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States keep watch over insurers rate hikes, solvency as overhaul sets roots

Massachusetts officials are imposing stricter oversight on insurers they say are financially unstable after refusing to allow them to increase premium rates, The Boston Globe reports.

11 Jun 2010

Senate continues consideration of 'tax extenders,' Democrats push for COBRA subsidy

CongressDaily: The Senate is continuing work on a $140 billion package of tax breaks that includes some unemployment benefits and a temporary fix of the payments to Medicare physicians. "Final passage is not expected until next week on what is likely to be a partisan vote. But there are areas of agreement across the aisle.

11 Jun 2010

Researchers demonstrate efficacy of routine psychotherapeutic treatment for depression

Depression is one of the most common forms of psychiatric disorder. It can occur at any time of life and it may affect children and adolescents as well as the elderly. However, depression can usually be suitably managed with the help of cognitive behavioral therapy. Researchers based at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have been able to demonstrate both the efficacy and the extent of the beneficial effect of routine psychotherapeutic treatment for depression.

11 Jun 2010

Hospital cutbacks may risk quality and safety of health care delivery

During past recessions, the financial stability of hospitals seemed to be nearly indestructible. But researchers at the University of Michigan Health System and St. Joseph Mercy Health System say the current national economic crisis may be an exception.

11 Jun 2010

Remote monitoring and nurse case management combined improve health of Medicare beneficiaries with CHF

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common causes of hospitalization for elderly Americans, and is also one of the nation's most costly conditions to treat.

10 Jun 2010

Majority of physicians, members oppose AMA's position on health care coverage expansions

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that the majority of physicians and members of the American Medical Association (AMA) opposed the AMA's position on coverage expansions--the most contentious issue in the recent health care reform debate. The data are published in a letter in the June 9th issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

10 Jun 2010

California to succeed in achieving health insurance exchange: New white paper

One of the most significant provisions contained in the new federal healthcare reform legislation is the establishment of health insurance exchanges designed to provide consumers greater choice and affordability. The legislation mandates that each state launch such exchanges by January 1, 2014.

10 Jun 2010

Dell announces launch of new state health services practice

As states look to understand and address federal regulatory requirements of healthcare reform, Dell Services today announced the launch of a new practice area to help them implement the technology needed to succeed.

10 Jun 2010

Medicalis launches Coordinated Imaging Care Solution

Medicalis Corporation announced today the launch of its Coordinated Imaging Care Solution (CICS), an integrated technology platform that provides clinical decision support, e-ordering, and extensive quality tracking that enables comparative effectiveness in medical imaging. The solution provides the broadest set of quality indicators specifically related to medical imaging available.

9 Jun 2010

Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement on the benefits of the Affordable Care Act for America's seniors. President Obama held a tele-town hall with seniors in Wheaton, Md. today on the legislation's provisions to strengthen Medicare, close the 'donut hole,' and protect seniors from fraud.

9 Jun 2010

In the news: Senate and jobs bill; Obama appeals to seniors; States' Medicaid squeeze; Beyond COBRA

Today's headlines highlights President Obama's planned visit to a senior center to tout health reform, while several columns examine insurance issues, what doctors say about electronic medical record goals and military treatment of traumatic brain injuries is investigated.

9 Jun 2010

Pelosi issues statement in response to HHS Health Insurance Premium Review Grants

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today issued the following statement in response to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announcing the availability of $51 million in Health Insurance Premium Review Grants through the Affordable Care Act.

8 Jun 2010

UPMC Health Plan collaboration launches pediatric weight management program

A unique collaboration between UPMC Health Plan, Children's Community Pediatrics (CCP), and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC is utilizing a multidisciplinary team approach in the setting of the pediatrician's office to provide practical weight management strategies for children who are obese or overweight.

8 Jun 2010

CMI must implement payment initiatives to improve health care delivery, reduce spending: New article

The new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation must be inclusive and flexible in developing and implementing payment initiatives, continuously monitor their impact, and rapidly disseminate them if they appear to be successful, in order to realize the potential for improved health care delivery and reduced spending, according to a new Health Affairs article by Commonwealth Fund researchers.

8 Jun 2010

New federal health care reform law covers large number of Americans at lower cost: RAND study

The recently enacted federal health care reform law provides health insurance coverage to the largest number of Americans while keeping federal costs as low as reasonably possible, according to a new analysis from the RAND Corporation.

8 Jun 2010

Report finds racial and ethnic disparities in children's health and health care

Within a comprehensive health insurance system, black and Hispanic children appear more likely than white children to have asthma and their outcomes are often worse, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the August print issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

8 Jun 2010

HP Enterprise Services signs seven-year agreement with NASCO

HP Enterprise Services today announced it has signed a seven-year agreement with Atlanta-based National Account Service Company LLC to enable the health insurance claims processor to expand its membership while lowering costs.

7 Jun 2010

Humana sees strong future in Medicare; AHIP seeks more cost containment measures

The Louisville Courier Journal: "While private Medicare Advantage plans face funding pressure from Washington, Medicare 'is actually a very good place to be,' the chief executive of Louisville-based Humana said. 'The federal government "can be relied upon to pay their bills," Michael McCallister said at the Bernstein Strategic Decisions investor conference. 'Medicare is going to be a very big business in the future'"(6/5).

7 Jun 2010

Health overhaul supporters plan $25 million promotion campaign

The New York Times: "Close allies of the Obama administration, seeking to rally the public behind President Obama's landmark health care bill, are planning to spend $25 million over the next five years to promote the measure and beat back mischaracterizations of it that could harm Democratic candidates. Mr. Obama's former communications director, Anita Dunn, and longtime Democratic strategist Andrew Grossman, have teamed up to form two new tax-exempt groups.

7 Jun 2010

Congress returns to controversy over COBRA, doctors' Medicare pay

CongressDaily reports that when members of Congress return to Washington Monday "they face a raft of unfinished business on tax 'extender' legislation. … The Senate will look to take up a $114.5 billion package of unemployment benefits, tax breaks, physician payments and other provisions this week amid calls from the right to scale it back, from the left to expand it and from businesses to mitigate its tax increases.

7 Jun 2010

Health Insurance News and Research

States keep watch over insurers rate hikes, solvency as overhaul sets roots

Senate continues consideration of 'tax extenders,' Democrats push for COBRA subsidy

Researchers demonstrate efficacy of routine psychotherapeutic treatment for depression

Hospital cutbacks may risk quality and safety of health care delivery

Remote monitoring and nurse case management combined improve health of Medicare beneficiaries with CHF

Majority of physicians, members oppose AMA's position on health care coverage expansions

California to succeed in achieving health insurance exchange: New white paper

Dell announces launch of new state health services practice

Medicalis launches Coordinated Imaging Care Solution

Pelosi releases statement on the benefits of Affordable Care Act for America's seniors

In the news: Senate and jobs bill; Obama appeals to seniors; States' Medicaid squeeze; Beyond COBRA

Pelosi issues statement in response to HHS Health Insurance Premium Review Grants

UPMC Health Plan collaboration launches pediatric weight management program

CMI must implement payment initiatives to improve health care delivery, reduce spending: New article

New federal health care reform law covers large number of Americans at lower cost: RAND study

Report finds racial and ethnic disparities in children's health and health care

HP Enterprise Services signs seven-year agreement with NASCO

Humana sees strong future in Medicare; AHIP seeks more cost containment measures

Health overhaul supporters plan $25 million promotion campaign

Congress returns to controversy over COBRA, doctors' Medicare pay

Event guide: 4th Extra-Hepatic Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Delivery Summit eBook

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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