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.

First Edition: May 19, 2010

Today's headlines highlight issues related to the federal debt, developments regarding the Medicare physician payment fix and news from the states.

19 May 2010

HHS sends letter to Committee on Education and Labor over improper practices by Head Start grantees

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to Chairman George Miller and the Committee on Education and Labor regarding the Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into improper practices by Head Start grantees. The investigation is the subject of the Committee's upcoming hearing. Secretary Sebelius' letter outlines HHS's plans and steadfast commitment to upholding the integrity of this critical program.

19 May 2010

Minn. budget deal postpones key Medicaid decision

Minnesota's Democratic-controlled legislature ended a budget standoff Monday with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty that focused on an impasse over Medicaid policy, The Wall Street Journal reports.

19 May 2010

States combat health costs, workforce and safety issues

"The Massachusetts Senate is weighing a bill aimed at curbing soaring health care costs for individuals and small businesses. Senate President Therese Murray says the bill will ease market instability, smooth out annual fluctuations in premiums and require insurers [to] offer affordable small business plans" (5/18).

19 May 2010

Federal health IT investments get cautious reception

The federal government is investing tens of billions of dollars in health information technology, but the medical groups that stand to benefit from the money are less enthusiastic than their government benefactors, arguing that the push is "too much, too soon," Politico reports.

19 May 2010

Report released on pharmaceutical mail-back pilot program funded by EPA

Through a grant awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the University of Maine’s Center on Aging has completed the first statewide mail-back pilot program for managing pharmaceutical waste from consumers.

18 May 2010

First Edition: May 18, 2010

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, reports on Provo, Utah: "If there is any place that should have medical spending under control, this is it" (Kaiser Health News).

18 May 2010

CMS selects Northrop Grumman to develop National Level Repository task order

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to develop a National Level Repository for accurate electronic health record incentive payment processing transactions to healthcare professionals, agencies and institutions.

18 May 2010

Uninsured patients may receive poorer quality care in Pennsylvania hospitals: Study

Adult patients without health insurance admitted to intensive care units in Pennsylvania hospitals are at a 21 percent increased risk of death compared to similar patients with private insurance, according to researchers from the University of Pennsylvania.

18 May 2010

Teva agrees to settle patent litigation regarding generic version of AstraZeneca's Entocort EC capsules

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with AstraZeneca to settle patent litigation regarding Teva's U.S. generic version of AstraZeneca's Entocort EC (budesonide) capsules.

18 May 2010

Phase II ALSTAR trial: Talampanel is safe for ALS patients

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced results from the Phase II ALSTAR trial. The trial was designed to assess efficacy, safety and tolerability of Talampanel (a selective AMPA antagonist) in reducing disease-related functional deterioration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis patients.

18 May 2010

Investigators pursue N.Y. leads on hospital corruption; Crack down in Fla. fraud probe

A New York hospital system has become entwined in a corruption scandal that sent a state lawmaker to prison for six years, The Wall Street Journal reports. "Former trustees of one of the hospitals operated by MediSys Health Network, speaking for the first time, say MediSys executives kept board members in the dark about business dealings between company management and Anthony Seminerio, the former lawmaker who pleaded guilty to a federal corruption charge."

18 May 2010

Medicaid growth in Utah slows; Arizona sees drop in CHIP beneficiaries

"Utah's Medicaid rolls grew by 405 people in April, the smallest monthly increase since March 2008, the start of an unprecedented growth streak for the low-income health program. Unemployment has also slowed, which economists believe is an early sign of economic recovery" (Stewart, 5/17).

18 May 2010

Medicare cuts for physicians loom, yet again

A 21 percent reduction in Medicare reimbursements that has loomed over physicians all year will go into effect on June 1, unless Congress acts to further delay the cuts, CNNMoney reports. "If the proposed cuts go through, physicians are worried their practices will be so strapped that they'll have to drop some of the 43 million Americans who are covered under Medicare."

17 May 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: Support for Berwick and health reform's next tests

He is well-qualified to make the many crucial decisions surrounding Medicare and Medicaid, and could end up being one of the most significant appointees in the administration (5/17).

17 May 2010

Hemispherx Biopharma to conduct study of Ampligen antiviral in China

As part of its expanding international program Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc., announced an agreement with Fountain Medical Development Ltd., a leading Chinese clinical research organization (CRO) to prepare, file and gain approval from the authorities in China to conduct a study of Ampligen, an investigational therapeutic.

17 May 2010

Fraud, waste, and abuse

The Congressional Budget Office announcement May 11, 2010, that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) would cost, over the next ten years, $115 Billion more, brings the total cost over $1 Trillion. Imagine—Congress and the President spent a whole year jamming a 2,309 page monster down our throats on the pretense of “eliminating fraud, waste and abuse (in the delivery of medical care) at a lower cost”. This same Congressional Budget Office, using the contrived numbers given by Congress, had previously said Obamacare would REDUCE federal deficits by $143 Billion. I smell FRAUD.

17 May 2010

Small business lobby, others join states' lawsuit against health law

"A national business lobbying group on Friday joined 20 U.S. states in a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system. The joint lawsuit led by Florida and now grouping 20 states was filed on March 23 by mostly Republican attorneys general." The suit claims the law "violates state government rights in the U.S. Constitution and will force massive new spending on hard-pressed state governments" (Brown, 5/14).

17 May 2010

United Spinal Association and ICS co-sponsor first annual conference to empower women with disabilities

United Spinal Association and Independence Care System (ICS), are co-sponsoring the first annual conference to improve the lives, health, and well-being of women with disabilities.

15 May 2010

Amerigroup expands services to seniors, people with disabilities in Tarrant County

Amerigroup Corporation today announced that its Texas health plan has won its bid to expand health care coverage to seniors and people with disabilities in Tarrant County (Fort Worth). The award was announced by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It came as the result of a competitive two-region bidding process that increases the role of Amerigroup's Texas subsidiary in the STAR+PLUS program.

15 May 2010

Medicaid News and Research

First Edition: May 19, 2010

HHS sends letter to Committee on Education and Labor over improper practices by Head Start grantees

Minn. budget deal postpones key Medicaid decision

States combat health costs, workforce and safety issues

Federal health IT investments get cautious reception

Report released on pharmaceutical mail-back pilot program funded by EPA

First Edition: May 18, 2010

CMS selects Northrop Grumman to develop National Level Repository task order

Uninsured patients may receive poorer quality care in Pennsylvania hospitals: Study

Teva agrees to settle patent litigation regarding generic version of AstraZeneca's Entocort EC capsules

Phase II ALSTAR trial: Talampanel is safe for ALS patients

Investigators pursue N.Y. leads on hospital corruption; Crack down in Fla. fraud probe

Medicaid growth in Utah slows; Arizona sees drop in CHIP beneficiaries

Medicare cuts for physicians loom, yet again

Today's Opinions and Editorials: Support for Berwick and health reform's next tests

Hemispherx Biopharma to conduct study of Ampligen antiviral in China

Fraud, waste, and abuse

Small business lobby, others join states' lawsuit against health law

United Spinal Association and ICS co-sponsor first annual conference to empower women with disabilities

Amerigroup expands services to seniors, people with disabilities in Tarrant County

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

How ELRIG Is Helping Mid-Career Scientists Navigate Leadership, Career Change and Redundancy

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