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State roundup: Medicaid cuts cause unusual bedfellows

Representatives from Arizona hospitals, nursing homes and health plans are set to meet with Gov. Jan Brewer today. They hope to win her support for a plan to impose a tax on their institutions and avoid deep cuts to Arizona's Medicaid program. The plan reportedly includes a cap on funding for childless adults, a group now covered under the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System that could lose coverage Oct. 1. (Reinhart, 3/11).

14 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 14, 2011

In today's headlines, news about the major issues that continue to rise to the surface in the health overhaul debate.

14 Mar 2011

Pawlenty assails government-run health care in N.H. trip

Likely presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty urged a roomful of skeptical doctors Friday to be leaders rather than be dragged into what he sees as the future of health care -- giving consumers more information and choices and rewarding providers for quality over volume.

14 Mar 2011

Hospice and Palliative care

The word hospice originated from the Latin hospitium, which means "to host or offer a place of shelter." In 2009, an estimated 1.56 million patients, more than 40 percent of deaths, received hospice services in the United States.

14 Mar 2011

Premier endorses GHX Procurement Suite

The Premier healthcare alliance and GHX are partnering to help Premier alliance members gain better control over the purchase of medical-surgical supplies that are not in their item master or on contract, and to automate their accounts payable processes.

11 Mar 2011

UnitedHealth Group ranked No. 1 on FORTUNE's 2011 'World's Most Admired Companies'

Diversified health and well-being company UnitedHealth Group earned the top overall ranking among insurance and managed care companies in FORTUNE's 2011 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, featured in the magazine's March 21 issue.

11 Mar 2011

Viewpoints: Health law's individual mandate, fighting the deficit by pinching health care pennies

Like anyone who writes regularly about what passes for economic and fiscal debate in American politics, I've developed a strong tolerance for nonsense. After all, if I got upset every time powerful people were illogical and/or dishonest, I'd spend every waking hour in a state of raging despair. ... if you're serious about deficits, you shouldn't be pinching pennies now; you should be looking for ways to rein in health spending over the long term.

11 Mar 2011

Research Roundup: Mass. medical bankruptcies; Palliative care teams work; Innovative health IT

The theme for the current issue of Health Affairs Is "Profiles of Innovation in Health Care Delivery."

11 Mar 2011

Longer looks: Best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

Every Thursday, KHN's Jessica Marcy compiles this selection of interesting perspectives, from a variety of publications, on health care in America.

11 Mar 2011

GOP budget choices: Offer politically risky cuts to Medicare, Medicaid or 'play it safe'?

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan signals that he is "ready to take on health programs" as Capitol Hill continues to struggle with long-term spending concerns. Meanwhile, lawmakers continue talks regarding the current year spending measure still under consideration. A new continuing resolution that would fund government operations until April 8 has emerged.

11 Mar 2011

CBO deficit-reduction options include billions in Medicare, Medicaid cuts

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a list of deficit-cutting options Thursday that includes hundreds of billions in cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The two programs account for 38 percent of mandatory spending — more than Social Security — and face a visit to the chopping block as Americans across the political spectrum clamor for the government to keep its spending under control.

11 Mar 2011

Without fix, docs face 30% Medicare pay cut in 2012

This new figure, updated yesterday by Medicare officials from the previous 28.3 percent "cliff," means the president's plan to keep physician payments flat for the next two years will exceed — by as much as a billion dollars — the funding requested in his 2012 budget proposal.

11 Mar 2011

ACO regs out soon, says Berwick

ACOs are the subject of great debate, and many in the health policy world are eagerly following Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Don Berwick's every move, waiting for the moment he'll announce the rules defining what an ACO actually is.

11 Mar 2011

BioSpecifics 2010 net loss decreases to $1.5 million

BioSpecifics Technologies Corp., a biopharmaceutical company developing first in class collagenase-based products, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010.

11 Mar 2011

Doctors now wise to ruse of false representation by medical associations

"Internal medical politics is considered 'inside baseball' to most observers, but America's patients should know the real score of how this game is playing out in their towns," says Doctor Adam Dorin. In the aftermath of Obamacare, doctors across the United States have become wise to the ruse of representation falsely promised by their medical associations.

11 Mar 2011

First Edition: March 11, 2011

In today's headlines, news about short- and long-term budget challenges and what could become of funding for health programs.

11 Mar 2011

Insurance influences final choice of seniors shopping for physician specialists

A February 2011 survey of 344 seniors 65 and older revealed that 71%1 have shopped for physicians, and 77% of those who do shop end up choosing a physician based on whether he or she accepts their insurance. The survey also revealed that the number one reason seniors shop for a physician, chosen by 63% of respondents, is to choose a specialist.

11 Mar 2011

Two Dems sign on to bill to undo health law's independent payment Advisory Board

Two House Democrats have signed onto a Republican bill to repeal a health reform provision that the Obama administration has touted as a central tool to keep health costs under control. Rep. Shelley Berkley became a co-sponsor of legislation to repeal the Medicare payment board on Wednesday, one week after Rep. Michael Capuano.

11 Mar 2011

Party differences emerge as Senate nixes current year budget plans

The development signals that some lawmakers — including Democrats and Republicans, think more changes to Medicare, Medicaid and a range of other programs should be considered. Meanwhile, abortion funding continues to be a divisive issue. And, in an examination of longer-term budget interests, The Wall Street Journal reports that deficit reduction efforts may be gaining more allies.

11 Mar 2011

Sebelius issues warning about impact of GOP tactics on Medicare

Her warning, which came in a letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., charges that the House temporary spending measure would force the Department of Health and Human Services to stop making Medicare Payments.

11 Mar 2011