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KHN column -- Senate dysfunction and health care cost control: In private sector we trust?

In his latest Kaiser Health New column, Austin Frakt writes: "There's good news and bad news. The good news is that if cost-saving provisions of the new health reform law work, Medicare solvency will be extended by 12 years, according to the program's trustees.

9 Aug 2010

Today's OpEds: U.S. vs. Nordic health care; Medicare solvency; Patients and health costs; Mystery of ACOs

Beginning, like the United States, with excellent intentions, [each of the Nordic countries'] health care system evolved similarly. Initially, all care was covered. But costs rose. The government covered fewer illnesses. Expensive treatments increased government spending. ... This is not an evolution that the U.S. can avoid (Mark B. Constantian, 8/8).

9 Aug 2010

Amedisys second-quarter net service revenue increases 11.8% to $422.3 million

Amedisys, Inc., one of America's leading home health nursing companies, today reported its financial results for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2010. Net service revenue increased 11.8% while net income attributable to Amedisys, Inc., decreased 8.2% over the three-month period ended June 30, 2009.

9 Aug 2010

First Edition: August 9, 2010

Today's health policy headlines include dispatches from the campaign trail, news of the President's weekly address and developments from the health care marketplace.

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

Affordable Care Act improves strength of Medicare, Social Security: Report

Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on the report released today by the Social Security and Medicare Boards of Trustees, http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TRSUM/index.html. The report shows that the Affordable Care Act has improved the strength of both Medicare and Social Security.

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

Omnicare second-quarter earnings per diluted share decrease to 18 cents

Omnicare, Inc., one of the nation's leading providers of pharmaceutical care for the elderly, reported today financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

7 Aug 2010

NeurogesX net loss for second-quarter 2010 increases to $10.2 million

NeurogesX, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today reported results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

7 Aug 2010

Will health savings trickle from your paycheck to social security?

Kaiser Health News staff writer Phil Galewitz writes: "If employers save money on health insurance because of the new health law, will they give their workers a raise? Absolutely, says a new report by the trustees of Social Security.

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

Health reform law update: State lawsuits, implementation efforts attract attention

Today, 20 states and the National Federation of Independent Business are planning "to file their response to the government's attempt to dismiss their lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. The Justice Department in June asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit, saying the U.S. District Court in Pensacola lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over some of the lawsuit's claims. ... A key issue raised by their lawsuit is whether the federal government can require individuals to purchase health care insurance and fine those who don't" (Kay, 8/6).

7 Aug 2010

Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver better health results: Study

Preliminary data from a study of private insurance and Medicare claims commissioned by the American Association of Diabetes Educators reveal that ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver results in terms of better health and reduced private insurance and Medicare claims.

7 Aug 2010

Response Genetics total revenue for second-quarter 2010 increases 197% to $5.6 million

Response Genetics Inc., a company focused on the development and sale of molecular diagnostic tests for cancer, today announced its consolidated financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010.

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

Medicare News and Research

KHN column -- Senate dysfunction and health care cost control: In private sector we trust?

Today's OpEds: U.S. vs. Nordic health care; Medicare solvency; Patients and health costs; Mystery of ACOs

Amedisys second-quarter net service revenue increases 11.8% to $422.3 million

First Edition: August 9, 2010

WellCare Health Plans reaches agreement on material terms of settlement

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

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

Obama: Health reform law boosts future of Medicare

Affordable Care Act improves strength of Medicare, Social Security: Report

Myths and realities of Medicare bidding program for durable medical equipment

Health Net Federal Services to sponsor AMVETS Symposium

Omnicare second-quarter earnings per diluted share decrease to 18 cents

NeurogesX net loss for second-quarter 2010 increases to $10.2 million

Will health savings trickle from your paycheck to social security?

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

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

Health reform law update: State lawsuits, implementation efforts attract attention

Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver better health results: Study

Response Genetics total revenue for second-quarter 2010 increases 197% to $5.6 million

Upbeat Medicare solvency report quickly finds doubters

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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