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Scientific findings provide new information on prostate cancer care

A new analysis has found that short-term and long-term costs of prostate cancer care vary considerably based on which treatment strategy a man initially receives. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study finds that treatments that may be less expensive in the short-term may have higher long-term costs.

23 Aug 2010

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

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

Cedars-Sinai opens Advanced Heart Failure Unit in California

The Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute has opened an innovative 30-bed in-patient unit dedicated to providing advanced heart failure patients with an intensive, multidisciplinary approach to inpatient care.

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

Cancer patients may live longer with palliative and hospice care services: Study

A new study released by the New England Journal of Medicine found that among patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, those who received palliative care lived, on average, almost two months longer than those who received standard care. Researchers also found that the patients receiving palliative care reported a higher quality of life through the final course of their illness.

20 Aug 2010

New coverage for colorectal cancer screening to drive US markets for gastrointestinal endoscopy devices in 2010

According to Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, new coverage instituted under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 will remove the financial disincentives associated with colorectal cancer screening for a large segment of the US population. As a result of these changes in reimbursement, a growing number of colorectal cancer screening procedures will be performed through 2014, driving sales of many gastrointestinal endoscopy devices, including videoscopes and biopsy forceps.

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

CMS: Seniors will see modest increase in Medicare drug premiums but improved benefits

The Associated Press: "Seniors will see a modest increase in their Medicare prescription premiums next year but benefits will also improve, federal health officials said Wednesday. The average monthly premium charged by Medicare drug plans for standard coverage will rise to an estimated $30 in 2011, an increase of $1 over 2010..." But, the AP notes that "Medicare prescription plans vary widely in costs and benefits.

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

KHN column: For cost control, vouchers and Medicare don't mix

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Austin Frakt writes: "With the ambition of reducing the federal debt, Congressman Paul Ryan has offered a proposal to convert Medicare to a voucher-based program.

20 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions: Vouchers and Medicare; The shortage of doctors; Eliminating health system's disparities; Protecting cancer patients

With the ambition of reducing the federal debt, Congressman Paul Ryan has offered a proposal to convert Medicare to a voucher-based program. … Though rarely described this way, the private Medicare Advantage plans are a (voluntary) voucher system (Austin Frakt, 8/19).

20 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 19, 2010

In the news today, modest premium increases are ahead for Medicare drug plans while a survey finds that big employers expect health cost hikes in 2011.

20 Aug 2010

Emunamedica licenses technology for near-infrared wound monitor from Drexel University

Patients with diabetes-associated wounds could receive faster and more effective treatment thanks to a non-invasive device that monitors wound healing and is one step closer to market. Emunamedica LLC, a Florida-based healthcare start-up, has licensed technology for a near-infrared wound monitor from Drexel University. The device was developed by Dr. Elisabeth Papazoglou and Dr. Leonid Zubkov of Drexel's School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems in collaboration with Dr. Michael S. Weingarten, M.D. of Drexel College of Medicine and their teams.

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

Podiatrist reduces leg amputation risk in diabetics: Study

People with diabetic foot problems can lower their risk of leg amputation by relying on coordinated care that includes a podiatrist, according to a recent study. For instance, those with diabetes-related foot ulcers can reduce their risk of amputation by 31 percent.

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

Today's Opinions: Medicare's legacy and future; Missouri vote on health mandate; Overhaul predictions

Universally affordable care, especially for sick people, is the sweet spot of health care reform. But nearly all health policy experts think you have to swallow the bitter pill of mandated insurance purchases to get there. Seven states have tried to ban insurance discrimination based on pre-existing health conditions without requiring participation in insurance plans from healthy consumers. In each instance, the experiment failed miserably (8/17).

18 Aug 2010

Medicare News and Research

Scientific findings provide new information on prostate cancer care

Study suggests PFP programs can improve RTAT, enhance patient care

Clinica of Virginia signs contracts with major insurance providers

Cedars-Sinai opens Advanced Heart Failure Unit in California

Medicare Part D cost estimate drops 41%: PCMA

Cancer patients may live longer with palliative and hospice care services: Study

New coverage for colorectal cancer screening to drive US markets for gastrointestinal endoscopy devices in 2010

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

CMS: Seniors will see modest increase in Medicare drug premiums but improved benefits

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

KHN column: For cost control, vouchers and Medicare don't mix

Today's Opinions: Vouchers and Medicare; The shortage of doctors; Eliminating health system's disparities; Protecting cancer patients

First Edition: August 19, 2010

Emunamedica licenses technology for near-infrared wound monitor from Drexel University

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

Podiatrist reduces leg amputation risk in diabetics: Study

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

Today's Opinions: Medicare's legacy and future; Missouri vote on health mandate; Overhaul predictions

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