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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.

Study suggests PFP programs can improve RTAT, enhance patient care

A pay-for-performance (PFP) program implemented at one of the nation's largest general hospitals appeared to have a marked effect on expediting final radiology report turnaround times (RTAT), improving patient care, according to a study in the September issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

21 Aug 2010

A.M. Best maintains negative outlook for health insurers due to impact of health care reform

A.M. Best Co. is maintaining a negative outlook for health insurance companies. The driving factors are the struggles to grow revenue and the near-term impact from the implementation of health care reform. In 2009, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 7.6% in January to a high of 10.2% in October and ended the year at 10.0%. The rising unemployment rate resulted in the loss of members due to layoffs/attrition (known as in-group disenrollment).

21 Aug 2010

Clinica of Virginia signs contracts with major insurance providers

Exmovere Holdings, Inc a biomedical engineering company, today announced that Clinica of Virginia, LLC, its wholly owned subsidiary, which now provides local patients with affordable, quality medical services has signed contracts with major insurance providers, Medicare, and Medicaid.

21 Aug 2010

New law offers hope for homeless health care

Kaiser Health News staff writers Mary Agnes Carey and Andrew Villegas, writing in collaboration with The Washington Post, report: "Tianne Hill dreads getting mail at the city shelter on Guilford Avenue where she lives. She knows it often includes medical bills she can't pay.

20 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 20, 2010

Today's headlines include articles on health insurance for college students, new plans to overhaul the government's bioterror and flu preparations, changes in store for health care for the homeless and a look at the new high risk insurance plans.

20 Aug 2010

Study shows disparities in asthma ER visits between African Americans and whites

Aetna leaders will present the findings of a new study today at the Academy for Health Equity Conference in Littleton, Colorado. The study looked at the differences in the use of the emergency room (ER) by minority populations suffering from asthma and the potential to improve health outcomes and cost savings by addressing disparities in asthma ER visits.

20 Aug 2010

Educational intervention program encourages Latina women towards postpartum care

Latinas participating in an educational intervention program were two-and-a-half times more likely to seek postpartum care than were those who did not have access to a similar program, a new study finds.

20 Aug 2010

Medicare Part D cost estimate drops 41%: PCMA

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement on research cited by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that found the most recent 10-year cost estimate for Medicare Part D came in at $373 billion, a 41 percent drop from the initial cost estimate of $634 billion for 2004-2013

20 Aug 2010

AHRQ grant allows Premier Perinatal Safety Initiative to develop birth-related injury reduction tehniques

The Department of Health & Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has awarded a three-year demonstration grant for not-for-profit entities to Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis to extend a national collaborative that is reducing birth-related injuries.

20 Aug 2010

Schwarzenegger announces Calif. health IT network plan

Los Angeles Times: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a high-tech vision for his state Tuesday, including an unprecedentedly broad computer network. "Schwarzenegger joined U.S. Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra at the UC Davis Cancer Center on Tuesday to announce the launch of the country's largest 'telehealth' system, which organizers say will one day connect patients to hundreds of hospitals and clinics statewide using broadband technology." The broadband network will be devoted entirely to the health care sector (Hennessy-Fiske, 8/18).

20 Aug 2010

Quality issue roundup: J & J revamping controls; The odds for orthopedic surgery; Automatic prescription refills and patient compliance

The New York Times: Johnson & Johnson has said it will "revamp its quality controls, creating a single framework for its drug, medical device and consumer health care divisions." The move comes after the drugmaker saw a number of recalls of its medicines, such as Tylenol and Motrin, as well as probes by a congressional committee and the FDA into actions at its McNeil Consumer Healthcare subsidiary.

20 Aug 2010

Wis. pushes to expand Medicaid funding for contraceptives, Minnesota encourages 'medical homes,' Md. settles nursing home payment case

"Wisconsin is pushing to expand a controversial program that uses federal Medicaid funds to provide free birth-control pills, vasectomies and other forms of contraception to low-income people, an effort made possible by the federal health-care overhaul. It and 26 other states already provide free contraception and other reproductive-health services through a Medicaid pilot project to lower-earning women who otherwise wouldn't qualify."

