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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.

Advocat second-quarter revenues increase 3.4% to $141.6 million

Advocat Inc. today announced its results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010. On August 5, 2010 the Company declared a third quarter dividend of 5.5 cents per common share. The dividend will be paid October 14, 2010 to shareholders of record on September 30, 2010.

10 Aug 2010

House members returning for vote on extra Medicaid help

House members are returning to Washington for a Tuesday vote on $16 billion in extra Medicaid funds for cash-strapped states, The Associated Press reports. "The unusual in-and-out session was called because the Senate waited until last Thursday, after the House had already recessed for its summer break" to pass the bill, which includes $10 billion in state aid for teachers' jobs, too. "Republicans forced back to the Capitol to vote against a bill see it differently.

10 Aug 2010

Arcadia Resources first-quarter net revenues decrease to $25.8 million

Arcadia Resources, Inc., a leading provider of innovative consumer health care services under the Arcadia HealthCare(SM) brand, today announced fiscal 2011 first quarter net revenues of $25.8 million and a net loss of $4.0 million, or $0.02 per share, which compares to net revenue of $26.4 million and a net loss of $4.6 million, or $0.03 per share for the same period in the fiscal 2010.

9 Aug 2010

WellCare Health Plans reaches agreement on material terms of settlement

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. announced today that it has reached an agreement on the material terms of a settlement which will resolve the claims asserted against the Company in the previously disclosed putative securities class action consolidated complaint filed against the Company.

9 Aug 2010

Study: Catholic, other church-owned health systems show more efficient care than for-profit health systems

A study released today by Thomson Reuters found that Catholic and other church-owned health systems demonstrated significantly better, more efficient care than for-profit health systems.

9 Aug 2010

WellCare reports $128.9 million net loss for second-quarter 2010

WellCare Health Plans, Inc. today reported results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010. As determined under generally accepted accounting principles, the Company reported a second quarter 2010 net loss of $128.9 million, or $3.05 per diluted share, compared with net income of $37.0 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, for the prior year period.

9 Aug 2010

Obama: Health reform law boosts future of Medicare

The Washington Post: "President Obama on Saturday took credit for placing Medicare on a more certain fiscal path and pledged to American seniors that they would see more help soon paying for drug costs in a direct appeal to an important segment of the midterm electorate. Citing a report issued this week by the Medicare trustees, Obama said the health-care overhaul he pushed through Congress this year has added at least a dozen years to Medicare's solvency".

9 Aug 2010

Hospital revenue cycle leaders establish protocols for responding to RACs

Most hospital revenue cycle leaders have established protocols for responding to Revenue Audit Contractors, as well as post-payment audits targeting Medicaid and commercial claims. Mindful of the dollars at stake, these leaders have employed a number of technology and process-related improvements to mitigate risk and solidify overall revenue integrity.

7 Aug 2010

Myths and realities of Medicare bidding program for durable medical equipment

Providers of home medical equipment and services across California are proposing a fiscally responsible alternative to the mislabeled "competitive" bidding scheme currently under way in Medicare that will actually discourage competition, reduce access to care for many of California's 4.6 million Medicare beneficiaries, and put thousands of California homecare providers out of business.

7 Aug 2010

Health Net Federal Services to sponsor AMVETS Symposium

Health Net Federal Services, LLC, part of the Government Contracts segment of Health Net, Inc., is honored to sponsor the American Veterans 2010 Symposium for 21st Century Veterans in Louisville, Ky., August 9-11, 2010. The 2010 AMVETS Symposium will bring together more than 100 young Veterans to help develop a new comprehensive report on important issues such as reintegration, health care and benefits.

7 Aug 2010

Forum sets goal for achieving widespread adoption, meaningful use of EHRs by 2014

The following joint statement, by the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P., and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Principal Deputy Administrator Marilyn Tavenner, was issued today at a forum, "Accelerating Electronic Health Records Adoption and Meaningful Use."

7 Aug 2010

Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing stable Medicaid, Medicare funding

As the extension of emergency Medicaid relief moves from the Senate to the House of Representatives, the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living's nationwide Driving for Quality Care petition tour for securing adequate, stable Medicaid and Medicare funding for long term and rehabilitative care for America's seniors and disabled citizens continues to draw significant support from legislators and coverage from local media.

7 Aug 2010

Aetna offers financial incentives to physicians who adopt electronic health record technology

Aetna Chief Medical Officer, Lonny Reisman, M.D., will attend the Health Industry Forum and present the insurer's plan to advance electronic health records adoption and meaningful use to help drive improvements in health care quality, cost and accessibility. To support this work, Aetna will, through its provider contracting process, offer financial incentives to physicians who achieve specific quality of care goals and who make investments in technology for implementation of an electronic health record.

7 Aug 2010

Upbeat Medicare solvency report quickly finds doubters

The new health law will buttress Medicare for a dozen more years than previously expected, according a report issued Thursday by the program's trustees, The Washington Post reports. But, "[t]he relatively bright picture of Medicare's future triggered immediate debate over whether the forecast by the trustees, all members of President Obama's Cabinet, is realistic.

7 Aug 2010

Senate gives final passage to state aid bill, House summoned for Tuesday vote

Senators voted Thursday to give $26 billion in aid to states and schools, $16 billion of which will be directed to Medicaid programs around the nation as the House prepares to return during its recess to cast votes on the legislation.

7 Aug 2010

State news: Kansas facing Medicaid shortfall; Indiana to expand coverage for low-income adults; Maryland's medical home experiment

Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas Republican who is running for governor, "faced new questions Thursday about joining fellow congressional Republicans in opposing legislation that would prop up state budgets as his Democratic opponent in the race for governor criticized him. Brownback said he is against a plan that includes extra Medicaid dollars for states because it wasn't drafted in a fiscally responsible way. Kansas' share is $131 million, and its current $13.7 billion budget won't balance without the money, which covers health care for the poor and disabled" (Hanna, 8/5).

7 Aug 2010

Research Roundups: Expanding Medicaid; More spending doesn't reduce mortality; Colonoscopy cost effectiveness; Kids, asthma and access to care

Health Affairs: Little Evidence Of Correlation Between Growth In Health Care Spending And Reduced Mortality - This study examines differences in hospital mortality and cost between 2000 and 2004 for patients at 122 U.S. hospitals, with seven common medical diagnoses: acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, community-acquired pneumonia, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident (also called ischemic stroke), sepsis, or urinary tract infection.

7 Aug 2010

Today's OpEds: Reform battles, state challenges to law loom over elections

In its rush to blunt public opposition to the newly enacted health reform law, the Obama administration is on a collision course with Republicans as the November midterm elections loom. On behalf of his reform agenda, President Barack Obama in recent weeks bypassed the Senate to make a "recess" appointment of a new Medicare and Medicaid administrator, Donald Berwick, while Congress was adjourned for the Independence Day holiday.

7 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 6, 2010

In today's health policy headlines, news reports about the Senate's passage of a state aid package that includes an extension of Medicaid enhanced funding, and the latest report from the Medicare Trustees.

6 Aug 2010

AAHSA applauds Senate's passage of legislation on increasing Medicaid funding

The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging applauds the Senate's passage of legislation to extend the temporary increase in federal Medicaid funding through June 30, 2011.

6 Aug 2010