Medicare News and Research

RSS

The GOP scores big wins in mid-term elections

The New York Times: "Republicans captured control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday and expanded their voice in the Senate, riding a wave of voter discontent as they dealt a setback to President Obama just two years after his triumphal victory. A Republican resurgence, propelled by deep economic worries and a forceful opposition to the Democratic agenda of health care and government spending, delivered defeats to House Democrats from the Northeast to the South and across the Midwest" (Zeleny, 11/2).

4 Nov 2010

Cambridge Heart third quarter sales increase 21% to $793,000

Cambridge Heart, Inc., today reported results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

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

City of Butler declares November as Home Care and Hospice Month

Today officially launches Home Care and Hospice Month and VNA of Western Pennsylvania is excited to celebrate the many health-related services that can be brought into a person's home to help restore health and maintain independence.

3 Nov 2010

Veterans deserve best health care coverage

The nation pauses to honor its veterans on November 11 for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Naturally, we want our veterans to be taken care of, especially when it comes to their health. Those who have served their country through the United States military have several options when it comes to their health care coverage.

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

Dementia patients should receive high-quality palliative care

The system for hospice admissions for patients with advanced dementia, which is a terminal illness, should be guided by patient and family preference for comfort, not estimated life expectancy, says a new study published in the Nov. 3 Journal of the American Medical Association by the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

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

Three states to cast ballots on health insurance mandate; Others consider abortion and marijuana questions

"Voters in three states will cast ballots Tuesday on the new healthcare law's individual mandate to buy insurance," The Hill reports. "Arizona and Oklahoma are expected to pass the state constitutional amendment, but it faces an uphill battle in Colorado. The measure on the ballot in Arizona and Oklahoma is modeled after legislation drafted by the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council.

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

Insuring your health: Seniors should consider changes in Medicare Part D plans

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "If you're on Medicare Part D, this month marks the beginning of the annual enrollment time when beneficiaries can try to pick the plan that provides the best coverage for their prescription drugs.

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

Seniors play powerful role in today's elections

The Christian Science Monitor: "Seniors and baby boomers are more engaged in the election and more excited about voting than any preelection polling has found since 1994, according to the Pew Research Center. While it was considered to be youth that ushered in the Obama revolution, it is the older generation that is wielding more power now.

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

Medicare Roundup: Courts widen coverage of skilled care; experts give enrollment advice

Two federal courts have ruled that the Obama administration is using overly strict standards to determine whether older Americans are entitled to Medicare coverage of skilled nursing home care and home health care.

3 Nov 2010

RehabCare third quarter operating revenue increases 64.7% to $342.7 million

RehabCare Group, Inc. today reported the following financial results. During the 2010 second quarter, the Company recorded a $1.7 million unfavorable pretax revenue adjustment for estimates of additional amounts due on 2007 and 2008 cost reports for one of its inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

3 Nov 2010

Debt panel on hold until election cycle ends

The New York Times: President Barack Obama's bipartisan debt-reduction commission is in a holding pattern until after the volatile elections. They'll begin private meetings just afterwards, leaving only three weeks to complete their work. "

2 Nov 2010

Medco third quarter net revenue increases 10.3% to $16.3 billion

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record third-quarter 2010 GAAP diluted EPS of $0.85, up 23.2 percent compared to $0.69 for the third quarter of 2009. Adjusting for the amortization of intangible assets that existed when Medco became a publicly traded company in 2003, third-quarter 2010 diluted earnings per share increased 21.3 percent to a record $0.91, from $0.75 in the third quarter of 2009.

2 Nov 2010