19 Aug 2010

Humana announces 2010 finalists for Houston charitable grant

Today, health-benefits company Humana announced the three finalists for its 2010 $100,000 Humana Communities Benefit - Houston charitable grant.

19 Aug 2010

Hospitals grapple with increasing ER visits; LA officials order changes to boost patient safety; Mass. nurse fired after reporting problem

"Hartford Hospital opened an expanded emergency department this month, with new rooms and triage areas meant to keep up with an increase in patient visits. Across town, St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center is preparing to double its emergency department space as part of a new 10-story tower set to open next spring. UConn's John Dempsey Hospital expanded its emergency department earlier this year in response to rising patient volume, but there are still days when patients wait in the hallways because the rooms are full. Emergency department visits are increasing in Connecticut and across the country, and doctors say they are likely to become even busier as health reform rolls out."

19 Aug 2010

Policy restrictions for certain medications lead to decreased drug use and substantial savings for insurers

Policies that restrict reimbursement for certain medications can save money for health insurers without driving patients to seek other kinds of health care, a new review of studies suggests.

19 Aug 2010

Kansas Health Policy Authority awards HMS contract to conduct Medicaid Subrogation Services

HMS announced today that it has been awarded a contract by the Kansas Health Policy Authority to conduct Medicaid Subrogation Services, including Casualty and Estate Recovery services. HMS will identify cases for action and implement best practice recovery procedures.

19 Aug 2010

Researchers participate in Alzheimer's Breakthrough Ride to urge Congress make the disease a national priority

This summer, more than 55 researchers participating in the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Ride are cycling relay-style across the country, collecting petition signatures asking Congress to make Alzheimer's disease a national priority. The public response to the petition has been so overwhelming that as the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Riders hit the halfway point in their 67-day route from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. on August 18, they are already more than 80% of the way to their goal of 50,000 signatures.

18 Aug 2010

Addus HomeCare awarded new contracts in North Carolina

Addus HomeCare Corporation, a comprehensive provider of home-based social and medical services, announced today the award of three new contracts that broaden its presence in the growing Southeast market.

18 Aug 2010

Use of multi-payer portals for community-focused Medicaid organizations to be highlighted at MMIS Conference

NaviNet, America's largest real-time healthcare communications network, announced that Vice President of Delivery Sebastiaan Foppema will speak at the 2010 Medicaid Management Information Systems Conference, held in Portland, Oregon, August 15-19, 2010. The MMIS Conference provides an opportunity for various constituents of the State, Federal and private sectors to come together to share ideas related to Medicaid IT systems and heath policy in a rapidly changing healthcare market.

18 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 18, 2010

In today's headlines, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners takes action on key recommendations related to health reform implementation.

18 Aug 2010

Medicaid News and Research

Study suggests PFP programs can improve RTAT, enhance patient care

A.M. Best maintains negative outlook for health insurers due to impact of health care reform

Clinica of Virginia signs contracts with major insurance providers

New law offers hope for homeless health care

First Edition: August 20, 2010

Study shows disparities in asthma ER visits between African Americans and whites

Educational intervention program encourages Latina women towards postpartum care

Medicare Part D cost estimate drops 41%: PCMA

AHRQ grant allows Premier Perinatal Safety Initiative to develop birth-related injury reduction tehniques

Schwarzenegger announces Calif. health IT network plan

Quality issue roundup: J & J revamping controls; The odds for orthopedic surgery; Automatic prescription refills and patient compliance

Wis. pushes to expand Medicaid funding for contraceptives, Minnesota encourages 'medical homes,' Md. settles nursing home payment case

Humana announces 2010 finalists for Houston charitable grant

Hospitals grapple with increasing ER visits; LA officials order changes to boost patient safety; Mass. nurse fired after reporting problem

Policy restrictions for certain medications lead to decreased drug use and substantial savings for insurers

Kansas Health Policy Authority awards HMS contract to conduct Medicaid Subrogation Services

Researchers participate in Alzheimer's Breakthrough Ride to urge Congress make the disease a national priority

Addus HomeCare awarded new contracts in North Carolina

Use of multi-payer portals for community-focused Medicaid organizations to be highlighted at MMIS Conference

First Edition: August 18, 2010

Industry Focus eBook - Neurology/Neuroscience - 2nd edition eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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