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States juggling Medicaid requirements, costs, coverage

Medicaid managed-care plans in Florida's five Medicaid "reform" counties have been granted a 10.8 percent rate increase because of ever-increasing hospital costs, the president of Florida Association of Health Plans confirmed today. Meanwhile, said Michael Garner, the managed-care plans in most counties of the state were granted an average 1.3 percent rate increase.

19 Oct 2011

UnitedHealth Group's consolidated third quarter revenues increase 7% to $25.3B

UnitedHealth Group today reported third quarter results, highlighted by strong enrollment growth in each of UnitedHealthcare's benefits businesses and strong revenue growth at all Optum business units. Third quarter 2011 net earnings were $1.17 per share, with strong performance on all key financial and operational measures.

18 Oct 2011

State news: Texas pharmacies fear lower Medicaid fees

In Rio Grande City, Rene Martinez's Starr Pharmacy has one line for Medicaid patients and another for non-Medicaid patients. On some days, most of his clients can be found waiting on the Medicaid line, a testament to the importance of that federal-state health insurance program in this poor city along the Texas-Mexico border - and to Mr. Martinez's bottom line.

15 Oct 2011

Research roundup: Racial disparities in colon cancer survival; Options to cut health spending; Covering teenagers

Survival Disparities In African American And White Colo-Rectal Cancer Patients -- Researchers analyzed results from 12 controlled clinical trials to understand disparities between black and white survivors of colorectal cancer.

14 Oct 2011

'Doc fix' dilemma makes debt panel's job more difficult

According to Reuters, sources indicate panel members are interested in taking on this Medicare issue, but doing so would cost hundreds of billions of dollars and complicate their efforts to find federal budget savings. Meanwhile, in related news, AHIP - America's Health Insurance Plans - is lobbying the committee regarding an approach to debt reduction that involves coordinating care for dual eligibles.

14 Oct 2011

Medicaid waivers, enrollment problems plaguing states

More than a dozen House Democrats from California met recently with Medicaid boss Donald Berwick to warn him that Gov. Jerry Brown's request for deep cuts to the state/federal program would devastate healthcare providers and their patients, The Hill has learned. Brown, a Democrat, has put the Obama administration in a tough spot with his request to cut the state's Medicaid program by $1.4 billion to help plug a $26.6 billion budget gap.

14 Oct 2011

State roundup: Anti-abortion legislation campaign; services for disabled under scrutiny; what is a 'medical home'

A nationwide coalition of anti-abortion groups said Wednesday it is preparing to push legislation in all 50 states requiring that pregnant women see and hear the fetal heartbeat before having an abortion. The effort follows the introduction of similar legislation at the federal level by Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota.

14 Oct 2011

Longer looks: Miss. ballot-initiative on abortion; personal fortune may have helped Herman Cain battle cancer; for doctors, breaking up is hard to do

One evening in late September John Perkins, a veteran of the civil-rights movement, attended a rally at a Baptist church in Jackson in support of what he called "a total justice issue," … It was concerned with Amendment 26, a measure on Mississippi's ballot this November that defines a person as being "every human being from the moment of fertilisation, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof". The reason for the measure is straightforward; its consequences less so. The Supreme Court, in its landmark Roe v Wade ruling in 1973, held that the right of a woman to terminate her pregnancy in the first trimester was guaranteed by her constitutional right to privacy.

14 Oct 2011

Johns Hopkins USFHP recognized as the best private health insurer in Maryland

The Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan (USFHP), a Department of Defense-sponsored managed care plan, was ranked by Consumer Reports as the best private health insurer in Maryland, while Priority Partners, a joint venture between Johns Hopkins HealthCare LLC and the Maryland Community Health System, placed as the state's top Medicaid health plan.

11 Oct 2011

Selected prescription drugs contribute to 10% of lower urinary tract symptoms among men

Use of selected prescription medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines, bronchodilators, anticholinergics, sympathomimetics, and diuretics contribute to 10 percent of lower urinary tract symptoms among men according to a Kaiser Permanente study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

11 Oct 2011

'Super Committee' cuts in Medicaid spending could have major impact on state budgets

Also, in other Medicaid news, a Florida official testifies in court that the state system for children has no major problems while criticism grows of plan to turn over the Medicaid program to managed care companies.

