoners faring better in Calif. than disabled

In hearings Friday, some of my former congressional colleagues are due to explore the operations of the AARP, the nation's oldest and largest organization representing Americans age 50 and older. Specifically, the hearing is to examine the group's tax status, evaluating it in view of its management structure and funding.

1 Apr 2011

Research roundup: Patient's income and electronic health records; high deductible plans; raising Medicare age

Healthcare Spending And Preventive Care In High-Deductible And Consumer-Directed Health Plans - Authors analyzed data from more than 800,000 families insured during 2004 and 2005 through one of 53 large employers in U.S., about half offering the high-deductible or consumer-directed plans.

1 Apr 2011

New guidelines to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters

New guidelines, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee outline steps to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters, which are among the most deadly and costly healthcare-associated infections.

1 Apr 2011

Zynx Health responds to proposed regulations issued by CMS

Zynx Health, the market leader in providing evidence-based and experience-based clinical decision support solutions, today announced its response to the proposed regulations governing Accountable Care Organizations issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

1 Apr 2011

Medicare News and Research

First Edition: April 4, 2011

Optimer study highlights economic burden of acute and recurrent CDI in hospital patients

Catheter Connections presents DualCap device clinical data against CRBSI at SHEA meeting

Study finds high utilization of CTC and Medicare coverage in recent years

Ryan: Major changes for Medicare, Medicaid in GOP's 2012 budget

GOP budget would aim to cut up to $4 trillion

KCP commends CMS for eliminating 'transition adjustment' imposed on new ESRD PPS

NAHC: CMS decision to enforce rules has dire consequences for homebound patients

Reimbursement for surgical services has declined in recent years

The push is on for deficit reduction

Long-awaited federal rule for accountable care organizations outlines 'gains and risks' for doctors, hospitals

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey to launch Accountable Care Forum

Premier employees donate 2,400 hours of community service in Charlotte region

Ther-Rx Corporation announces important initiative to reduce cost of Makena

Thomson Reuters introduces CLEAR for Healthcare Fraud

HLS receives state permission to build new rehabilitation hospital in Ocala, Florida

Viewpoints: The dangers of targeting the AARP; health reform in rural areas; prisoners faring better in Calif. than disabled

Research roundup: Patient's income and electronic health records; high deductible plans; raising Medicare age

New guidelines to eliminate bloodstream infections in patients with intravenous catheters

Zynx Health responds to proposed regulations issued by CMS

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