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.

Most kidney care providers opt to participate in new Medicare 'bundled' payment system: Study

The Kidney Care Council (KCC), a nonprofit national health care association composed of leading kidney dialysis provider companies who care for a majority of ESRD patients nationwide, released new data today revealing that 98 percent of kidney care providers participating in a recent study have opted to participate in the new Medicare "bundled" payment system in January 2011, more than twice the rate originally anticipated.

4 Nov 2010

SandlotConnect attains 1.5 million patient records to provide HIE in Texas

Sandlot, LLC, a healthcare IT solutions company founded by practicing physicians who have pursued a better way to collectively share clinical information, announced that its comprehensive health information exchange (HIE) SandlotConnect now contains more than 1.5 million patient records, allowing providers to access and contribute to the largest HIE in Texas.

4 Nov 2010

Picis introduces charge capture solution for oncology treatment centers

Picis today introduced LYNX I/Point, a charge capture solution designed specifically for hospital-owned infusion and oncology treatment centers - where therapies are very expensive and accurately charging for services can be challenging.

4 Nov 2010

CMS establishes new national reimbursement rate for technical component of mobile cardiovascular telemetry

CardioNet, Inc., a leading wireless medical technology company with a current focus on the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac arrhythmias, announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") has established a national rate in The Medicare Program Final Rule for the technical component of mobile cardiovascular telemetry (CPT Code 93229).

4 Nov 2010

AAPC launches beta version of Health Plan Policy Search Tool

AAPC has launched the beta version of its Health Plan Policy Search Tool giving providers access to more than 500 local and national health plans. This online search tool retrieves provider manuals, policies, physician credentialing and Medicare/Medicaid eligibility through an easy to use online tool. Users can now quickly find vital information instead of spending hours searching for the same information on each health plans website.

4 Nov 2010

Florida to drop 350 uninsured HIV/AIDS patients from drug program; Ore. and Wash. set up enrollment periods for children's insurance; Calif. gets federal grant to update Medicaid program

The Miami Herald/The Sun Sentinel: "The Florida Department of Health plans to drop about 350 uninsured HIV/AIDS patients from a federally funded program that pays for all or most of their drugs, because of a budget crisis. An additional 2,000 or more HIV-positive patients are at risk of being bumped from the program unless the state can close a $16 million shortfall in the next few months, officials said Tuesday.

4 Nov 2010

Republicans look to use majority for health overhaul repeal, plan vote

Now in control of the House of Representatives, Republicans are planning to flex their muscles quickly to try to repeal the Democratic health law but even some GOP leaders acknowledge it is likely they can get rid of the law right away.

4 Nov 2010

Doctor payment rates cut again under new Medicare rules

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services posted final Medicare payment rules Tuesday that include a cut in physician reimbursement rates.

4 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 3, 2010

Today's headlines track the GOP's sweeping electoral gains and begin to explore what this power shift might mean for the future of the health law.

3 Nov 2010

New primary care models needed to improve care and outcomes for older adults

In an article published in November 3 edition of Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Chad Boult, MD, MPH, MBA, professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, calls for key improvements to primary care in order to improve the health of the nation's most costly patients-older adults with multiple chronic conditions.

3 Nov 2010

U.S. models of primary care improves quality of life in older patients with multiple chronic conditions

In a review of comprehensive primary care programs for older adults with multiple chronic conditions, authors identified three models that appear to have the greatest potential for improving quality of care and life for these patients, while reducing or not increasing the costs of their health care, according to an article in the November 3 issue of JAMA, a theme issue on aging.

3 Nov 2010

CVS Caremark supports FDA pathway for approval of biogeneric options

CVS Caremark reiterated the company's support that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implement regulations necessary to approve biogeneric drugs under the Affordable Care Act. The company's Senior Vice President of Specialty Pharmacy Operations, Scott Reid, testified before the FDA today during a public hearing to address the development of an approval pathway for biosimilar and interchangeable biological products held at the agency's headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland.

3 Nov 2010

Races sometimes hinging on health law issues go down to the wire

Races around the nation are coming down to the wire Tuesday and the controversial health law continues to play a role in the campaign.

3 Nov 2010

Health reform law: Tax credits may boost coverage; rationing still hot word

The number of small businesses offering health insurance to workers is projected to increase sharply this year, recent data show, a shift that researchers attribute to a tax credit in the health law.

3 Nov 2010

Decisions on health law's fate start today as GOP seems poised for gains

Expected Republican wins in Congress and in statehouses throughout the country Tuesday would likely slow down implementation of the law and make the debate even more contentious but not outright stop the law.

3 Nov 2010

Almost Family acquires home health agency from Fayette County Memorial Hospital

Almost Family, Inc. today announced that it has acquired the assets of the Medicare-certified home health agency owned by Fayette County Memorial Hospital located in Washington Court House, OH.

3 Nov 2010

Talecris announces launch of PROLASTIN-C in Canada

Talecris Biotherapeutics announced today the Canadian launch of PROLASTIN®-C (Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor [Human])(A1PI), a more concentrated and purified formulation of PROLASTIN®, the only approved alpha1-augmentation therapy in Canada for more than 20 years. PROLASTIN-C delivers twice the active protein per milliliter as PROLASTIN, cutting the infusion volume and time in half when given at the recommended rate of 0.08 mL/kg/min.

3 Nov 2010