Medicaid News and Research

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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.

Rising cost of long-term care threatens state, federal budgets

The Fiscal Times reports on the surging costs of long-term care, "which amount to a fiscal time bomb for states and the federal government."

22 Oct 2010

State races take on health care tone as candidates talk overhaul

The health overhaul is making itself felt in political races around the country.

22 Oct 2010

DynaVox releases new additions to Vmax line of communication devices

DynaVox, the leading provider of speech generating devices and symbol-adapted special education software used to assist individuals in overcoming speech, language and learning challenges, today announced the release of two new additions to the Vmax™ line of communication devices, the Vmax+ High Performance and the Vmax+ Battery Efficiency.

21 Oct 2010

Internet searching for health info growing, but not dominant

People still prefer to gather information related to personal health from sources other than the Internet, according to a survey by the Pew Internet Project in association with the California HealthCare Foundation.

21 Oct 2010

Idaho halts Medicaid cuts for dental care; Georgia and justice department reach accord on mental health services

Gov. C.L. 'Butch' Otter removed a political abscess Tuesday, restoring all previously contracted dental care providers to the state's Medicaid-funded Idaho Smiles program.

21 Oct 2010

Unitedhealth says it will test lump sum payments for some cancer care, reports earnings

Health insurer UnitedHealth said Tuesday that it will test a new way payment method for cancer doctors. The program pays doctors a lump sum payment for providing care during an entire course of care for the disease instead of how it's done now with a fee for each service a doctor provides.

21 Oct 2010

CMS head Berwick praises new center for Medicare and Medicaid innovation

The planned Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation has the potential to be the 'jewel in the crown' of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Donald M. Berwick, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

21 Oct 2010

Candidates discuss Medicare, Medicaid spending

News outlets report on the role of Medicare and Medicaid spending in this year's elections.

21 Oct 2010

Genzyme third quarter revenue increases to $1.0 billion

Genzyme Corp. today reported third-quarter earnings growth driven by increased shipments of Cerezyme® (imiglucerase for injection). Patients in the United States began returning to normal dosing levels last month, and patients globally are expected to be able to do so this quarter. Earnings growth in the third quarter was also driven by strong revenue from Lumizyme™ (alglucosidase alfa) and cost reduction measures.

21 Oct 2010

Study: Flu vaccine is money loser for doctors paid by Medicaid

More poor children would get the flu vaccine if Medicaid increased the reimbursement to doctors for giving the shot, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

21 Oct 2010

Atrius selects Sightlines, DxCG Risk solutions for healthcare processes

Verisk Health, Inc., announced today that Atrius Health has selected Sightlines Medical Intelligence and DxCG Risk Solutions to identify, manage, and predict healthcare risk across its commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare populations.

20 Oct 2010

Hospital mortality rates decline by 7.98% from 2007 to 2009

A new independent study by HealthGrades of patient outcomes at America's hospitals found that patients at 5-star rated hospitals had a 72% lower risk of dying when compared with patients at 1-star-rated hospitals -- an enormous gap that has held steady over the past years even as overall mortality rates have improved.

20 Oct 2010

Studies explore efforts to measure, improve hospitals' surgical outcomes

Hospital Compare, an HHS website that allows patients to compare hospitals online using various indicators of quality, is intended to help them choose better facilities for their medical care. But a new report in the Archives of Surgery says the website doesn't help Medicare beneficiaries in need of certain high-risk surgeries find better facilities.

20 Oct 2010

Feds ask Connecticut to reconsider rate hike approval, other health law implementation news

The Hartford Courant reports that a high-ranking health official in the Obama administration has asked Connecticut insurance regulators to reconsider allowing Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut to raise health insurance rates by as much as 47 percent.

20 Oct 2010

Candidates continue to clash over health care law

Candidates around the nation are increasingly focusing on what they'll do with the new health law if they're elected as clashes over the overhaul's usefulness and future continue to occur on the campaign trail.

20 Oct 2010

State Roundup: Md.'s heath info exchange; LA to cut retiree health benefits; N.Y.'s mental health building boom

The Washington Post: "A Maryland health information exchange that will allow hospitals, physicians, labs and radiology centers to share patient information within the state went live last week. Three hospitals, three radiology centers, Quest Diagnostics and the Laboratory Corp. of America are already participating in the exchange."

20 Oct 2010

TearLab announces publication of CPT code for Osmolarity test

TearLab Corporation announced today that, further to its press release of October 8, 2010, a unique new Current Procedural Terminology code that will apply to the TearLab Osmolarity test has now been published by the American Medical Association. The new code will become effective January 1, 2011.

19 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 19, 2010

Today's major health policy headlines include reports about the latest developments in Virginia's court challenge against the health law, a U.S. government lawsuit targeting Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield for anti-trust activities and a study about the Department of Health and Human Services' Hospital Compare.

19 Oct 2010

Maria Shriver, Ann O’Leary introduce The Shriver Report for Alzheimer's patients

Guests Maria Shriver (First Lady-California) and Ann O'Leary (Berkeley Center for Health, Economic and Family Security) appeared yesterday to introduce The Shriver Report: A Woman's Nation takes on Alzheimer's on the ABC Sunday morning show This Week with Christiane Amanpour

19 Oct 2010

Health care reform will lead more people to seek cancer prevention and risk-reduction services

More people will likely seek cancer prevention and risk-reduction services as a result of health care reform, say experts at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

19 Oct 2010