7 Oct 2011

Roundup: Health alliances formed in Calif., Wash.; Mass. group seeks repeal of mandate there

One of Southern California's largest hospital systems is teaming up with hundreds of doctors in a new alliance designed to better manage patient care, improve medical outcomes and reduce costs. Under the partnership with Providence Health & Services of Southern California, doctors will share and analyze data about diabetes, congestive heart failure and other conditions to identify effective practices and eliminate inefficiencies that drive up expenses.

7 Oct 2011

Florida AHCA renews Medicaid Management Information System service agreement with HP

HP Enterprise Services today announced the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) has signed a renewal service agreement to manage the state's Medicaid Management Information System.

3 Oct 2011

ACOs: Will feds be ready for the start date?

Health care stakeholders and lobbyists are increasingly convinced that CMS will not make the Jan. 1 deadline for launching the flagship accountable care organization program mandated by the Affordable Care Act as release of the final rule slips later into the fall.

29 Sep 2011

Wis. unveils Medicaid savings website; some low-income Minn. residents must change health plans

Also in Medicaid news, Washington state begins new program that limits emergency department visits for Medicaid enrolless. Oregon also reports gains in efforts to get children coverage.

28 Sep 2011

Viewpoints: LA Times wants solutions from GOP candidates; WSJ finds worrisome census numbers

We've now seen three full-dress debates among the Republican politicians who want to be the next president of the United States, and here's what we've learned: They all believe taxes are too high, even though federal taxes are lower as a percentage of the U.S. economy than any time in the last 60 years. They all believe onerous environmental regulations are preventing economic recovery, though few economists would agree.

27 Sep 2011

Roundup: Patient dies after medical error during Calif. nurses strike; grocery workers ratify contract that had partially hinged on health care

Veteran nurses locked out of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland said Sunday that the death of a patient due to a medical error by a replacement worker wouldn't have happened if they had been allowed to do their jobs. The hospital's management countered that it was a freak accident that could have happened at any time -- with or without the replacement nurses. At the center of the dispute is a cancer patient, a woman who has not been identified but whose tragic death on Saturday has inflamed an already tense labor dispute.

27 Sep 2011

Fact check: Health care claims in Republican debate

News organizations have been looking into candidates' statements from Thursday night's debate, including one by Gov. Rick Perry about Mitt Romney's book, Rep. Michele Bachmann and Perry on the HPV vaccine and Herman Cain on his cancer and the health law.

26 Sep 2011

Roundup: Texas House Dems ask CMS to reject Medicaid waiver request; Jobs lost as Ariz. mental health Medicaid cuts kick in

The nine House Democrats from Texas want the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reject their state's request that Medicaid beneficiaries get their prescription drugs through managed care plans.

23 Sep 2011

State roundup: N.Y. to pay $5 million to end suit over autistic teen's death

The State of New York has agreed to pay $5 million to settle two civil suits brought by the family of a boy with autism who died in state care, among the larger wrongful-death settlements ever paid by the state.

23 Sep 2011

Managed Care News and Research

States juggling Medicaid requirements, costs, coverage

UnitedHealth Group's consolidated third quarter revenues increase 7% to $25.3B

State news: Texas pharmacies fear lower Medicaid fees

Research roundup: Racial disparities in colon cancer survival; Options to cut health spending; Covering teenagers

'Doc fix' dilemma makes debt panel's job more difficult

Medicaid waivers, enrollment problems plaguing states

State roundup: Anti-abortion legislation campaign; services for disabled under scrutiny; what is a 'medical home'

Longer looks: Miss. ballot-initiative on abortion; personal fortune may have helped Herman Cain battle cancer; for doctors, breaking up is hard to do

Johns Hopkins USFHP recognized as the best private health insurer in Maryland

Selected prescription drugs contribute to 10% of lower urinary tract symptoms among men

'Super Committee' cuts in Medicaid spending could have major impact on state budgets

Roundup: Health alliances formed in Calif., Wash.; Mass. group seeks repeal of mandate there

Florida AHCA renews Medicaid Management Information System service agreement with HP

ACOs: Will feds be ready for the start date?

Wis. unveils Medicaid savings website; some low-income Minn. residents must change health plans

Viewpoints: LA Times wants solutions from GOP candidates; WSJ finds worrisome census numbers

Roundup: Patient dies after medical error during Calif. nurses strike; grocery workers ratify contract that had partially hinged on health care

Fact check: Health care claims in Republican debate

Roundup: Texas House Dems ask CMS to reject Medicaid waiver request; Jobs lost as Ariz. mental health Medicaid cuts kick in

State roundup: N.Y. to pay $5 million to end suit over autistic teen's death

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